News
Dayasiri makes plea not to be shut out of Committee on Parliamentary Business
Dissident SLPP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to give them an opportunity to join the Committee on Parliamentary Business. Jayasekera said that Uttara Lanka Sabhawa, too, had been barred from those meetings.
“This is a big problem for us. We don’t know what is happening. We are not aware of the decisions made at these committees,” he said. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Business Committee had agreed to ensure the participation of all Opposition parties at its meeting
“I don’t understand why these parties are not allowed in after we agreed that they, too, should be there. We all agreed to let them in. Allow each party to send one representative. The government can increase their representation in proportion,” he said.
Meanwhile, leader of the house, Minister Susil Premajayantha, told Parliament that when a new Parliament is convened, a gazette on what parties are in Parliament, who are the MPs, etc., is published.
“As far as I know, the leaders of political parties that are in the above-mentioned gazette are recognized as party leaders. However, this has changed. There might be breakaways. When a section of government MPs sit in Opposition, they, too, want recognition as Opposition MPs. I think this is the basis of the requests by the SLFP and Uttara Lanka Sabawa. The Speaker can decide. There is no need for us to be involved,” he said.
The Speaker said that there are 33 MPs in the business committee and that there are usually only 16 MPs in this committee. However, the Opposition leader said the number of MPs is immaterial and that the Speaker must entertain the request made by MP Jayasekera.
Uttara Lanka Sabawa MP Mohamed Muzammil said that both the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader have agreed to allow all Opposition parties to be represented in the business committee.
“The Speaker has promised twice to give a verdict on this. There are 13 MPs with us. There are five SLFP MPs. Our rights have been violated. Please make a decision today. You only have to give us two slots and two slots to the government,” he said.
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said a party with three MPs has representation at the business committee.
“So, two parties with 18 MPs deserve representation. So the Speaker can make a decision,” he said.
Latest News
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
News
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
-
News7 days agoProf. Rambukwella passes away
-
Business3 days agoPick My Pet wins Best Pet Boarding and Grooming Facilitator award
-
News3 days agoNew Lankan HC to Australia assumes duties
-
Features3 days agoKing Donald and the executive presidency
-
Business3 days agoACHE Honoured as best institute for American-standard education
-
Features7 days agoThe sea-change after Modi’s visit
-
Features5 days agoThe Truth will set us free – I
-
News3 days agoLankan ‘snow-white’ monkeys become a magnet for tourists