2025-03-04
News Categories : Committee News
Hon. Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, stated that instead of providing long-term welfare benefits to low-income earners, the Ministry is primarily focused on empowering the majority of them.
The Minister made this statement during the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Rural Development, Social Security and Community empowerment of the Tenth Parliament, held on 03rd March 2025 under his Chairmanship at the Parliament. The Hon. Deputy Minister, Wasantha Piyatissa, was also present at the occasion.
During the meeting, officials introducing the Ministry's functions and objectives to the Ministerial Consultative Committee, highlighted that approximately 1.7 million individuals currently receive Aswesuma benefits and the Ministry aims to empower 1.5 million of them within the next five years. Additionally, it was stated that in 2025, the Ministry expects to empower 300,000 Aswesuma recipients. Furthermore, the officials emphasized that 10 institutions operate under the Ministry, focusing on three key areas: livelihood development, infrastructure development, and social welfare.
The Minister also emphasized that the selection and distribution of Aswesuma benefits for low-income earners is carried out by the Ministry of Finance. However, his Ministry is committed to uplifting these individuals from low-income conditions through community empowerment programs. Moreover, he pointed out deficiencies in the Aswesuma benefit data system and pointed out that a Committee has already been appointed to update this system accordingly.
The discussion also highlighted the necessity of conducting more effective awareness programs at the school level to prevent being exposed to the use of drugs. Parliamentarians pointed out that even some recipients of the Aswesuma benefits are addicted to drugs, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
Additionally, the Ministerial Consultative Committee focused on introducing a social security mechanism similar to pension schemes for low-income earners, implementing the ‘Smart Villages’ program through model community empowerment villages, addressing the challenges of rural microfinance loans, resolving issues faced by persons with disabilities, and tackling concerns related to kidney disease patients.
A number of Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials from the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, along with its affiliated institutions, were present at this Committee meeting held.
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.
2026-05-25
Committee agrees to seek public opinions and feedback for its review processSelect Committee of Parliament to review the laws dealing with Elections (excluding laws dealing with Provincial Council Elections) and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, recently met in Parliament for the first time under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna.The primary objective of the committee is to review laws relating to the electoral system, including the Registration of Electors Act, the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, the Parliamentary Elections Act, the Presidential Elections Act, as well as amendments made to those laws over the years and special legislative provisions relevant to their implementation.In addition, the committee has been tasked with evaluating the need to revise, amend, and consolidate the above laws, and to recommend necessary reforms and amendments to the current legal framework governing elections.For the purpose of conducting a comprehensive study on the above matters, the committee has been vested with the authority to summon any individual before the committee as deemed necessary, require the submission of any document or report, and obtain evidence either in writing or orally. Furthermore, the committee is empowered to obtain the assistance of experts and professionals with specialized knowledge in relevant fields to support its work.Accordingly, the members of the committee agreed to obtain public views for the committee’s activities and to raise wider public awareness regarding the review process.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Minister (Attorney-at-Law) Sunil Watagala and Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, J.C. Alawathuwala, Harshana Rajakaruna, Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, (Attorney-at-Law) Thushari Jayasinghe, and Chandima Hettiarachchi.
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