News

New Secretary General of Parliament, assumes duties

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2023

editor

Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, who was newly appointed as the Secretary General of the Parliament, assumed her duties today (23) in the morning.

Mrs. Rohanadeera, who arrived in Parliament this morning to begin her new duties, was received by Assistant Secretary Generals Mr. Tikiri K. Jayathilake and Mr. Hansa Abeyratne.

post giving the official oaths/affirmation before the Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker, blessings were added by the recital of Pirith by the Maha Sangha.

She then began her duties as the Secretary General of Parliament by certifying that the Ratanathissa Peace Foundation (Incorporation) Bill, which was passed by Parliament, as a true copy, which is to be certified by the Speaker.

Former Secretary General of the Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, Mrs. Rohanadeera’s family members, heads of the departments of Parliament and others were present at this occasion.

Today at 9:30 a.m. the Hon. Speaker, the new Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary generals entered the chamber, led by the Serjeant-at-arms.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 65(1) of the Constitution, Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker, announced that the Chief of Staff and Deputy General Secretary of the Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, has been appointed as the General Secretary of the Parliament with effect from May 23rd, 2023.

Furthermore, according to the provisions of the Constitution, the Speaker officially informed that Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, who held the position of Secretary General of the Parliament, retired from the said position on May 23rd, 2023.

Mrs. Rohanadeera, who completed her primary and secondary education at Ambalangoda Dharmashoka College, is a graduate of the University of Colombo in Biology. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the Open University of Sri Lanka and is an Attorney-at-Law in profession.

In 1999, she joined the staff of the Secretary General of Parliament as a parliamentary officer. There on, she was promoted to the positions of Assistant Principal Officer, Deputy Principal Officer, Assistant Secretary General, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament.

Before joining the Parliamentary service, she has worked as a junior executive officer at Sampath Bank, a junior scientist at Environment Foundation, secretary to the director of the National Institute of Education (Distance Education), and a center coordinator at Informatics Private Institute.

Moreover, she has received training on parliamentary process and legislative process in many countries including India and Canada.

Married to Mr. Harigupta Rohanadeera, an Attorney-at-Law, she is a mother of three children and loves cooking and singing.

News

Cabinet green light to ratify Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

Cabinet approval has been granted to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and to take the necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the agreement.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 10, 1996. By the treaty, member states agreed to ban “any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. So far, 186 countries have signed the agreement and 177 countries have ratified the agreement.

Sri Lanka signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on October 24, 1996. Sri Lanka is currently cooperating with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity development, data and information sharing. Sri Lanka’s ratification of the treaty would recognize Sri Lanka’s diplomatic role as an active proponent of international peace and security in a world free of nuclear weapons.

According to the government, ratifying the agreement will also enable the country to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes that will benefit many developing countries including Sri Lanka, such as tsunami warnings, climate change and geographical studies.

News

Overseas travel ban slapped on Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court has issued an overseas travel ban on Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC) MP – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam over the recent incident of verbally abusing police officers during a function, police spokesman – SSP Nihal Thalduwa says.

Yesterday, the magistrate ordered to remand the AITC’s main female organizer in the North – East region, over the incident.

News

Verdict on petition challenging Diana Gamage’s MP seat, postponed

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Court of Appeal has deferred the pronouncement of the verdict on the petition filed seeking an order to annul the Parliamentary seat of State Minister Diana Gamage.

Accordingly, the verdict is expected to be pronounced on the 25th of July.

The petition was called this morning before President of the Court of Appeal Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A Marikkar.

Court heard arguments pertaining to the petition previously and was expected to announce the verdict today.

The writ petition was filed before the Court of Appeal calling for State Minister Diana Gamage to be stripped of her Parliamentary seat by activist Oshala Herath on the 15th of November 2022.

State Minister Gamage, the Immigration and Emigration Controller, the Minister of Public Security, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the National Election Commission and its members, and the General Secretary of Parliament were cited as respondents in the petition.

(newsradio.lk)