2021-02-10
News Categories : Committee News
Strategic planning should be carried out in order to prevent the COVID19 virus from entering the society through tourists who visit the country whilst ensuring the prevention of the Virus from transmitting to the tourists from the community, said the Hon. Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga.
Accordingly, the Minister stated that health regulations should always be followed and steps should be taken to vaccinate the people of this country as a practical measure against the aforesaid concern.
The Minister emphasized on the above taking into consideration the time-consuming factor faced by tourists having to undergo PCR tests and a long quarantine period upon arrival.
Thus, measures have been put into effect in order to vaccinate 57% of the total population by March, said the Minister at the Consultative Committee on Tourism which met yesterday (09).
Hon. Member of Parliament Waruna Liyanage brought to light the issue related to the Dahaiyagala Elephant Pass in Udawalawe located between the Udawalawe National Park and the Bogahapitiya proposed Forest Reserve, identified as a place of importance as it is a decisive route for elephants. The MP pointed out that as a result, elephants in the said forest reserve are under threat due to the illicit clearing of these areas.
In consideration of the above, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga emphasized that elephants are a resource for the country's tourism industry and that the forests and the wildlife should be protected which are major tourist attractions.
Hon. Member of Parliament Udayana Kirindigoda, commenting at the committee stated that tourists often obtain information about the country through various websites regarding hotels and lodging in particular, associated with various tourist destinations. However, the MP stated that information provided on these sites are not updated and below the level of satisfaction. The MP was of the view that although quality information and photographs of hotels and lodges have been published on websites, in practice this is not the case and as a result the reputation of the country is being tarnished.
Agreeing with the aforesaid, Hon. Members of Parliament Geetha Kumarasinghe and Diana Gamage stated that the tourism sector can be developed further by issuing a license or certificate after reviewing the publications on the sites regarding hotels and lodges with its practical status.
Hon. Members of Parliament such as Chandima Weerakkody, Geetha Kumarasinghe and Manusha Nanayakkara expressed their views on tourism development in the Galle District. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga instructed the officials of the Tourism Development Authority to call upon a separate meeting to discuss the development of tourism in the Southern Province including Galle for the purpose of the above.
When inquired by the Minister of Tourism regarding the progress related to the development of tourism in the Batticaloa District, the State Secretary Mr. Madhava Devasurendra said that the development process has already been implemented in consultation with the relevant parties.
The Annual Report of the Tourism Development Authority for the year 2018, the Annual Report of the Tourism Development Fund for the year 2018 and the Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau for the year 2018 were presented at the meeting. The Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga stated that the needful to obtain approval will be carried out on this regard.
The Consultative Committee of Tourism was chaired by Hon. Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga. Hon. State Minister D. V. Chanaka, Hon. Members of Parliament Geetha Kumarasinghe, Manusha Nanayakkara, Udayana Kirindigoda, Jayantha Ketagoda, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, M. Udayakumar, Diana Gamage, Gunathilake Rajapaksa, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Sampath Athukorala, Sivagnanam Sritharan and government officials also marked their presence.
2026-03-06
The Third District Consultation aimed at strengthening inclusive service delivery for persons with disabilities was recently (Feb. 27) held in Batticaloa District. The event was organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities of the Tenth Parliament and convened at the Batticaloa Municipal Council Hall . The consultation was held under the patronage of the Chair of the Caucus, Hon. Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva and Batticaloa District Secretary J.S. Arulraj. The event was attended by the Deputy Co-Chairman, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathyalingam, as well as Members of Parliament representing the Batticaloa District Shanakyan Rajaputhiran Rajamanickam, (Dr.) Ilayathambi Sirinath, Gnanamuthu Srinesan, and Kanthasamy Prabu. Senior government officials including Assistant District Secretary G. Praveen, District Social Service Officer Chandrakala Gnaneswaran, police officers, sectoral experts, and social development officers participated in the discussions. The representatives of the organizations of person with disabilities of Batticaloa districts were also participated in this event. The urgency of the consultation was underscored by the statistics indicating that more than 9,000 persons with disabilities reside in Batticaloa District, supported by 14 active associations. District Secretary J. S. Arulraj highlighted critical service gaps, including the immediate need for 21 trained teachers across 23 special education units currently serving 183 students. He also raised concerns regarding the issuance of formal identification cards for persons with disabilities, difficulties in obtaining driving licences, and widespread accessibility barriers in public buildings.In his address, Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva emphasized that the consultation represented a unified, non-partisan effort to foster a compassionate and inclusive society. He stated that services for persons with disabilities must be delivered on the basis of humanity and equality. He further announced that the Caucus plans to engage with the Ministry of Education in March to address systemic barriers in qualifying examinations for government employment. He called upon government officials and political leaders to collaborate with dedication to resolve longstanding challenges faced by persons with disabilities.Deputy Co-Chairman (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathyalingam stressed the importance of identifying and supporting persons with disabilities in Batticaloa who have not yet received assistance. He highlighted the need for coordinated action through relevant institutions to ensure adequate facilities and services, particularly for individuals affected by conflict and other causes of disability.Members of Parliament representing the district drew attention to persistent shortcomings in service delivery and the practical challenges faced by persons with disabilities in their daily lives. The participants from disability community raised several concerns, including extending deadlines for educational allowances; adapting competitive examinations for visually impaired candidates through Braille-based alternatives; providing priority access in hospitals to reduce waiting times; ensuring that reserved seating on public transportation is respected; and improving accessibility at local government offices, where meetings are often held on upper floors without ramps or elevators.While some matters were addressed immediately through directives issued to relevant officials, others were referred to district authorities and the Parliamentary Caucus for longer-term policy reform, reflecting a commitment to sustainable and systemic change.The Chair of the Caucus reaffirmed that the Union remains committed to conducting district-level visits nationwide to listen directly to the concerns of persons with disabilities and to proposing practical, policy-driven solutions to ensure inclusive governance across Sri Lanka.The event was organized collaboratively by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), with funding support from the Government of Australia, in partnership with the Batticaloa District Secretariat.
2026-02-24
The Committee on High Posts of Parliament has approved the nominations of two Heads of Mission and a Ministry Secretary.The approvals were granted when the Committee met in Parliament recently (Feb. 20) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.Accordingly, the Committee approved the nomination of Mrs. Nirmala Indumathie Dias Paranavitana as Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the African Union.The Committee also approved the nomination of Professor Mohamed Ibrahim Fazeeha Azmi as the new Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Islamic Republic of Iran.In addition, approval was granted for the appointment of Mr. K.A. Vimalenthirarajah as the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.
2026-02-24
Committee reviews progress of disaster relief provided to the public affected by Cyclone DitwahAttention drawn to disaster management insuranceReview of the current progress of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) programmesThe Committee on Public Finance instructed officials to establish a legal framework for the Rs. 200 daily attendance allowance granted by the Government to estate workers.Clarifying matters at length, the Chairman of the Committee emphasized that the Committee has no objection to increasing the wages of estate workers. However, he stated that the legal basis of the mechanism used to make this payment must be discussed. It was pointed out that the payment is currently being made under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into with private plantation companies, without being gazetted, and that such an arrangement could be terminated at any time. Officials further noted that the Rs. 200 allowance does not qualify for contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).Officials informed the Committee that the MoU has been entered into with private plantation companies for a period of three years, and that once this period ends, a policy decision would be required if the Government intends to continue the payments.The Committee Chair pointed out that it is inappropriate to utilize public funds to pay salaries in private institutions without proper financial discipline. Officials stated that the payment is being made as it has been approved by Parliament under the 2026 Budget.According to the approved budget estimates, the allocation for this payment is categorized as a “development subsidy.” As development subsidies are generally intended to support increased production, the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury (DST) suggested that the payment would be more appropriately termed a “production incentive.” However, it was observed that neither the payments already made for January nor the relevant MoUs specify such a requirement in practice. The Committee also questioned whether excluding the Rs. 200 daily allowance from Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) calculations is in compliance with the relevant laws. When asked whether the Attorney General’s advice had been sought regarding the MoUs and related matters, officials stated that such advice had not been obtained.Accordingly, the Committee emphasized that these problematic areas must be rectified and that a proper legal basis should be established for the payment.These matters were discussed when the Committee on Public Finance met in Parliament on 17.02.2026 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva, with the participation of Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Nishantha Jayaweera and Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Ajith Alahakoon, M.K.M. Aslam, Attorney-at-Law Chitral Fernando, Wijesiri Basnayake, Sunil Rajapaksha, Nimal Palihena, Thilina Samarakoon and Champika Hettiarachchi.The Committee also discussed the progress of disaster relief provided to the public affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Officials stated that approximately Rs. 24.4 billion has so far been released under various relief measures announced for those affected. While the majority of allowances for house cleaning, purchase of household items, and assistance for schoolchildren have already been distributed, officials explained that delays in housing reconstruction and rental assistance payments have occurred due to processes such as damage assessments and land identification. Officials further clarified the verification procedures and accountability mechanisms in place. Committee members highlighted the difficulties faced by those expecting relief payments and stressed that housing assistance in particular should be expedited.Officials of the National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) also explained their financial position and the reinsurance claims the Fund is required to settle following claims submitted by general insurance companies after Cyclone Ditwah. The estimated reinsurance claims payable by NITF currently amount to approximately Rs. 11 billion. Although NITF has not reinsured its risk exposure with an international reinsurer since 2023, officials stated that it has the capacity to settle the existing claims.It was revealed that the Treasury maintains a significant cash buffer to meet the Government’s daily expenditure requirements, with approximately Rs. 750 billion available by the end of 2025. Due to payments made in December, the cash buffer had declined to this level, leading to increased issuance of Treasury bills from late December to mid-January, which in turn raised interest costs during that period. However, the situation has now stabilized. It was also noted that as the return earned from investing the cash buffer is approximately 2–3 percent lower than the Government’s annual interest cost, maintaining such reserves entails an opportunity cost.Attention was also drawn to the progress of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), which has been in operation for 14 months. It was observed that 90 percent of total staff recruitment has been completed. Officials have been provided with specialized local and international training to enhance professional capacity.Although the Central Bank’s auction system is currently used for public debt management activities, steps are being taken to establish an independent system within the PDMO to enable full operational autonomy in the future.The Committee observed that Sri Lanka’s total domestic debt stock amounts to Rs. 31 trillion, comprising Rs. 15.6 trillion in Treasury bills and Rs. 15.4 trillion in Treasury bonds. The average cost of this total debt is reported at 8.73 percent.It was further noted that Sri Lanka’s total external debt servicing requirement for 2026 is projected at USD 2,504 million. Expected foreign inflows for that year amount to USD 2,100 million, including USD 858 million in project loans, USD 150 million in World Bank budget support, USD 380 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and USD 800 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Accordingly, a resource management gap exceeding USD 400 million remains to be addressed for debt servicing in 2026.
2026-02-24
The Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Energy met in Parliament on 18.02.2026 under the Chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Ajith P. Perera. During the meeting, several matters relating to the energy sector were discussed.Accordingly, attention was drawn to Demand Side Management (DSM) of electricity, the current progress of the Kerawalapitiya Power Plant, future sustainability plans of LTL Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd, the “Soorya Bala Sangramaya” programme, and the promotion of hydrogen as an energy source.This Sub-Committee convenes as a body appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament S. M. Marikkar.
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