Select Committee of Parliament to look into whether the child malnutrition issue in Sri Lanka
A Select Committee of Parliament to look into whether the child malnutrition issue in Sri Lanka is aggravating and to identify short term, medium term and long-term measures to be taken in that regard, as well as to oversee the speedy implementation of the identified measures has been established, to which Hon. Vadivel Suresh was appointed as Chair.
Speaker, Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced in Parliament on Friday (Mar. 24) that the following Members of Parliament were appointed to serve in the Committee.
Accordingly, Hon. Nalin Fernando, Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Seetha Arambepola, Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar, Hon. (Ms.) Geetha Samanmale Kumarasinghe, Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Hon. (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, Hon. Kins Nelson, Hon. (Ms.) Muditha Prishanthi, Hon. Ali Sabri Raheem, Hon. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka, Hon. (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake, Hon. (Prof.) Charitha Herath, Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya, Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama were appointed to the said Committee.
Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender
Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender unanimously at its first meeting held on 22.03.2023 in Parliament.
Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake, Member of Parliament proposed the name of the Chair while Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prashanthi , Member of Parliament seconded it.
It was also revealed that this committee has the authority to summon institutions under the Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, National Child Protection Authority, National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development.
Members of Parliament Hon. Thissa Vitharana, Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, Hon. Mudita Prishanthi, Hon. Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. D. Weerasinghe, Hon. Manjula Dissanayake, Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya and Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama were present at this committee.
Hon. D. Weerasinghe, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security & Agriculture
Hon. D. Weerasinghe, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security & Agriculture unanimously on Wednesday 22nd March 2023 in Parliament.
It was the meeting of the said Committee and accordingly, Hon. Kins Nelson, Member of Parliament proposed the name of the Chair while Hon. Dilip Wedaarchchi, Member of Parliament seconded it.
Bills related to food security and agriculture will be referred to the sectoral oversight committee after being submitted to the parliament. It was revealed that there is the possibility to present amendments to them if necessary.
It was also discussed that this sectoral oversight committee could summon institutions operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Water Supply, Ministry of Irrigation, Ministry of Tourism and Lands, Ministry of Plantation etc.
Members of Parliament Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama and (Prof.) Hon. Tissa Vitharana also attended this meeting.
Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education
Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Committee on Education recently (Mar. 21) in Parliament.
The first meeting of the said Committee was held yesterday. Accordingly, Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, Member of Parliament proposed the name of the Chair and Hon. (Ms.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Member of Parliament seconded it.
Member of Parliament Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan mentioned that he has an understanding in this regard because he has worked as a former Minister of State for Education. Therefore, he said that he hopes to do the best possible through this committee.
Moreover, since this Committee is of a wide field, two sub-committees were appointed as the Higher Education and Research Sub-Committee and the Skill Development and Vocational Training Sub-Committee.
Members of Parliament Hon. Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Kulasingham Thilipan, Hon. Asanka Navaratne, Hon. Mudita Prishanthi de Soyza, Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal, Hon. (Ms.) Manjula Dissanayake and Hon. (Prof.) Charitha Herath were present at the Committee meeting held.
Mr. Tikiri K. Jayathilake Assistant Secretary-General of Parliament was also present.
Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair to the Committee on Ways and Means
Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Committee on Ways and Means unanimously on 23.03.2023 in Parliament.
Accordingly, State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, proposed the name of the Chair whilst Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Member of Parliament seconded it.
Addressing the Committee, the Chair state that that the committee has the power to recommend the necessary measures to get additional income for the government and to consider the government’s expenses by strengthening the economic stability of the country.
The Chair further mentioned that he hopes to discuss in detail the ways to raise the government’s revenue and collect the expected tax revenue from this year’s budget.
It was emphasized that a discussion between Committee chairs regarding is necessary to decide the scope of all the standing committees such as the Committee on Public Accounts, the Committee on Public Finance, the Committee on Public Enterprises, the Committee on Ways and Means etc.
Members of Parliament Hon. Eran Wickramaratne, Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna and Hon. Sudath Manjula were present at the Committee meeting held. The Chair also mentioned that all Committee chairpersons are expected to meet the Hon. Speaker in order to discuss this matter.
State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Hon. Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Members of Parliament Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Hon. Ishak Rahuman, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara were present at the Committee meeting held.
Should the litigation process to claim compensation of USD 6.2 billion related to the X-Press Pearl be in Singapore? Or in Sri Lanka? Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development to re-discuss with relevant parties
- Litigation process should be done within 58 days
Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development held 19.03.2023 took into discussion the environmental damage and the recovery of compensation related to the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster that occurred on 19.05.2021 in Sri Lankan waters.
Representatives of Marine Environment Protection Authority, Central Environmental Authority, Attorney General’s Department, Environmental Management and Assessment Committee scientists, marine and environmental legal experts Representatives representing the fishing community and environmental organizations were called before the Committee Chaired by Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma.
Whether the Civil suit to recover the estimated USD 6.2 billion in damages related to the damage caused by the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster should be filed in Singapore or in Sri Lanka was taken up for discussion at the Committee.
It was disclosed that an expert committee co-chaired by Prof. Prasanthi Gunawardene and Prof. Ajith De Alwis has provided an estimate of nearly USD 6.2 billion in relation to each of the sectors affected by this accident.
Expressing views, the Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority, Attorney- at – Law Mr. Asela Rekawa, said that a committee consisting of expert lawyers related to ocean law and other legal matters was appointed to take a decision regarding the transfer of a civil suit to get compensation related to this maritime disaster and that prosecution should be done in this country was the Committee decision. However, it was disclosed that the Cabinet has approved the litigation in Singapore and accordingly, the Attorney General’s Department is proceeding on the matter. Moreover, according to the law, the litigation should be done within another 58 days, the officials of the Marine Environment Protection Authority pointed out.
Attention was also paid to who would take the responsibility if Sri Lanka suffered any disadvantage through the litigation process in Singapore.
The attention of the committee was also drawn to the suspension of money from the ship’s insurance company for the activities such as beach cleaning and damage assessment, which are already being done by the Marine Environment Protection Authority.
Discussions were also held for not allowing the expert committee appointed to assess the damage caused in connection with the incident to go inside and near the ship under any circumstances.
Accordingly, it was decided to resummon the relevant parties before the Sectoral Oversight Committee in the future to further review matters such as discussing and settling the legal matters, obtaining financial facilities for the scientific committee for its research and removing the legal obstacles to reach the ship for research.
Members of Parliament and Committee Members Hon. Thushara Indunil Amarasena, Hon. Waruna Liyanage, Hon. Akila Ellawala, Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha a Members of Parliament Hon. Niroshan Perera, Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi and Hon. Hector Appuhamy were also present the Committee meeting held.
Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society
Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society on the 23rd of March 2023 in Parliament.
Accordingly, Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala, Member of Parliament proposed the name of the Chair and Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Member of Parliament seconded it.
The first meeting of Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society was held where the Committee Chair was appointed.
By looking into the opinions of the public about the institutions dealing with law and justice in the country, the Chair stated that he wishes to provide encouragement and guidance to those institutions through the Sectoral Oversight Committee.
Members of Parliament Hon. Rauff Hakeem and Hon. K. P. S. Kumarasiri were present at the Committee meeting held.
Mr. Tikiri K. Jayathilake Assistant Secretary-General, Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) Mr. H.E. Janakantha Silva were also present at the Committee meeting held.
Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Media, Youth, Heritage and New Citizen
Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Media, Youth, Heritage and New Citizen recently (Mar. 21) at its first meeting in Parliament.
Accordingly, Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda, Member of Parliament proposed the name of the Chair, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Member of Parliament seconded it.
Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara, Member of Parliament, whilst expressing his gratitude for being selected as the chairman of the said Committee, said that he expects to contribute to the relevant fields through the Sectoral Oversight Committees for the development of the country.
Members of Parliament Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Nipuna Ranawaka and Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama were present at the Committee meeting held.
Active interventions made to strengthen national security, going beyond the recommendations – Dr. Sarath Weerasekera, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security
Hon. (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, said in Parliament on 21.03.2023 that the committee would actively intervene to strengthen national security without being confined to the recommendations made so far.
The chairman stated this when the committee met on 21.03.2023 to discuss the future program of the committee.
The chairman said that this committee is one of the sectoral oversight committees that has been assigned a very responsible task and is expected to focus on a number of areas related to national security in the coming period.
Hon. Weerasekera pointed out that Sri Lanka, which is located in a strategically important location, has had to face various invasions and enemy threats since the past and its latest face could be through foreign agreements instead of physical invasions. Therefore, the chairman further pointed out that it is the responsibility of this committee to study those agreements and find out whether there is a threat to national security. He also said that attention should be paid to the proposed Central Bank of Sri Lanka Bill.
The chairman of the committee also said that even though terrorism has been curbed, there is still a risk of religious extremism operating in this country. He also pointed out that special attention should be paid to unregistered madrasa schools that only teach religion and language, and to people who come to Sri Lanka from abroad and give extremist views and lectures. The chairman also stated that the 2015-2019 Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has submitted a report containing very important recommendations to the Parliament regarding defeating this extremism, and that it is expected to implement them in the future.
The need to strengthen the security of the country by stopping the riots that threaten the lives and property of the people was also discussed here. The committee also emphasized that if there was any deficiency in the security levels especially in the incident that occurred on July 9, such things should not happen.
There was also a discussion regarding a stock of gold found by the army while hiding the terrorists. It was also decided to look into the matter further.
Apart from this, attention was also paid to a number of matters including drug importation and distribution, Cybercrimes, defamation through social media and crime control. Accordingly, the relevant parties are expected to be called before the committee and necessary measures are expected to be taken, said the chairman of the committee.
Members of Parliament Hon. Chandima Weerakkodi, Hon. Charles Nirmalanathan, Hon. (Prof.) Channa Jayasumana, Hon. Major Pradeep Undugoda, Hon. Major Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Sumit Udukumbura, Hon. Sampath Athukorala and Hon. Nimal Piyathissa were present in this meeting.
The Select Committee of Parliament holds discussions with the banking sector regarding encouraging small, medium and micro scale enterprise
Select Committee of Parliament to study the practical problems and difficulties that have arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index in Sri Lanka and make its proposals and recommendations took into discussion regarding encouraging small, medium and micro scale enterprises and solving their existing financial problems with the banking sector in.
This was discussed at the Select Committee of Parliament to study the practical problems and difficulties that have arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index in Sri Lanka and make its proposals and recommendations held under the chairmanship of Hon. Madhura Withanage recently (Mar. 16) in Parliament.
Officials representing the banking sector of the public sector and officials representing the banking sector of the private sector were present this Committee and their ideas and suggestions were obtained to develop enterprises and promote investments in this country. Small, medium and micro scale enterprises were mainly discussed at length.
Member of Parliament Hon. Madhura Withanage pointed out the need to prepare and maintain a data system with correct information regarding each field.
Moreover, the officials present pointed out that the relationship between government institutions need to be developed when considering the development of enterprises.
Furthermore, the Committee Chair requested that the long-term proposals presented by the Banks for the promotion of this sector be given in writing to this Select Committee
State Minister for Finance Hon. Shehan Semasinghe, also presented his views before this committee.
State Minister Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar, Members of Parliament Hon. Mohomad Muzammil, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna and Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara were present at this Committee meeting held.
Source: Parliament of Sri Lanka
