The lists of names of the Members appointed to serve in several Committees during the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament Announced
Hon. Ajith Rajapakse, Deputy Speaker of Parliament announced to the House today (Feb. 22) the lists of names of the Members appointed to date to serve in the following Committees during the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament as per the motions agreed to by Parliament on 09 February 2024.
Committee on Ethics and Privileges
Hon. (Mrs.) Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, Hon. Vijitha Berugoda, Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya, Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Hon. Johnston Fernando, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. Samanpriya Herath have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
Committee on Public Accounts
Hon. Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera, Hon. K. Kader Masthan, Hon. (Mrs.) Diana Gamage, Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Hon. Wajira Abeywardana, Hon. A. L. M. Athaullah, Hon. Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda, Hon. (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda, Hon. Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Hon. Isuru Dodangoda, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi, Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. D. Weerasingha, Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Public Accounts.
Committee on Public Enterprises
Hon. Jagath Pushpakumara, Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura, Hon. Lohan Ratwatte, Hon. Indika Anuruddha Herath, Hon. Shantha Bandara, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Hon. Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Hon. Nimal Lanza, Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. M. Rameshwaran, Hon. (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Public Enterprise.
Committee on Public Petitions
Hon. Jagath Pushpakumara, Hon. S. Viyalanderan, Hon. Ashoka Priyantha, Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar, Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Samanmale Kumarasinghe, Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Hon. Wajira Abeywardana, Hon. (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda, Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal, Hon. Nipuna Ranawaka, Hon. (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Public Petitions.
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence
Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Hon. (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, Hon. (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies
Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment
Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Hon. (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Investment Promotion
Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar, Hon. Dhammika Perera, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Investment Promotion
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education
Hon. Anupa Pasqual, Hon. Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Hon. Gunathilaka Rajapaksha have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media
Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health
Hon. Kanaka Herath, Hon. (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, Hon. (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture and Plantation Industries
Hon. Udayakantha Gunathilaka, Hon. Kulasingam Dhileeban, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture and Plantation Industries
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation
Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Hon. Kapila Athukorala, Hon. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms
Hon. Sisira Jayakody, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Sagara Kariyawasam have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries
Hon. Premalal Jayasekara, Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Housing
Hon. (Mrs.) Kokila Gunawardene, Hon. Milan Jayathilake, Hon. Madhura Withanage, have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Housing
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs
Hon. S. B. Dissanayake, Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
Hon. H. Nandasena, Hon. Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Hon. Samanpriya Herath have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy
Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment
Hon. S. M. Chandrasena, Hon. Isuru Dodangoda, Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi Ministerial have been nominated to serve in the Consultative Committee on Power and Energy Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs
Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Hon. Milan Jayathilake, Hon. D. Weerasingha have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation
Hon. D. Weerasingha, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena, Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment
Hon. D. B. Herath, Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Hon. Jayantha Weerasinghe, P.C. have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment
Ministerial Consultative Committee on State Plantation Enterprises Reforms
Hon. Sampath Athukorala, Hon. Thisakutti Arachchi, Hon. M. Rameshwaran have been nominated to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on State Plantation Enterprises Reforms
2026-09-09
The Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill was passed in Parliament today (Sep. 09).The debate on the second reading of the Bill was held in Parliament from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. today, following which the Bill was passed without a division.The Bill was presented to Parliament for its first reading on 4th August 2026.The Bill has been introduced to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act, No. 35 of 2009. The Act was enacted in 2009 to carry out functions including the coordination of activities between the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, in accordance with the requirements of the time.Accordingly, with the repeal of the Chief of Defence Staff Act, No. 35 of 2009, the position of Chief of Defence Staff is also set to be repealed under this Bill.Furthermore, upon the commencement of this Act, all movable and immovable property belonging to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff will be transferred to the Ministry of Defence.
2026-09-09
The Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated in Parliament that plans have been prepared to modernize the Government Printing Corporation by gradually phasing out old and outdated machinery that has been in use for more than 50 years and procuring efficient equipment equipped with modern technology.She further stated that the modernization programme aims to establish a modern printing unit equipped with advanced technology, capable of targeting international markets and providing Smart Security Printing capabilities.The Prime Minister made these remarks in response to Questions for Oral Answers raised by Hon. Member of Parliament Major General (Retired) G.D. Sooriyabandara.The Prime Minister stated that the Government Printing Corporation currently employs 445 permanent employees, along with a further 21 employees on a contractual basis.She further noted that the printing facility of the Government Printing Corporation, which is currently operational in Wataraka, Padukka, carries out printing work based on orders received from the Government. These services include the printing of school textbooks and modules, as well as security printing, including the printing of provincial examination papers, lottery tickets and confidential documents.In addition, the Corporation undertakes the printing of SPC exercise books, printing requirements of various government institutions, other commercial printing work, private printing orders and election-related printing. The Corporation also maintains a network of SPC outlets across several districts of the country, the Prime Minister said.The Prime Minister also pointed out that the Government derives numerous benefits from having a printing institution operating under the Ministry.Accordingly, these benefits include the presence of the Government Printing Corporation as a factor that helps regulate market prices, maintain market standards and quality, meet the requirement for a reliable Security Printing facility, and maintain the Corporation as the only state-owned enterprise in the printing sector.She further highlighted the Corporation’s role in meeting the need for large-scale printing capacity, ensuring access to government-owned printing facilities, and reducing the costs associated with printing activities.Furthermore, the Prime Minister emphasized that the continued existence of the Government Printing Corporation provides employment opportunities as a state institution, maintains a skilled and trained workforce, and enables the Government to derive financial benefits as its state share.
2026-09-08
Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka”The Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (Sep. 08) announced in Parliament that he had received the Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka” which was challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Articles 121 (1) of the Constitution. Accordingly, the Supreme Court has determined that; (i) Clause 3(i) of the Bill is vague and is therefore inconsistent with Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution and may only be passed by the special majority required under Article 84(2) of the Constitution. The inconsistency would cease if the said clause is deleted.(ii) Clause 4(o) of the Bill is inconsistent with Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution and may only be passed by the special majority required under Article 84(2) of the Constitution. The inconsistency would cease if the said clause is amended as proposed by the Court.(iii) Clause 5(4)(b) of the Bill is inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and may only be passed by the special majority required under Article 84(2) of the Constitution. The inconsistency would cease if the clause 5 is amended as proposed by the Court.(iv) The rest of the clauses of the Bill are not inconsistent with the Constitution.Petitions filed at the Supreme Court in terms of the Article 121(1) of the Constitution, in respect of the Bill titled “Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution”The Hon. Speaker also informed the Parliament that, he had received copies of petitions filed at the Supreme Court in terms of the Article 121(1) of the Constitution, in respect of the Bill titled “Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution” as mentioned below, in addition to the receipt of nine Petitions mentioned in his announcements dated 19th, 20th & 21st of August 2026: —• Seven Petitions on 21st of August 2026• Four Petitions on 24th of August 2026• Eight Petitions on 25th of August 2026• Five Petitions on 28th of August 2026• Thirty-one Petitions on 31st of August 2026• Ten Petitions on 01st of September 2026• Three Petitions on 03rd of September 2026• Two Petitions on 04th of September 2026Petitions filed at the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Anti-Corruption (Amendment)”The Hon Speaker announced that he had received copies of fifteen petitions filed at the Supreme Court in terms of the Article 121(1) of the Constitution in respect of the Bill titled “Anti-Corruption (Amendment)”.Petitions filed at the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Judicature (Amendment)”The Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne further informed the Parliament that he had received seven more copies of Petitions filed at the Supreme Court in terms of the Article 121(1) of the Constitution in respect of the Bill titled “Judicature (Amendment)”, in addition to the receipt of the Petition mentioned in his announcement dated 19th of August 2026.
2026-09-08
Hon. Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children (Amendment) Bill today (Sep. 08).The Bill, which seeks to amend the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956, was presented to Parliament by the Minister of Labour and was passed by Parliament on the 20th August.The primary objective of this amendment is to update the fines imposed for offences under the Act relating to the employment of women, young persons and children, in order to bring them in line with current circumstances.The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956 completely prohibits the employment of children under the age of 16. As the fines that may be imposed by a court for offences under the Act are no longer adequate in view of prevailing socio-economic conditions, the new amendment provides for the revision of those fines. Accordingly, the Bill has been introduced to increase the fines imposed for offences under the Women, Young Persons and Children (Employment) Act No. 47 of 1956, from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000.Accordingly, the Bill will come into force as the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2026.
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