2023-09-15
News Categories : Committee News
Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society took into consideration the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) and Elections (Special Provisions) Bills at the recently held Committee meeting.
The said Bills were taken into consideration and approved at the Committee meeting held Chaired by Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne.
According to Section 205 of the Code of Civil Procedure, these amendments were submitted in relation to the issuance of certified copies of the judgment and the judgment of the proceedings. Accordingly, provisions are made to issue one certified copy of the judgment or the statement of judgment to the parties concerned free of charge. It also includes amendments to enable the relevant copies to be obtained subject to payment of fees.
By the Election (Special Provisions) Bill, the Regulation of Election Expenses Act No. 03 of 2023 amends the time given for filing an election petition within 21 days from the date of announcement of the election results from 21 days to 42 days. According to the current law, political parties or independent groups or candidates must submit election expenses within 21 days from the date of declaration of election results, failing which an election petition has been provided. Thus, the period will be revised to 42 days.
Furthermore, this Bill will update the fines to match the current financial situation as the penalty amounts prescribed by the current election laws are not sufficient.
Members of Parliament Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Hon. Isuru Udyoga Dodangoda and Hon. Madhura Withanage, were present at the Committee meeting held.
2026-06-03
The meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs was held in Parliament under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala.A number of proposals and issues raised by Hon. Members of Parliament relating to police services were discussed, including strengthening police stations, ensuring police representation in District Coordination Committees and curbing illegal sand mining activities in and around Kilinochchi.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and officials of the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, among others.
2026-06-02
The government has allocated Rs. 1,000 million (Rs. 1 billion) this year through the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) to improve paddy drying, storage and other related facilities. The necessary machinery and equipment are scheduled to be installed in the Southern and Northern Provinces, according to Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe.The Minister made these remarks during a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, which he chaired in Parliament.The Committee Chair further stated that a Rs. 500 million project is being implemented this year to provide paddy drying machines to cooperative societies, while a Rs. 100 million project has been launched to procure production and packaging machinery for producer cooperatives.The Minister also noted that the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment has intervened in the process of converting paddy into rice and purchasing potatoes. Potatoes are being purchased at Rs. 220 per kilogram and sold through Lanka Sathosa Ltd.In addition, he stated that 120,000 metric tons of rice were imported during April as substitute varieties for Samba and Keeri Samba rice. Further rice imports will only be considered if deemed necessary.The Committee held extensive discussions on fraud and corruption reported in certain cooperative societies. Members of Parliament raised concerns about individuals involved in such irregularities being reappointed to positions within those societies without facing any penalties. The Minister sought explanations from officials and instructed them to address existing legal weaknesses and other shortcomings without delay.The Minister also announced the establishment of a new Alumni Association of Mahapola Scholarship Recipients and invited all former scholarship holders to join and contribute to its activities. He noted that the association would be able to implement programmes aimed at supporting and advancing future generations of students.The Committee further discussed issues relating to the modernization of the information system of the Department of the Registrar of Companies, measures to improve its efficiency, matters concerning free trade agreements, and other issues relevant to the sector.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana, Hon. Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe, several Members of Parliament, and officials representing the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development and its affiliated institutions.
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.
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