Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker of Parliament today (Feb. 01) endorsed the certificate on the Online Safety Bill which was passed in Parliament with amendments following the two-day debate held on 23rd and 24th January 2024.
Accordingly, the said Bill will come into effect as the Online Safety Act No.9 of 2024.
Also, the Speaker endorsed the certificate on National Hydrographic Bill passed on January 9th with amendments and the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Bill passed on January 10th with amendments.
Accordingly, the said Bills will come into effect as the National Hydrographic Act No.7 of 2024 and the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act No.8 of 2024.
2026-11-03
A total of 795 Sri Lankan fishermen aboard 145 fishing vessels have been arrested for entering the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other countries between 2020 and October 23, 2026, while 753 fishermen aboard 66 boats have since been released, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said in Parliament.The Minister made these remarks in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy, seeking an oral answer, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources.According to the Minister, 49,271 fishing boats were actively engaged in the fishing industry in 2024. These included 4,869 registered multi-day fishing boats, 880 one-day fishing boats (IDAY), 24,823 outboard fibreglass-reinforced plastic boats (OFRP), 2,709 motorised traditional boats (MTRB), 15,037 non-motorised traditional boats (NTRB), and 953 non-motorised beach seine boats (NBSB).He said all 4,869 multi-day fishing boats have been legally licensed to operate in international waters. However, fishing vessels may occasionally enter the EEZs of other countries due to adverse weather conditions, strong winds or mechanical failures. The Minister also noted that there have been instances where some boat operators deliberately entered the territorial waters of other countries to harvest fishery resources.The number of Sri Lankan fishermen arrested overseas has been declining significantly, the Minister said. So far in 2026, 40 fishermen aboard seven fishing boats s have been arrested in foreign waters.Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in the respective countries directly handle matters concerning fishermen and fishing vessels arrested overseas, including the necessary legal and diplomatic interventions, he said.The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources provides the necessary technical reports concerning vessels involved in accidents or other incidents. In certain cases, the Department also provides air tickets required to facilitate the return of the fishermen to Sri Lanka, the Minister added.
2026-11-03
A total of 6,658 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported within the Colombo Municipal Council area between 2019 and 2025, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament. He identified weakened immunity, overcrowded and poor living conditions, malnutrition, lifestyle-related factors and close contact with infected persons as among the main risk factors contributing to the spread of tuberculosis.The Minister made these remarks in response to questions raised by Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, seeking oral answers in Parliament.He explained that following infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the infection can remain dormant and may later develop into active tuberculosis when the body's immune system becomes weakened.The Minister further explained that pulmonary TB can spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or laughs, releasing airborne droplets containing the bacteria. He pointed out that healthy individuals can become infected by inhaling these droplets, allowing the bacteria to enter the respiratory system.He said measures are being implemented to prevent the spread of tuberculosis within the Colombo Municipal Council area, including providing free medication to all TB patients and ensuring that treatment is administered under direct observation. Free screening clinics are also being conducted using mobile X-ray units targeting high-risk urban areas. In addition, family members and close contacts of identified TB patients are screened, while preventive treatment is provided where necessary.The Minister said awareness programmes are also being conducted for urban communities and schoolchildren, along with capacity-building programmes for health educators. Community awareness programmes are further conducted annually in conjunction with World TB Day. He added that integrated programmes are being implemented to identify high-risk groups and refer them for treatment, as well as to assess the risk of tuberculosis among persons with disabilities and elderly people.
2026-11-03
Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala stated that 236 Sri Lankan criminals against whom Red Notices have been issued are currently hiding in foreign countries, while 97 of them are organised criminals and drug traffickers.The Minister disclosed this in response to questions raised by Member of Parliament Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardena, seeking oral answers.According to the Minister, the individuals against whom Red Notices have been issued are wanted in connection with various serious and complex crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, accumulation of illicit assets, conspiracy to commit crimes, and aiding and abetting criminal activities. He further stated that 32 of these criminals are wanted in connection with murders, while the others are suspects involved in drug trafficking or other serious and complex criminal activities.The Minister further stated that more than one Red Notice is not issued against the same criminal. As the biographical details of suspects are circulated through international police notifications and made available within international police information systems, such information is kept confidential until the suspect is arrested.He added that steps are being taken to bring back criminals hiding in foreign countries and initiate legal proceedings against them in Sri Lanka, in accordance with the provisions of the Extradition Law No. 8 of 1977 or the provisions of agreements entered into with the respective countries.
2026-11-03
H.E. Sergey Viktorov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Sri Lanka, met with the Hon. Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, recently (Oct. 29) at Parliament to discuss ways of further strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.During the meeting, the Hon. Speaker reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s longstanding friendship with Kazakhstan since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. He expressed Sri Lanka’s readiness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and welcomed the establishment of Kazakhstan’s first resident embassy in Colombo in 2025, describing it as an important milestone in relations between the two countries.The Hon. Speaker highlighted the significant opportunities available for expanding cooperation in several key sectors, including investment, trade, agriculture, tourism and energy. He also invited Kazakhstan to explore these opportunities, noting that Sri Lanka is moving forward with political and economic stability and is committed to creating an environment conducive to greater international engagement and investment.Ambassador Viktorov, emphasized the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. He also briefed the Speaker on the recently introduced parliamentary system in Kazakhstan, which operates under a unicameral legislature.The Ambassador further underscored the importance of establishing a Sri Lanka - Kazakhstan Parliamentary Friendship Association to promote parliamentary exchanges, strengthen institutional ties and facilitate closer cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries.In response, the Speaker stated that steps would be taken to establish the Sri Lanka - Kazakhstan Parliamentary Friendship Association, expressing his support for enhancing parliamentary engagement and fostering stronger ties between the two nations.The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan to deepening bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation and strengthening parliamentary diplomacy for the mutual.
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