2023-03-02
News Categories : Committee News
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport and Highways which met recently agreed to pay the salaries of the employees of Sri Lanka Transport Board for the month of February 2023 without delay as they have been paid in the previous months.
The said agreement was reached at the recently held Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport and Highways chaired by the Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Transport and Highways.
The Minister stated that in the past, the Sri Lanka Transport Board faced the problem of politicization and therefore steps have been taken to solve the problems that have arisen due to not following proper procedures in the recruitment of employees. Accordingly, the Minister stated that further discussions are being held with the National Pay Commission to resolve the issues related to employee salaries.
It was also mentioned that more than 1800 buses, including 400 buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board, which have become inoperable, are expected to be put into operation this year. The Minister also informed the Committee that the necessary drivers and conductors are expected to be recruited on contract basis. He also mentioned that under the loan scheme of the Indian government, 500 small buses are to be owned and another 100 big buses will be provided next year.
In the meantime, it was also discussed that various road development activities had to be suspended due to lack of sufficient financial allocations. Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana stated that all loans for development projects started under foreign loan programs have been suspended and other suspended loan assistance can be obtained if an agreement is reached with the International Monetary Fund regarding the current crisis in the country.
The Committee also agreed to Regulations published in Gazette No. 2031/17 dated 10th October 2022 and Regulations published in Gazette No. 2036/02 dated 14th November 2022 under the Motor Traffic Act.
State Ministers Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Hon Siripala Gamlath, Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Hon. D. B. Herath, Hon. Kader Mastan, Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar and Members of Parliament Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Hon. Piyankara Jayaratne, Hon. Abdul Haleem, Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Hon. Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Hon. Udayakantha Gunathilaka, Hon. (Ms.) Kokila Gunawardena, Hon. Milan Jayathilake, Hon. Kulasingam Thileepan, Hon. (Ms.) Muditha Prishanthi, Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara, Hon. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka, Hon. Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. (Ms.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena, Hon. (Ms.) Manjula Dissanayake as well as officials of the Ministry including the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and officials of the affiliated institutions to the Ministry were present at the Committee meeting held.
2025-11-27
The appointments of three chairmen of state-owned institutions were approved by the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts yesterday (Nov. 26).Accordingly, the appointments of Dr. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr. M.D.C.A. Perera as the Chairman of the National Lotteries Board, and Eng. P.V.A. Hemalal, as the Chairman of Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited, were approved by the Committee on High Posts.The meeting was chaired by Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and a group of members of the committee participated in this meeting.
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 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.
2025-11-26
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.
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