2025-08-07
News Categories : Committee News
In celebration of International Youth Day, the Parliamentary Caucus for Youth has decided to hold a special programme in Parliament on the 19th of this month with the participation of the newly appointed members of the National Youth Association, who are to be appointed by the National Youth Services Council.
This decision was made during the meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus for Youth held yesterday (Aug. 06) in Parliament chaired by the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Eranga Gunasekara.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chair of the Caucus pointed out that it is significant that members are being appointed to the National Youth Association under the National Youth Services Council after a lapse of 30 years. Therefore, this special programme is being organized to recognize the newly appointed members of the National Youth association as part of the celebration of International Youth Day 2025, which falls on August 12th.
Furthermore, during the meeting, members of the Caucus were briefed on possible avenues for international collaboration for the Parliamentary Caucus for Youth. A special committee comprising members of the Caucus was also appointed to draft the Vision and Mission Statement of the Parliamentary Caucus for Youth.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Co-Chairs of the Caucus, Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage, Hon. Thanura Dissanayake, and Hon. Hasara Liyanage, Attorney at Law, along with several other Honourable Members of Parliament who are members of the Caucus.
2026-06-17
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government met recently (Jun. 12) at Parliament under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna.During the meeting, Members of Parliament discussed a range of issues and proposals relating to their respective electorates, as well as several other matters of public importance.Hon. Members of Parliament and officials were present at the meeting.
2026-06-17
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs met recently (Jun. 09) at Parliament under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.During the meeting, Members of Parliament discussed a number of proposals and issues, including reviewing the progress of discussions initiated with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Department of Examinations regarding the formulation of regulations to prevent the conduct of private tuition classes on Sunday mornings, thereby facilitating the holding of Dhamma School classes on Sundays.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament and officials.
2026-06-17
The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) granted approval for the Rules published in Extra Ordinary Gazette Notifications No. 2479/54 dated 12 March 2026 and No. 2492/10 dated 09 June 2026, made under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 following its consideration. The said approval was granted when the COPF met in Parliament on 09 June 2026 under the Chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Harsha de Silva. In the discharge of its functions, including the formulation of monetary policies under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is required to collect statistics and information from external parties. Accordingly, the Rules published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2479/54 dated 12 March 2025 under the said Act have been made to prescribe the statistics and information to be reported, the persons subject to such reporting requirements, and the administrative measures that may be taken in the occasion of a violation of the relevant requirements. The Rules further restrict the authority to issue notices requiring the submission of statistics and information to authorized officers of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), namely the Deputy Governors, the Head of the Economic Research Department, and the Head of the Department of Census and Statistics.In addition, the Rules provide for safeguards, including ensuring that the information equipped is used solely for the purpose for which it is collected.The Committee also drew attention to the non-publication of certain government debt data by the CBSL. It was observed that such information is currently maintained by the Public Debt Management Office and that there are limitations in reproducing debt statistics in the format previously published by the CBSL. The Committee emphasized the importance of maintaining public access to government debt information through the publications of the CBSL and also noted the delay in the publication of reports relating to the secondary market for government securities.Further, the COPF pointed out that accurately calculating tourism earnings has become a challenge due to the various payment methods used by tourists, and emphasized the need to improve data collection surveys to enhance the accuracy of such estimates.The Committee also granted approval, following due consideration, for the Rules published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2492/10 dated 09 June 2026 under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act. These Rules, titled the "Repatriation of Export Proceeds into Sri Lanka Rules, No. 2 of 2026," further amend the existing regulatory framework governing the repatriation of export proceeds into Sri Lanka.Accordingly, every exporter of goods who repatriates export proceeds into Sri Lanka during any given month is required to utilize such proceeds only for permitted payments, and to mandatorily convert the remaining balance into Sri Lankan Rupees on or before the 10th day of the following month. This amendment reduces the three-month period previously allowed under the regulations introduced in 2024 to a deadline of the 10th day of the following month.The CBSL pointed out that, in view of the volatility in the exchange rate and the foreign exchange market, as well as the shortage of foreign exchange liquidity, it had become necessary to reduce the period granted to exporters for converting export proceeds into Sri Lankan Rupees.The Committee pointed out that this measure could potentially affect market confidence and contribute to volatility in the foreign exchange market. In response, CBSL officials stated that the measure had been introduced as a short-term policy tool to address exchange rate volatility and the current shortage of foreign exchange supply, and that it would be relaxed once market conditions stabilize.The Committee also discussed the alleged financial fraud involving NDB Bank. An extensive discussion was held on the relevant technical matters, including the role and responsibilities of the CBSL in relation to the incident. It was decided that the matter would be taken up again following the completion of the ongoing forensic audit.Hon. Deputy Minister (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Hon. Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera, and Hon. Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law, Ravi Karunanayake, M.K.M. Aslam, Nimal Palihena, Wijesiri Basnayake, Sunil Rajapaksha, Thilina Samarakoon, Champika Hettiarachchi, and Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law, together with Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and other officials, were present at the meeting. A delegation from the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of the United States Congress, who were in Sri Lanka on a technical assistance mission on “Strengthening Budgetary and Economic Analysis in Parliament,” also attended the committee meeting as observers.
2026-06-16
The Third Report of the Committee on Public Petitions was presented to Parliament on 12th June by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Member of Parliament R.M. Gamini Rathnayake.The Third Report of the Committee on Public Petitions, submitted in terms of Standing Order 125(5) of Parliament, contains the recommendations made by the Committee in respect of public petitions examined during the period from 1st September 2025 to 31st December 2025, as well as noteworthy observations made during the Committee’s investigations.During the period from 1st September 2025 to 31st December 2025, the Committee on Public Petitions held 15 sittings to examine petitions and has so far considered 89 petitions. Of these, recommendations were made in respect of 43 petitions, relief was not recommended in respect of 33 petitions and recommendations on 13 petitions were deferred. Information relating to all 89 petitions is included in this report.In accordance with Standing Order 125(5) of Parliament, the Committee on Public Petitions of the Tenth Parliament previously presented its First and Second Reports (Parliamentary Publications Nos. 250 and 390) to Parliament on 7th August 2025 and 5th December 2025, respectively.
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