News
No-faith motion against Speaker defeated
By Saman Indrajith
The no-confidence motion against speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 42 votes.The motion moved by the Opposition received 75 votes for and 117 against.
The SJB, TNA, JVP/NPP and dissident SLPP MPs voted for the motion, while the MPs supporting the government voted against the motion.The vote was taken around 4.40 pm yesterday after three days of debate which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe.
At the end of the debate, Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella called for a division.The vote was initially scheduled to be held on Wednesday (March 20), but it was put off by one day as per a decision taken at the Parliamentary Business Committee meeting to debate the no-confidence motion for three consecutive days.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, during his speech, said that the government could have rejected the no-faith motion on technical grounds.
“We could have rejected this motion on the basis that it violated the policy that internal affairs of the Constitutional Council should not be made public. We have confidence in this Speaker. It was he who took the lead to protect parliament when the Aragalaya protesters were trying to march on parliament. He acted bravely to protect the parliamentary system. He worked in cooperation with the then Prime Minister to save Parliament,” Prime Minister Gunawardena said.
“There have been issues and disagreements between CC members in the past but no member disclosed them. However, the Opposition members of the current CC have disclosed inside information. This is an irresponsible act,” the Premier said.
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Speaker had connived with the Executive in violation of the doctrine of the separation of power.
Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who is in remand custody over charges of substandard immunoglobulin, too, had been allowed to be brought into the House to vote.
Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena, who had been on an official visit to the US to take part in a conference organised by the World Bank, returned to the country on Wednesday night (20), on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Upon his arrival, Minister Gunawardena told the media that he had been called back to participate in a crucial vote on the no-confidence motion.
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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