The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, with your leave, a brief clarification. Yesterday, a question arose regarding the tabling, within the stipulated time, of a transfer made under the “Virements Procedure” in terms of Section 24(4) of the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, read with Section 59 of the Appropriation Act, No. 3 of 2025. A Member raised whether it had been tabled within time. The Deputy Minister of Finance provided a clarification from the Ministry’s side. As the Leader of the House, and given the responsibilities between the Executive and Legislature, I wish to place on record certain points from the Office of the Leader of the House.

¶ 02 Firstly, any document sent by the Minister of Finance under Regulation 66 of the Financial Regulations is transmitted on legal advice. Even in this instance, the President, as Minister of Finance, informed me and Mr. Speaker to submit it. From the Leader of the House, even if a Minister forwards a document, we do not pass it on as is; we first examine its legality and conformity with the Act before referring it to the Secretary-General.

¶ 03 Thereafter, as I understand, the Secretary-General refers it to the Table Office to verify legality and whether it is within time. Then, with your concurrence, the agenda is discussed again and subject to further checks. Only after all these steps is a document presented to the House.

¶ 04 Therefore, while Members have every right to question documents, I clarify that any paper laid before this House will have been checked at a minimum of five points: the relevant Ministry, the Office of the Leader of the House, the Legislative Services Department via the Secretary-General, the Secretary-General’s Office again, and by you, Mr. Speaker.

¶ 05 Regarding the specific matter, as the Finance Minister stated, the first transaction was on 07th July, and it reached Parliament in less than a month. That is what I wished to clarify for the House’s understanding.

¶ 06 Thank you.