2026-04-10
News Categories : News
The Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, yesterday (Apr. 09) endorsed the certificate on the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill.
The Second Reading debate of the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill was held on 07.04.2026, and the Bill was passed following its Third Reading with amendments.
The objective of the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill is to amend the Social Security Contribution Levy Act No. 25 of 2022, mainly to lower the turnover threshold required for registration for the levy and revise certain exemptions relating to motor vehicles.
Accordingly, this Act expands the tax base of the Social Security Contribution Levy by lowering the turnover threshold from Rs. 60 million to Rs. 36 million per annum. It also introduces new registration requirements and cancellation of registration consistent with the revised threshold and revises exemptions relating to motor vehicles.
Thus, the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill comes into force as the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 10 of 2026.
2026-04-14
Today marks the dawn of spring in nature and the transition of the traditional solar calendar from Pisces to Aries. Accordingly, I pray for a prosperous and blessed New Year for the Sri Lankans, as well as to the Sri Lankans living abroad who are physically far from their homeland but are now deeply connected to their homeland.The Sinhala Tamil New Year is not only the dawn of a new year, but also a national festival celebrated with great enthusiasm, passing on Sri Lankan cultural heritage to future generations. Also, with the dawn of a new year, Sri Lankans come together as one nation and begin their daily tasks at the same time, reflecting our unity as a nation to the world, with peace, happiness, prosperity and unity.The true symbols of the New Year are to set aside old grievances and differences, to strengthen cooperation and brotherhood, and to begin the new year armed with new goals.We are currently going through a period where the country is gradually recovering from the economic crisis prevailing in the country. At the same time, in the past year, we also had to face a major natural disaster like Didva as a country. But the strength with which we have been able to stand up again as a Sri Lankan nation will also help us to face the military challenge that we are currently facing in the Middle East. Therefore, I believe that this New Year will be a year that reflects the true meanings of the New Year, such as cooperation and unity.Therefore, I invite you to join hands to build a country with a prosperous future by overcoming all the obstacles and challenges that come our way. We will continue to dedicate ourselves to fulfilling the common goals of all of us, keeping the trust you have placed in us.Happy New Year to all of you who are celebrating the Sinhala-Tamil New Year...!Dr. Jagath WickramaratneHon. SpeakerSri Lanka Parliament
2026-04-10
The no-confidence motion presented by the opposition against the Hon. Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, was defeated in Parliament today (10) by a majority of 104 votes.The debate on the motion was held throughout the day today (Apr. 10), and at the vote held around 6.00 p.m. following the conclusion of the debate, 153 votes were cast against the motion, while only 49 votes were cast in favor.
2026-04-07
One-day adjournment debate on the current situation to be moved by the GovernmentParliament will convene tomorrow (Apr. 08), as decided at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held today under the chairmanship of the Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.Earlier, at a previous meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, it had been decided that Parliament would not meet tomorrow (08), due to the declaration of every Wednesday as a government holiday.According to the decision taken today, 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 10.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers. Thereafter, the time from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).Subsequently, it has been decided to hold the debate from 11.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on the Adjournment Motion regarding the Current Situation, to be moved by the Government.Furthermore, there will be no changes to the Parliamentary business scheduled for Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th.Meanwhile, it was also decided not to hold the second Parliamentary week of April due to the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival.
2026-04-02
A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met with the Hon. Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Party Leaders of Parliament in preparation for the upcoming IMF Fifth and Sixth Review Mission scheduled from 26th March to 8th April, 2026.The IMF delegation included Mr. Evan Papageorgiou, Deputy Division Chief, along with senior economists representing the IMF.During the discussion with the Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, the Speaker expressed his appreciation for the continued support extended by the IMF to Sri Lanka during its economic recovery process. He emphasized that the Tenth Parliament represents a strong and inclusive legislature, holding a two-thirds majority and reflecting the diversity of the country, including representation for the disabled community.The Speaker reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s full commitment to the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme and underscored the importance of maintaining sound monetary and fiscal policies. He highlighted key legislative measures such as the Public Financial Management Act and the Anti-Corruption Act, noting that these frameworks are central to ensuring fiscal discipline and good governance.Special emphasis was placed on strengthening public financial transparency and implementing robust measures to combat bribery and corruption.The Speaker also outlined plans to establish a Parliamentary Study Centre aimed at enhancing the capacity of Members of Parliament and local government representatives. He sought IMF support for capacity-building initiatives in this regard.Mr. Evan Papageorgiou noted that Sri Lanka’s performance under the EFF programme remains strong, indicating that the country is on a positive economic trajectory. He emphasized the critical role of Parliament as the guardian of legislation and policy oversight, encouraging continued support to sustain reform momentum.Discussions also covered the potential impact of ongoing Middle East conflicts on Sri Lanka’s economic outlook, as well as the implementation of relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.Subsequently, the IMF delegation met with Party Leaders at a meeting presided over by the Hon. Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih. Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Dilith Jayaweera, Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, and Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna were present at this meeting.During this session, Party Leaders exchanged views on the current economic landscape, including post-cyclone recovery challenges and global economic uncertainties. Discussions focused on key issues such as tariff adjustments, inflation management, external sector pressures, and the need for sustained structural reforms to ensure macroeconomic stability.The IMF delegation also participated in a guided parliamentary tour.Assistant Secretary General Mr. Hansa Abeyratne (Attorney at Law) and a group of Parliamentary officials were also present at the meetings.
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