Mr. Speaker [The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne]

¶ 01 Message from the President

¶ 02 Public Security Proclamation

¶ 03 Hon. Speaker,

¶ 04 I have received the following message from His Excellency the President.

¶ 05 President of Sri Lanka My No.: PS/CSA/00/7/17(7/21) 18 April 2026

¶ 06 Hon. I.W.M. Jagath Wickramaratne Speaker Parliament of Sri Lanka

¶ 07 Hon. Speaker,

¶ 08 By a Proclamation made effective from 28 April 2026 under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), I have declared that the provisions of Part II of the said Ordinance shall be in operation throughout Sri Lanka with effect from 28 April 2026.

¶ 09 The reason for the said Proclamation is to ensure the normal life of the people and the continuity of essential supplies and services in the country in view of the post-disaster situation caused by the recent cyclone, and I hereby inform Parliament in terms of Article 155(4) of the Constitution.

¶ 10 President of Sri Lanka My No.: PS/CSA/00/7/1///3/01 24 April 2026

¶ 11 Hon. I.W.M. Jagath Wickramaratne Speaker Parliament of Sri Lanka

¶ 12 Hon. Speaker,

¶ 13 In terms of the powers vested in me under Section 12 read with Section 21(2) of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), having considered the need to maintain public order, I have issued an Order calling out all members of the Armed Forces specified in subparagraph (1) of the First Schedule, for the purposes specified in subparagraph (2) of the said Schedule, to maintain public order.

¶ 14 In terms of Section 2(3) read with Section 21(2) of the said Ordinance, I hereby inform Parliament accordingly.

¶ 15 Announcements

¶ 16 Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill: Determination of the Supreme Court

¶ 17 I wish to inform that I have received the Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Inland Revenue (Amendment)”, which was challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 121(1) of the Constitution.

¶ 18 Subsequent to the decision taken by the Government to delete Clauses 4, 9 and 28 of the Bill at the Committee Stage of the Bill, the Court allowed the applications for withdrawal of petitions of the Petitioners in S.C.S.D. No. 13/2026, S.C.S.D. No. 14/2026 and S.C.S.D. No. 15/2026 and dismissed them.

¶ 19 The Petitioners in S.C.S.D. No. 12/2026 and S.C.S.D. No. 16/2026 intimated their intention to proceed with their petitions, assailing the constitutionality of Clauses 31(4) and 34 of the Bill.

¶ 20 Accordingly, the Supreme Court has determined that the Bill could be passed by a simple majority of Parliament except Clause 31(4) of the Bill. The Supreme Court has further stated that Clause 31(4) of the Bill is inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and may only be passed by the special majority required under Article 84(2) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has further determined that the inconsistency would cease if Clause 31(4) is amended as proposed by the Court and Clause 34 is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

¶ 21 I order that the full Determination of the Supreme Court be printed in the Official Report of today's Proceedings.

¶ 22 Determination of the Supreme Court:

¶ 23 [Full text of the Supreme Court Determination on the “Inland Revenue (Amendment)” Bill, including case numbers S.C. (SD) Nos. 12/2026, 13/2026, 14/2026, 15/2026 and 16/2026, appearances, background, analysis on fiscal legislation, proportionality, and conclusions. Summary: The Bill can be passed by a simple majority except Clause 31(4), which is inconsistent with Article 12(1) unless amended to (1) bar submission of a Magistrate’s Court recovery certificate while an administrative review under Section 139 or an appeal to the TAC under Section 140(1) is pending; and (2) delete the words “by reasons only of the fact that an appeal is pending against the assessment in respect of which the tax in default is charged” in proposed Section 163(4C). Clause 34 is not inconsistent with the Constitution.]

¶ 24 Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill and Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Bill: Petitions to the Supreme Court

¶ 25 Under Article 121(1) of the Constitution, I wish to inform Parliament that I have received three copies of petitions on 22 April 2026 and one copy of a petition on 24 April 2026 in respect of the Bill titled “Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment)”, and two copies of petitions on 22 April 2026 and one copy of a petition on 24 April 2026 in respect of the Bill titled “Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment)”.

¶ 26 Select Committee to Review the Laws Dealing with Elections (Excluding Laws Dealing with Provincial Council Elections) and Report to Parliament and Submit its Proposals and Recommendations in that Regard: Appointment of Members

¶ 27 I wish to inform Parliament that I have appointed the following Members to serve on the “Select Committee to Review the Laws Dealing with Elections (Excluding Laws Dealing with Provincial Council Elections) and Report to Parliament and Submit its Proposals and Recommendations in that Regard” with Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Athisarathna as the Chair:

¶ 28 - Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Hon. Muneer Moulana - Hon. Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala - Hon. Ravi Karunanayake - Hon. J. C. Alawathuwala - Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna - Hon. Kadiravelu Shanmugam Kugadasan - Hon. Ruwannilaka Jayakody - Hon. Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe - Hon. Mailvaganam Jegadeeswaran - Hon. Chandima Hettiyarachchi

¶ 29 Auditor-General's Report

¶ 30 In terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I lay on the Table the following parts of the Auditor-General’s Reports:

¶ 31 - For the Financial Year 2019: Part XXIII of Chapter III; - For the Financial Year 2020: Part XXVII of Chapter III; - For the Financial Year 2022: Part 1 of Chapter II and Part 21/11 of Chapter IX; - For the Financial Year 2023: Part LV of Chapter II and Part XXX of Chapter IX; and - For the Financial Year 2024: Parts XLVI and XLVI of Chapter II, and Parts XXXII, XXXIV and XXXV of Chapter IX.