2024-02-28
News Categories : Committee News
Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender discussed with the provincial chief secretaries on the implementation of the national policy prepared by the National Child Protection Authority regarding child day care facilities.
This discussion took place when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender met in Parliament recently under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala.
According to the 13th constitutional amendment, matters related to children fall under the purview of the provincial councils, thus, the previous meeting of the Committee drew attention to the legal concerns arising in the implementation of this national policy. Accordingly, this discussion was called to seek the views of the Provincial Chief Secretaries and the Attorney General's Department.
Officials representing the Provincial Chief Secretaries, Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, National Child Protection Authority, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, representatives of Verite Research Institute and youth representatives appointed to the Sectoral Oversight Committee participated in this discussion. Furthermore, Provincial Probation and Child Care Services Commissioners joined the meeting online.
The official representing the Attorney General's Department pointed out that though matters related to probation and child care services are under the purview of Provincial Councils, since Provincial Councils have not been established, the Central Government can act in this regard. Furthermore, the provincial chief secretaries also pointed out that if the Cabinet approves this national policy, there will be no problem in implementing it in the provincial councils. Furthermore, the Provincial Chief Secretaries, who informed the Committee regarding the current methods related to child day care facilities, pointed out that by implementing this national policy, a common method can be implemented for the entire country.
Accordingly, the Committee Chair, Member of Parliament Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala instructed to submit the relevant national policy to the provincial governors and obtain their approval for the same.
Apart from the said, the Committee discussed at length regarding the prevention of violence against children and the need to strengthen the institutions working for it.
Opposition Leader Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, and Hon. D. Weerasingha were present at the Committee meeting held.
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The Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Najith Indika, stated that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board must take the lead in streamlining the procurement process and easing existing legal barriers related to importing equipment used to test drivers for drug use.These matters were taken up during the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, which met in Parliament on 20th November 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. MP (Dr.) Najith Indika.The Committee reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals and special project implementations of the Ministry of Public Security & Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government.Officials from the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau highlighted the difficulties in conducting roadside drug tests due to the lack of necessary equipment.The Committee Chair noted that the government has prioritized eliminating drug abuse and stressed the importance of regulating drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of drugs. He further stated that essential equipment required to identify drug users must be made readily available and that legal barriers affecting their procurement process and importation should be addressed promptly.Police officials also informed the Committee that notable progress has been made in implementing budgeted programmes related to drug prevention. Officials from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board briefed the Committee on the progress achieved under their purview as well.The Committee additionally reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government. The Ministry Secretary reported significant progress and noted that many suspended development projects have now resumed.Hon. Members of Parliament G.G. Ponnambalam, Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Dharmapriya Wijesinghe were also present at the committee meeting.
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The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection recently (Nov. 18) reviewed 12 performance reports and annual reports of institutions functioning under the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.The Committee met in Parliament on the 18th under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.Accordingly, the Committee examined the 2022, 2023 and 2024 performance reports of the Registrar’s Office of the Supreme Court, the 2023 and 2024 performance reports of Judges of Supreme Court, the 2022 Annual Report of the Supreme Court Complex Management Board, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.In addition, the Committee reviewed the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Official Languages, the 2020,2021,2022 & 2023 Annual Reports of the Official Languages Commission, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Institute of Language Education and Training, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Prisons, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Debt Conciliation Board.The Committee also inquired into audit observations related to these institutions, and relevant officials presented their explanations. Attention was also drawn to the current activities of these institutions, as well as existing issues and shortcomings. The Committee Chair informed officials to notify the Committee if amendments to the legal framework governing these institutions were necessary to ensure more efficient service delivery, and assured the Committee’s support in facilitating such changes.Further, regarding the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Community Based Corrections, it was noted that the Auditor General’s report highlighted the incomplete construction of the building for the Legal Aid and Community Correctional Office in Puttalam. The Committee requested a report on this matter.Accordingly, approval of the Committee was granted for all performance and annual reports reviewed, except for the 2023 and 2024 Annual Performance Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.Hon. Members of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Major General (Retd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara, along with a group of government officials, participated in the Committee meeting.
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