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

¶ 01 Parliament met at 9.30 a.m., Mr. Speaker in the Chair.

¶ 02 AFFIRMATION: Hon. Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Samantha Ranasingha

¶ 03 The Hon. Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Samantha Ranasingha made and subscribed the Affirmation required by Law; and signed the Book at the Table.

¶ 04 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

¶ 05 Public Security Proclamation

¶ 06 The following Message has been received by me from His Excellency the President.

¶ 07 President of Sri Lanka

¶ 08 My No.: PS/CSA/00/7/19//3/01 23rd April, 2025

¶ 09 Hon. A.S.W.M. Jagath Wickramaratne Speaker Parliament of Sri Lanka

¶ 10 Hon. Speaker,

¶ 11 In terms of the powers vested in me by Article 12 of the Public Security Ordinance, I have, having considered it necessary in the interest of the maintenance of public order, issued an Order summoning all members of the Armed Forces specified in the First Schedule to maintain public order in the areas specified in the Second Schedule.

¶ 12 Accordingly, in terms of Section 2(3) read with Section 21(2) of the said Ordinance, I hereby inform Parliament thereof.

¶ 13 ANNOUNCEMENTS

¶ 14 Speaker's Certificate

¶ 15 In terms of Article 79 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I wish to inform that I have endorsed the Certificates on the “Value Added Tax (Amendment)” Bill on 11th April 2025 and the “Proceeds of Crime” Bill on 30th April 2025.

¶ 16 CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL: PETITION TO THE SUPREME COURT

¶ 17 In terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution, I wish to inform Parliament that I have received a copy of a Petition presented to the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment)”.

¶ 18 PRIVILEGE: REMARK MADE AT THE COPE ON 06.03.2025

¶ 19 A motion may be moved to refer the matter raised under Questions of Privilege by Hon. Member Chamar Sampath Dissanayake on 18th March 2025 in Parliament to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

¶ 20 COMMITTEE ON PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS: NOMINATION OF MEMBERS

¶ 21 In terms of Standing Order 115B and the Resolution adopted by Parliament on 19th March 2025, I wish to inform that the Committee of Selection has nominated the following Members to serve on the Committee on Parliamentary Business:

¶ 22 - Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Hon. Abubakkar Athambawa

¶ 23 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: NOMINATION OF MEMBER

¶ 24 In terms of Standing Order 119B and the Resolution adopted by Parliament on 19th March 2025, I wish to inform that the Committee of Selection has nominated the following Member to serve on the Committee on Public Accounts:

¶ 25 - Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri

¶ 26 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ENTERPRISES: NOMINATION OF MEMBERS

¶ 27 In terms of Standing Order 120B and the Resolution adopted by Parliament on 19th March 2025, I wish to inform that the Committee of Selection has nominated the following Members to serve on the Committee on Public Enterprises:

¶ 28 - Hon. Abubakkar Athambawa - Hon. Arkham Ilyas - Hon. Mailvaganam Jegatheeswaran

¶ 29 SECTORAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES: NOMINATION OF MEMBERS

¶ 30 In terms of Standing Order 111B and the Resolution adopted by Parliament on 17th March 2025, I wish to inform that the Committee of Selection has nominated the following Members to serve on the respective Sectoral Oversight Committees:

¶ 31 1. Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations - Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi - Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) Sagarika Athawuda - Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) Nilanthie Kottahachchi - Hon. Kandasaamy Prabhu - Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake - Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) Lakmali Hemachandra

¶ 32 2. Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development - Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi - Hon. K. Ilankumaran - Hon. Ravindra Bandara - Hon. Dhanushka Ranganath - Hon. Asitha Niroshan Egoda Vithana - Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasinghe - Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) Geetha Herath

¶ 33 3. Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour Force and Human Resources - Hon. Abubakkar Athambawa - Hon. Krishnan Kalaichelvi - Hon. (Mrs.) Lakmali Gamage - Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva - Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake - Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasinghe - Hon. Sunil Rajapakshe

¶ 34 4. Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment - Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe - Hon. Samanmalee Gunasinghe - Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara - Hon. (Dr.) S. [illegible in OCR] - Hon. Jagath Manuwarna - Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama

¶ 35 5. Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability - Hon. Roshan Akmeemana - Hon. Upul Kitsiri - Hon. M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani - Hon. Susanta Kumara - Hon. Sudath Balagalla - Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj - Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) [Bhagya] Sri Herath

¶ 36 6. Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation - Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Hon. Arkham Ilyas - Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage - Hon. Thanura Dissanayake - Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) Hasara Liyanage - Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna - Hon. Chandima Hettiarachchi

¶ 37 MINISTERIAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES: NOMINATION OF MEMBERS

¶ 38 In terms of Standing Order 112B and the Resolution adopted by Parliament on 19th March 2025, the lists of Members nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve on the Ministerial Consultative Committees were tabled.

¶ 39 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development - The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu - The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera

¶ 40 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education - The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy - The Hon. Dharmapriya Wijesinghe

¶ 41 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism - The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi - The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu - The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 42 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation - The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage - The Hon. Ajith Gihan - The Hon. Dharmapriya Wijesinghe

¶ 43 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi - The Hon. K. Ilankumaran - The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri - The Hon. Muhammad Faizal

¶ 44 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industry and Entrepreneurship Development - The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy - The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara - The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu - The Hon. Ravindra Bandara

¶ 45 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources - The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - The Hon. P. Ruwan Senarath - The Hon. Arun Hemachandra

¶ 46 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour - The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran - The Hon. Lal Premanath - The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj - The Hon. Bhagya Sri Herath, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 47 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Plantation and Community Infrastructure - The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilusha Lakmali Gamage - The Hon. Jagath Manuwarna - The Hon. Aravinda Senarath

¶ 48 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development, Construction and Housing - The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - The Hon. Chandana Thennakoon - The Hon. Dinindu Saman Hennayake

¶ 49 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health and Mass Media - The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga - The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody - The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera - The Hon. Dharmapriya Wijesinghe

¶ 50 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government - The Hon. R.M. Gamini Rathnayake - The Hon. Ajith Gihan - The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka - The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera

¶ 51 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs - The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law - The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva - The Hon. Athula Welandagoda

¶ 52 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment - The Hon. Chaminda Lalith Kumara - The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran - The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka

¶ 53 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs - The Hon. (Dr.) Chrishantha Abeysena - The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - The Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama - The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala

¶ 54 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Science and Technology - The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - The Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana

¶ 55 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy - The Hon. Anton Jayakody - The Hon. Sugath Thilakaratne - The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana - The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena

¶ 56 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence - The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law - The Hon. Nishantha Perera - The Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi

¶ 57 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Digital Economy - The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara - The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu - The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera

¶ 58 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment - The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage - The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake - The Hon. Aruna Panagoda - The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel

¶ 59 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports - The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana - The Hon. K. Ilankumaran - The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake - The Hon. Dinesh Hemantha - The Hon. Bhagya Sri Herath, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 60 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Integration - The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi - The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 61 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs - The Hon. Rathna Gamage - The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - The Hon. T. B. Sarath

¶ 62 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development - The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi - The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu

¶ 63 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT