News
Parliament: Number of Sectoral Oversight Committees reduced to seven
UNDP, too, consulted
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Parliament in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reduced the number of Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs) to seven.In the previous Parliament there were 17 SOCs. The National People’s Power (NPP) government discussed the matter with the UNDP as the latter funded the strengthening of the SOC process.
A four-member Committee, headed by Assistant Secretary General of Parliament, Hansa Abeyratne, has recommended the establishment of seven SOCs to cover all ministries. Sources said that the Committee on Parliamentary Business, chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, on 27 February, had agreed to form seven SOCs, with the government and the Opposition consenting to share the chairmanships four to three, respectively.
The NPP parliamentary group and the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) consists of 159 and 40 MPs, respectively.
The Speaker and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, discussed the reduction of SOCs from 17 to 7 when the latter paid a courtesy call on the Speaker several weeks before the official announcement made by Parliament following the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business on 27 February.
The Committee of Selection previously declared that Parliament could establish as many as 20 SOCs.
The parliamentary committee system consists of Select Committees, Ministerial Consultative Committees, Legislative Standing Committees, Committees for Special Purposes and Sectoral Oversight Committees.
SOCs were introduced by the yahapalana parliament through a resolution passed on Dec 19th, 2015. Sources said that the Parliament tasked the Abeyratne committee to make recommendations meant to improve performance and cut down on waste.
Sources said the reduction of the number of SOCs was intended to curtail expenditure.
The USAID, now under a cloud over controversial projects in many countries, funded SOC heads’ visit to the US in late 2023 during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidency.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement
Muscular South Africa stroll into Super Eight with all-win record
Pakistan bat first, drop Shaheen Afridi in must-win encounter against Namibia
New Bangladesh sports minister wants to fast track cases against Shakib and Mortaza
Climber on trial for leaving girlfriend to die on Austria’s highest mountain
IMF MD commends government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy
India look to go into Super Eight stage with all-win record
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Life style3 days agoMarriot new GM Suranga
-
Business2 days agoMinistry of Brands to launch Sri Lanka’s first off-price retail destination
-
Features3 days agoMonks’ march, in America and Sri Lanka
-
Opinion6 days agoWill computers ever be intelligent?
-
Features3 days agoThe Rise of Takaichi
-
Features3 days agoWetlands of Sri Lanka:
-
News3 days agoThailand to recruit 10,000 Lankans under new labour pact
-
News3 days agoMassive Sangha confab to address alleged injustices against monks