The following Members of Parliament were sworn in before the Hon. Speaker;
• The Hon. Nandimithra Ekanayake
• The Hon. Chandima Weerakkody
Presentation of Bills
Chief of Defence Staff
The Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Administration, and Deputy Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order moved the Bill to provide for the appointment of a person to be the Chief of Defence Staff who shall be responsible for the Co-ordination of activities as between the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence; for the establishment of the Committee of the Chief of Defence Staff; to provide for the functions of the Chief of Defence Staff; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The Hon. Minister of Labour Relations and Manpower moved the following Bills;
Employees’ Provident Fund (Special Provisions) (Amendment)
to amend the Employees’ Provident Fund (Special Provisions) Law, No.6 of 1975.
Indian Immigrant Labour (Repeal)
to repeal the Indian Immigrant Labour Ordinance (Chapter 132).
Consultative Committees and Standing Committees (Legislative)
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament,
(a) That Fifty Five (55) Consultative Committees be appointed to be designated -
1. Consultative Committee on Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment
2. Consultative Committee on Defence, Public Security, Law and Order
3. Consultative Committee on Finance and Planning
4. Consultative Committee on Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development
5. Consultative Committee on Internal Administration
6. Consultative Committee on Plantation Industries
7. Consultative Committee on Justice and Law Reforms
8. Consultative Committee on Healthcare and Nutrition
9. Consultative Committee on Ports and Aviation
10. Consultative Committee on Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development
11. Consultative Committee on Highways and Road Development
12. Consultative Committee on Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services.
13. Consultative Committee on Education
14. Consultative Committee on Public Administration and Home Affairs.
15. Consultative Committee on Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development.
16. Consultative Committee on Posts and Telecommunication.
17. Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Sacred Area Development
18. Consultative Committee on Social Services and Social Welfare.
19. Consultative Committee on Housing and Common Amenities.
20. Consultative Committee on Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication.
21. Consultative Committee on Water Supply and Drainage.
22. Consultative Committee on Science and Technology.
23. Consultative Committee on Constitutional Affairs and National Integration.
24. Consultative Committee on Re-settlement and Disaster Relief Services.
25. Consultative Committee on Plan Implementation
26. Consultative Committee on Supplementary Plantation Crops Development
27. Consultative Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
28. Consultative Committee on Export Development and International Trade.
29. Consultative Committee on Power and Energy.
30. Consultative Committee on Child Development and Women’s Empowerment.
31. Consultative Committee on Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion.
32. Consultative Committee on Public Estate Management and Development
33. Consultative Committee on Land and Land Development.
34. Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs.
35. Consultative Committee on Mass Media and Information.
36. Consultative Committee on Indigenous Medicine.
37. Consultative Committee on Labour Relations and Manpower.
38. Consultative Committee on Sports and Public Recreation.
39. Consultative Committee on Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services.
40. Consultative Committee on Disaster Management and Human Rights.
41. Consultative Committee on Construction and Engineering Services.
42. Consultative Committee on Tourism.
43. Consultative Committee on Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare.
44. Consultative Committee on Vocational and Technical Training.
45. Consultative Committee on Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion.
46. Consultative Committee on Local Government and Provincial Councils.
47. Consultative Committee on Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
48. Consultative Committee on Livestock Development.
49. Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs.
50. Consultative Committee on Cultural Affairs and National Heritage.
51. Consultative Committee on Higher Education.
52. Consultative Committee on Irrigation and Water Management.
53. Consultative Committee on Industrial Development
54. Consultative Committee on Transport.
55. Consultative Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
That each Committee shall consist of not less than five (5) Members and not more than thirty one (31) Members to consider and report upon such matters as are referred to it in terms of Standing Order 109;
That three (03) Members be the quorum of each Committee.
(b) That two Standing Committees (Legislative) be appointed to be designated Standing Committee “A” and Standing Committee “B” respectively.
That each Committee do consist of thirty one (31) Members and that the Speaker be empowered to add not more than fifteen (15) additional Members to serve on the Committee during the consideration of any particular Bill;
That seven (07) Members be the quorum of each Committee.
Consultative Committees
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the motion agreed to by Parliament this day, Consultative Committee on Defence, Public Security and Law and Order shall consist of not less than five (5) members and not more than thirty three (33) members appointed by the Committee of Selection.
House Committee
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 122, the House Committee shall consist of Mr. Speaker as Chairman and thirty one (31) other members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on Standing Orders
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 123, the Committee on Standing Orders shall consist of Mr. Speaker as Chairman, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of Committees and thirty one (31) other members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on Parliamentary Business
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 124, the Committee on Parliamentary Business shall consist of Mr. Speaker as Chairman, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of Committees, the Leader of the House of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Government Whip, the Chief Opposition Whip and thirty one (31) other members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on Public Accounts
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 125, the Committee on Public Accounts shall consist of thirty three (33) members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on Public Enterprises
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 126, the Committee on Public Enterprises shall consist of thirty three (33) members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on Privileges
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 127, the Committee on Privileges shall consist of thirty one (31) members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on Public Petitions
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 128, the Committee on Public Petitions shall consist of thirty three (33) members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
Committee on High Posts
House agreed to a Motion moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 128A, the Committee on High Posts shall consist of thirty one (31) members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
House also agreed to the following Motions moved by the Leader of the House of Parliament for a further extension of time of the following Select Committees till 31st December, 2009;
- to investigate and recommend steps to be taken to prevent man-made disasters
- on Electoral Reforms
- to look into the alarming increase in traffic accidents
The Hon. Duleep Wijesekera was granted leave to introduce the Bill, entitled
“Association of International Co-operation, Sri Lanka (Incorporation)”
Main Business of the House for Today
Resolution under the Public Security Ordinance
Resolution moved by the Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Administration and Deputy Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order that the Proclamation made by the President under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act, No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978, and Act, No. 28 of 1988, bringing into operation the provisions of Part II of the aforesaid Ordinance throughout Sri Lanka with effect from 02nd June 2009, was approved.
Accordingly, the Emergency debate was passed by Parliament with a majority of 95 votes, extending it for another month. 102 votes were cast in favour of the motion while 07 votes were against it.
The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1622 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 10th June 2009.
