2022-10-28
News Categories : Committee News
Minister, Hon. Vidura Wickramanayaka stated that he intends to propose a mechanism to have the Nayaka Theros informed in the case of an allegation related to monks, through the police, coordinated by the Ministry, and to implement the law against them as well as to take disciplinary action. The Minister also said that it is expected to introduce a new Act with powers to establish a separate structure to deal with this said concern in the future under the guidance of Nayaka Theros.
The Minister stated the above at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs.
The committee drew special attention to the damage caused to the order by monks who are impious and engaged in certain business activities and accordingly the need of the Ministry to intervene to prevent such.
There was also a discussion about the release of lands that do not belong to the Department of Archeology in connection with the Mulathivu Kurundi Vihara. The Hon. Minister instructed the officials of the Department of Archeology to give the remaining part to the people for the purposes of agriculture and other activities in coordination with the relevant institutions, except for the lands that have been surveyed by the Department of Archeology.
It was also discussed that due to lack of provision of Rs. 32 lakhs required for the practical tests of the Kalayatana examination held in the year 2016, the examination has not been conducted to date. The minister who expressed his displeasure about the examination being postponed for a period of 6 years due to the lack of provisions and instructed the Secretary to the Ministry to immediately intervene and conduct the examination promptly.
The Minister also mentioned the program of providing solar power systems to Buddhist sacred places. The Minister also said that he is also expected to make a request to the Mahanayake Theras to get support from the Buddhist sacred places that are capable of contributing for this.
Attention was drawn to the deterioration of discipline in universities where monks are educated. It was discussed that 45% of the monks who usually enter Buddhist universities leave the order in the final year. Accordingly, the committee emphasized the need to take further action to control this situation. Accordingly, the Minister also indicated that he expects to discuss and take measures with the Ministry of Higher Education in the future.
There was also a lengthy discussion about ordaining children at an early age. The Minister emphasized the need to prepare a specific program in this regard, as it is a responsibility assigned by the constitution to protect Buddhism. Accordingly, the Minister said that steps will be taken to appoint a Subcommittee of the Ministerial Consultative Committee to discuss this matter in the next meeting.
Committee Members Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Hon. Gunathilaka Rajapaksha and a Ministers and officials of the institutions belonging to the Ministry were also present at this Committee meeting held.
2026-05-26
The Central Provincial Council was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to examine the Auditor General’s triennial report for the years 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s report for 2024, and the Council’s current performance.The committee meeting, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, was held recently at Parliament.During the meeting, attention was drawn to the progress made in implementing recommendations issued at the COPA meeting held on 5th September, 2019. Discussions focused on the incident involving the destruction of files belonging to the Central Provincial Passenger Transport Authority.It was revealed that directives issued by the relevant court and the Presidential Secretary regarding the incident had not been implemented by the responsible authorities. In this regard, the Committee Chairman instructed officials of the Central Provincial Council to submit all reports and correspondence related to the incident to the committee.In addition, the committee discussed an incident involving the unlawful transfer of a rest house owned by the Road Development Authority to a third party in violation of lease conditions. Accordingly, the Chairman instructed officials to identify the officers responsible for making the relevant decisions and to submit a report to the committee on the legal action being taken in connection with the matter.The committee also held extensive discussions on irregularities identified by the National Audit Office in road development and passenger transport services in the Central Province, as well as issues affecting the health sector.Expressing his views during the meeting, the Chairman emphasized the importance of expediting ongoing investigations within institutions and focusing on follow-up action. He further stressed that if a state institution generates profits, such profits should accrue to the government, and if such revenue is used for institutional activities, established legal provisions and procedures must be strictly followed.The meeting was attended by committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Sunil Rathnasiri, Oshani Umanga, Susantha Kumara Navarathna, Ajantha Gammeddage, Chanaka Madugoda, T.K. Jayasundara and Lal Premanath along with a group of government officials.
2026-05-26
The Parliamentary Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the Electoral System under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, recently sought views from the Attorney General’s Department and members of the Election Commission.The discussion took place when the committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.During the meeting, the Attorney General’s Department briefed the committee on the existing legal obstacles to holding Provincial Council elections and the possible ways in which such obstacles could be removed to facilitate the conduct of the elections.The Election Commission informed the committee that it is prepared to conduct Provincial Council elections at any time under the legal provisions enacted by Parliament based on the committee’s recommendations.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra, Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law and Muneer Mulaffer as well as committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. The committee member M. Nizam Kariapper, P.C also participated virtually.
2026-05-25
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to examine the ongoing legal proceedings and matters relating to the protection of the girl involved in the sexual abuse incident reported from the Anuradhapura area.This decision was taken during the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting chaired by Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, held in Parliament today (May 25). Accordingly, a special discussion has been scheduled for 05.06.2026 with the participation of relevant institutions including the Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.In addition to the incident, which has generated significant public concern, the discussion is also expected to focus extensively on strengthening the laws and empowering the institutions required to prevent all forms of violence against women and children.Meanwhile, it was also decided to appoint a subcommittee under the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to oversee the future legal proceedings relating to the Anuradhapura girl’s case and to identify the institutional and legal reforms required in the country to eliminate violence against women and children.The subcommittee will be led by the deputy co-chairs of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Hon. Members of Parliament Samanmali Gunasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella. The other members of the subcommittee will be Hon. Hemali Weerasekara, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakarathna, Attorney-at-Law Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
2026-05-25
The progress of implementing the new education reforms was reviewed at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi. During the meeting held in Parliament on the 19th, extensive discussions were held on the implementation of the new education reforms.Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, briefed the committee on the manner in which the new education reforms are being implemented.The meeting was attended by Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, committee members, provincial education secretaries, school principals, and several other officials.
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