PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

‘A’ : Receipt of the copy of a petition filed at the Supreme Court
‘B’ : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “National Audit”


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

(i)    The Second Instalment – Parts XIV and XV, Third Instalment – Part VII and Ninth instalment – Part III 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 Delimitation Commission for the Third quarter (01.07.2017 - 30.09.2017) of 2017 in terms of Article 41B (6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Order made by the President under Sections 24 C and 24 D of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 to be read with chapter (2) of Article 44 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to Waratenna-Hakkinda Environment Area and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2024/6 of 19th June 2017
(ii)    Order made by the President under Section 23 W of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 to be read with Section 51 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to managing usage of Polythene and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2034/33 of 01st September 2017
(iii)    Order made by the President under Section 23 W of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 to be read with Section 51 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to managing usage of Polythene and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2034/34 of 01st September 2017
(iv)    Order made by the President under Section 23 W of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 to be read with Section 51 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to managing usage of Polythene and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2034/35 of 01st September 2017
(v)    Regulations made by the President under Section 32 of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 read with Section 23 J and 23 K of that Act and Section 51 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to managing usage of Polythene and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2034/36 of 01st September 2017
(vi)    Order made by the President under Section 23 W of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 to be read with Section 51 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to managing usage of Polythene and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2034/37 of 01st September 2017
(vii)    Order made by the President under Section 23 W of the National Environment Act, No. 47 of 1980 to be read with Section 51 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka relating to managing usage of Polythene and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2034/38 of 01st September 2017

(viii)    Financial Performance Report at the end of the Fourth quarter of the year 2017
(ix)    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 01.03.2018 to 31.03.2018 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 30 of 2017
(x)    Regulations made by the  Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade under Section 20 read with Section 4(3) and Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 amended by Acts, No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987  relating to Imports and Exports Control (Standardization and Quality Control) regulations 2017 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2064/34 of 29th March 2018


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

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.


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Douglas Devananda

Resettlement, facilities, etc. for Iranativu village

Hon. Gayantha Karunatileka, the Chief Government Whip replied to the above Question.


Personal Explanations

The Hon. S. B. Dissanayake made a Personal Explanation regarding their decision to sit in the opposition.


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Gayantha Karunatileka, the Chief Government Whip presented the following Bills entitled-

(i)    Commissions of Inquiry (Amendment) - to amend the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Chapter 393)
(ii)    Bribery (Amendment) - to amend the Bribery Act (Chapter 26)
(iii)    Sri Lanka Tea Board (Amendment) - to amend the Sri Lanka Tea Board Law, No. 14 of 1975


House agreed to the following Motions moved by the Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, the Leader of the House of Parliament-

(i)    Standing Orders of Parliament

That the Revised New Standing Orders of Parliament passed by Parliament on 07th March 2018, shall commence its operation from 15th April 2018 as per announcement made by the Speaker

(ii)    Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament

That the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament approved by Parliament on 07th March 2018, shall commence its operation from 15th April 2018 as per announcement made by the Speaker

(iii)    Committees

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order Nos. 101, 111 and 124 of the Parliament, Select Committees, Sectoral Oversight Committees and Committee on High Posts which are in operation at present, shall continue

(iv)    Committee of Selection

•    In terms of Standing Order 114, the Committee of Selection shall consist of Mr. Speaker who shall be the Chair and Twelve (12) Members to serve during the current Session which shall include the Leaders of political parties or their nominees to be nominated by Parliament

•    That the under-mentioned Twelve (12) Members do serve on the Committee of Selection in addition to the Speaker who shall be the Chair during the current Session, in terms of the motion agreed to by Parliament this day:-

        Hon. Rauff Hakeem    
        Hon. Lakshman Kiriella    
        Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe   
        Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen     
        Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka    
        Hon. Mano Ganesan    
        Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena    
        Hon. Douglas Devananda    
        Hon. Vijitha Herath    
        Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah    
        Hon. Dharmalingam Sithadthan    
        Hon. ( Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1,3 and 4 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House:-

(i)    Judicature  (Amendment) Bill - with amendments (Second Reading Division - 119 in favour; 52 against)
(ii)    Penal Code (Amendment) Bill
(iii)    Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill - with amendments


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1854 Hrs. until 1030 Hrs. on Thursday 10th May 2018.

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