2026-01-08
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development has approved the Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203) scheduled to be presented to Parliament for approval on 08.01.2025.
Accordingly, this approval was granted at the recent (Jan. 06) meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake.
As such, the Regulations published in the Extraordinary Gazette bearing No. 2452/40 under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203) state that in an instance where a police officer has reasonable suspicion that a person driving, operating or physically controlling a motor vehicle on any road has used drugs, such police officer shall produce that person to a Government Medical Officer or an officer of a hospital who has been empowered for the purpose, for further examination.
Furthermore, the Regulations published in the Extraordinary Gazette bearing No. 2455/29 under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203) state that every person travelling on an expressway must wear a seat belt. Accordingly, the Committee granted approval for the said Regulations.
In addition, officials of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development briefed the Committee on the damage caused due to the sudden disaster situation that arose within the country and the progress of restoration efforts.
Officials of the Road Development Authority stated that approximately 287 road sections belonging to the Authority, covering a distance of around 1481 kilometers, have been damaged. They further informed the Committee that the estimated cost for reconstruction would be around Rs. 86 billion.
Officials of the Railway Department stated that the Department has incurred a loss of approximately Rs. 300 billion. Furthermore, officials stated that the Sri Lanka Transport Board has suffered a loss of around Rs. 63 million due to the emergency disaster situation.
The Chair of the Committee also stated that a web page has been created to inform the public regarding the damage caused to the road system in various parts of the country. Accordingly, he pointed out that the public may access the page https://road-lk.org/ to obtain information on the relevant damage.
Hon. Deputy Chairman of the Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Hon. State Minister of Transport and Highways (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasekera, Hon. Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, other Hon. Deputy Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament and several government officials were present at this occasion.
2026-10-28
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism met in Parliament on the Oct. 23rd, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.The Committee discussed the measures taken to ensure the safety and welfare of Sri Lankan workers employed in Israel amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Ministry officials explained the steps taken to arrange special flights for workers whose travel had been delayed due to flight cancellations. They also outlined arrangements to provide temporary accommodation and meals when necessary.The importance of entering into agreements with foreign countries to ensure the safety and welfare of Sri Lankan workers seeking employment abroad was also discussed.In addition, the Committee discussed difficulties in using Russian roubles for trade transactions with Russia and possible alternative payment methods.Matters relating to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, foreign employment agreements and the implementation of tourism projects were also discussed.A group of Members of Parliament and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism attended the meeting.
2026-10-28
The budget estimates relating to the Appropriation Bill for 2027, the management of public revenue and expenditure, and priority development projects were discussed at the Committee on Public Finance of Parliament.These matters were discussed with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development at a recent meeting of the Committee held in Parliament on the Oct. 22nd, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva.The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, and Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Ajith Agalakada, Nimal Palihena, Attorney-at-Law Chithral Fernando, Wijesiri Basnayake, Thilina Samarakoon and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra, among others.During the meeting, officials presented details of the estimated government expenditure for 2027, allocations for capital expenditure, public revenue targets and debt servicing. The Committee also considered the macroeconomic forecasts used in preparing the budget estimates and the legal framework governing public financial management.The Committee also examined the allocations for infrastructure projects included in the estimated capital expenditure for 2027. These projects include road development, improvements to healthcare and education facilities, expansion of the electricity system and urban development.Matters relating to financial assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises, credit guarantee schemes and support for the business sector were also discussed. The Committee further focused on allocations for public sector salaries and pensions, as well as expenditure required to meet public service needs.In addition, Ministry officials explained the foreign debt servicing requirements for 2027, expected foreign financing and public debt management. The Committee also discussed measures to achieve public revenue targets, improve the efficiency of tax administration and ensure the proper utilization of budgetary allocations.
2026-10-28
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) examined the Auditor General’s Triennial Report for 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s Reports for 2024 and 2025, and the current performance of the Central Provincial Council.The matter was taken up when the Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by the Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, met at Parliament recently (Oct. 22). The Committee also followed up on matters discussed at its meeting held on 21 May 2026.Discussions focused on the progress of road development and passenger transport projects in the Central Province, shortcomings in the preparation of road cost estimates, payments made for construction work that did not meet the required standards, and payments for additional work carried out without proper approval.The Committee also examined the failure to properly use Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) and GPS/SIM-based systems introduced to improve the efficiency of passenger transport services. Officials were asked about the steps taken to resolve technical issues and ensure that these systems function effectively.The unauthorized subleasing of lands and buildings belonging to the Road Development Authority, the recovery of outstanding rental payments, and issues relating to the ownership of state property were also discussed.Special attention was given to the legal issues arising from the failure to recover rent for the Malabar House building, which had been provided to a project office under the Grama Shakthi Programme. The Committee considered the steps taken to obtain advice from the Attorney General’s Department to resolve these issues.The Committee also discussed the recovery of incentives paid to officers involved in KMTT projects where the intended objectives had not been achieved. In addition, the need to follow the relevant regulations when sharing income generated through the use of state property, and to make productive use of abandoned or underutilized buildings and other properties, was highlighted.The Committee further inquired into disciplinary investigations and related legal proceedings concerning the destruction of official files without following the proper procedures.The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage and Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasingha, T. K. Jayasundara, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Manjula Suraweera Arachchi, Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Oshani Umanga and Chanaka Madugoda.
2026-10-27
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, obtained the views and proposals of several political parties.This took place when the Select Committee met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of its Chairman, Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.At the meeting, Hon. Member of Parliament Tahir Marikkar presented the views and proposals of the All-Ceylon Makkal Congress, while Mr. Nuwan Bellanthudawa presented the views of the New Freedom Front. Former Member of Parliament M. A. Sumanthiran presented the views and proposals of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.The purpose of the discussion was to obtain the views of different political parties on the electoral system that should be adopted for conducting Provincial Council elections.Hon. Deputy Ministers Muneer Mulaffer and Sunil Watagala and members of the Select Committee, Hon. Members of Parliament Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, President’s Counsel M. Nizam Kariapper, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and Susantha Dodawaththa also attended the meeting.
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