News
Jayamaha stretches the truth claiming American, Chinese MPs will be in our parliament soon
by Saman Indrajith
SJB Kurunegala District MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha showing the US national flag in the chamber yesterday said that the sole purpose of bringing about the 20th Amendment to the constitution was to enable persons holding US-Lankan dual citizens to become members of parliament.
Participating in the second reading debate, the MP said: There will be a day soon when American citizens are coming here as MPs. The 20th amendment is to pave the way for that purpose.”
The MP read out the oath that should be taken by a foreigner when becoming a US citizen and said that as per that oath, the person who takes that should give his or her first priority to the American interests. “Where are those who wallow in patriotism today? They made use of patriotism to win elections but they pass laws against the country’s national interests. Soon there would be a day we would be among Americans MPs,” the MP said.
“The danger is that this bill will not only allow Americans but also Chinese too. Chinese too can become MPs here,” he said showing the US flag.
SLPP MP Wimalaweera Dissanayake:
MP Jayamaha had brought the loin cloth of his former leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. That should be removed from the House.
MP Jayamaha wearing a mask showing the face of a black American said: This House comprises Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim MPs. When we stand together it is difficult to identify who is Tamil, who is Sinhala who is Muslim. But this bill will help those with different racial features coming here.
SLPP MP AD Jagath Kumara:
The Opposition MP read out an oath before the US flag. That oath should be given before the US flag. He did the same inside this House. This House should not be permitted to give the oath of allegiance to the US.
Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena requested from the Chair not to let the opposition MP to act against dignity and decorum of the House. “The opposition MP has smuggled in items not permitted in this House. An investigation must be held how he managed to bring them in here. He must be stopped making use of this august assembly to display his undignified actions,” MP Abeygunawardena said.
As per the provisions of section 51 of the Public Finance Managaement Act No. 44 of 2024, the public should be issued with a report on the final budgetary situation for each year and, the report is then published in the official website of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Thereby the report has to be submitted to the Parliament. The final budgetary situation report (Annual Report) – 2025 has been prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and published. The report contains the Public Finance Policy, strategies and challenges, economic trends in 2025, macro – economic and socio – economic indicators covering all sectors of the economy as well as description on the global economic growth.
Furthermore, it accompanies a detailed description government revenue and expenditure, cash flow management, financing the budget deficit and the loan structure.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 to Parliament.
Business
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 16.03.2026 to obtain United States Dollars 380 million from the policy – based loan facilities of the Asian Development Bank in the year 2026.
United States Dollars 100 million out of it is allocated for Trade, Investment and Industries Development Programme – Sub Programme 1. However, amidst the economic uncertainty resulting from the current Middle East crisis and the climatic tragedies, the Asian Development Bank has agreed to assist
by increasing a supplementary financing package of United States Dollars 100 million so that it will beMincreased up to United States Dollars 200 million.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to take further measures to obtain the said loan grant.
News
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given at the meeting held on 23.02.2026 to impose the custom import duty amounts under four (04) categories as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% which had been executed only under three (03) categories in order to increase the target export income of the country, to execute the
recommendations of the national customs duty policies committee, and to implement new national sub division customs codes for promoting the local agricultural and industrial sector.
Imposing provisions in relation to the above, the Revenue Protection Order – No. 01/2026 under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2478/03 of 03.03.2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the said revenue protection order to Parliament for its concurrence.
Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 submited to parliament
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Resettlement of unauthorized settlers affected by the Land Acquisition process for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
New National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management to be drafted
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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