The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, we recently discussed this matter with the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions. I too have served as a member of that Committee, so the issue raised is correct. It takes considerable time to examine a petition that comes before the Petitions Committee. A very large number of petitions are received. I do not think any Parliament has completed even 50 percent of petitions received within a single parliamentary term.

¶ 02 Therefore, Mr. Speaker, we proposed to the Chairman and the Petitions Committee to establish sub-committees organized by line ministry. For example, petitions relating to the Ministry of Defence could be properly filed and allocated to several sub-committees appointed under the Committee on Public Petitions for examination. If those sub-committees reach solutions at, say, 99 percent and then refer their recommendations for final decision to the main Committee on Public Petitions, we could handle a greater volume. We have presented these proposals to the Chairman. The Committee must take the necessary decisions. If several such sub-committees are set up, we can deliver the service the Hon. Member seeks. We also request, through the Secretariat, that the necessary officials—both gentlemen and ladies—be provided to the Committee on Public Petitions.