2025-03-11
News Categories : Committee News
Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Hon. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, stated that the process of healing between communities should be undertaken and that the government is making the necessary interventions in this regard.
The Minister made these remarks during the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs for the Tenth Parliament, held under his chairmanship on 2025.03.08. The Hon. Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake was also present at this meeting.
The Minister made this statement when an inquiry was raised during the Committee regarding a temple constructed in the Jaffna Walikamam North area. He pointed out that he intends to visit the location for an inspection and expects to take a more just intervention accordingly.
Furthermore, the Minister stated that this time, with the support of the Department, the stock of 50 metric tons of dates received as a gift from the Saudi government was distributed very fairly among thousands of mosques. He also mentioned that he had received reports of irregularities in the past regarding the distribution of these dates and that, for the first time in history, the distribution was carried out in a fair and transparent manner.
A prolonged discussion was held regarding a request made on behalf of a group of workers who lost their employment from a private company established under the Central Cultural Fund for cultural conservation and construction activities. Officials stated that these individuals were temporarily employed. However, due to a court ruling instructing that they be reinstated and paid their salary in arrears, an amount of Rs. 55.9 million has to be paid by the Central Cultural Fund. It was also revealed that the Central Cultural Fund has obtained a writ order concerning this decision, temporarily halting the payment.
The Minister pointed out that due to the lack of proper guidance from officials and political authorities, the proper regularization of this group, recruited in 2012, has not been carried out for 13 years. He further stated that his government has to deal with past mistakes but is working more intelligently to resolve them.
The need for the registration of Christian priests was also discussed at this meeting. Officials stated that this longstanding issue was identified and that a process for registering Christian denominations, churches, and priests was initiated last year. Accordingly, relevant application forms have been published on the website.
The possibility of utilizing the income received by ‘Basnayaka Nilame’ and ‘Kapu Mahaththaya’ for the development of the country in some manner was also expressed as an opinion. The Minister stated that the temporary ‘Basnayaka Nilame’ appointed for the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya has disclosed that the temple’s income from offerings for a month amounts to Rs. 6.2 million. He emphasized that this sector should therefore be reconsidered from a new perspective.
Attention was also drawn to the registration of Muslim mosques and Jummah mosques. It was revealed that for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, a quota of 3,500 pilgrims has been allocated for Sri Lanka and the cost per person was Rs. 2.1 million. Since a profit of nearly Rs. 300,000 per pilgrim is considered unfair, the necessity of providing further relief to the pilgrims was discussed. The Minister instructed officials to explore the available options for this purpose.
Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials from institutions under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs participated in this Ministerial Consultative Committee meeting.
2026-06-25
The report submitted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) regarding the disappearance of USD 2.5 million that had been held by the Treasury for the repayment of state debt was discussed at a recent meeting of the Committee.The meeting was held in Parliament on the 23rd June under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva, with the participation of Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, and Nishantha Jayaweera, as well as Hon. Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Rauff Hakeem, Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Ajith Alahakoon, Nimal Palihena, Attorney-at-Law Chithral Fernando, Wijesiri Basnayake, Champika Hettiarachchi, M.K.M. Aslam, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.The report submitted by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to the Committee on Public Finance on the 8th regarding the disappearance of USD 2.5 million was subsequently examined by officials of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Following this review, the Central Bank submitted a report containing its observations and views to the Committee.Extensive discussions were held on the report presented by the Central Bank. The Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance stated that, after considering both the report submitted by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the report submitted by the Central Bank, a final report would be prepared and presented to Parliament in due course.Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Varuna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy; Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and officials of the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) were also preset at the meeting.
2026-06-23
The Department of the Public Trustee was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to examine the Auditor General's triennial report for the years 2021–2023, matters raised in the Auditor General’s Report for 2024 and the Department’s current performance. The discussion took place when COPA met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim.During the meeting, the Chairman inquired about the implementation of a recommendation made at the Committee’s meeting in May 2024. The recommendation requested a report containing details of the various avenues through which the Department receives assets, the dates on which those assets were received, the parties that transferred them, and the conditions attached to such transfers.Officials informed the Committee that the relevant report had been submitted. The Committee further recommended that a report on the number of trusts and properties currently held by the Department of the Public Trustee be provided.The Committee also questioned officials regarding the tender process to lease 113 acres of land belonging to the Harry Hapugoda property in Suduvelipotha, Baddegama, Galle. Officials stated that a bid exceeding the assessed value of the property had been received. It was also revealed that portions of the land are being occupied without authorization by various parties.Attention was further drawn to the maintenance of the Richmond Castle building. Officials informed the Committee that modernization and renovation work is expected to commence in July. Committee members also observed that although the coconut harvest from the estate is satisfactory, the property is not being maintained adequately.The meeting was attended by committee member and Hon. Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage, along with Hon. Members of Parliament and committee members Chanaka Madugoda, J.C. Alawathuwala, Oshani Umanga, Sagarika Athauda (Attorney-at-Law), T.K. Jayasundara, Chandana Suriyaarachchi, Ajantha Gammeddage, Lal Premanath, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody and Sunil Ratnasiri.
2026-06-23
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. During the meeting, Hon. Members of Parliament raised a range of current issues affecting the education sector.The Committee discussed several matters, including the need to introduce a standardized plan and model for primary school construction, administrative issues in assisted schools, teacher transfer-related concerns, the progress of school construction projects at the provincial level, challenges within the vocational education sector and future development plans.Following discussions with relevant officials, the Hon. Prime Minister instructed them to take immediate action to address the issues raised and to implement the necessary measures without delay.The Committee also reviewed the progress of the subcommittees established under the Ministerial Consultative Committee.The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, the Hon. Deputy Minister of Vocational Education, Nalin Hewage, a group of Hon. Members of Parliament and officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa.
2026-06-19
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment focused its attention on the issue of water pollution in the Kelani River when it met in Parliament recently (10th June) under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi.During the meeting, the Committee was briefed on the progress of discussions being held with companies that have expressed willingness to invest in a project aimed at cleaning the waters of the Kelani River.The Committee also discussed a number of proposals and other issues raised by Hon. Members of Parliament.The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament and officials.
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