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Budget debate from Nov. 13

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On the 19th of October 2023, the Committee on Parliamentary Business met under the Chairmanship of Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the Speaker and has agreed in this regard. 

Accordingly, time has been allotted on Tuesday 7th November 2023, from 9.30 am to 10.30 am for Questions for Oral Answers.

The Second Reading of the Dassana Bauddha Sanvidhanaya (Incorporation) Bill has been scheduled for 10.30 am and time from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m has been allotted for the Second Reading of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Bill.

Thereafter, time has been allotted for Questions at the Adjournment Time from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, November 08th, time has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and Questions to be asked from the Prime Minister has been scheduled from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.

Thereafter, time from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m has been set apart to take up the Second Reading of the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Bill and the Second Reading of the Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill.

From 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m, time has been allotted for the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Government.

On Thursday, November 09th, following Questions for Oral Answers scheduled from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m, time has been allotted to take up the Order under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Thereafter the supplementary estimate No. 01 is also scheduled to be submitted for the approval of 231.5 billion rupees for the fiscal year 2023.

From 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m, time has also been allotted for the Questions at the Adjournment Time (Two Questions)

On Friday, November 10th, following Questions for Oral Answers scheduled from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m, time has been allotted for the consideration of Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill, Second Reading of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill 

Thereafter, the Second Reading of the Galaha Bhaddrawathie National Bhikkhu Care Centre Trust Bill is scheduled to be taken up from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

From 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m, time has been allotted for the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition.

Budget debate

The President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to present the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2024 or the ‘Budget Speech’ to the Parliament at 12.00 pm on November 13th, Monday. Thereafter, from November 14th to 21st, the Second Reading debate of the Appropriation Bill (Budget) will be held for 7 days excluding Sundays, the Secretary General said.

Furthermore, the vote for the Second Reading of the budget is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 21st at 6:00 pm. Thereafter, it has been decided to hold the Committee debate for 19 days from Wednesday, the 22nd of November to Wednesday, the 13th of December, excluding Sundays. Accordingly, the vote on the Third Reading of the budget for the financial year 2024 is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, the 13th of December at 6:00 p.m.

During the budget debate period, the debate is scheduled to be held every day from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm and the debate will be held from 6.00 pm to 6.30 pm everyday except on the date of vote.

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NPP secures control of 200 LG bodies

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The National People’s Power has secured control of a total of 200 local councils so far.

The NPP also secured majority votes at the Balangoda Urban Council and the Thanamalvila Pradeshiya Sabha today (June 24).

At the recently concluded LG polls, the NPP secured outright victories in 151 LG bodies.

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10 J’pura students unnecessarily charged for hostel damages – CoPE

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During a meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE), it was revealed that ten students of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura were unjustly charged a monetary penalty in connection with damages caused to a university hostel due to a student clash.

The committee pointed out that the amount charged was three times the actual value of the damaged university property, which is the maximum amount that can be legally charged, along with an additional surcharge of 25%. Accordingly, the Vice-Chancellor of the university informed the committee that if there has been an error in the calculation of the charges, steps would be taken to rectify it.

The Chair of the committee further instructed the officials to reconsider the fairness of imposing the fine only on one party involved in the clash, and not both parties.These matters were discussed during the COPE meeting held on the 20th at the Parliament under the Chairmanship of Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, MP, to examine the audit reports for the years 2022 and 2023 and the current performance of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

The committee held extensive discussions on various issues, including the composition of the university staff, the financial situation, the condition of buildings and constructions, and the relationship between the students and the university administration, emphasizing the need to maintain a student-friendly environment.

It was also disclosed during the committee meeting that the university’s full-time bursar had been released to serve as a non-executive director of a private company. Committee members raised concerns over releasing a person holding a full-time position without consulting the Ministry, describing such decisions as problematic.

Responding to this, the Registrar stated that the bursar was released in a manner that would not hinder her official duties. Nevertheless, the committee was informed of the number of leave days obtained by the bursar and that there had been 44 days in 2024 for which no arrival or departure entries had been recorded. The Chair instructed the Registrar to rectify this information.The committee also had an in-depth discussion about the recruitment of a project manager without a formal public announcement or a proper application process, which was deemed a deviation from the accepted recruitment procedures.

Accordingly, the committee chairman directed the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate and prepare a report on the problematic recruitment practices in the university’s staff appointments.

Further, the committee discussed the university’s financial deposits. It was revealed that although Rs. 10,500 had been charged per student for the 2024 external degree convocation, over Rs. 5.3 million remained unutilized after the event. The committee drew attention to this matter and instructed the officials to determine such fees in a more affordable manner for students. The university administration informed the committee that they have decided to reduce the amount charged for convocations from this year onwards.

Meanwhile, the committee also held lengthy discussions on the existing and past problematic conditions related to the university’s buildings and construction projects.Members of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, Nilanthi Kottachchi. Attorney-at-Law, Ruwan Mapalagama, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Thilina Samarakoon, Chandima Hettiaratchi, and Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law participated in this committee meeting.

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High Posts committee approves appointments of 4 chairmen

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The Committee on High Posts approved the appointment of Chairpersons of four State Institutions recently.

The approval was granted during the Committee’s meeting held on June 20, 2025, chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The appointments are as follows :

  • Mr. Somasiri Ekanayake – Chairman of the Employees’ Trust Fund Board (ETF)
  • Mr. B. A. P. K. R. Bamunu Arachch – Chairman of the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation
  • Mr. M. R. H. Swarnathilaka – Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board
  • Mr. S. Nesarajan – Chairman of Paranthan Chemicals Limited

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