Mr. Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, a former State Minister, who represented the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress from the Batticaloa district during the previous parliamentary election, was sworn in as a Member of Parliament today (Oct. 17) before the Hon. Speaker.
The Supreme Council of the party decided to remove Mr. Nasir Ahmed, the Minister of Environment, from the membership of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. The petition filed by him to the Supreme Court against that decision has been dismissed by the decision of the Supreme Court on October 06, 2023, according to Article 99(13)(a) of the Constitution, and it was announced that a vacancy in a member of Parliament exists from October 06, 2023.
Accordingly, Mr. Naseer Ahamed position as a Member of Parliament has been abolished and Mr. Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana has been appointed for the vacant seat.
Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, who has been active in politics since 1988, served as a Member of Parliament representing the United National Party from 1994 to 2004.
He has previously held the positions of State Minister for Primary Industries and Social Empowerment, Deputy Minister of National Integration Reconciliation and Official Language and State Minister Social Empowerment in the 8th Parliament during the period of 2015-2020.
2026-09-22
Hon. Speaker Announces Supreme Court Determination on the “Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution” and the “Judicature (Amendment)” Bills to ParliamentHon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (Sep. 22) announced to Parliament the determination of the Supreme Court concerning the Bills titled the “Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution” and the “Judicature (Amendment)”.The announcement is as follows:I wish to announce that I have received the Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bills titled “Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution” and “Judicature” (Amendment)” which were challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 121 (1) of the Constitution.The Supreme Court has determined that;• The provisions of the “Twenty Second Amendment To The Constitution” Bill or any part thereof does not require approval by the people at a Referendum by virtue of the provisions of Article 83 of the Constitution.• In the proviso appearing in Clause 2 of the “Twenty Second Amendment To The Constitution” Bill, the phrase “හැට හතට එලඹෙන දිනය” appearing therein shall be replaced with the phrase “හැට හත සම්පූර්ණ කළ දිනය”• The following to be added as the second proviso to Clause 2 of the “Twenty Second Amendment To The Constitution” Bill: “Provided further that the term limit of six years set out in the first proviso will not apply to any person holding the office of the Chief Justice as at the date of coming into operation of this Act” The Supreme Court has further determined that;• The provisions of the “Judicature” (Amendment)” Bill are not inconsistent with the Constitution and may be passed by the simple majority of the ParliamentI order that the Full Determination of the Supreme Court be printed in the official report of today's proceedings.
2026-09-21
The changes have been made to the Parliamentary business scheduled for September 22 and 23 during this Parliamentary week, which is scheduled to take place from September 22 to 25. These decisions were made at the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held yesterday (Sep. 21) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.Accordingly, the Export Agriculture Promotion (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading), which was scheduled to be taken up for debate on Tuesday, September 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.It has been decided not to proceed with the Sri Lanka Institute of Chartered Media Professionals Bill, for which a Second Reading debate had been scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Accordingly, on Tuesday, September 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Orders published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2497/37 under the Petroleum Resources Act are scheduled to be taken up for debate. Thereafter, at 5:00 p.m., the Tradezo Development Foundation (Incorporation) Bill, a Private Member's Bill, is scheduled to be taken up for its Second Reading and subsequently referred to the Legislative Standing Committee.Similarly, on Wednesday, September 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Export Agriculture Promotion (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading) and the Supplementary Estimate No. 05 of 2026 relating to the Ministry of Energy are scheduled to be taken up for debate.The Supplementary Estimate is scheduled to be approved to provide financial assistance amounting to Rs. 17,213 million to provide relief to the public in relation to electricity bills. The funds required for this Supplementary Estimate have been allocated from provisions that were allocated to the Line Ministries for 2026 but have been identified as unlikely to be utilized by the end of the year. Accordingly, the transfer of these provisions will be carried out in a manner that will have no impact on the overall expenditure ceiling approved under the Appropriation Act, No. 23 of 2025, or on the Government's maximum borrowing limit.There will be no changes to the Parliamentary business scheduled for September 24 and 25.
2026-09-21
A delegation from the Parliament of Sri Lanka participated in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 to 19 September 2026, contributing to Commonwealth parliamentary discussions on democracy, international law, inclusion and contemporary issues affecting Parliaments.Hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and the CPA South Africa Branch, the Conference was held under the theme, “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Hon. Deputy Minister of Mass Media (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathna, the Head of Delegation; Hon. Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe, Hon. Members of Parliament Sagarika Athauda, Ilankumaran Karunanathan, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, (CPwD Asia Regional Champion) and Suranga Rathnayake. The delegation also included Mrs. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament and Secretary of the CPA Sri Lanka Branch, and Mr. Edirisinghe Arachchige Amarasena, Senior Parliamentary Interpreter.A significant contribution by Sri Lanka was made by Hon. Deputy Minister(Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Asia Regional Representative, who chaired Workshop C of the 10th CWP Conference, titled “Legislating for All: Gender Mainstreaming in Procedure, Practices and Policy.” The workshop examined practical approaches to incorporating gender equality into legislation, parliamentary procedures, committee scrutiny, budgeting and post-legislative oversight.A notable achievement for the Sri Lankan delegation was the presentation of the CPA New Parliamentarian Award 2026 to Hon. Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, at the Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards Ceremony held in Cape Town on 17 September 2026. Hon. de Silva, CPwD Asia Regional Champion, was recognised for his contribution to promoting inclusive parliamentary democracy, including his leadership in advancing disability rights and inclusive governance. The award also recognised his work as Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities in Sri Lanka and his contribution to strengthening representation and participation of persons with disabilities in parliamentary processes.Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, M.P., also represented Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities programme, participating in discussions on the role of Parliaments and civil society in advancing disability-inclusive legislation and representation.Meanwhile, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament and Secretary of the CPA Sri Lanka Branch, participated in the 60th Meeting of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT), which brought together parliamentary officials from Commonwealth Parliaments to exchange institutional practices and discuss parliamentary administration and procedure.Sri Lanka’s participation in the 69th CPC provided opportunities for its parliamentarians and officials to engage with Commonwealth counterparts, share parliamentary experience and contribute to discussions on issues of common relevance. Participation in the CWP, CPwD, SoCATT, CPA General Assembly and wider CPC programme further reflected Sri Lanka’s engagement in Commonwealth parliamentary networks.
2026-09-21
A delegation from the Parliament of Sri Lanka, led by the Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of Parliament, departed from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on the evening of 15 September 2026 to participate in the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum on Traditional Medicine, held from 16 to 18 September 2026 in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, People’s Republic of China.The Sri Lankan delegation comprised the Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of Parliament; the Hon. Deputy Minister of Health (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, and Mr. Marasinghege Jayalal, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Ayurveda Drug Corporation.Held under the theme “Empowering Traditional Medicine with Modern Technology to Co-build Human Health for All,” the Forum is jointly organised by the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the People’s Government of Jiangxi Province. It brought together senior officials, health authorities, traditional medicine practitioners, experts, academics, researchers and representatives of the traditional medicine industry to promote dialogue and practical cooperation in the field.The Hon. Speaker was invited to deliver an address at the Opening Ceremony of the Forum, which was held on 17 September. In his address, he highlighted Sri Lanka’s longstanding heritage of Ayurveda and indigenous systems of healthcare, while emphasising the importance of combining traditional medical knowledge with modern scientific research, quality assurance, safety, education and technological development.The Hon. Speaker also highlighted the potential for strengthened cooperation between Sri Lanka and China in traditional medicine, including in the areas of medicinal plants, scientific research, education and training, quality standards, technology and the development of safe and effective traditional medicine products.As part of the Forum programme, the Sri Lankan delegation participated in bilateral meetings, an exhibition tour and a launch ceremony featuring new policies, standards, technologies and products in traditional medicine. The Hon. Speaker held meetings with Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Shen Yueyue and Prof. Huang Luqi, Vice Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. At the bilateral meeting with Vice Chairperson Shen Yueyue, the two sides discussed further strengthening the longstanding cooperation between Sri Lanka and China.The delegation also undertook field visits to China Resources Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Jemincare Group; and Longhua Hospital Jiangxi Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The visits covered traditional medicine education, scientific research, clinical practice and pharmaceutical development, including the application of modern technologies in these areas.On the sidelines of the Forum, the Hon. Speaker and the delegation also met with several Chinese investors to discuss potential investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, including investments related to rice-based products.Sri Lanka’s participation in the Forum strengthened engagement with China and other participating countries and institutions, while enabling the exchange of knowledge and experience on Ayurveda, traditional medicine research, education, clinical practice and pharmaceutical development, and identifying areas for further cooperation.
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