PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

‘A’ :  Using e-Chamber system and related training


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media under Section 22 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) relating to Excise Duty on Liquor and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2044/34 of  09th  November 2017 (Excise Notification No. 1000)
(ii)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media under Section 2 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) relating to Excisable Articles and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2044/35 of  09th  November 2017 (Excise Notification No. 1001)
(iii)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media under Section 22 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) relating to Excise Duty on raw materials used for production of Ethanol and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2044/36 of  09th  November 2017 (Excise Notification No. 1002)
(iv)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media under Section 22 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary    No. 2045/15 of  15th  November 2017, rescinding the Excise Notification No. 981 published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1943/16 dated 04th December 2015 (Excise Notification No. 1003)


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health and Human Welfare, Social Empowerment was presented by its Chairman, the Hon. Lucky Jayawardana.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    Hon. (Dr.) Harsha De Silva            -        Three Petitions
(ii)    Hon. Nihal Galappaththi                    
(iii)    Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya                    
(iv)    Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Thusitha Wijemanna

(Petitions stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 23(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Difficulties faced by the Teacher Assistants, recruited to schools in remote areas

Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

(i)    Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister and Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs made a Ministerial Statement regarding his presence at the Special Presidential Commission on Central Bank bond issue.

(ii)    Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and State Minister of Mahaweli Development, the Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera replied to the Question raised by the Hon. Douglas Devananda under Standing Order 23(2) of the Parliament on 16.11.2017 regarding the Illegal fishing activities in Northern Province.


Main Business of the House for Today

Appropriation Bill (2018) - Committee

Today is the Eighteenth Allotted Day of the Appropriation Bill (2018) – “Committee Stage Debate”.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1634 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Monday 4th December 2017.


[Budget 2018]

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