2022-10-05
The individual who admitted breaching privileges of Parliamentarians on Facebook, expressed his regret and apologized recently (Oct. 04) at the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
According to a complaint made by the Member of Parliament Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran regarding a video posted in an insulting manner to Member of Parliament Hon. R. Sampanthan, resulting in a violation of his privileges, the alleged individual who affiliated to the relevant Facebook page, was summoned before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges recently.
An investigation related to this incident took place at the Committee on Ethics and Privileges which met recently (04) in Parliament under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
Given that the alleged individual admitted that there had been a breach of the said Parliamentarians privilege by him, it was decided to settle the matter with subjected to conditions agreed by both parties. Thus, the investigation into the complaint was concluded on the condition of publishing a statement in a renowned newspaper as well as on the Facebook page expressing regret and apologizing on the said matter. The committee released him after strong warning to not continue with such actions in the future.
The Chairman of the Committee pointed out that if a defamatory statement is made regarding a Member of Parliament or the Parliament in general, the Parliament and the Supreme Court have the power to punish alleged persons who do so under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act.
He pointed out that under the powers of Parliament, there is also the power to warn or ban entry into the Parliament premises for six months, and if the Committee on Ethics and Privileges decides that something offensive has been carried out, it can be referred to the Supreme Court. Accordingly, the chairman further pointed out that if found guilty, he can be sentenced to a prison sentence of not more than two years or a fine or both.
Meanwhile, two parliamentary journalists of a leading Sinhala daily newspaper were also summoned before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges in connection with an incident of publishing a false news in light that brought disgrace to all Members of the Parliament. This complaint was made by Member of Parliament Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda regarding a news published in the said newspaper on March 09th, 2022 under the headline "Parliamentarians cause havoc in Parliament due to the short supply of liquid milk in the canteen".
Thus, Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda said that through this false news, hatred has been created among the public towards the entire parliament and its members. The director of the Department of Catering and Housekeeping was also summoned before the committee and he said that he had investigated the matter and no information about such incident was reported.
Thus, the Chairman of the Committee pointed out that it appears that the publication of false information has damaged the honor of the entire Parliament, and the need to report more responsibly as senior journalists is required.
Both parties agreed to resolve this issue without proceeding to judicial action. Accordingly, a statement expressing regret for the publication of this false information to be published in the relevant newspaper within two weeks, giving the same publicity as the false news, and a copy of it to be sent to the Secretary General of the Parliament within a week was agreed upon. The Chairman of the Committee further said that this would be settled under the conditions of agreeing to refrain from publishing such defamatory false statements about the Parliament or the Members of Parliament in the future. The Chair also instructed to inform the editor-in-chief of the newspaper in writing to take care of this matter.
In the meantime, the Committee's attention was also drawn to the complaint made against the CID in relation to the breach of privilege of obtaining the data of the "WhatsApp" calls of Parliamentarian Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka without legal permission. It was also mentioned here that the Criminal Investigation Department has obtained this data in relation to an investigation into a financial misappropriation that took place in the Ministry when the Member of Parliament, was a minister. Accordingly, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department was summoned before Committee on Ethics and Privileges on the 18th for further inquiry on this matter.
State Ministers Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Members of Parliament and Committee Members Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Hon. Gunawardena, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Tikiri K. Jayathilake, Assistant Secretary General of the Parliament was present at this meeting held.
2026-10-27
The Parliament is scheduled to meet from 3 to 6 November.The parliamentary business for that week was decided at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held recently (Oct. 23), under the chairmanship of the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr Jagath Wickramaratne.On each day that Parliament meets, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for parliamentary business listed under Standing Orders 22(1) to 22(6). The period from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while the period from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).On Tuesday, 3rd November, a debate was scheduled on the revised No-Confidence Motion to be submitted by the Opposition.On Wednesday, 4th November, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. the regulations published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2508/27 under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, together with a Supplementary Estimate, are scheduled to be debated for approval.Thereafter, the Motion at the Adjournment Time moved by the Government will be taken up for debate from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.On Thursday, 5th November, it was also decided to hold a debate from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on an Adjournment Motion moved by the Government.On Friday, 6th November, time has been allocated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. for debates on the following Private Members’ Motions:Name of the Member ofParliamentTitle of the Private Member MotionHon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney at LawFormulation of a programme to increase train services on the Puttalam Railway LineHon. Lasith Bhashana GamageFormulation of a systematic methodology for the planting, scientific management, and maintenance of trees within road reservesHon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi, Attorney at LawConverting all Colleges of Education in Sri Lanka into University FacultiesHon. Ravindra BandaraIntroduction of a Smart Grid and Smart MetersHon. Rohana BandaraDesigning a programme to improve swimming skillsHon. Upul KithsiriDesignation of the Udawalawe Area as a Tourist ZoneHon. Hiruni Wijesunghe Attorney at LawFavourable control and suppression of the proliferation of common water hyacinthThereafter, the Motion at the Adjournment Time moved by the Opposition will be taken up for debate from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
2026-10-27
H.E Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Dosari, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, met with the Hon. Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of Parliament, recently at the Parliament of Sri Lanka, reaffirming the longstanding friendship between the two countries and their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation.The meeting underscored the longstanding friendship and enduring partnership between Qatar and Sri Lanka, as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation and exploring new avenues of engagement for the mutual benefit of both nations.Welcoming the Ambassador, the Hon. Speaker underscored the strong and cordial relations between Qatar and Sri Lanka and highlighted the significance of continued high-level engagements in deepening bilateral ties. He recalled recent high-level visits between the two countries, noting their important contribution to strengthening mutual understanding and expanding avenues for cooperation.The Speaker also acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Sri Lankan workforce in Qatar, particularly its role in supporting Qatar’s development and contributing to Sri Lanka’s economy through remittances. He expressed appreciation for the support extended by the State of Qatar to Sri Lanka and emphasized the importance of further strengthening cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.Highlighting the role of parliamentary diplomacy in fostering closer international partnerships, the Hon. Speaker expressed Sri Lanka’s readiness to establish a Sri Lanka - Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Association. He noted that such an initiative would provide a meaningful platform for dialogue, the exchange of experiences and best practices, and closer engagement between the parliamentary institutions of the two countries.Ambassador Al-Dosari reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to working closely with Sri Lanka as a trusted friend and partner, emphasizing the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations and promoting closer people-to-people connections. He also highlighted the potential for expanding cooperation in key sectors, including tourism, trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.Both sides reiterated their shared commitment to exploring new opportunities for collaboration, strengthening existing partnerships and translating the longstanding friendship between Qatar and Sri Lanka into tangible benefits for their peoples. During the visit, Ambassador Al-Dosari expressed his appreciation for the architectural significance of the Parliament building and the natural beauty of its surrounding environment. He also participated in a guided tour of the Parliament premises.
2026-10-27
If society expects political leaders to be free from corruption and act with honesty, honesty and ethical values must also be upheld throughout society, stated the Hon.Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Rizvi Salih.He made these remarks while attending the inaugural session of the Student Parliament of Wellawatte Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam as the Guest of Honour. The event was held recently at the Old Parliamentary Chamber of the Presidential Secretariat.Pointing out that the country’s political leaders are elected by society itself, the Deputy Speaker emphasised the importance of students, as future leaders, developing honesty, ethical values and a sense of responsibility from their school days.The programme was jointly organised by Wellawatte Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam, the Presidential Secretariat and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the aim of providing the school’s female students with practical experience of parliamentary procedures.At the event, Senior Additional Secretary to the President (President’s Fund), Mr. Subash Roshan, explained the services provided to students and the general public through the President’s Fund.Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo, Professor A. Sarveswaran, also participated in the event and educated the students on the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Mr. T.N.M.P. Shahid, the principal officer of Parliament explained the role and functions of Parliament.The inaugural session of the Student Parliament commenced with the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of student Members of Parliament. Thereafter, the student ministers presented their proposals to the House, outlining the programmes they hoped to implement within the school under their respective ministries.Certificates were awarded to the student Members of Parliament who participated in the programme by the distinguished guests. The vote of thanks was delivered by Mrs. Sindhuri Padmaraj, the teacher in charge of the Student Parliament at Wellawatte Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam.This programme was conducted as part of the ongoing series of Student Parliament programmes jointly implemented by the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Presidential Secretariat.The event was attended by Director General of Presidential Public Relations Mr. Dharmasiri Gamage and Assistant Director of the Presidential Secretariat Lieutenant Colonel Nadeeka Dangolla. Mrs. Malarvizhi Sreekumar, Deputy Principal, represented the Principal of Wellawatte Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam, Mrs. Arundhathi Rajavijayan. Officials of the Department of Communication of Parliament, teachers, parents and students were also present.
2026-10-23
Of the Rs. 25,000 million allocated for the ‘Prajashakthi’ National Poverty Eradication Programme, Rs. 23,000 million has been allocated for projects identified by Community Development Councils at the district level, while the remaining Rs. 2,000 million is being utilised to implement medium-scale projects identified at the national level, according to a written response tabled in Parliament by Hon. Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.These details were revealed in the Minister’s response to questions raised by Hon. Ajith Gihan, Member of Parliament, seeking oral answers.According to the response tabled in Parliament, under the Prajashakthi National Programme, a total of 15,725 projects valued at Rs. 24,221.38 million have been initiated. Of these, 15,316 projects are being implemented under livelihood development, 273 projects under education, and 136 projects under health. Community Development Councils established at the Grama Niladhari Division level are responsible for identifying projects that directly address the multidimensional poverty identified in their respective districts and Divisional Secretariat Divisions. These projects are being implemented under several key areas, including the production economy, food security, social environment, human resource development, care and protection, supply networks, and accessibilityAll these projects are scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2026.Meanwhile, specialized projects for schoolchildren with disabilities are being implemented by the Department of Social Services and the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry of Education and other line ministries also provide financial assistance and other concessions to schoolchildren with disabilities.In addition, specialized projects, financial assistance, concessions and welfare programmes are being implemented to empower persons with disabilities and their families.
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