2026-01-19
News Categories : News
The 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) was inaugurated on 15th January 2026 at the Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi, under the auspices of Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of India. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. Tulia Ackson, Hon. President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Dr. Christopher Kalila, Hon. Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), together with Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth countries, marking the Conference a significant global Parliamentary gathering. The Conference featured a formal welcome of the Standing Committee of CSPOC, visiting Speakers, Presiding Officers, and delegates underscoring the importance of Commonwealth Parliamentary collaboration.
The Sri Lankan delegation comprises Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of Parliament; Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament; and Mr. Kanchana Ruchitha Herath, Assistant Director, Administration of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. During the Conference, Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne actively participated in high-level engagements and thematic discussions addressing contemporary challenges faced by legislatures. Notably, the Hon. Speaker delivered a presentation at the workshop session on “Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians,” sharing insights drawn from Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary experience on managing digital influence, safeguarding institutional integrity, and balancing freedom of expression with responsible public discourse.
Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, held constructive discussions with Hon. Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India, reaffirming the strong Sri Lanka–India relationship rooted in shared democratic traditions and mutual respect. The talks emphasized continued Parliament-to-Parliament cooperation through institutional exchanges, friendship groups, legislative collaboration, and the modernisation of Parliamentary processes via technology, including AI, real-time multilingual translation, capacity-building programmes such as PRIDE, and shared cultural linkages like Bodh Gaya.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Hon. Speaker also held bilateral meetings with several Commonwealth counterparts, including Sir Lindsay Hoyle, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; Hon. Francis Scarpaleggia, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada; and Hon. Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia. These engagements facilitated the exchange of perspectives on Parliamentary best practices, institutional reform, and democratic governance.
Following the conclusion of the Conference, participating delegations undertook a post-conference tour, which included cultural and heritage visits in Jaipur, providing an opportunity to experience India’s historical legacy and cultural traditions.
The 28th CSPOC concluded on 16 January 2026 with a special plenary session focusing on the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions, followed by the closing plenary and the formal handover of the CSPOC Chairmanship.
2026-06-04
The Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, yesterday (Jun. 03) endorsed the certificate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill.The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, which amends the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, was passed on 19 May 2026. The Act modernizes tax administration procedures, clarifies existing provisions, enhances tax compliance and enforcement, improves the accuracy of tax calculations and deductions, supports strategic economic objectives, and strengthens transparency and anti-money laundering measures.Key changes include the mandatory use of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificates for certain significant financial transactions, several revisions to the calculation of income, greater clarity regarding tax exemptions for specific projects and businesses, and an expanded scope for the disclosure of information to relevant authorities.Accordingly, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill comes into force as the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2026.
2026-06-03
Parliament is scheduled to meet from June 9 to 12.The Parliamentary business for these sittings was decided at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on June 1 under the chairmanship of the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.Accordingly, on each sitting day, the time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for Business of Parliament as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. The time from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been set aside for Questions for Oral Answers, and from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. for Questions under Standing Order 27(2). On Wednesday, June 10, however, the time from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. will be allocated for Questions to be asked from the Prime Minister, while the period from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. will be reserved for Questions for Oral Answers.On Tuesday, June 9, from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Order under the Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act, Order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, Order under the Value Added Tax Act and a Decision under the Standing Orders 119 of Parliament are scheduled to be debated and approved. Thereafter, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., a Resolution under the Public Security Ordinance is scheduled to be debated and approved.On Wednesday, June 10, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the Second Reading Debate on the Telecommunication Levy (Amendment) Bill and the Finance (Amendment) Bill will be held. A Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act is also scheduled to be debated and approved. Thereafter, from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., a Motion at the Adjournment Time (Opposition) will be taken up for debate.On Thursday, June 11, from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., the Second Reading Debate on the Mediation (Civil and Commercial Disputes) Bill will be held and an Order under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act will be debated and approved. Subsequently, from 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., an Adjournment Debate on the current situation of the country (Opposition) will be held.On Friday, June 12, from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Rules under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act and a Supplementary Estimate amounting to Rs. 20 billion are scheduled to be debated and approved. Thereafter, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., the Adjournment Debate on the Report of the Annual Economic Review of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for the Year 2025 (Government), which commenced on May 20, 2026, will continue.In addition, approval was granted for an awareness programme on the current fiscal policy and related matters for Hon. Members of Parliament, to be conducted on June 10 within the Parliamentary Complex. The programme will be held at the request of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha, with the participation of the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and other Central Bank officials.
2026-06-03
The Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, paid a farewell call on the Hon. Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, at the Parliament premises recently (Jun. 01). The Secretary General of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera was also present at the occasion.During the meeting, the outgoing Deputy High Commissioner expressed his sincere gratitude to the Hon. Speaker for his cooperation, support, and guidance in further strengthening the cordial Parliamentary relations and longstanding friendship between India and Sri Lanka. He also conveyed his appreciation to the Secretary-General of Parliament, Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera and the Parliamentary staff for their collaboration in enhancing engagement and cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries.The Hon. Speaker commended Dr. Pandey for his dedicated service in Sri Lanka and thanked the Government and people of India for the steadfast support extended to Sri Lanka during times of need. He particularly appreciated India’s assistance in the aftermath of the recent Cyclone Ditwah and its continued support amid challenges arising from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The Hon. Speaker also expressed his gratitude for the training programmes and capacity-building initiatives provided for Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff.Dr. Pandey also paid a farewell call on the Hon. Deputy Speaker, Dr. Rizvie Salih and expressed his appreciation for the support and cooperation extended during his tenure in Sri Lanka. The Hon. Deputy Speaker commended Dr. Pandey’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and thanked him for his efforts in fostering parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. During the cordial discussions, the Hon. Speaker and Deputy Speaker extended their best wishes to Dr. Pandey for success in his future endeavors.
2026-06-02
During the weekend of the sacred Vesak festival, which commemorates the three auspicious events in the life of Lord Buddha, the Parliament of Sri Lanka was transformed into a beautiful setting adorned with the splendour of Vesak.The Parliament premises were beautifully decorated with colourful Vesak lanterns, illuminated lights, Buddhist flags and various other Vesak decorations. These decorations created a serene and visually appealing atmosphere, providing spiritual comfort and tranquillity to all who visited or witnessed the surroundings.The decorations also helped convey the true meaning of Vesak by reminding society of the core values of Buddhism, including loving-kindness, compassion, peaceful coexistence and moral integrity. At night, the glittering lanterns and illuminated displays added a unique charm and beauty to the Parliament complex.Reflecting the universal message of Buddhism that transcends race, religion and culture, the Vesak decorations highlighted the importance of building a society that values peace, coexistence and humanity.In parallel with these celebrations, a special ceremony was held around the sacred Bo tree planted within the Parliamentary premises, which originated from a sapling of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. Oil lamps were lit around the Bo tree as part of the observances. Through these religious rituals, homage was paid to the teachings of the Buddha, while prayers were offered for peace, prosperity, and well-being for the nation and its people.Parliament, resplendent with the vitality of the Vesak festival, became another striking symbol of Sri Lanka’s proud Buddhist culture and rich spiritual heritage, demonstrating the importance of these enduring traditions to the nation and its people.
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