2020-11-30
News Categories : Committee News
The Hon. Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma stated that given the discussions held with Sri Lanka Insurance Corp. Ltd, it has been decided to set up an insurance scheme to provide compensation worth Rs. one million in the event of a death caused due to defects in the CEB's power system.
The Minister of Power, Dullas Alahapperuma stated that discussions were held as well with the Sri Lanka Insurance Corp. Ltd to introduce an insurance scheme to cover the losses incurred on household appliances due to power outages.
The Minister disclosed the above at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power held in Parliament, yesterday 30th November 2020.
The Minister also instructed the respective officials to initiate a procedure to inform consumers a week ahead when there is a power outage due to maintenance.
It was decided at the Committee meeting to formalize the process of supplying street lights to the areas belonging to the Local Government Authorities and to establish a standard for the street lights so supplied. The CEB spends Rs. 2 billion a year on street lights. The Committee also focused on the need to install solar powered street lights in areas where electric street lights cannot be installed.
The Committee drew attention to the large-scale property damage caused by lightning in active areas and it was decided to find a solution in this regard in consultation with the Department of Disaster Management.
Attention was also drawn to the need of establishing a formal system and a process that would not inconvenience consumers in the installation of solar panels throughout the country. Hon. State Minister of Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development Duminda Dissanayake stated that the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority
will initiate a regulatory process for this purpose.
It was also disclosed that a sum of Rs. 100 million will be provided under the Indian Loan Scheme for the provision of solar power kits to state-owned enterprises, he said. The aim is to gradually reduce the large amount of money spent on electricity bills by state institutions. A program has also been proposed to earn an income by renting out the roofs of government institutions to install solar power kits.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Parliamentarians Sarathi Dushmanth, B.Y.G. Ratnasekera, Samanpriya Herath, Charles Nirmalanathan, Secretary to the Ministry of Power Wasantha Perera, Secretary to the State Ministry Secretary Hemantha Samarakoon and other officials were also present at the occasion.
2026-01-30
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability focused its attention on the impact of Cyclone ‘Dithwa’ on the agricultural sector and the environment, as well as the measures being taken to restore affected areas to normalcy.These matters were considered when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability met in Parliament on 22.01.2026, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy.Officials representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development participated in the meeting.During the meeting, the Chairman of the Committee inquired whether the officials representing the respective ministries had prepared data-based reports on the damage caused by Cyclone ‘Dithwa’. In response, the officials stated that assessments had been carried out and that reports estimating the damage had already been prepared. The committee was also briefed on these findings. In addition, officials representing the relevant departments and statutory bodies under each ministry presented the data available with their respective institutions to the committee.Following the presentation of data, the Chairman of the Committee sought clarification regarding the compensation to be provided for the damages incurred and the methodology for calculating such compensation. Officials from the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure stated that compensation payments would be made after the submission of a Cabinet Memorandum, and therefore indicated that they were unable to present further details at that stage.The Committee emphasized the importance of establishing a formal and systematic mechanism for the payment of compensation and instructed that the compensation process be expedited. The Committee further recommended that the reports prepared by each ministry on the impact of Cyclone ‘Dithwa’ be submitted to the Committee.Hon. Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Ajith P. Perera, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Nawaratne, Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath, and Upul Kithsiri also participated in the committee meeting.
2026-01-29
The Sub-Committee on Youth Entrepreneurship, appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, convened in Parliament on 21.01.2026 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Sunil Rajapaksha, with the objective of taking necessary measures to nurture young entrepreneurs through the National Youth Services Council (NYSC).Officials representing the National Youth Services Council, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and local banks participated in the meeting.During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the criteria formulated by the National Youth Services Council for the implementation of a program aimed at providing the required support to develop and empower young entrepreneurs. Discussions also focused on the support and collaboration that could be extended by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and local banks for this initiative.In addition, the committee paid attention to measures that could be taken to integrate university graduates into the entrepreneurship sector, as part of broader efforts to strengthen youth entrepreneurship in the country.Hon. Members of Parliament Chanaka Madugoda, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, and Krishnan Kalaichelvi also participated in the meeting of the sub-committee.
2026-01-29
The Committee on Public Finance of Parliament held extensive discussions on issues related to the gem and jewellery industry.These matters were discussed when the committee met in Parliament on 27.01.2026, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Nishantha Jayaweera, as well as Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Nimal Palihena, and Wijesiri Basnayake.Representatives of several organizations representing different segments of the gem and jewellery industry and business sector briefed the committee on the challenges faced by their respective fields. They highlighted that the absence of a long-term national policy for the gem and jewellery industry has resulted in significant difficulties, and strongly emphasized the need to formulate a robust national policy for the sector.They further pointed out that the industry could be strengthened by relaxing existing regulations to encourage exports, reviewing and restructuring the role of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, introducing safe harbour rules for income tax, implementing VAT reforms specific to the gem and jewellery industry, regulating foreign entities operating informally, and promoting foreign investment.In addition, industry representatives drew the committee’s attention to issues such as the prohibition on the use of scanning equipment during gem mining operations and the declining availability of land for existing mining activities, which pose serious challenges to the sector.In his concluding remarks, the Chairman of the Committee stated that the discussions helped identify key problem areas within the industry, particularly in relation to liberalization (both fiscal and physical), administration, and policy matters concerning mining operations. Accordingly, he emphasized that the committee intends to consolidate these issues into a comprehensive discussion paper and engage in a series of productive discussions with senior officials of the relevant ministries.
2026-01-29
Agreement to commence operations using existing resources of the Sri Lanka Foundation and the National Film CorporationEstablishment of a technical committee representing all stakeholders to plan next stepsSteps to revive the Colombo International Film Festival this yearDiscussions on constructing a modern, technologically equipped film studio complexPreliminary discussions on establishing a National Film School in Sri Lanka were held recently (Jan. 22) under the leadership of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Member of Parliament Jagath Manuwarna, Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, and was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne. Officials representing the National Film Corporation, the State Cinema Advisory Board, and the Sri Lanka Foundation participated in the meeting, along with representatives from the Film Directors’ Guild, Art Directors’ Guild, Screenwriters’ Guild, SAARC Cultural Center, university academics specializing in film studies, and a number of professionals from the cinema industry.During the meeting, officials, film professionals, and academics presented their views and proposals regarding the establishment of a National Film School. It was emphasized that the institution should go beyond theoretical instruction and offer programs focused on producing practically skilled filmmakers. The need to operate the school in accordance with international standards of film education was also discussed.Although the establishment of a National Film School has been a long-standing discussion aimed at uplifting the local film industry, it has yet to be realized. In this context, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus stressed the importance of initiating the school through the collective involvement of all relevant stakeholders, making use of existing resources, and strengthening the institution progressively over time.Accordingly, discussions were held on taking initial steps to establish the National Film School by utilizing existing resources of the Sri Lanka Foundation, which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media, and the National Film Corporation, which functions under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. It was also decided to establish a committee to prepare the legal framework, obtain necessary initial approvals, and plan the required preliminary actions.As a result, a technical committee comprising representatives from the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Sri Lanka Foundation, the National Film Corporation, the State Cinema Advisory Board, and representatives of the cinema industry was established.The committee includes the Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus Hon. MP Jagath Manuwarna, Chairman of the National Film Corporation Sudath Mahadivulwewa, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation Prof. Seetha Bandara, Chairman of the State Cinema Advisory Board Dr. Senesh Dissanayake Bandara, Director of SAARC Cultural Center Dr. Kaushalya Kumarasinghe along with several representatives from the film sector.In addition, another committee consisting of senior professionals in the cinema industry was appointed to plan academic activities, including the curriculum of the film school.Attention was also drawn to reviving the currently inactive ‘International Film Festival, Colombo’ (IFF Colombo) during this year. Accordingly, agreement was reached on securing the necessary funding and establishing an institution to ensure the long-term, sustainable operation of the festival. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus, Hon. MP Jagath Manuwarna, stated that he is prepared to provide the necessary support and intervention for all these initiatives.Furthermore, discussions were held on constructing a modern, technologically advanced studio complex to support film production activities. The need to identify a suitable land area close to Colombo and the future steps required for this project were also considered.Members of Parliament of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, including Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law Susantha Dodawatte, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Ruwan Mapalagama, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe, Dinesh Hemantha, Upul Kithsiri, and several other MPs, also participated in the meeting.
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