2023-01-20
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Harsha De Silva, Member of Parliament greatly appreciated the swift action taken by the Port City Economic Commission following the previous meeting held on 05.01.2023, to give redress to the online presence of the Commission and the submission of audited accounts for 2021 which were key issues raised by the Committee at the previous meeting.
The Hon. Chair stated above, when the Port City Economic Commission was summoned by the Committee on Public Finance yesterday (Jan. 19).
Initially having established that, per the Act, the Port City Economic Commission is a body corporate established under the ordinances that govern a Commercial entity in Sri Lanka and is wholly owned by the State, discussion centered around the legality of enterprises incorporated in the territory and their scope therein.
With CoPF raising some technical prerequisites for the validity of issued licenses, it was agreed that the burden of proof would lay with the applicant when the Port City Economic Commission was queried about its capacity and capability to check the validity of the information provided in the application. It was confirmed that a register of all companies within the territory designate will be maintained electronically – accessible to the general public.
The Committee raised concerns about the privilege of applicants who have freedom to choose to conduct business outside of the Colombo Port City citing the varying tax policies. The Port City Economic Commission responded that corporates will be imbued with the power to formulate their own Human Resources policies with regards to salary structures. The Chairman of the Finance Committee stressed that this would need to be strictly monitored in the future and possibly revisited as it leaves room for malpractice. Additionally, on an interim basis, if the Minister in charge authorizes and nominates a location, companies can, for an interim period of no longer than 05 years, open an enterprise outside of the Port City.
When the Committee queried the mention of surcharges and fines, the Port City Economic Commission confirmed that they are working with the Attorney General’s department and respective regulators to confirm the parameters of penalties. Dr. Harsha reiterated that The Port City Economic Commission cannot take on the job of multiple regulators when governing the Colombo Port City. He directed them to work closely with the Finance Ministry who are already under instructions by the Finance Committee to finalize a gaming regulator by the end of 2023 for Sri Lanka.
Dispute Resolution was addressed, and it was confirmed that as per the act, the arbitrary body within the Port City will only provide a space for conflict resolution, however all judicial matters will be taken up on a priority basis at Magistrate and Civil courts within the borders of Sri Lanka. The Attorney General’s office confirmed that this will be reviewed in the future.
All Gazettes submitted for review were approved conditional to further redress to provide more clarity to the process of renewing licenses and ensure that the Port City Economic Commission regularly meet to ensure future avoidance of delays for the submission of audits and other legally required queries.
State Minister Hon. (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, Hon. Anupa Pasqual, Members of Parliament Hon. Chandima Weerakkodi, Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake, Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, Hon. (Dr.) Nalaka Godahewa, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Madhura Withanage and officilas of the Port City Economic Commission, Attorney Generals Department 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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