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’ :  Support of MPP to approve the ‘Revised Draft Standing Orders of Parliament’ and ‘Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament’


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

(i)    The Second Instalment – Part XI and Eighth Instalment – Part II 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

(ii)    The Performance Report of the Finance Commission, from 01.10.2017 to 31.12.2017, in terms of Article 41B (6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka;
and
(iii)    The Performance Report of the Audit Service Commission, from 01.07.2017 to 30.09.2017, in terms of Articles 41B(6) and 153H of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Regulations made by the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs under Section 29 read with Section 7 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017, and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2045/56 of 17th November 2017

Annual Reports of the;

(ii)    Public Service Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the year 2016
(iii)    Finance Commission for the year 2016
(iv)    National Police Commission for the years 2014 and 2015
(v)    National Council for Elders for the year 2015
(vi)    Lady Lochore Loan Fund for the year 2016
(vii)    Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board for the year 2016
(viii)    National Institute of Fundamental Studies for the year 2015
(ix)    Lanka Sathosa Limited for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
(x)    Ceylon Fisheries Corporation for the year 2013
(xi)    Sugarcane Research Institute for the year 2015
(xii)    Ceylon Electricity Board for the year 2015
(xiii)    Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority for the year 2014

Performance Reports of the;

(xiv)    Department of National Zoological Gardens for the year 2016
(xv)    Department of Cooperative Development for the year 2016
(xvi)    Department of Agriculture for the year 2016
(xvii)    Department of Agrarian Development for the year 2015

(xviii)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media, under Sections 2, 12, 22 and 25 read with Section 32 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) relating to Excise Duty on import of non-potable spirits and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2050/11 of 19th December 2017.
(Excise Notification No. 1005)

(xix)    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 01.01.2018 to 22.01.2018 under     Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 30 of 2017

(xx)    Order made by the Minister of Higher Education and Highways under Section 27(1) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission with regard to the establishment of a Department of English Language     Teaching in the Faculty of Business Studies, Vavuniya Campus of the University of     Jaffna and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2050/7 of 18th December 2017.

(xxi)    Order made by the Minister of Higher Education and Highways under Section 27(1) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission with regard to the establishment of a Department of English Language Teaching in the Faculty of Business Studies and Finance of the Wayamba University and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2050/36 of 21st December 2017


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, the Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran.

(ii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Legal Affairs (anti-corruption) and Media was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, the Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    Hon. Ajith P. Perera                            -        Six Petitions
(ii)    Hon. Palitha Kumara Thewarapperuma                    
(iii)    Hon. Vijitha Herath                    
(iv)    Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara               -        Two Petitions
(v)    Hon. Ranjith Aluvihare                       -        Two Petitions
(vi)    Hon. Kanaka Herath                  
(vii)    Hon. Imran Maharoof                    
(viii)    Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Thusitha Wijemanna

(Petitions stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Gayantha Karunatileka, Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms and the Chief Government Whip presented the following Bills entitled-

(i)    Active Liability Management - to authorize the raising of loans in or outside Sri Lanka for the purpose of Active Liability Management to improve public debt management in Sri Lanka and to make provisions for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto

(ii)    Demutualization of the Colombo Stock Exchange - to provide for the demutualization of the Colombo Stock Exchange by the conversion of the Colombo Stock Exchange which is a company limited by guarantee, to a company limited by shares; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 and 2 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House and adjourned for a future date-

(i)    Revised Draft Standing Orders of Parliament
(ii)     Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament


Adjournment Motion

Adjournment Motion on “Political crisis prevailing in the country” was proposed by the Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1823 Hrs. until 1300 Hrs. on Tuesday 20th February 2018.

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