2026-07-08
News Categories : News
The Revival Meeting of the Sri Lanka–Egypt Parliamentary Friendship Association for the Tenth Parliament was held yesterday (Jul. 07) at the Parliament of Sri Lanka under the patronage of the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. H.E Adel Ibrahim, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Sri Lanka attended the meeting as the Guest of Honour.
During the meeting, Hon. Minister (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna was elected as the President of the Association. Hon. Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer was elected as the Secretary, while Hon. Member of Parliament Ambika Samivel was elected as the Treasurer.
Delivering the welcome address, Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne emphasized that Parliamentary Friendship Associations play a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations through Parliamentary diplomacy by providing Members of Parliament with a valuable platform to engage with their counterparts, exchange experiences, and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
The Speaker further noted that Sri Lanka and Egypt have enjoyed longstanding and cordial relations founded on mutual respect, friendship and cooperation, expressing confidence that the revived Association would serve as an effective mechanism for strengthening Parliamentary ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Addressing the gathering, H.E Adel Ibrahim, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Sri Lanka, highlighted the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Egypt and emphasized the importance of further enhancing bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including political, economic, cultural, educational and tourism exchanges. He expressed confidence that the Parliamentary Friendship Association would make a meaningful contribution towards further strengthening the relations between the two countries.
Prior to the meeting, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne and Ambassador Adel Ibrahim held a cordial discussion at the Speaker's official chamber, where they exchanged views on further enhancing the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and Egypt.
The event was attended by Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and several distinguished invitees.
2026-07-28
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Namal Karunaratne, announced in Parliament that Rs. 1 billion (1,000 million) has been allocated in the 2026 National Budget for the National Dairy Production Programme aimed at empowering dairy farmers.The Deputy Minister made this statement while responding to an oral question raised by Hon. Attorney-at-Law Hesha Withanage Ankumbura, Member of Parliament.He explained that, under the National Dairy Production Programme, dairy farmers will be organized through 325 Dairy Hub societies. The programme will also focus on developing dairy-related entrepreneurs and enhancing their production capacities through various initiatives.The government expects the programme to increase Sri Lanka's annual milk production from 410 million liters to 1.2 billion liters.In addition, the Deputy Minister stated that steps have been taken to develop the Nikaweratiya Dairy Farm, which is owned by the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), under the livestock breeding farm development project. He also noted that Provincial Departments of Animal Production and Health are implementing numerous programmes to support and strengthen dairy farmers.The Deputy Minister further emphasized that these initiatives are intended to increase domestic milk production; strengthen the incomes of dairy farmers; and meet the country's domestic demand for milk through local production.
2026-07-24
The no-confidence motion brought by Opposition Members of Parliament against the Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, was defeated by a majority vote in Parliament today (July 24).The motion, submitted by the Opposition in connection with the recent incident at the Negombo Prison, was debated in Parliament today from 11.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Following the debate, the House proceeded to a division. The motion received 36 votes in favour and 152 votes against. Accordingly, the no-confidence motion was defeated by a majority of 116 votes.The no-confidence motion against the Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration had been handed over to the Hon. Speaker by Opposition Members of Parliament on 21 July 2026, and was taken up for debate in Parliament today.
2026-07-24
H.E Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Sri Lanka, paid a farewell call on the Hon. Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on 23.07.2026 at the Parliament of Sri Lanka, marking the conclusion of his diplomatic tenure in the country.Welcoming the Ambassador, the Hon. Speaker expressed his sincere appreciation for the ambassador’s dedicated service during his tenure in Sri Lanka, noting that his contributions had further strengthened the longstanding friendship and close partnership between Sri Lanka and China. He commended the Ambassador's commitment to fostering bilateral relations and observed that his service symbolized the enduring bond between the two countries.The Hon. Speaker also conveyed his gratitude to the Government and the people of China for their continued support to Sri Lanka across a wide range of sectors. He further remarked that Ambassador Qi Zhenhong had earned the respect and affection of people from all walks of life, including those in rural communities, through his unwavering friendship and support for Sri Lanka. On behalf of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Hon. Speaker extended his appreciation to the Ambassador for his valuable service and significant contribution to enhancing Sri Lanka–China relations, while expressing confidence that the close bilateral ties would continue to flourish. The Hon. Speaker further briefed the Ambassador on the Government's ongoing reconciliation efforts, emphasizing its commitment to fostering national unity, ensuring there is no room for racism or discrimination, and treating all citizens with equality, dignity, and respect.Expressing his appreciation, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong thanked the Hon. Speaker and the Parliament of Sri Lanka for the support and cooperation extended to him throughout his tenure. Reaffirming that China is a trusted friend of Sri Lanka, he reiterated China's readiness to continue supporting Sri Lanka's development in the future. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warmth, kindness, and hospitality extended by the Sri Lankan people, stating that Sri Lanka would always remain his "second home."During the cordial discussions, the two sides exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in Sri Lanka's transport sector and the country's emerging electric vehicle (EV) market. The Hon. Speaker also sought China's continued support for Sri Lanka's sustainable development efforts.Following the meeting, the Hon. Speaker hosted a luncheon in honour of Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. Thereafter, the Ambassador and his delegation observed the proceedings of Parliament from the Speaker's VIP Gallery. During the sitting, the Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, Mrs. Hemali Weerasekara, who was presiding over the House, formally announced the presence of Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and his delegation and extended a warm welcome to them on behalf of Parliament.Secretary General of Parliament, Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera, Madam Jin Quin, spouse of Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, Mr. Zhu Yanwei, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission, and Ms. Zhang Luting, Second Secretary, were also present at the meeting.
2026-07-23
A further programme under the special public outreach initiative launched with the objective of communicating accurate information on the Parliament of Sri Lanka to the public was held at the Parliamentary Complex on 22 July 2026.More than 250 law students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Open University of Sri Lanka, accompanied by members of the academic staff, visited Parliament and observed the proceedings of Parliament from the Public Gallery.In addition, the students participated in an awareness programme conducted by the Public Outreach Office, through which they gained a broader understanding of the legislative process, parliamentary procedure and democratic practices.The programme was organised by the Public Outreach Office of the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka following a request made by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Athulasiri Samarakoon, to the Secretary-General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera.
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