2025-10-22
News Categories : Committee News
The Sub-Committee appointed by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment has instructed officials to take steps to collect data on individuals who are unable to repay microfinance loans in 4 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Colombo.
The directive was issued during a meeting of the Sub-committee on Future Steps to Address the Microfinance Lending Problem held in Parliament recently (Oct. 10) under the patronage of its Chairperson, Hon. Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe.
The Chairperson of the Sub-Committee stated that as a pilot project data will first be collected from four Divisional Secretariat Divisions located in the districts of Nuwara Eliya (Hatton), Batticaloa (South Koralaipattu), Polonnaruwa (Welikanda), and Colombo (Wellawatte). Accordingly, she instructed the Ministry officials to take the necessary steps to collect the information.
The meeting also featured in-depth discussions on potential relief mechanisms for individuals struggling with microfinance debt, and on the means of intervention to support and possibly rehabilitate affected borrowers. It was further decided to summon 34 microfinance institutions currently registered with the Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association to discuss what relief measures could be offered to indebted clients and what collaborative solutions could be developed.
This meeting was attended by a group of government officials including Hon. Members of Parliament Chathuri Gangani, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakaratne and Sunil Ratnasiri.
2025-10-23
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability discussed the financial and physical progress of the budget proposals for the year 2025 of several ministries and the expected progress up to 31.12.2025. This was discussed when the Committee met in Parliament recently (Oct. 21) under the chairmanship of the Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhami. Accordingly, the financial and physical progress of the budget proposals for the year 2025 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure and the Ministry of Environment and the expected progress up to 31.12.2025 were discussed. Addressing the Committee, its Chairman, Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhami stated that a comprehensive report should be submitted to Parliament, based on the inquiries made by the Committee, regarding the utilization of allocations and progress achieved by each relevant ministry under the 2025 budget. He further mentioned that the Committee will review the performance of all ministries that fall under its purview accordingly. The Committee discussed the budget allocations made to each ministry and their expenditure progress, and it was recommended that reports on the fund utilization and progress of essential projects be submitted to the Committee. The Hon. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Hon. Members of Parliament, J.C. Alawathuwala, Attorney-at-Law Sujeewa Senasinghe, Gnanamuththu Srineshan, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Navaratne, Kitnan Selvaraj, Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath, Sudath Balagalla, Attorney-at-Law Chitral Fernando, Upul Kithsiri and M.S. Uthumalebbe also participated in this committee.
2025-10-23
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development held extensive discussions regarding the emergency coal purchases and annual procurement plans carried out by Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited. Particular attention of the Committee was drawn to the tender procedures followed prior to the year 2022 and the amendments made to those procedures after 2022. This matter was taken up at the Committee meeting held in Parliament recently (Oct. 17th) under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament S. M. Marikkar. Officials representing the Ministry of Power and Energy, Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Department of the Auditor General were present at this meeting. During the discussions, following inquiries made from the officials regarding the manner in which emergency coal purchases had been conducted prior to 2022, the Committee Chairman recommended that a comprehensive report containing all data related to such emergency purchases be submitted to the Committee. The Committee also discussed the current stock levels of coal held by Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited, the duration for which those stocks would be sufficient, and the quantities of coal expected to be purchased in the future. Hon. Members of Parliament Nalin Bandara, Jagath Vithana, and Asitha Niroshan Egoda Vithana also participated in this Committee meeting.
2025-10-22
During a meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) held on October 21st in Parliament, chaired by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament, the committee considered and approved an Order under the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 (Published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2451/10 pertaining to the increase of the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on imported big onions and potatoes to ensure a reasonable price for local farmers for the 2025 Yala season. It was noted that although the SCL was slated for abolition, the Government continues to use it to protect local producers despite vulnerabilities to corruption. Accordingly, action has been taken to increase the SCL on one kilogram of imported Big Onions by Rs. 10 (from Rs. 40 to Rs. 50) and on one kilogram of imported potatoes by Rs. 20 (from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80), with effect from August 26, 2025. Officials present stated that Sri Lanka's tariff structure must be sustainable, simple, transparent, and predictable for traders. In line with this, the committee issued broader directives, recommending that the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Finance integrate existing laws with the National Tariff Policy for comprehensive implementation. The committee also directed the ministries to conduct a full assessment of the impact of proposed tariff regime changes, including the move to a strict four-band import duty and the phasing out of Para tariffs (SCL and CESS) from 2027 to 2030, with an update requested by the end of March 2026. To reduce dependency on seasonal tariffs, the committee recommended that the Department of Agriculture create a project to expand the use of high-yield technique kits for big onion cultivation, aiming to cover the entire cultivation area within five years. I was recommended that this should be part of a wider strategy that includes humidity and temperature-controlled warehouses such as “Prabashwara”, buy-back agreements, and futures contracts to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilize prices for farmers. Moreover, the Committee also reviewed and approved Rules under Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) related to the payment of duty on liquor production. The new rules will stop the production of non-payers after 30 days and halt all distribution and sales after 90 days. This strengthens enforcement, as the current 3% interest penalty on unpaid fees has been an insufficient deterrent due to the lack of stronger recovery mechanisms in the Excise Act. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Nishantha Jayaweera, Arkam Ilyas, Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law, Harshana Rajakaruna, Nimal Palihena, Chithral Fernando, Attorney at Law, Wijesiri Basnayake, Thilina Samarakoon, Champika Hettiarachchi, and Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law. Officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, Mr. K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, and representatives from the Department of Trade and Investment Policy and the Excise Department were also present.
2025-10-16
October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It has been decided to hold a debate in Parliament and to have women MPs dress in pink in support of the program. Every year, October is considered as the Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month or “Pink Month” and in line with this, a special awareness session on breast cancer prevention and related programs was held recently (Oct. 09) in Parliament for the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus. This meeting was held under the patronage of Hon. Member of Parliament Samanmali Gunasingha, who was temporarily appointed as Chairperson of the Caucus due to the overseas engagement of the Caucus Chairperson, Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj. At the session, the Director of the National Cancer Control Program, along with other medical professionals, briefed the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus on breast cancer prevention. They highlighted that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In Sri Lanka, approximately 15 new cases are diagnosed daily, with about 3 deaths occurring each day. The doctors emphasized that early detection and treatment of breast cancer can lead to a cure and stressed the importance of breast self-examination (BSE) in addition to medical screenings. It was also revealed that awareness programs have started at the school level in Sri Lanka. Under the initiative called “Pink Wednesday,” a program to increase breast cancer awareness was launched for the first time at Colombo Musaeus College with support from various organizations. Accordingly, students at the school wear pink ties on the first Wednesday of every month in support of this program. The members stressed the need to expand this awareness and the programs throughout the country. Furthermore, it was decided that in the next parliamentary week, on a selected day, all MPs and parliamentary staff will wear pink to support the program. They also agreed to request to grant a debate on this matter in Parliament. It was also decided to send a letter to the Ministry of Education, requesting all schools to raise awareness on this issue among students during their morning assemblies. Additionally, the Caucus decided to conduct an awareness program on breast cancer prevention for the parliamentary staff. Members of the Caucus, Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Hon. Members of Parliament Krishnan Kalaichelvi, Attorney at Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Chathuri Gangani, Attorney at Law Thushari Jayasinghe and a group of doctors including the Director of the National Cancer Prevention Program, participated in this session.
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