News
Director Legislative Services of parliament responds to newspaper article titled “The actual costs of the Tea Party post ceremonial opening of Parliament”
Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) Mr. M. Jayalath Perera emphasized the following regarding the Newspaper article titled “The actual costs of the Tea Party post ceremonial opening of Parliament,” published in the Irida Lankadeepa newspaper on 2024.12.29.
The media report indicates that under the Parliamentary budget head, a sum of Rs. 287,340 was incurred for the Tea Party held post the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament held during the inaugural session of the Ninth Parliament, while Rs. 339,628.55 was spent on the Tea Party following the inaugural session of the Tenth Parliament.
The Ceremonial Opening of the Ninth Parliament was held on 2020.08.20, and that of the Ceremonial Opening Tenth Parliament was held on 2024.11.21.
Accordingly, the difference in expenditure for the Tea Party conducted post the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments can be attributed to the following reasons;
- A time gap of approximately four years exists between the Ceremonial Openings of the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments. During this period, fluctuations in market prices have significantly influenced the increased costs of the tea party and related expenses. It is worth noting that the prices of goods and services rose by approximately 100% in 2024 compared to 2020, primarily due to the economic downturn experienced during this period.
- Furthermore, the event was attended not only by Members of Parliament but also by state diplomats, secretaries to the ministries, senior state officials, invitees, and members of the Parliamentary staff.
The Paddy Marketing Board has approximately 115,000 metric tonnes of paddy stocks purchased from farmers, which are currently stored in the Board’s warehouses, and it has been planned to retain a sufficient buffer stock from these reserves and sell the remaining quantity in order to provide the necessary storage space and financial resources for the purchase of paddy from farmers during the upcoming Yala season.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to sell the aforementioned paddy stocks
following a formal tender procedure.
The Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 provides the legal provisions for regulating and promoting the export agriculture sector in this country.
Taking into consideration administrative changes and sectoral developments that have taken place over time, approval was granted at the Cabinet Meetings held on 2023-09-04 and 2025-08-11 to amend the said Act, which has not been updated for over 30 years.
The proposed amendments are intended to amend the designations of the Head of the Department of Export Agriculture and other officials, and to provide a clearer definition of the term “the export agricultural crop.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish in the Government Gazette the Draft Export Agriculture Promotion (Amendment) Bill, prepared in all three languages by the Legal Draftsman to amend the Export Agriculture Promotion Act, No. 46 of 1992, and thereafter submit the same to Parliament for its concurrence
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