2024-08-02
It was disclosed at the Committee on Public Accounts that Sri Lanka is among the 3 countries in the world where the population density is more than 300 per square kilometer and the forest population is maintained at 30%. Accordingly, apart from Sri Lanka, only two countries, namely South Korea and Japan, maintain such a forest system, the officials of the Department of Forest Conservation said.
These facts came to light when the Committee on Public Accounts met in Parliament under the Chairmanship of State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna. The Department of Forest Conservation was called before the Committee recently (Jul. 25) to examine the Auditor General's reports and current performance for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. The percentage of forests in the countries of the world is considered to be 31% and it is commendable that the percentage of forests in Sri Lanka country is at the level of 30%, the officials of the Department of Forest Conservation pointed out.
The Committee questioned the officials as to why the entire forest system in Sri Lanka has not been gazetted. Officials stated that as of 2018, about 1.4 million hectares of forests have been gazetted and there are about two hundred and fifty-six thousand hectares of forests that have not been gazetted. Accordingly, the Committee Chair instructed to gazette the forests which are yet to be Gazzeted soon as possible and to send a report to the Committee within two months, including the time taken to gazette and which authority will be in charge of the forests after gazetting.
Officials pointed out that the highest number of local and foreign tourists visiting the World Heritage Sinharaja Forest has been recorded this year. A total of more than 35000 tourists have come to visit the Sinharaja forest in the past few months. The Committee Chair gave instructions to the officials to increase the necessary facilities for tourists without damaging the forest.
Meanwhile, the Committee questioned the officials regarding the Department of Forest Conservation not maintaining a centralized data system at the head office to provide information. Accordingly, the officials informed the Committee that the preliminary work has already been initiated and the Committee Chair gave instructions to the officials to send a report on the same to the Committee.
Furthermore, the Committee was informed that effective internal control measures have not been established to recover the arrears of the Department of Forest Conservation. The officials of the National Audit Office pointed out to the Committee that there are black stone quarries, small-scale hydroelectric power plants and transmission towers to get shortfall income. According to this, the officials stated that the black stone mining in Melasa exceeds the license granted by the Department of Conservation for black stone quarrying. Accordingly, the Committee Chair gave instructions make arrangements to provide only the required quantity of the explosives required for the same while contacting the relevant agencies while granting licenses for black stone quarrying. Furthermore, the officials pointed out that there is a huge amount of money to be received from the telephone communication institutions through the provision of transmission towers. Accordingly, the Committee Chair gave instructions to the officials to arrange to collect all the arrears.
In the meantime, the Committee gave instructions to pay more attention to the plant named Wallapatta as it is a plant that has a high potential to bring foreign exchange to Sri Lanka. The the officials informed the Committee that there is no law banning the cultivation of Wallapatta plant. However, they pointed out that it is prohibited to cut these plants from forests and carry them illegally without fruit. The officials also pointed out that the imported plant called Aquilaria, which has the same characteristics as the Wallapatta plant, has already started cultivation in Sri Lanka. The officials further stated that it is not easy to distinguish between Wallapatta and Aquilaria plants. It was pointed out that due to the difficulty of identification, the smugglers are trying to advertise the Wallapatta plants cut from the forests as plants obtained from private plantations. To avoid that situation, the officials informed the Committee that they will do the necessary work to identify the two types of plants through a scientific method.
State Minister Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera, Members of Parliament Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, and Hon. Isuru Dodangoda, and a group of officials were present at this Committee meeting held.
2026-11-06
The Parliamentary Caucus for Youth discussed how to strengthen engagement between young people and Parliament and advance future initiatives aimed at increasing youth participation.The Caucus met recently at Parliament under the chairmanship of, Hon. Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara, where members exchanged views on the matter.Discussions also focused on several proposals, including a proposal on youth entrepreneurship and industrial development prepared by Hon. Member of Parliament Oshani Umanga; a proposal on empowering youth within local government authorities, prepared by Hon. Member of Parliament, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe; and a proposal on a policy framework for youth in the plantation and cultivation sectors, prepared by Hon. Member of Parliament Ambika Samivel.Furthermore, extensive discussions were held on proposals prepared by the Caucus's Deputy Co-Chairs, Hon. Members of Parliament Lasith Bashana Gamage, Thanura Dissanayake and Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath, concerning an external youth engagement programme and a series of pilot workshops.It was also decided to further study these proposals, which could be implemented for the benefit of young people, and finalize them following further consideration.Several members of the Caucus and other invitees were present at the meeting.
2026-11-05
The Trusts (Amendment) Bill, which is scheduled to be taken up for its Second Reading in Parliament today (Nov. 05), has received the approval of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection.The Bill was discussed and approved when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection met yesterday (04) under the chairmanship of its Chair, Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.The Bill, which seeks to amend the Trusts Ordinance (Chapter 87), was presented to Parliament for its First Reading on 21 October 2026 by the Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara.Officials from the Legal Draftsman’s Department and the Ministry of Justice briefed the Committee on the amendments proposed under the Bill.Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha, Major General (Retired) G. D. Sooriyabandara and Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, among others, attended the Committee meeting.
2026-11-04
A special national programme was successfully conducted islandwide on the 2nd of November, under the leadership of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Ministry of Health, with the aim of promoting early detection of breast cancer, one of the most commonly reported cancers among women in Sri Lanka, and raising public awareness about the disease. Awareness and screening programmes were organized at several Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices across the districts represented by women Members of Parliament. The programmes were attended by women Members of Parliament, including Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus.In Sri Lanka, approximately 17 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, with around 6,000 new cases reported annually. Furthermore, more than 1,000 deaths occur each year due to the disease, equivalent to approximately three lives lost every day.Breast cancer can be completely cured if detected at an early stage. However, delays in seeking medical treatment due to fear, embarrassment or a lack of awareness have been identified as major challenges.All women should become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts and carry out regular breast self-examinations. If any unusual changes are detected, it is important to seek medical advice without delay.Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment. The government healthcare system provides free screening and other essential healthcare services.In addition, all women are encouraged to attend the Well Woman Clinic and undergo the recommended Pap test at the ages of 35 and 45. This screening helps detect precancerous changes at an early stage, thereby supporting the prevention of cervical cancer.
2026-11-03
A special meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education was held recently at the Parliament Complex, chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, to brief Members of Parliament on the revised National Curriculum Framework and the new education reform process.The meeting was attended by Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, as well as a number of experts in the education sector, including representatives of the National Institute of Education (NIE).Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, stated that, in accordance with a Cabinet decision, a National Committee comprising subject experts had been appointed by April 2026 to oversee the education reforms. He further explained that five main subcommittees established under this committee would provide the necessary guidance and direction for the process.He also stated that, in accordance with the Cabinet decision, the new reforms are scheduled to be introduced for Grade 1 in 2026, and for Grades 6 and 2 in 2027. Preparations are currently underway, including teacher training programmes, the development of modules and printing of teacher guides, as well as plans to upgrade digital infrastructure in schools.During the meeting, Director General of the National Institute of Education, Professor O.G. Dayaratne, together with officials from the education sector, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the foundation of the new education reforms, the National Curriculum Framework, assessment methodologies and the proposed implementation plan.He explained that the process had commenced in 2019 and that the National Institute of Education had prepared the National Curriculum Framework in accordance with the new policy approved by the National Education Commission in 2023. He emphasized that the framework was the result of a collective effort involving several institutions. The Director General further stated that the country was introducing education reforms modelled on systems implemented in some of the world's most advanced countries.The Director General of the National Institute of Education emphasized that the fundamental objective of general education should not be limited to producing future workers to meet the demands of the labour market. Rather, it should focus on nurturing holistic and well-rounded citizens enriched with ethics, virtues and values, while developing a future generation capable of building the nation.A shift from the existing content-based education system to an outcome-based and student-centred approach is proposed under the reforms. He further explained that a new assessment framework had been developed to reduce the pressure of rote learning and examination-oriented education. Under this framework, students' progress will be evaluated through a credit-based modular system and continuous assessments conducted throughout the year.Flexible vocational pathways have also been developed to provide students with an understanding of different vocational fields from Grade 6 onwards. These pathways will enable students in Grades 12 and 13 to obtain vocational qualifications up to NVQ Level 4 or pursue higher education.A website named "RIES" has been launched to raise public awareness of the education reforms among the general public, teachers and parents. In addition, an island-wide awareness programme is being implemented in several phases.Addressing the meeting, the Hon. Prime Minister emphasized that the fundamental objective of education should not merely be to prepare children to become future members of the workforce, but also to nurture them into well-rounded individuals and responsible citizens who will contribute to nation-building.She also pointed out that decisions regarding challenges arising during the implementation of the reforms should not be based solely on personal perceptions or opinions. Instead, such decisions should be guided by scientific research and evidence.Members of Parliament who participated in the discussion raised questions and shared their views and proposals regarding the education reforms.It was further emphasized that the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, without any divisions or differences, were essential to the successful implementation of this important national undertaking.The meeting was also attended by Hon. Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Hon. Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage, Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Director of Legislative Services Mr. Jayalath Perera, and several other officials.
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