2021-11-29
News Categories : Committee News
Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella recently (27) requested the Secretary to the Ministry to submit an evaluation report on the distribution of medical equipment and human resources to government hospitals.
There is an excess of doctors in some hospitals and there is a shortage of doctors in some rural hospitals, the Hon. Minister said at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health.
Although the Government taking over the Base Hospital Center will improve the quality of health care, the taking of subjects under the Provincial Councils by the Central Government is problematic as it conflicts with the process of decentralization of power under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the Minister further stated addressing the Consultative Committee. Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella further stated that it is appropriate to investigate and submit a report to the Cabinet on this regard.
Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, Member of Parliament pointed out the need to follow a common policy in increasing salaries as there has been a wave of strikes in the health sector from time to time in the recent past.
The Committee paid special attention to the fact that a large number of drugs have been imported into the country during the last few years. Hon. (Prof.) Channa Jayasumana, State Minister, pointed out that drugs with high percentages were imported into the country in some years.
The State Minister further stated that a national information system on drugs will be launched and all hospitals in the country will be connected to it.
Hon. Parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe said that there are many shortcomings in the Elpitiya Base Hospital and action should be taken to address those shortcomings.
Although the Polonnaruwa Kidney Hospital was built and opened, the Committee also paid special attention to the fact that it has not yet started to function properly.
Hon. Parliamentarian Madhura Withanage also raised an issue regarding the non-inclusion of the information of certain persons who had been vaccinated against COVID in the active database.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Health informed the Committee that steps will be taken to resolve this situation expeditiously.
The number of calls received by the 1990 Suwa Sariya Ambulance Service as of midnight yesterday was forty-six million thirty-three thousand, said (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Hon. Member of Parliament. He pointed out that Rs. 1800 million has been allocated for this service for the year 2022, which is not enough.
The Minister of Health informed the Committee that discussions are underway with the relevant parties to increase the amount by at least another Rs. 1,200 million as requested by (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament.
It was also revealed at the meeting that 719 Ayurvedic graduates are unemployed. Hon. State Minister Sisira Jayakody stated that there is a plan to open Ayurvedic dispensaries locally and give them appointments.
More than 20 Ministers, State Ministers and Members of Parliament were present at this Committee. A number of officials from the health sector also joined the occasion.
2026-07-16
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) extensively reviewed the Auditor General's Reports relating to the Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka for the years 2021 to 2024, as well as its current performance.The discussion took place when the Committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of its Chair, Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim.During the meeting, the Committee focused on a number of matters, including the conduct of examinations and the process of releasing examination results, the use of information technology systems, human resource management, procurement procedures, the submission of annual reports to Parliament, and the implementation of the recommendations of the Auditor General.Officials also briefed the Committee on the measures taken to further enhance the Department's current performance and service efficiency, as well as the programmes scheduled to be implemented in the future.The Committee also discussed the action taken in response to the observations of the Auditor General and instructed the officials to take the necessary steps to expedite the implementation of the remaining recommendations.The meeting was attended by Committee Members Hon. Deputy Ministers Nalin Hewage and Sugath Thilakarathna, and Hon. Members of Parliament Chanaka Madugoda, Dr. M. L. A. M. Hizbullah, Hector Appuhamy, T. K. Jayasundara, Chandana Sooriyarachchi, Lal Premanath, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Dr. Janaka Senarathna and Sunil Rathnasiri.
2026-07-16
Parliamentary Caucus for Youth focused on the importance of obtaining the views and proposals of young people on the Draft National Youth Policy.The matter was discussed at the sixth meeting of the Parliamentary Forum for Youth, held recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara.During the meeting, an extensive discussion was held on the Draft National Youth Policy. Attention was also drawn to obtaining the views and proposals of the Members of the Caucus with a view to incorporating the needs and aspirations of young people into the policy in a more effective manner.It was further emphasised that the Parliamentary Caucus for Youth will continue to facilitate the meaningful inclusion of the voices of young people in the policy formulation process.The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament and officials.
2026-07-16
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education recently discussed and approved the final report of the Committee appointed to make recommendations for the establishment of an Education Council in Sri Lanka which had been endorsed by the Sub-Committee on the Establishment of an Education Council.The approval was granted at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.During the meeting, the Chair of the Sub-Committee, Hon. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, presented the report to the Committee. The report incorporates the observations and recommendations made following a comprehensive study conducted by the panel of experts appointed by the Ministry to formulate recommendations for the establishment of an Education Council in Sri Lanka.Thereafter, the Committee sought the views and proposals of its members on the contents of the report. Following an extensive discussion, the Ministerial Consultative Committee approved the report.The meeting was attended by Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
2026-07-10
The Committee on High Posts, which met in Parliament recently (Jul. 08), has granted its approval for the appointment of Mr. D.P. Wickramasingha as the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and was attended by Hon. Ministers Bimal Rathnayake and Dr. Upali Pannilage, as well as Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, Rishad Bathiudeen, K. Kader Mastan, Kumara Jayakody, Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella.
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