Mr. Speaker - The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne

¶ 01 The Parliament met at 9.30 a.m.

¶ 02 Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill: Petitions to the Supreme Court

¶ 03 Under Article 121(1) of the Constitution, I wish to inform Parliament that I have received copies of three petitions filed before the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal).”

¶ 04 Privilege: Dissemination of Fake News on Media

¶ 05 A motion may be brought to refer the matters raised under a Question of Privilege by Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan on 13th November 2025 in Parliament, to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

¶ 06 On 7th January 2026, at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, in accordance with the instructions given by its Chairman, His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a briefing programme for Hon. Members of Parliament on benefits provided by the Government to small and medium-scale entrepreneurs affected by the “Midhili” cyclone has been organized by the Department of Development Finance today, Tuesday, 20th January 2026, from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., at Committee Room No. 1 of Parliament. All Hon. Members are kindly invited to participate.

¶ 07 Celebration of Thai Pongal Day

¶ 08 A celebration of Thai Pongal Day has been organized under my patronage on 21st January 2026 from 7.45 a.m. to 9.15 a.m. near the Main Entrance of Parliament. All Hon. Members are kindly invited to attend.