2023-11-23
The 18th meeting of the Committee on Ways and Means was held yesterday (Nov. 22) in Parliament under the Chairmanship of Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka.
The discussion held was in connection with the implementation of the appeal process of the “Aswasuma" benefit program and obtaining the Grama Niladhari officials for the implementation of its second phase.
Representative officials of the Welfare Benefit Board, Director Generals of Institutions and Grama Niladhari officials Trade Unions, Sri Lanka United Grama Niladhari officials Association, All Ceylon Independent Grama Niladhari officials Association, Graduate Grama Niladhari officials Association, Government Grama Niladhari officials Association, Sri Lanka Administrative Grama Niladhari officials Association, All Ceylon Administrative Grama Niladhari officials Association, Sri Lanka United Grama Niladhari officials Association were called before this Committee meeting held.
It was stated that the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government should find a solution for the concerns related to the service constitution of the Grama Niladhari officials in order to get the services of the Grama Niladhari officials in relation to the appeal process of the “Aswasuma" benefit program and the implementation of its second phase, and it was also stated that the Chairman has informed that the Committee on Ways and Means is ready to provide the necessary coordination as a facilitator for a discussion held by the Grama Niladhari officials.
The Chair inquired about the issues raised by the Grama Niladhari officials in connection with the benefit program. The Grama Niladhari officials stated that there is a need for a written authorization specifying the specific role expected from the Grama Niladhari officials in connection with the benefit program. Moreover, the need to appoint administrative Grama Niladhari officials as a supervisory officer in non-obligatory duties was also pointed out. It was also emphasized that it is essential to specify in writing the legal protection, the time frame for work responsibilities and the stipend paid to the officials and that the stipend should be sufficient for the existing cost of living and the relevant role. The Committee Chair, Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, pointed out that it is important to have a coordinated program for Aswasuma as previously the government initiated a program to provide technology to the people by establishing 'Vidatha' centers with the Samurdhi program and the Central Bank started a loan scheme like Saubhagya.
The Chair also recommended that a discussion be called for the 332 Administrative Grama Niladhari officials across Sri Lanka and three each from one Grama Niladhari officials Trade Union to determine accountability, technical changes, allowances, etc. in relation to obtaining an agreement for the appeal process and implementation of the second phase of the Aswasuma benefit program.
Furthermore, the Chair recommended that the responsibilities of the Grama Niladhari official and administrative Grama Niladhari official should be given in writing and to consider to review and repeal the sections 21 and 22 of the relevant Act which may punish them legally when delegating authority to the Grama Niladhari official. The Committee Chair also pointed out the need to get opinions from the grassroots level when setting criteria for such programs.
Apart from this, the human-elephant conflict in Irudeniya area was also discussed at the Committee meeting held.
State Minister Hon. Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Members of Parliament Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara 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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