2021-07-06
News Categories : Committee News
The Consultative Committee on Defence recently agreed to present the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill to Parliament for the second reading. Accordingly this bill is to be presented in the Parliament on 8th July.
The Committee was held under the chairmanship of Hon. State Minister of National Security & Disaster Management and State Minister of Home Affairs Chamal Rajapaksa and the participation of Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Major General (retd) Kamal Gunaratne. Former President Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, Hon. Parliamentarians Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Tiran Alles, President's Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe, Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University were also present at this meeting.
Addressing the meeting, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence said that the University, which was initially intended to provide University education to members of the security forces, was expanded to provide education to civilian children as instructed by H.E. the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his tenure as the Secretary of Defense.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence said that the University, which is currently producing a disciplined generation of students suitable for the job market, is highly regarded and in high demand in the society including parents and students with the completion of courses within a specified period being one main reason for this.
Major General (retd) Kamal Gunaratne also said that all these courses are organized with the highest quality and that the University will continue to work towards the realization of H.E. the President's policy of providing university education to all students who pass their Advanced Level.
“The Act on this University was initiated in the year 2009. This Bill has a history of 12 years. It was to be presented to Parliament in 2018 post having it prepared under the involvement of many scholars having it referred to the legal draftsman and to the Attorney General after conducting number of studies on it. Although the then Minister of Defense Maithripala Sirisena tried to do so, due to various reasons it was not possible at that time,” Major General (retd) Kamal Gunaratne further added.
Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University, Major General Milinda Peiris addressing the committee stated that the Universities Act, which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1981 has been amended on several occasions but the university has not been given the required structure.
The Vice Chancellor said that the university, which currently has 11 faculties, was once ranked 4th among military universities. Therefore, he pointed out to the Committee that this Act is important to further develop the activities of this University and to elevate it to a higher level.
Speaking at the committee meeting, the Parliamentarians present said that the country is losing a lot of money as many talented children who do not have access to university education are tempted to study at universities in other countries. Therefore, it is very important to have the opportunity to study more quality courses at a lower cost through this university, the MP’s further stated.
2025-11-27
The Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Najith Indika, stated that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board must take the lead in streamlining the procurement process and easing existing legal barriers related to importing equipment used to test drivers for drug use.These matters were taken up during the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, which met in Parliament on 20th November 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. MP (Dr.) Najith Indika.The Committee reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals and special project implementations of the Ministry of Public Security & Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government.Officials from the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau highlighted the difficulties in conducting roadside drug tests due to the lack of necessary equipment.The Committee Chair noted that the government has prioritized eliminating drug abuse and stressed the importance of regulating drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of drugs. He further stated that essential equipment required to identify drug users must be made readily available and that legal barriers affecting their procurement process and importation should be addressed promptly.Police officials also informed the Committee that notable progress has been made in implementing budgeted programmes related to drug prevention. Officials from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board briefed the Committee on the progress achieved under their purview as well.The Committee additionally reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government. The Ministry Secretary reported significant progress and noted that many suspended development projects have now resumed.Hon. Members of Parliament G.G. Ponnambalam, Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Dharmapriya Wijesinghe were also present at the committee meeting.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital has examined the operation of private universities in Sri Lanka and the issues relating to their recognition by the University Grants Commission (UGC).The matter was discussed when the Committee met in Parliament on 21 November 2025, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage.During the discussion, the Committee Chair highlighted the emergence of institutions awarding degrees of inadequate quality and the resulting harm caused. He noted that many such institutions operate with profit-making as their primary objective rather than providing quality education. The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that the entire process, from student admission to awarding of degrees remains under the supervision of the UGC.The Vice Chair of the UGC, expressing his views, underscored the need to establish a Higher Education Commission to regulate and monitor private universities and other degree-awarding institutions. He explained that such a body would enable the creation of comprehensive data systems and facilitate links with universities worldwide, allowing access to essential information on institutional standards and programme quality. This, he noted, would help ensure accurate decision-making when granting approval to prospective private universities. These comments were further supported by the Additional Secretary (Non-State Higher Education) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, and by officials of the UGC.The Committee also focused on issues related to state universities, scholarships offered for foreign degree programmes, and other related matters.Hon. Members of Parliament Krishnan Keleichelvi, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage (Attorney-at-Law), Chanaka Madugoda, Thurairasa Ravikaran, and Sunil Rajapaksha, along with officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training and the UGC, were present at the discussion.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection recently (Nov. 18) reviewed 12 performance reports and annual reports of institutions functioning under the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.The Committee met in Parliament on the 18th under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.Accordingly, the Committee examined the 2022, 2023 and 2024 performance reports of the Registrar’s Office of the Supreme Court, the 2023 and 2024 performance reports of Judges of Supreme Court, the 2022 Annual Report of the Supreme Court Complex Management Board, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.In addition, the Committee reviewed the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Official Languages, the 2020,2021,2022 & 2023 Annual Reports of the Official Languages Commission, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Institute of Language Education and Training, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Prisons, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Debt Conciliation Board.The Committee also inquired into audit observations related to these institutions, and relevant officials presented their explanations. Attention was also drawn to the current activities of these institutions, as well as existing issues and shortcomings. The Committee Chair informed officials to notify the Committee if amendments to the legal framework governing these institutions were necessary to ensure more efficient service delivery, and assured the Committee’s support in facilitating such changes.Further, regarding the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Community Based Corrections, it was noted that the Auditor General’s report highlighted the incomplete construction of the building for the Legal Aid and Community Correctional Office in Puttalam. The Committee requested a report on this matter.Accordingly, approval of the Committee was granted for all performance and annual reports reviewed, except for the 2023 and 2024 Annual Performance Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.Hon. Members of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Major General (Retd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara, along with a group of government officials, participated in the Committee meeting.
2025-11-25
Workplaces Must Be Designed to Enable the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities – MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva Persons with disabilities do not require sympathy, what they need is an environment that enables them to act and live independently, stated Hon. Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando. He made these remarks on 20th November 2025 while participating in the first programme conducted at the Ministry of Labour under the series of sensitization workshops planned across ministries as part of the work plan of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. The workshop was organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities with the support of the Australian Government and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), targeting frontline public-relations officials of the Ministry of Labour and its affiliated institutions. Hon. Minister Fernando noted that until society fully adopts the correct attitudes and understanding regarding persons with disabilities, legislation and regulations will continue to play a key role in promoting inclusion. However, he stressed that legal provisions alone are insufficient; creating an attitudinal shift in society is essential to ensure meaningful participation. He also emphasized the importance of generating opportunities for persons with disabilities within the private sector. Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Member of parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, highlighted that workplaces in Sri Lanka must be designed to accommodate persons with disabilities. Sensitization, he noted, must come first in order to effectively implement such changes. He further stressed the need to remove all barriers that hinder persons with disabilities from participating in the nation’s economic activities, enabling them to become contributors to the economy rather than dependents. During the programme, resource persons with disabilities educated participants on the challenges faced by the community and shared their experiences in the world of work, including barriers to employment and workplace accessibility. The Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities plans to extend these sensitization programmes across all ministries in the coming months. The event was attended by, Secretary to the Ministry of Labour Mr. S. M. Piyathissa, officials of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, IFES Sri Lanka Deputy Country Director Indraka Ubeysekara, IFES Programme Officer Ms. Anojitha Sivasakaran and representatives of organizations working for persons with disabilities.
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