2024-07-12
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Ways and Means expressed its strong displeasure over the failure to act on the recommendations given by the committee on 24.04.2024 to collect the total tax amount of 1.1 billion rupees for the year 2023 from the relevant liquor manufacturers on or before 30.06.2024.
The Excise Department stated that the recommendations given by the committee and the contradictions between the agreements for the collection of excise duty in previous years and the measures to be taken in this regard were inquired from the Ministry of Finance on 24.05.02, but no reply was received from the Ministry.
This was discussed on 10.07.2024 when the Committee on Ways and Means met at the Parliament premises under the chairmanship of the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Member of Parliament.
It was revealed that the arrears of taxes of W.M Mendis Company is 1659 million rupees, Higurana Distilleries 102 million rupees, Synergy Company 37 million rupees and Wayamba Distilleries 79 million rupees. Thus, it was also revealed before the committee that the total arrears of taxes to be collected from the year 2023 to 15.06.2024 is 1.8 billion rupees. Although the committee had given the recommendation to fully collect the arrears, the committee emphasized that the Parliament and the public will be informed about the Excise Department's failure to fulfill its responsibility.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the payment agreements made by the Excise Department with companies other than W.M Mendis have now become inactive. The Chair said that the Commissioner General of Excise has failed to take proper action in this regard and despite this, the Commissioner is avoiding the Committee on Ways and Means. The committee chair further pointed out that the Excise Department is ignoring the recommendations of the Committee and it is disrespectful to the Parliament and the Committee.
The chair of the committee directed the secretary to the committee to send a written notice to the Ministry of Finance to temporarily suspend the licenses of alcohol production of companies that do not pay arrears of excise duty for the year 2023.
The committee also expressed its displeasure over the excise department adopting a lenient policy on liquor manufacturers who did not pay due excise duty while levying taxes on the general public. Also, the committee expressed its strong displeasure regarding the non-implementation of the recommendations given to the Ministry of Finance in four committee meetings.
Furthermore, the attention of committee was drawn to the flooding of the Kandy railway station. The officers stated before the committee that the drainage system inside the Kandy railway station is not sufficient and that their maintenance and repair activities should be carried out urgently. The committee advised to draw the attention of the World Bank in this regard, to submit these proposals to the District Coordinating Committee, and to contact the Railway Department for the same.
Further investigation regarding the petition submitted with regard to the provision of muddy water to the people of Avissawella area by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board was also taken in to the consideration. There was a discussion regarding the authorized and unauthorized gem mining that has led to the issue and informed to get the list of licensed gem mining related to the ‘Getaheththa canal’ by contacting the National Gem and Jewelry Authority. Accordingly, the chairman of the committee instructed the officers present to observe this issue and submit a related report to the Committee.
Members of the Committee on Ways and Means, Members of Parliament Hon. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Udayana Kirindigoda and Hon. Wasantha Yapa Bandara were also present in committee meeting.
2025-11-27
The appointments of three chairmen of state-owned institutions were approved by the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts yesterday (Nov. 26).Accordingly, the appointments of Dr. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr. M.D.C.A. Perera as the Chairman of the National Lotteries Board, and Eng. P.V.A. Hemalal, as the Chairman of Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited, were approved by the Committee on High Posts.The meeting was chaired by Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and a group of members of the committee participated in this meeting.
2025-11-27
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.
2025-11-26
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.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital has examined the operation of private universities in Sri Lanka and the issues relating to their recognition by the University Grants Commission (UGC).The matter was discussed when the Committee met in Parliament on 21 November 2025, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage.During the discussion, the Committee Chair highlighted the emergence of institutions awarding degrees of inadequate quality and the resulting harm caused. He noted that many such institutions operate with profit-making as their primary objective rather than providing quality education. The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that the entire process, from student admission to awarding of degrees remains under the supervision of the UGC.The Vice Chair of the UGC, expressing his views, underscored the need to establish a Higher Education Commission to regulate and monitor private universities and other degree-awarding institutions. He explained that such a body would enable the creation of comprehensive data systems and facilitate links with universities worldwide, allowing access to essential information on institutional standards and programme quality. This, he noted, would help ensure accurate decision-making when granting approval to prospective private universities. These comments were further supported by the Additional Secretary (Non-State Higher Education) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, and by officials of the UGC.The Committee also focused on issues related to state universities, scholarships offered for foreign degree programmes, and other related matters.Hon. Members of Parliament Krishnan Keleichelvi, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage (Attorney-at-Law), Chanaka Madugoda, Thurairasa Ravikaran, and Sunil Rajapaksha, along with officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training and the UGC, were present at the discussion.
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