PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, the Speaker took the Chair.


Announcements by the Speaker

The following announcements were made-

‘A’  : Copies of the Petitions filed in the Supreme Court under Article 121(1) of the Constitution

‘B’  : Endorsement by the Hon. Speaker under Article 79 of the Constitution


Presentation of Papers

Annual Reports of the;

(i) Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation for the years 2011 and 2012
(ii) Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. for the year 2013
(iii) Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board for the year 2012
(iv) Paranthan Chemicals Company Limited for the year 2013
(v) Condominium Management Authority for the year 2011
(vi) Land Reform Commission for the year 2012
(vii) Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for the year 2012
(viii) University of Colombo for the year 2012
(ix) Institute of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences of the University of Colombo for the years 2011 and 2012
(x) Postgraduate Institute of Management of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura for the year 2012

Resolutions under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties

(xi) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1899/33 of 29th January 2015
(xii) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1903/40 of 26th February 2015

Orders made by the President under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, read with Article 44(2) of the Constitution, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the;

(xiii) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1891/8 of 02nd December 2014
(xiv) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1892/39 of 12th December 2014
(xv) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1895/11 of 31st December 2014

Orders made by the Minister of Finance under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the;

(xvi) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1898/43 of 22nd January 2015
(xvii) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1899/32 of 29th January 2015
(xviii) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1901/28 of 14th February 2015
(xix) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1903/4 of 24th February 2015
(xx) Gazette Extraordinary No. 1906/7 of 17th March 2015

(xxi) Regulations made by the Minister of Finance under Section 20 read with Sub-section (3) of Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 01 of 1969 as amended by Act No. 48 of 1985 and Act, No. 28 of 1987 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1903/41 of 26th February 2015
(xxii) Supplementary Allocations from the Budgetary Support Services and Contingency Liabilities Project appearing under Expenditure Head No. 240 of the Department of National Budget - 2014 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 36 of 2013


Presentation of Petitions

Public Petitions were presented by the following Hon. MPP:-

The Hon. M. T. Hasen Ali - Four Petitions

(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Ministerial Statements

Prime Minister and Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs, the Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe made a Ministerial Statement on the Progress of the 100 Days Programme.


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Minister of Finance moved the following Bills entitled

(i) Inland Revenue (Amendment) - to amend the Inland Revenue Act, No. 10 of 2006.
(ii) Value Added Tax (Amendment) - to amend the Value Added Tax Act, No. 14 of 2002.
(iii) Nation Building Tax (Amendment) - to amend the Nation Building Tax Act, No. 9 of 2009.
(iv) Finance - to provide for the imposition of Bars and Taverns Levy, Casino Industry Levy, Super Gain Tax, Mobile Telephone Operator Levy, Direct to home Satellite Services Levy, Satellite Location Levy, Dedicated Sports Channel Levy, Mansion Tax, Migrating Tax and Motor Vehicle Importers Licence Fee and to provide for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
(v) Economic Service Charge (Amendment) - to amend the Economic Service Charge Act, No. 13 of 2006.
(vi) Telecommunication Levy (Amendment) - to amend the Telecommunication Levy Act, No. 21 of 2011.
(vii) Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) - to amend the Betting and Gaming Levy Act, No. 40 of 1988.


Main Business of the House for Today

Resolution under the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance

Division was taken (31 in favour; 52 against) and negatived by the House.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1835 Hrs. until 1300 Hrs. on Wednesday 8th April 2015.

*  This is an unedited version. For the official record of this day's proceedings, please refer the Hansard.