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Parliament of Sri Lanka launches a Parliamentary Internship Programme
Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the support of National Democratic Institute (NDI), and USAID, launched a Parliamentary Internship Programme, providing young professionals, and students, with practical experience in policy development and public service.
The programme was launched recently in Parliament, under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, and Secretary General of Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General, Kushani Rohanadeera, and Assistant Secretary General, Tikiri Jayathilaka, Senior Resident Country Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) Thusitha Pilapitiya and a group of officials were present. The Speaker delivered the keynote speech at the inauguration.
Following outreach efforts to all the national universities in Sri Lanka, a group of interns was carefully chosen, from the eight universities who responded. Accordingly, eight state Universities, namely, Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura, Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Rajarata, Jaffna, Ruhuna, and Sabaragamuwa have collaborated for the internship programme, with a group of selected 35 interns.
The programme’s selection criteria, and structure, ensure a comprehensive and tailored experience, with the curriculum designed to develop skills and knowledge for different career paths.NDI, in collaboration with the Parliament, conducted a three-day residential orientation programme, aimed at providing a deeper insight into the intern role. The programme featured several sessions covering legislative development, engaging with Parliament, and various modes of interaction with Parliament. The heads of departments and sections of the Parliament, conducted the programme. The programme concluded with a recap and evaluation session by students, followed by an open discussion where interns had the opportunity to raise questions.
Following a three-day orientation programme, the interns have been allocated to their respective departments, and throughout their internship period, they will receive hands-on working experience with the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
The programme’s curriculum promotes inclusivity, diversity, and skill development for different career paths. The initiative aims to create goodwill ambassadors for Parliament, address the trust deficit between Parliament and youth, promote democracy, and educate young people about Parliament of Sri Lanka. The programme highlights the Parliament’s commitment to the Open Parliament Initiative and aims to address the trust deficit between Parliament and youth, while safeguarding democracy.
Approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 22.07.2024 to publish the draft bill of State Assets Management Act in the government gazette notification and thereby present it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
However, the draft bill couldn’t be passed in Parliament as a result of the Parliament being dissolved in the month of October 2024.
Thereafter, the draft bill was subject to further inspection by a
committee appointed which comprised of officials and authorities on the subject.
The said Committee has recognized the amendments to be made and a fundamental draft has been prepared including the proposed amendments.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to suspend further activities regarding the draft bill of State Assets Management Act published in the extraordinary gazette of 02.08.2024, and to direct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill based on the fundamental draft prepared by the subject specialists’ committee.
Considering the compliance of the Cooperative Societies’ operations with the concurrent socio – economic circumstances as well as the changes in the common law, the requirement of amending the Cooperative Employees Commission Act No. 12 of 1972 has been recognized.
A fundamental draft including proposed amendments based on the experience gained by that Commission as well as the opinions and proposals of Cooperative societies, their director board members, cooperative employees and other interested parties has been prepared.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative development to provide instructions to the Legal draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the Cooperative Employees Commission Act No. 12 0f 1972, based on the said fundamental draft.
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