2023-11-15
Following a lengthy discussion, the supplementary estimate to make provision for meeting medical supplies and other essential obligations was approved by the Committee on Public Finance.
The approval for the said was obtained when the Committee on Public Finances met in Parliament yesterday (Nov. 14) Chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament.
The Committee asked why this supplementary estimate was presented at the end of this year when the budget was presented for 2024. Officials pointed out that 110 billion rupees had been set aside for health supplies for the year 2023, of which 55 billion were planned to be obtained from foreign financing institutions. Since these funds were not used in the expected manner, they pointed out that the purpose of the supplementary estimate is to allocate 20 billion rupees without any change to the total expenditure limit allocated by the Appropriation Act.
Moreover, the attention of the Committee was drawn to the 10-month delay in the procurement process for health supplies and the manner in which emergency purchases are made. The Committee also recommended to analyze why the expenditure on health care has gone up to 300-500 billion.
Apart from this, following the presentation of the budget to Parliament, the draft report to be submitted to the Parliament by analyzing it was also discussed in the Committee on Public Finance committee. Dr. Roshan Perera gave an explanation to the Committee about the draft of this report.
In this explanation, the tax revenue was estimated at 10.1% of the GDP for the year 2024, but it needs to be increased by another 2.5% to achieve the goals of the International Monetary Fund, but it was focused on whether it can be done.
Furthermore, the Committee pointed out the need to inform all members of Parliament about all revenue proposals in order to increase transparency while preserving good governance. In particular, the Committee Chair pointed out the importance of providing the report prepared by the Ministry of Finance to all Members of Parliament.
Furthermore, the Committee appreciated the work of the Ministry of Finance officials by maintaining transparency and cooperation compared to the previous government. They were also commended by the Committee on Public Finance for working hard to achieve the targets and to present the budget.
State Minister Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Seetha Arambepola, Members of Parliament Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Hon. Nimal Lanza, Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake, Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna, Hon. Isuru Dodangoda, Hon. Madhura Withanage were present at the Committee meeting held.
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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