News

Speaker forced to suspend sittings for ten minutes

Published

5 years ago

2022/02/25

by Saman Indrajith

Parliament sittings were suspended for ten minutes following a tense situation that prevailed after SJB MP Harin Fernando bringing in three torches to the chamber as a sign of protest against the government’s failure to control power cuts.

Leader of the House Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena raising a point of order soon after Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa started making a special statement, said that an Opposition MP had brought unapproved equipment to Parliament. “When the Police detected the torches the MPs’ entrance, there was an argument. This cannot be accepted because taking such things into the House puts everyone’s safety in jeopardy. Therefore, I urge the Speaker to look into this matter and take immediate action,” Minister Gunawardena said.

SJB MP Fernando stood up and showed a torch he had brought into the Chamber.

“The Leader of the House is speaking about the torches I brought. Actually, there are three torches in my bag. There are power cuts everywhere in the country. That is why I brought these torches, because if electricity is gone in Parliament we will need light. I cannot go to the lavatory in darkness.”

The SJB MPs who had arrived in the Chamber with stickers pasted on their attire stating that ‘Anduren Eliyata’ (out of the darkness) and ‘Sir Failed’ stood up and shouted slogans

Minister Gunawardena expressed his strong opposition to MP Fernando bringing torches into the Chamber.

Minister Gunawardena: “This is highly dangerous and not my personal problem. This is an illegal activity. The Speaker should commence a probe into that. Those who are smiling now are the ones who carried out Easter Sunday terror attacks.”

The SJB MPs then started to protest by taking out torches and holding placards. They shouted slogans against the government. Although the Speaker repeatedly requested them to sit down and let the Opposition Leader make his statement, the MPs continued the protest.

The Speaker: “This is sad. The intention behind bringing torches into the House is not clear. If your protest is over, then you should sit down and let the Opposition Leader to speak. If you do not, we have to move to another question.”

After a few minutes, the Speaker adjourned the sittings for 10 minutes.

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News

Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.

In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.

Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure

News

Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.

Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief