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.
2026-07-21
Discussions focus on strengthening disability-inclusive legislation and policy implementationThe Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities held discussions with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and representatives of several United Nations agencies at Parliament with a view to strengthening cooperation in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and advancing disability-inclusive legislation and policies in Sri Lanka.The meeting was held in Parliament under the Chairmanship of the Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva recently.Addressing the meeting, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Marc-André Franche, commended the Parliament for establishing the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities and emphasized the importance of treating disability inclusion as a national priority across all sectors. He reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to provide technical expertise and institutional support in areas including legislative reforms, accessibility, inclusive education, employment, community-based rehabilitation and strengthening national coordination.The UNICEF Representative, Ms. Begoña Arellano, highlighted the need to safeguard the rights of children with disabilities, particularly in relation to health, nutrition and education, while emphasizing the important oversight role of Parliament in ensuring the effective implementation of disability-inclusive policies.Representatives of UNFPA, UNDP, ILO and UN Volunteers also briefed the Caucus on ongoing initiatives relating to youth, education, disability data collection, employment opportunities and social inclusion.During the meeting, the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, informed the Caucus that the proposed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill and the Sign Language Bill are currently with the Attorney General's Department and are expected to be presented to Parliament on September 2026. He further stated that measures are underway to improve accessibility in public institutions, expand employment opportunities, introduce educational grants for university students with disabilities and establish ten day-care centres for children with disabilities within this year.The Caucus also discussed future initiatives, including the preparation of disability-inclusive budget proposals by Government Ministries, the finalisation of a national disability database and the conduct of a sensitisation programme for journalists to promote a rights-based approach to disability related reporting.The meeting concluded with the Chair, Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, reiterating the Caucus's core theme, "An unhindered social life," and calling for continued, unified collaboration to make an inclusive society a reality.The meeting was attended by the Deputy Co-Chairs of the Caucus, Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, and Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, Members of Parliament and representatives of the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, ILO and UN Volunteers.
2026-07-20
A technical report prepared by the Election Commission on enhancing the representation of women and youth at Provincial Council Elections was presented to the Parliamentary Select Committee 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.The Select Committee met recently at Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath. Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus of Sri Lanka, together with the Members of the Caucus, also participated in the meeting.The report presented by the Election Commission outlined a proposed technical framework for increasing the representation of women and youth while retaining the existing Proportional Representation electoral system and preserving the current method of determining election results.The Committee held extensive discussions on the legal and practical issues that may arise in ensuring the representation of women and youth under the proposed electoral system. It was decided to examine these matters further and continue the discussion at a future meeting.During the discussion, the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus unanimously emphasized that women's representation at Provincial Council and Local Government Elections should be increased to at least 33%. The Caucus further stressed that this position should be duly taken into consideration when formulating the proposed electoral system.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra and Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala; Hon. Members of Parliament R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe, and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and the Chairman of the Election Commission, R. M. A. L. Ratnayake, together with the other Members of the Election Commission.
2026-07-20
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability discussed the paddy purchasing process and the measures taken by the Government to ensure an adequate supply of rice to meet the country's requirement.The matter was taken up when the Committee met recently at Parliament under the Chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy. During the meeting, the importance of establishing a comprehensive and reliable agricultural data system to minimize the imbalance between agricultural production and market demand was emphasized. The Committee observed that the introduction of an integrated data system capable of providing accurate information on cultivated crop varieties, cultivation extents and market demand would help minimize excess production and price-related issues while ensuring farmers receive a fair price for their produce.The Committee also discussed the production and consumption patterns of rice varieties such as Samba, Keeri Samba, Nadu and Red Rice, and stressed the importance of planning production in line with market demand.Attention was also drawn to the need to strengthen data sharing and coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and other relevant institutions.Meanwhile, at the request of Hon. Member of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, the Committee also considered a proposal referred by the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection regarding amendments to the Survey Act, No. 17 of 2002.The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament Upul Kithsiri, Kitnan Selvaraj, and Ajith P. Perera. Secretaries to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, together with a group of officials representing the relevant Ministries, were also present.
2026-07-16
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education recently discussed and approved the final report of the Committee appointed to make recommendations for the establishment of an Education Council in Sri Lanka which had been endorsed by the Sub-Committee on the Establishment of an Education Council.The approval was granted at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.During the meeting, the Chair of the Sub-Committee, Hon. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, presented the report to the Committee. The report incorporates the observations and recommendations made following a comprehensive study conducted by the panel of experts appointed by the Ministry to formulate recommendations for the establishment of an Education Council in Sri Lanka.Thereafter, the Committee sought the views and proposals of its members on the contents of the report. Following an extensive discussion, the Ministerial Consultative Committee approved the report.The meeting was attended by Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
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