2024-07-25
News Categories : Committee News
Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means emphasized that the establishment of a digital infrastructure system for the public sector in Sri Lanka should be done urgently by integrating all government institutions.
The Chair stated this when the Committee on Ways and Means met in Parliament recently (Jul. 24) in Parliament to discuss regarding the use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the public sector in Sri Lanka.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) made a presentation in this regard and briefed the Committee on its particulars. Officials of the Ministry of Technology and the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government and the United Nations Development Representatives of the program and experts in the field were also called before the Committee meeting held.
Other countries of the world and especially in the Asian region, India and Bangladesh have implemented this facility, and it is currently being implemented in Pakistan, however it was disclosed that this program is not being implemented properly in Sri Lanka. If it works as expected, every citizen of the country will receive a specific identification number and will have access to all government services ranging from from a Grama Sewa Niladhari to any official in any government ministry. It was further stated that this facility will allow the exchange of data between the respective government institutions with proper efficiency.
The Committee Chair pointed out that even though government institutions such as the Department of Registration of Persons, the Department of Immigration and the Department of Inland Revenue have implemented their own unique digital systems, there is no collective action.
The need to create an electronic platform for all payment activities and transactions to direct the three institutions operating for the purpose of collecting revenue which has been delayed for more than a decade was emphasized as pointe out on earlier discussions held at the Committee on Ways and Means. Moreover, the Committee Chair pointed out to the officials of the Ministry of Technology the need for a digital procurement exchange platform to carry out imported food, fuel and medicines, fertilizers etc. in a transparent manner.
The committee had previously discussed and made a number of recommendations on the Digitization of monetary transactions through e-Rupees by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, creation of a unified payment interface (Unified Payment Interface), prevention of wrong invoicing related to imports by Sri Lanka Customs, and creation of a digital platform where all details of essential food items which can be viewed by consumers.
The investigation regarding the non-receipt of vehicle licenses with duty concessions received by 9 senior officers of the State Engineering Service on retirement was looked into during the second session of the committee. For the said purpose, the party representing the officers of the State Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministries and the aggrieved senior officers of the Engineering Service were summoned before the committee. According to a Regulation in the year 2017, the retirement age of the executive grade officers of the public service was extended to 61 years. It was made not that the reduction of the mandatory retirement age to 60 years in 2023, caused to lose the right to the vehicle permit, which is given from 5 years to 5 years. It was stated that this injustice happened to 9 people in the engineering service while elaborating their position. The Chair emphasized that all professionals should follow the same policy; Instructed the officers of the Ministries of State Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government to submit to the Committee in writing the specific conditions related to the right to the vehicle license with duty concessions which are entitled with the retirement.
Members of Parliament Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara and Hon. Rauff Hakeem, were also present for this committee meeting held.
2026-05-26
The Central Provincial Council was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to examine the Auditor General’s triennial report for the years 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s report for 2024, and the Council’s current performance.The committee meeting, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, was held recently at Parliament.During the meeting, attention was drawn to the progress made in implementing recommendations issued at the COPA meeting held on 5th September, 2019. Discussions focused on the incident involving the destruction of files belonging to the Central Provincial Passenger Transport Authority.It was revealed that directives issued by the relevant court and the Presidential Secretary regarding the incident had not been implemented by the responsible authorities. In this regard, the Committee Chairman instructed officials of the Central Provincial Council to submit all reports and correspondence related to the incident to the committee.In addition, the committee discussed an incident involving the unlawful transfer of a rest house owned by the Road Development Authority to a third party in violation of lease conditions. Accordingly, the Chairman instructed officials to identify the officers responsible for making the relevant decisions and to submit a report to the committee on the legal action being taken in connection with the matter.The committee also held extensive discussions on irregularities identified by the National Audit Office in road development and passenger transport services in the Central Province, as well as issues affecting the health sector.Expressing his views during the meeting, the Chairman emphasized the importance of expediting ongoing investigations within institutions and focusing on follow-up action. He further stressed that if a state institution generates profits, such profits should accrue to the government, and if such revenue is used for institutional activities, established legal provisions and procedures must be strictly followed.The meeting was attended by committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Sunil Rathnasiri, Oshani Umanga, Susantha Kumara Navarathna, Ajantha Gammeddage, Chanaka Madugoda, T.K. Jayasundara and Lal Premanath along with a group of government officials.
2026-05-26
The Parliamentary Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the Electoral System under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, recently sought views from the Attorney General’s Department and members of the Election Commission.The discussion took place when the committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.During the meeting, the Attorney General’s Department briefed the committee on the existing legal obstacles to holding Provincial Council elections and the possible ways in which such obstacles could be removed to facilitate the conduct of the elections.The Election Commission informed the committee that it is prepared to conduct Provincial Council elections at any time under the legal provisions enacted by Parliament based on the committee’s recommendations.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra, Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law and Muneer Mulaffer as well as committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. The committee member M. Nizam Kariapper, P.C also participated virtually.
2026-05-25
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to examine the ongoing legal proceedings and matters relating to the protection of the girl involved in the sexual abuse incident reported from the Anuradhapura area.This decision was taken during the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting chaired by Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, held in Parliament today (May 25). Accordingly, a special discussion has been scheduled for 05.06.2026 with the participation of relevant institutions including the Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.In addition to the incident, which has generated significant public concern, the discussion is also expected to focus extensively on strengthening the laws and empowering the institutions required to prevent all forms of violence against women and children.Meanwhile, it was also decided to appoint a subcommittee under the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to oversee the future legal proceedings relating to the Anuradhapura girl’s case and to identify the institutional and legal reforms required in the country to eliminate violence against women and children.The subcommittee will be led by the deputy co-chairs of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Hon. Members of Parliament Samanmali Gunasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella. The other members of the subcommittee will be Hon. Hemali Weerasekara, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakarathna, Attorney-at-Law Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
2026-05-25
The progress of implementing the new education reforms was reviewed at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi. During the meeting held in Parliament on the 19th, extensive discussions were held on the implementation of the new education reforms.Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, briefed the committee on the manner in which the new education reforms are being implemented.The meeting was attended by Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, committee members, provincial education secretaries, school principals, and several other officials.
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