The Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced to the House today that he endorsed the certificate on three Bills on 17.12.2025. Accordingly, the Hon. Speaker endorsed the certificate on the Bills titled Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment), the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment), and the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment).
The primary purpose of the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill was to amend the Social Security Contribution Levy Act, No. 25 of 2022. The Bill was presented to Parliament on 09.10.2025, and the Bill was passed in Parliament on 05.12.2025.
The Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill, duly passed on 05.12.2025, aimed to amend Section 2 of the principal enactment. Accordingly, amendments to the Bill aimed to limit the gross collection of ten per centum to have been applicable only for the time period from April 1, 2023, to October 1, 2025, increase the gross collection levy from persons carrying on a business of bookmaker or business of gambling to eighteen per centum from October 1, 2025, and increase the casino entrance levy from persons who are citizens of Sri Lanka to United States Dollars one hundred.
The Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Bill, presented to Parliament on 14.11.2025, was passed in Parliament on 05.12.2025 for the purpose of amending the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008. Accordingly, said amendments included reducing the maximum tax holiday period from twenty-five years to ten years and mandating a new process for project identification, the Board of Investment (BOI) identifying a project and referring it to the Ministry of Finance for a mandatory ex-ante cost-benefit analysis before any tax holiday or concession was granted, establishing new requirements for ex-post monitoring by the BOI, including the authority to impose administrative penalties or restrict or revoke exemptions for non-compliance with key performance indicators, requiring tax returns to be filed, and mandating the Ministry of Finance to publish an annual report on tax expenditures related to these projects.
Accordingly, the said three Bills will come into force as the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 24 of 2025, the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 25 of 2025, and the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Act, No. 26 of 2025.
2026-10-02
Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 6 to 9.The Parliamentary business for the relevant parliamentary week was decided at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held recently under the chairmanship of the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.Accordingly, on Tuesday, October 6, from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., time has been allocated for the Parliamentary business as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. From 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).Thereafter, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Parliament is scheduled to debate two regulations published in Extraordinary Gazettes No. 2493/36 and No. 2493/37 under the Foreign Exchange Act, an Order published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2493/38 under the Foreign Exchange Act, and a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act.From 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., a Motion at the Adjournment Time to be moved by the Government will be taken up for debate.On Wednesday, October 7, from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., time has been allocated for the Parliamentary business as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. From 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions to be asked from the Prime Minister, while from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers. Thereafter, from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of Parliament.Subsequently, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., an Adjournment Motion to be moved by the Opposition will be taken up for debate.On Thursday, October 8, from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., time has been allocated for the Parliamentary business as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. From 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).Thereafter, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the Second Reading debate on the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill is scheduled to be held.From 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., time has been allocated for Questions at the Adjournment Time.On Friday, October 9, from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., time has been allocated for the Parliamentary business as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. From 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).From 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the following Private Members’ Motions are scheduled to be taken up for debate:Name of the Member of ParliamentTitle of the Private Member MotionHon. Dr. Harsha de SilvaProtection of the Diyagama ForestHon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney at LawFormulation of a programme to increase train services on the Puttalam Railway LineHon. Amirthanathan AdaikkalanathanAppointment of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to seek the truth about the ethnic violence that occurred during the 'Black July' of 1983, to assess the damages and to make recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such ethnic violenceHon. Lasith Bhashana GamageFormulation of a systematic methodology for the planting, scientific management, and maintenance of trees within road reservesHon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi, Attorney at LawConverting ;all Colleges of Education in Sri Lanka into University FacultiesHon. Chaminda WijesiriFormulating a programme to exercise justice to the individuals who have become the victims of microfinance loansHon. Ravi KarunanayakeMaking Sports Bodies in Sri Lanka free from politicizationThereafter, from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., a Motion at the Adjournment Time to be moved by the Opposition will be taken up for debate.
2026-09-30
First Reading of the Budget - October 7 Budget Speech - November 12 The Committee on Parliamentary Business has decided that the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2027 (Budget Speech/presentation of Budget proposals) will take place on November 12, 2026, followed by the Second Reading debate from November 13 to December 14.The decision was approved at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held recently (Sep. 25) under the chairmanship of Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.Accordingly, the Appropriation Bill is scheduled to be presented to Parliament for its First Reading on October 7.It was further decided that the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill (Budget Speech) will be delivered by the Hon. President, in his capacity as the Minister in charge of Finance, on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Thereafter, the Second Reading debate will be held for seven days, from November 13 to November 20. Accordingly, the vote on the Second Reading will be held at 6.00 p.m. on November 20.Thereafter, the Committee Stage debate will be held for 19 days, from November 21 to December 14, with the vote on the Third Reading of the Budget scheduled for 6.00 p.m. on December 14.During this period, the Budget debate will be held every day, including Saturdays, except on public holidays and Sundays. Parliament is scheduled to meet at 9.30 a.m. on each of these days.From 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. each day, time will be allocated for the Parliamentary business specified under Standing Order 22(1) to (6). Thereafter, five Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., followed by one question under Standing Order 27(2) from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.Accordingly, the debate is scheduled to be held from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. On all days except the two days on which votes are scheduled to be taken, Motions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up for debate from 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., based on a 50:50 time allocation between the Government and the Opposition, the Secretary General further stated.It was also approved that during the Second Reading debate, 60% of the debate time will be allocated to the Government and 40% to the Opposition, while during the Committee Stage debate, 40% will be allocated to the Government and 60% to the Opposition.Furthermore, if a division is called for on a Expenditure Head relating to a Ministry, the relevant vote will be held at 6.00 p.m. at the conclusion of the proceedings on the respective day.
2026-09-25
Speaker also Endorses the Judicature (Amendment) BillHon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (Sep. 25) endorsed the certificate on the Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill.The Second Reading debate on the Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill was held in Parliament yesterday (24) and today, following which the Bill was passed with a special majority in Parliament.The Bill provides for increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court Judges from 65 to 67 years, and the retirement age of Court of Appeal Judges from 63 to 65 years.It also proposes to amend Article 137 of the Constitution to increase the number of judges of the Court of Appeal from 19 to 24. Accordingly, the establishment and operation of regional Courts of Appeal is expected to facilitate the expeditious disposal of pending cases and reduce the need for parties to cases to travel to Colombo.Accordingly, the Constitutional Amendment Bill will come into force as the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution.Meanwhile, Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne also endorsed his certificate today on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill.The Second Reading debate on the Bill was held in Parliament yesterday (24) and today, following which the Bill was passed by a majority of votes in Parliament today.The amendment increases the retirement age of High Court Judges from 61 to 63 years, and the retirement age of District Judges and Magistrates from 60 to 62 years.Furthermore, by amending Section 4 of the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, the Bill provides for increasing the maximum number of High Court Judges from 110 to 120, enabling the establishment of additional Provincial High Courts and Provincial Civil Appellate High Courts.Accordingly, the Judicature (Amendment) Bill will come into force as the Judicature (Amendment) Act, No. 23 of 2026.
2026-09-25
Judicature (Amendment) Bill also Passed with a MajorityThe Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill was passed with a special majority in Parliament today (Sep. 25).The division on the Second Reading of the Bill commenced at 7.13 p.m., with 158 votes in favour and 63 votes against. Accordingly, the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill was passed by a special majority in Parliament.Thereafter, the amendments introduced to Clause 2 at the Committee Stage were also passed by a special majority in Parliament, receiving 158 votes in favour and 63 votes against.At the Third Reading of the Bill, 158 votes were cast in favour and 63 votes against. Accordingly, the Third Reading of the Bill was passed with a special majority in Parliament.Meanwhile, the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was also passed with a majority in Parliament today.The division on the Second Reading of the Bill commenced at 7.53 p.m., with 158 votes in favour and 63 votes against.At the division on the Third Reading of the Bill, 158 votes were cast in favour and 62 votes against. Accordingly, the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was passed at the Third Reading in Parliament without amendments, by a majority of 95 votes.The Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill were presented to Parliament for First Readings by the Minister of Justice and National Integration on 18 August 2026.The Second Reading debates on both Bills were held in Parliament yesterday (24) and today (25).
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