2022-11-23
Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs instructed the Ministry officials to call for a written inquiry from the Sri Lanka Cricket Select Committee the reason for the non-inclusion of Chamika Karunaratne in to the National Team in the event that the player has become the man of the series in the last two cricket tournaments and having being ranked second in cricket rankings.
The Members of Parliament said that there is a speculation that when selecting players for the Sri Lankan cricket team, only players belonging to a certain religious group are selected, and there is a rumor that the cricketer Chamika Karunaratne, who has performed well in the past, was not selected to the national team because he did not agree with the particular religious ideology.
These views were expressed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs meeting held in Parliament recently (Nov. 22) under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe.
It was also expressed that officials who went abroad with the sponsorship of the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute to participate in the last Cricket World Cup should be looked into. The Members of Parliament also mentioned that an amount of 800 dollars per day has been paid to one person with all the facilities and non-officials have also participated in the trip receiving the same facilities. Furthermore, the councilors pointed out that a formal regulation regarding the use of money in conducting T20, T10 and LPL tournaments is necessary with the intervention of the Sports Ministry.
The Minister stated that Bellwood Aesthetics Resort will be developed as Bellwood Aesthetic Academy to provide the NVQ 6 internationally recognized certification. The Minister said that in addition to the existing subjects, steps will be taken to introduce new subjects such as acting, costume design, television and film production technology, and a studio complex with all the necessary technical equipment will be built and steps will be taken to upgrade it to the status of Hollywood and Bollywood film industries in 2023.
The Members expressed their gratitude for the minister's attention and action on the concerns faced by the children of Bellwood Institute, especially pertaining to the lack of a full-time principal as well as food and transportation concerns.
The Minister also instructed the officials to immediately investigate the demolition of the 4-storey building on the 50-acre land where the Bellwood Aesthetics Resort is located by the then chairman during 2015-2019 and take legal action against it.
It was also discussed that the turf of the only international level hockey field in Sri Lanka is not of a standardized level due to lack of proper maintenance. The Members of Parliament expressed their views on the need to reorganize it and maintain it for the future of hockey. The officials mentioned that the Asian Hockey Federation has agreed to develop it on the basis that 50% of the financial contribution is made by Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, it was also expressed regarding the dilapidated synthetic track of the Diyagama stadium, and due to this, the Parliamentarians pointed out that apart from the Sugathadasa stadium, there is no track for the players to practice.
It was discussed that the indoor playground of the Maharagama Youth Council has become dilapidated due to getting wet during the rainy season as a result of lack of proper maintenance. The chairman of the Youth Services Council said that he is holding talks with the Japanese Embassy to renovate this building, which was built using Japanese aid and technology. The chairman also mentioned that the Minister has given instructions to use the income earned by the Youth Service Council for its maintenance.
It was emphasized that the provincial and regional sports are being destroyed due to the non-functioning of the provincial councils and the councilors also requested the attention of the minister as it has a negative effect on the emergence of players at the national level. It was also expressed that the Ministry of Sports should start a program to regulate the functioning of various sports federations across the country.
Views were also expressed about the possibility of inviting sports associations to the committee for discussion, and the chairman gave instructions to the secretary of the committee to carry out further procedures in this regard.
State Minster Hon. Rohana Dissanayaka, members of Parliament Hon. (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Hon. Sampath Athukorala, Hon. Mayadunna Chinthak, Hon. Waruna Liyanage, Hon. Mohomad Muzammil, Hon. Mujibur Rahuman, Meinistry of Sports and affiliated institutions were present at the Committee meeting held.
2026-09-25
The Committee on High Posts of Parliament recently granted approval for the appointment of a new Ambassador, a High Commissioner, and a chairperson of a state institution.The approvals were granted when the Committee on High Posts met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.Accordingly, the Committee approved the appointment of Mrs. Anzul Banu Jhan as the new Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of the Philippines and Mr. Chandana Rohana Kumara Ambagolla as the new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canada.The Committee also approved the appointment of Mr. Nusith Kumarathunga as the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited.
2026-09-23
A special committee appointed by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development, to address the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities in obtaining driving licences, held its first meeting in Parliament recently, with particular attention focused on the steps that should be taken to make the process of obtaining driving licences more accessible and streamlined for persons with disabilities.At the meeting, attended by Hon. Members of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Dinesh Hemantha and M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani, extensive discussions were held on the practical and legal challenges faced by persons with disabilities both in obtaining driving licences and in modifying and using vehicles to suit their respective disabilities.Attention was drawn to the medical examinations conducted by the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI), the medical recommendations issued based on the nature of a person’s disability, and the procedure for issuing driving licences accordingly. Discussions also focused on conducting medical examinations at district level, expanding the range of vehicle types for which driving licences may be issued to persons with visual impairments, taking into consideration medical criteria including the field of vision, installing appropriate safety equipment in vehicles, and proposed amendments to the relevant Gazette notifications.The legal framework governing the issuance of driving licences to persons with hearing impairments, the use of special identification signs, and the assistance of sign-language interpreters were also discussed. Attention was also given to procedures for modifying vehicles to suit the individual needs arising from a person’s disability.Proposals were also put forward regarding issuing licences to one individual for multiple vehicles, simplifying the medical examination process, and improving the online system between the National Transport Medical Institute and the Department of Motor Traffic.The need for the necessary amendments to the relevant Gazette notifications, expanding services at the regional level, and creating awareness among relevant institutions to make the process of obtaining driving licences more accessible and streamlined for persons with disabilities was also emphasised. The importance of taking further steps to ensure the transportation rights of persons with disabilities while ensuring road safety was also stressed.Officials of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and other relevant representatives attended the meeting.
2026-09-23
The Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment) Bill was considered and approved at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability.The matter was discussed when the Committee, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy, met on the occasion under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament, Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath.As part of the restructuring of the institutional structure of the Department of Export Agriculture, new positions were created and existing positions were upgraded, including changing the designation of “Director” to “Director General.” However, the relevant provisions of the Export Agriculture Promotion Act, No. 46 of 1992, had not been amended accordingly. Furthermore, other related designations that required amendment had also not been revised. The necessary amendments have therefore been introduced through this Bill.It was also noted that the definitions of export agricultural crops referred to in the Act as “notified agricultural crops” have become practically incompatible with current production and market conditions. Accordingly, the need has arisen to revise and update the relevant definition so that it is appropriate for the present and future export agriculture sector.Accordingly, the Bill provides that, in place of the definition of the term “Export Agricultural Crop” in Section 19 of the Act, the term shall mean means any crop identified as a crop that have an export potential in addition to the local consumption other than paddy, vegetables, fruits, root crops and additional food crops belonging to the category of food crops and declared by the Minister in charge of the subject as “a notified agricultural crop” under section 2 of this Act. It further provides that any crop identified as a plantation crop shall not be included in this definition.The Committee also inquired into matters relating to the export of crops from Sri Lanka, including pepper. It was revealed that Sri Lanka exported 12,910 metric tonnes of pepper in 2025, with India being the country's largest buyer.Several members of the Committee, along with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, participated in the Committee meeting.
2026-09-23
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital has decided to appoint a Parliamentary subcommittee to study the salary disparities arising when teachers are appointed to the Principals’ Service, as well as the resulting reluctance among senior teachers to enter the Principals’ Service, and to make recommendations in this regard.These matters were discussed when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital met in Parliament recently, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament, Attorney-at-Law Hesha Withanage.Particular attention was drawn to the salary disparity arising from the fact that, under the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service Minute issued on 22 October 2014, entry into the Principals’ Service from the Teachers’ Service is considered a “new appointment” rather than a “promotion.”Officials pointed out that this situation is further aggravated by the significant difference in salary increments when a teacher is appointed from Grade 1 of the Teachers’ Service to Grade III of the Principals’ Service. They also noted that, although an adjustment allowance was introduced under Circular No. 03/2014 to address the salary difference arising at the time of appointment to the Principals’ Service, a salary gap emerges again as the teacher’s service progresses because they do not receive the higher salary increments that they would have received had they remained in the Teachers’ Service.It was also discussed that, as a result, senior and experienced teachers in Grades 1 and 2-I of the Teachers’ Service are being discouraged from sitting for the Principals’ Service examination and entering the Principals’ Service. Accordingly, attention was drawn to amending the Service Minute so that entry into the Principals’ Service from the Teachers’ Service would be treated as a “promotion” rather than a “new appointment.”The procedure for granting promotions within the Teachers’ Service was also discussed. The Committee pointed out that a newly appointed teacher entering the service with a university qualification takes approximately 19 years of service to reach Grade 1 of the Teachers’ Service.Attention was also drawn to the direct recruitment of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) graduates to Grade 2 of the Teachers’ Service in accordance with the Teachers’ Service Minute.Meanwhile, it was revealed that a verbal agreement had been reached with the Public Service Commission to recruit B.Ed. graduates as teachers under the previous system until 2030. Accordingly, it was stated that a Cabinet Memorandum has been submitted to recruit B.Ed. graduates to Grade 2 of the Teachers’ Service during this year.It was also discussed that these recruitments are planned to be carried out separately from the ongoing recruitment process for 23,000 teachers, based on subject-specific vacancies existing at provincial level.The Committee also considered the need to give universities until 2030 to update B.Ed. degree programmes so that they correspond with the actual subject requirements of the school system. In particular, the Committee highlighted the need to introduce specialised B.Ed. programmes in fields such as Science, Mathematics and Primary Education.Meanwhile, the Committee also considered the issue of recovering excess salary payments made to 261 laboratory attendants and security guards in the Southern Province. It was revealed that approximately Rs. 50.8 million had been overpaid as a result of the employees being placed on the 12th salary step instead of the initial salary step of the relevant salary scale in 2008 and 2009.It was stated that the matter was identified in 2016 and was subsequently examined through an audit query in 2022. To date, Rs. 15.1 million has been recovered through the suspension of salary increments and deductions from salaries.The representatives who appeared before the Committee pointed out that the employees were not directly responsible for this administrative error and that their letters of appointment had specified a particular salary scale. Accordingly, the Committee decided to bring the matter to the attention of the Governor of the Southern Province by way of a letter, with a view to obtaining his positive intervention regarding the difficulties faced by the employees.
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