2025-02-24
News Categories : Committee News
The Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, stated that all remaining passports scheduled for issuance will be issued within a month, and efforts are already underway to gradually normalize the process.
The Hon. Minister made these remarks during the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs of the Tenth Parliament, held under his Chairmanship on the February 22nd at the Parliament.
Emphasizing the primary objective of restoring public confidence in obtaining passports, the Chair highlighted that a 24-hour passport issuance service has been initiated. He also extended his gratitude to the employees of the Department of Immigration & Emigration for their dedicated efforts in this regard. Furthermore, he stated that a passport issuance office would be established in Jaffna following the procurement of the necessary printing equipment, and that the number of passports issued at local council offices would be doubled.
Furthermore, the Committee also discussed the request for security provisions for Members of Parliament representing the Opposition. The Chair stated that no final decision had been reached on this matter yet, and investigations into the threats faced by the Members of Parliament were still ongoing, with final reports being prepared. He further stated that upon receiving these assessment reports, necessary action would be taken to provide security to the Members of Parliament, if required.
Additionally, the Committee deliberated on the current status of underworld activities and the measures being implemented to control them. The Acting Inspector General of Police, addressing the Committee, pointed out that these underworld activities are primarily revolve around the drug trade. He further emphasized that efforts are being made at a diplomatic level to identify and apprehend those directing these activities overseas and to bring them back to the country.
The Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, who was present at the meeting, raised concerns about a potential reduction in police officers' salaries under the proposed budget. In response, the Chair assured that, despite certain projected reductions in the budget, no officer’s salary would be decreased, and instead, salary increments would be ensured.
The need for the proper regulation of projects funded by non-governmental organizations was also highlighted during the committee discussions.
The meeting was attended by Hon. Ministers, Hon. Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, Attorney at Law, Deputy Ministers, Committee Members, other Members of Parliament, and officials representing the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.
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.
2026-07-16
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) extensively reviewed the Auditor General's Reports relating to the Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka for the years 2021 to 2024, as well as its current performance.The discussion took place when the Committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of its Chair, Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim.During the meeting, the Committee focused on a number of matters, including the conduct of examinations and the process of releasing examination results, the use of information technology systems, human resource management, procurement procedures, the submission of annual reports to Parliament, and the implementation of the recommendations of the Auditor General.Officials also briefed the Committee on the measures taken to further enhance the Department's current performance and service efficiency, as well as the programmes scheduled to be implemented in the future.The Committee also discussed the action taken in response to the observations of the Auditor General and instructed the officials to take the necessary steps to expedite the implementation of the remaining recommendations.The meeting was attended by Committee Members Hon. Deputy Ministers Nalin Hewage and Sugath Thilakarathna, and Hon. Members of Parliament Chanaka Madugoda, Dr. M. L. A. M. Hizbullah, Hector Appuhamy, T. K. Jayasundara, Chandana Sooriyarachchi, Lal Premanath, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Dr. Janaka Senarathna and Sunil Rathnasiri.
2026-07-16
Parliamentary Caucus for Youth focused on the importance of obtaining the views and proposals of young people on the Draft National Youth Policy.The matter was discussed at the sixth meeting of the Parliamentary Forum for Youth, held recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara.During the meeting, an extensive discussion was held on the Draft National Youth Policy. Attention was also drawn to obtaining the views and proposals of the Members of the Caucus with a view to incorporating the needs and aspirations of young people into the policy in a more effective manner.It was further emphasised that the Parliamentary Caucus for Youth will continue to facilitate the meaningful inclusion of the voices of young people in the policy formulation process.The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament and officials.
2026-07-10
The Committee on High Posts, which met in Parliament recently (Jul. 08), has granted its approval for the appointment of Mr. D.P. Wickramasingha as the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and was attended by Hon. Ministers Bimal Rathnayake and Dr. Upali Pannilage, as well as Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, Rishad Bathiudeen, K. Kader Mastan, Kumara Jayakody, Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella.
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