PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

‘A’ :  Endorsement of the certificates on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    The Sixth Instalment – Parts XXII, XXIII and XXIV of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2014;
•    The First Instalment – Parts XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII and XXIV, Fourth Instalment – Parts VIII, IX and X, Fifth Instalment – Part VII and Sixth Instalment – Parts III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2015; and
•    The First Instalment – Parts I, II and III and Fourth 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)    Note on Supplementary Allocations from the Supplementary Support Services and Contingent Liabilities Project appearing under Expenditure Head No. 240 of the Department of National Budget for the period from 01.08.2017 to 31.08.2017 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 24 of 2016
(ii)    Order made by the Minister of Higher Education and Highways under Section 25A of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978  recognizing the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (Private) Limited as a Degree Awarding Institution and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2032/23 of 16th August 2017
(iii)    Order made by the Minister of Higher Education and Highways under Section 20(4) (b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of a Competent Authority in lieu of Director of Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2032/46 of 18th August 2017

Annual Reports of the;

(iv)   University of Sri Jayewardenepura for the year 2015
(v)    University of Moratuwa for the year 2015
(vi)   Rajarata University of Sri Lanka for the year 2014
(vii)  Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka for the years 2013 and 2014

(viii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Section 2 of the United Nations Act, No. 45 of 1968, with regard to the Sanctions relating to Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical or Biological Weapons and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2039/31 of 06th October 2017
(ix)    Regulations made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Section 2 of the United Nations Act, No. 45 of 1968, with regard to the Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2039/32 of 06th October 2017
(x)    Regulations made by the Minister of Ports and Shipping under Sections 126 and 321 of  the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 52 of 1971 relating to Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1987/19 of 04th October 2016 amended by the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2018/3 published on 08th  May 2016


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, the Hon. J. M. Ananda Kumarasiri.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    Hon. Susantha Punchinilame                 -        Four Petitions
(ii)    Hon. Lucky Jayawardana                     -        Two Petitions
(iii)    Hon. Nihal Galappaththi                    
(iv)    Hon. K. K. Piyadasa                    
(v)    Hon. Lakshman Ananda Wijemanne     -        Two Petitions

(Petitions stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 23(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena

Rights of Members of Parliament and their Arrests

(ii)    The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Issues regarding SAITM

Hon. Mohan Lal Grero, State Minister of Higher Education replied to the above Question.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 and 2 of today’s Order Paper) were passed by the House:-

(i)    Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill
(ii)   Select Committee of Parliament to discuss the Heads of Expenditure of the Ministries selected from the Budget Estimates of the year 2018


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Persons held in custody from North and East under the Prevention Terrorism Act (PTA)” was proposed by the Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1842 Hrs. until 1030 Hrs. on Thursday 19th October 2017.

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