2023-10-19
Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations drew its attention to the contemporary situation in the Middle East region and its impact on Sri Lanka. The border conflict between Israel and Palestine was discussed at length at the Committee meeting held.
This was taken up for discussion when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations in Parliament recently (Oct. 17) under the Chairmanship of Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament.
They discussed the economic impact on Sri Lanka due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine and the officials present pointed out that Sri Lanka may be affected by the increase in oil prices, and in relation to the fields of foreign employment and the tourism industry.
The Committee also inquired regarding the interest of Sri Lankan labor force in migrating for work, given the situation in the Middle East. Officials pointed out that there has been no lack of desire among Sri Lankans these days regarding migrating for jobs in the Middle East. However, the Foreign Employment Bureau has restricted sending Sri Lankans to work in Israel during this period, he said.
Furthermore, attention was drawn to the spreading news regarding two Sri Lankans being caught in the rocket attacks by Hamas during the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Accordingly, the officials present mentioned that they will carry out the necessary inquiries in this regard and will keep an eye on the Sri Lankans in those countries.
The Committee also examined the bringing of Sri Lankans who are currently employed in Israel back to the island. The officials present pointed out that the areas where the laborers who have gone abroad are safe, so they are not interested in coming to Sri Lanka.
Hon. Namal Rajapaksa also recommended to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that a report be given to the Committee explaining the current situation regarding Israel and Palestine.
Furthermore, Parliamentarian Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam suggested that this Committee should focus on the Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu and consider bringing those refugees to Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Committee instructed the relevant parties to look into this regard and give a report on how the Committee can intervene in this matter.
Furthermore, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka gave a presentation on the economies of Israel and Palestine and Sri Lanka's trade relations with these countries. The youth representatives in representation of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations also questioned the officials present regarding concerns they had.
Members of the Committee Hon. (Prof.) G. L. Peiris, Hon. Akila Ellawala, Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena, Hon. Madhura Withanage, were present.
Officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Immigration Department, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Investment Promotion Board and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority were also present at this Committee.
2026-09-18
Hon. Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, MP (Parliament of Sri Lanka) was awarded the 2026 New Parliamentarian Award in recognition of his contribution to promoting inclusive parliamentary democracy. The award was officially presented to him yesterday (Sep. 17) at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa.Elected in November 2024 as Sri Lanka's first-ever blind Member of Parliament, he has advanced the principles of disability-inclusive governance through his work as Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. Through cross-institutional collaboration, he has also delivered practical reforms, best exemplified through Sri Lanka's first national participatory budget consultation with persons with disabilities.
2026-09-18
The Select Committee of Parliament to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, has decided to summon representatives of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils before the Committee to examine how local authorities coordinated their response during the disaster situation.Committee members particularly highlighted the need for further investigation into how local authorities, including Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils, were involved in official communication and coordination processes during the disaster.At a recent meeting of the Committee held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, information was sought from members of the National Council for Disaster Management and the District Secretaries of Kandy and Matale regarding the disaster management process in the Kandy and Matale districts.Accordingly, the Committee focused its attention on the early warning systems, communication among government institutions, and emergency response procedures in response to the heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding experienced in these areas from 23 to 27 November 2025.The Committee also discussed the need to establish formal written procedures to be followed during emergency disaster situations, conduct disaster preparedness drills regularly, and further improve the efficiency of early warning systems.Committee members, including Hon. Deputy Ministers Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara and Anton Jayakody, and Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Anuradha Jayaratne, Rohini Kumari Wijerathne, Kanthasamy Prabu, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, also participated in the meeting.
2026-09-17
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy Affairs approved the Order relating to the calling for investment proposals for the exploration and development of petroleum resources in Sri Lanka and the formalization of the relevant process.The approval was granted at a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee held recently (Sep. 11) at Parliament under the chairmanship of Anura Karunathilaka, Hon. Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Energy.The Order, made by the Minister of Energy under Section 48 of the Petroleum Resources Act, No. 21 of 2021, read together with Section 17 of the said Act, and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, was published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2497/37 dated 16 July 2026.Under this Order, any person seeking to explore or develop petroleum resources in one or more identified blocks is required to submit an investment proposal together with payment of the administrative fee specified in the relevant invitation for bids.Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Illyas, Members of Parliament, officials of the Ministry of Energy, and other officials participated in the meeting.
2026-09-17
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, emphasized that universities must take the necessary measures to ensure that victim students have confidence in the investigations being conducted into incidents of ragging at universities.This matter was discussed at a meeting of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, convened under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, which was held at Parliament under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.The meeting included an extensive discussion on measures to be taken regarding vacancies in the higher education sector, particularly at universities, as well as incidents of ragging.The Prime Minister pointed out that universities have a moral responsibility to prevent and control ragging and emphasized that students subjected to ragging must have confidence in the investigative procedures currently in place at universities.Accordingly, the Prime Minister stressed that investigations into ragging incidents must be efficient and effective and should be conducted in a manner that enables relief to be provided to victim students without delay.The Prime Minister also inquired from university vice-chancellors about the failure to date to make appointments that have already been approved by the Ministry to fill vacancies at universities. She instructed officials to take the necessary measures to fill the approved vacancies expeditiously.The meeting was attended by Hon. Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Social Empowerment; Hon. Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education; Hon. Member of Parliament Manjula Sugath Ratnayake; university vice-chancellors; the Chairman of the University Grants Commission; and a number of other representatives.
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