PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, the Speaker took the Chair.


Announcements by the Speaker

‘A’ :  Endorsement of the certificate on a Bill under Article 79 of the Constitution
‘B’ :  Receipt of the copy of a petition filed at the Supreme Court
‘C’ :  Media Reports on the Passage of “Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bill”


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    The Second Instalment – Part XX, Third Instalment – Part VII, Eighth Instalment – Part III and Ninth Instalment – Part IV of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2015;  and
•    The Second Instalment – Part I and Third Instalment – Part I of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2016

in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Parliament granted approval to print the Reports.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Regulations made by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation under Section 237 of the Motor Traffic Act, (Chapter 203) read with Sub section (2) of Section 5 and Section 19 of the aforesaid Act published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2035/51 of 08th  September 2017 amended by the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2037/23 published on 22nd  September 2017

(ii)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media  under Section 32 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) read with Sections 12, 14 and 22 regarding Excise duty and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2029/51 of 28th  July 2017 (Excise Notification No. 996)

Annual Reports of the;

(iii)    Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation for the year 2015
(iv)    Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation for the year 2014
(v)    Coconut Cultivation Board for the year 2015

Annual Performance Reports of the;

(vi)    Department of Ayurveda for the year 2015
(vii)    Sri Lanka Customs for the year 2016
(viii)    Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs for the year 2016


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Internal Administration and Public Management was presented by the Hon. Nihal Galappaththi, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, the Hon. Gamini Lokuge.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    Hon. Niroshan Perera                    
(ii)    Hon. Ranjith Aluvihare                   -          Six Petitions
(iii)    Hon. Buddhika Pathirana               -          Four Petitions
(iv)    Hon. Nalaka Prasad Colonne                    
(v)    Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa         -          Seven Petitions

(Petitions stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 23(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena

News Reports on Possible Price Increase in Fuel

Hon. Arjuna  Ranatunga,  Minister of Petroleum Resources Development replied to the above Question.


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Acting Minister of Finance and Mass Media moved the Bill entitled

“Appropriation”

to provide for the service of the financial year 2018; to authorize the raising of loans in or outside Sri Lanka, for the purpose of such service; to make financial provision in respect of certain activities of the Government during that financial year; to enable the payment by way of advances out of the Consolidated Fund or any other fund or moneys, of or at the disposal of the Government, of moneys required during that financial year for expenditure on such activities; to provide for the refund of such moneys to the Consolidated Fund and to make provision for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Sri Shakyasingharama Viharastha Karyasadhaka Sanvidanaya (Incorporation)”

The above Bill was referred to the Minister of Buddhasasana for report to Parliament under Standing Order 47(5) of the Parliament.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Bills (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 4 of today’s Order Paper) were passed by the House:-

(i)    Municipal Councils (Amendment)
(ii)   Urban Councils (Amendment)
(iii)  Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment)
(iv)  Regulation of Insurance Industry (Amendment)


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Sale of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport to a foreign company” was proposed by the Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1703 Hrs. until 1300 Hrs. on Tuesday 17th October 2017.

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