2026-05-21
News Categories : Committee News
A subcommittee has been appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability to investigate the environmental impact caused by the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant and to submit recommendations. The subcommittee will be chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Bhagya Sri Herath.
The subcommittee was appointed during a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy.
Officials representing the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Power and Energy, Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and several other institutions participated in discussions regarding the environmental impact of the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant. Following extensive discussions on the environmental effects of the plant’s operations, the parties responsible, and whether there had been shortcomings on the part of the relevant institutions, it was decided to appoint this subcommittee to further investigate the matter.
During the meeting, the Committee Chairman also stated that the committee intends to request discussions with the German, Japanese, and Chinese Embassies in Sri Lanka, as well as the Indian High Commission to obtain opportunities for officials to participate in training programs related to new technologies used in power plants in those countries.
2026-05-21
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection approved five performance reports at a meeting recently held in Parliament, under the chairmanship of, Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.Accordingly, following extensive deliberations, the Committee approved the Performance Reports of the Presidential Secretariat for the years 2023 and 2024, as well as the 2024 Performance Report of the President’s Fund.In addition, the Annual Performance Reports of the Prime Minister’s Office for the years 2023 and 2024 were also considered and approved by the Committee.Furthermore, the Committee discussed a proposal submitted by Hon. Member of Parliament Ajith P. Perera regarding amendments to the Survey Act No. 17 of 2002 to facilitate the registration of survey plans prepared by licensed surveyors.The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Mujibur Rahman, Faiszer Musthapha, PC, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, M.K.M. Aslam, and Major General (Retd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara.
2026-05-19
Officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) informed the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs that a decision has been taken to provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 10,000/- for children aged between 2 and 13 years of parents employed overseas, if those children are enrolled in daycare centres.The officials made these remarks during the Committee meeting chaired by Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, with the participation of Hon. Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana.The officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment made these comments while responding to inquiries regarding the progress of directives previously issued by the Committee to the Bureau’s General Manager (Local Affairs) concerning social issues arising due to mothers of young children leaving overseas for employment. Accordingly, the officials stated that the allowance would be granted to families where the monthly income of parents employed overseas exceeds USD 400, and that an initial allocation of Rs. 10 million has been set aside for the programme.They further stated that the approval process related to the initiative is currently in its final stage, following which monthly payments could be made to the relevant registered daycare centres through District Secretariat offices. Hon. Minister (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Chairperson of the Committee, emphasized that steps should be taken to raise public awareness regarding this initiative, which she described as a highly positive measure.The Committee also discussed the progress of filling vacancies for female police officers, as previously instructed during an earlier Committee meeting. It was revealed that applications have now been called to recruit 50 female Sub-Inspectors of Police and 2,600 female Police Constables. An officer representing the Sri Lanka Police informed the Committee that special promotional campaigns have also been launched through social media to recruit female police officers who can speak Tamil.The Chairperson of the Committee further stressed the need to pay special attention to existing vacancies for Public Health Midwives who can speak Tamil. She also instructed officials to take steps to raise awareness among students who have completed their G.C.E Advanced Level education in the Tamil medium regarding these opportunities.The Chairperson also inquired into the progress of establishing a national data system by consolidating all data relating to children in Sri Lanka currently maintained by the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the National Child Protection Authority, and other institutions. She noted that, with the intervention of the Ministry of Digital Economy, the process of developing the data system is expected to be completed within this year.The Committee also emphasized the need for all relevant institutions to act in close coordination to facilitate the swift implementation of the law in cases of child abuse and to manage subsequent situations effectively. Accordingly, Hon. Minister (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj pointed out that officials representing Divisional Secretariat offices, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the National Child Protection Authority, the Sri Lanka Police, and all other relevant institutions should work collaboratively as a single team.The Chairperson further stated that incidents of abuse against women and children, delays in taking action, or any shortcomings could be reported directly to her at any time via telephone or WhatsApp, and assured that prompt intervention would be made.The Minister also stated that it is expected to propose, in next year’s budget, measures to increase the allowance for preschool teachers, provide free breakfast to every preschool child, and introduce a contributory pension scheme for preschool teachers.Attention was also drawn to practical issues arising in the transfer of women employed in government service, as well as matters relating to the regulation of preschools and daycare centres.In addition, Members of Parliament brought to the attention of the Committee various issues relating to women and children’s affairs, and the Committee instructed officials to inquire into those matters and take the necessary action.A group of officials, including Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs (Mrs.) W.M.D.T. Wickramasinghe, also attended the Committee meeting.
2026-05-15
A Parliamentary delegation of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, headed by Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, MP, Minister of Women and Child Affairs is currently undertaking an official visit to India from 10th to 16th May 2026 at the invitation of the Indian High Commission, Sri Lanka.The visit aims to further strengthen the longstanding Parliamentary, cultural and bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India while promoting closer cooperation on matters relating to women’s empowerment, Parliamentary affairs, social development and gender-responsive governance.The delegation paid floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Parliament House Complex and also held discussions with Hon. Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, where both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation.The programme further included interactions with the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India, during which the Sri Lankan delegation paid a courtesy call on Hon. Annpurna Devi, Minister for Women and Child Development and held fruitful discussions on women’s empowerment programmes, child welfare initiatives, gender-responsive policies, and opportunities for enhanced cooperation and exchange of best practices between the two countries.The delegation also met with the Commissioner of Delhi Police and held productive discussions on best practices and effective strategies adopted in preventing and addressing crimes against women and children, with particular focus on women’s and children's safety, protection mechanisms, legal enforcement and community awareness initiatives.The delegation held discussions with women-led self-help groups and representatives of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO).During the visit, the delegation is participating in a comprehensive programme organized by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) of the Parliament of India. The programme includes sessions on the Indian Parliamentary system, committee system, Parliamentary privileges and ethics, as well as discussions on women-led development initiatives and best practices adopted by India in addressing issues relating to women and children.A meeting with the Chief Minister of New Delhi and visit significant cultural and historical sites, including the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Agra is also scheduled for the delegation during the coming days. The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka continues to play an important role in advocating gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion through Parliamentary engagement and outreach initiatives.The delegation comprises fifteen Hon. Women Members of Parliament (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga, (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi, (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law, (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law, (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani, (Mrs.) Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law, (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law, (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne, Attorney-at-Law, (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe, (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law, (Ms.) Ambika Samivel, (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law, (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney-at-Law. Delegation also included senior Parliamentary officials, including Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament and Secretary to the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, along with Ms. Hashmi Fernandopulle, Assistant Principal Officer, Ms. Chamila Nissanga, Senior Parliamentary Interpreter and Mr. Ranil Nanayakkara, Senior Assistant Parliamentary Protocol Officer.
2026-05-15
A strong internal audit process is essential for the wellbeing of State-Owned Enterprises – COPE Chairman Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera emphasizes while addressing Chief Financial Officers and Internal Audit Officers of SOEsChairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, recently emphasized that a strong internal audit mechanism is essential for the wellbeing of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), while addressing Chief Financial Officers and Internal Audit Officers of SOEs.He made these remarks while addressing a workshop organized by the COPE, with the sponsorship of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at the Monarch Imperial Hotel premises in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, aimed at strengthening internal auditing and financial oversight within SOEs.Addressing the gathering, the COPE Chairman pointed out that active intervention is required to eliminate the existing disorganized conditions within the state enterprise sector, and stressed that officials accountable to the State are expected to demonstrate a high level of performance. He further noted that a successful workshop had previously been conducted for heads of all SOEs, and that this programme for Internal Audit Officers and Chief Financial Officers had been organized with the objective of strengthening financial discipline and internal audit processes across all institutions.The Chairman also stated that since there are 457 State - Owned Enterprises, it is practically difficult to summon all institutions before the COPE. Therefore, he said that efforts are being made to introduce a digital mechanism to monitor and evaluate the performance of those institutions.Auditor General Ms. Samudika Jayaratne delivered a lecture on “The State Auditor and Public Institutions: Roles, Responsibilities and Collaborations.” She pointed out that public funds belong to the people and therefore must be managed properly for the benefit of the public. She further emphasized the importance of maintaining proper financial discipline and internal auditing systems while extending support to the state audit process.In addition, Director General of the Department of Management Audit, Mr. A.P. Kurumbalapitiya, delivered a lecture on “The Role of Internal Audit Unit in Ensuring Public Accountability,” while former Auditor General and Advisor to the COPE and COPA Committees, Mr. Sarath Mayadunne, delivered a lecture on “The Role of State-Owned Enterprises within the Public Accountability Structure in Sri Lanka.”Participants were also given the opportunity to raise questions related to the subject area. Discussions included the need to make the position of Internal Auditor more independent by having it report to the Ministry Secretary rather than placing it under the head of the respective institution.M. Jayalath Perera, the Director Legislative Services of Parliament, Internal Audit Officers and Heads of Finance Divisions from nearly 300 State-Owned Enterprises participated in the workshop.
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