The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Harsha, please wait. I yielded my time to allow Hon. Dayasiri to speak.

¶ 02 We thank Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri for commending the Hon. Speaker. We have seen this Parliament.

¶ 03 Hon. Speaker, there was a time in this Parliament when even the name “George Bush,” a former President of another country, could not be mentioned— things were so suppressed. Hon. Dayasiri, even when you submitted an undated letter, the Hon. Speaker allowed it. We must use such latitude responsibly.

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker, with your leave, I will read the Attorney-General’s letter which we received on 2 December 2024:

¶ 05 “Secretary, Ministry of Finance, General Treasury, Colombo 01.

¶ 06 Resolution under paragraph (2) of Article 150 of the Constitution Vote on Account for the period of 01.01.2025 to 30.04.2025

¶ 07 I refer to your letter dated 29 November, 2024 addressed to you by the Legal Draftsman by letter dated 29 November, 2024 enclosing the final draft of the above Resolution.

¶ 08 I have perused the said final draft Resolution, Cabinet Memorandum dated 22 November, 2024, Cabinet Decision dated 25 November, 2024, the provisions of the Constitution and Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024.

¶ 09 It is observed that, in terms of Article 148 of the Constitution, Parliament is vested with full control over public finance. It is further observed that Article 150(1) read with Article 150(2) of the Constitution provides for a sum to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund, under the authority of a warrant issued by the Minister in charge of the subject of finance, where such sum has, “by resolution of Parliament or by any law been granted for specified public services for the financial year during which the withdrawal is to take place or is otherwise lawfully charged on the Consolidated Fund”. Further, the provisions of Section 23 of the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024 are also noted.

¶ 10 Therefore, I am of the view that there is no legal impediment in respect of the aforesaid Resolution being submitted to Parliament for approval for a Vote on Account incorporating the expenditure required for specified public services of the Government for the period stipulated therein, being submitted to Parliament for approval by way of a Resolution.”

¶ 11 This is clear. Therefore, Hon. Speaker, we kindly request to commence the scheduled debate today. Justice has been done; please allow us to proceed.