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2/3 for 20A: Sirisena skips vote

Published

6 years ago

2020/10/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Eight Opp. MPs back govt.

By Saman Indrajith

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament, last night, with 156 MPs voting for it; 65 MPs voted against it.

The government easily secured a two-thirds majority in the 225-member Legislature for the passage of the constitutional amendment, which will restore the executive powers which the 19th Amendment removed from the President.

All government members save one voted for the Bill, and several Opposition MPs joined them.

Differences that had cropped up among some of the constituent parties of the SLPP were ironed out at the last minute after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakakra, who had publicly voiced their opposition to the section for allowing dual citizens to enter Parliament.

They voted for the Bill including the dual citizenship provision after the President gave an undertaking that such provisions would not be there in the new Constitution to be framed.

SJB Anuradhapura District MPs Ishak Rahuman and MS Thowfeek, National List MP Dayana Gamage, Digamadulla MPs HMM Harees and Faizal Cassim, Badulla District MP A. Aravindh Kumar, SLMC Batticaloa District MP Naseer Ahamad and MNA Puttalam District MP AS Raheem voted with the government.

SLFP leader former President Maithripala Sirisena was a notable absentee in the House.

When the second reading stage vote was taken, the Bill received 156 votes for and 65 votes against.

The SJB, NPP, TNA and several other Opposition MPs from different independent parties voted against the Bill.

The final vote was taken last night at the end of the two-day debate on the Bill, which has been strongly opposed by opposition lawmakers but also by members of the Buddhist and catholic/Christian clergy, and civil society groups.

During the third reading of the Bill (committee stage) the government introduced several amendments, some in keeping with the determination of the Supreme Court and others suggested by some government members.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella asked for a division on the clause on permitting duel citizens to enter parliament, and when that particular clause was put to vote it received 157 votes for and 64 votes against.

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Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.

There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.

In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).

Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.

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Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.

The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.

According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.

The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.

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The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.

However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.

Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.