Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, in terms of Standing Order 125(5), I lay on the Table the First Report of the Committee on Public Petitions containing observations and recommendations of the Committee on 70 public petitions referred to it during the First Session of the Tenth Parliament. The Committee expects that, upon tabling this Report, you will proceed in terms of Standing Orders 125(6) and 125(7) to ensure justice to petitioners who have suffered injustice.

¶ 02 The number of petitions referred to the Committee on Public Petitions is statistically high. In inquiries, the Committee has consistently provided fair and impartial recommendations, considering the legal frameworks as well as all relevant ancillary matters applicable to each case, when determining that petitioners have been subjected to injustice.

¶ 03 I express my gratitude to the Hon. Members of the Committee, the officials of the Committee Secretariat on Public Petitions, the staff of the Parliament including the Secretary-General of Parliament, as well as Secretaries to Ministries, Heads of Departments and all other officials who extended their support to successfully discharge the functions of the Committee.

¶ 04 I move that this Report be printed.

¶ 05 Question put, and agreed to.

¶ 06 Ordered that the Report be printed.