News
Parliamentary watchdog committees summon several of state outfits
By Saman Indrajith
Parliamentary watchdog, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has summoned the Sri Lanka Football Federation before the Committee. The Department of Probation and Child Care Services has been summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).
The Committee on Public Enterprises, the Committee on Public Accounts and 13 Committees including a number of Consultative Committees are scheduled to meet during the first week of August, Secretary-General of Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake said.
The COPE Committee will meet under the chairmanship of Prof. Charitha Herath and the Committee on Public Accounts will meet under the chairmanship of Prof. Tissa Vitarana. The COPA Committee will review the Special Report of the Auditor General on the process of supplying Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Auditor General’s Special Report on the Medical Processing Process carried out by the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine on Aug 03.
Additionally, the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice chaired by Minister of Justice Ali Sabry and the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health chaired by Health Minister Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi are also scheduled to meet on Aug 03.
The Sri Lanka Standards Institution has been summoned before the COPE on Aug 04 and the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs will also meet in Parliament on the same day under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment is scheduled to on August 05th under the chairmanship of Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera and the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries under the chairmanship of Minister Douglas Devananda is also scheduled to meet on the same day.
Furthermore, on the same day, the Industrial Development Board has been summoned before the COPE Committee and the Department of Cooperative Development has been summoned before the COPA Committee.
The Secretary-General of Parliament states that the National Savings Bank has been summoned before the COPE on Aug 06.
Although there are legal provisions for the right to publish, technical planning, right of patent, trademarks and enterprises etc, in the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003, there are no provisions for securing the rights of plant species (relevant to breeders, researchers and farmers).
In addition, no patents can be issued for flora and fauna according to the provisions of the intellectual rights act. Therefore, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 22.05.2024 to introduce a new act for securing the rights of plant species.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has pointed out that policy approval of the new Cabinet of Ministers should be taken to complete the drafting of the new flora species rights securing act.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposals submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation for the preparation of the said draft bill.
Latest News
National minimum monthly salary for private sector employees raised to Rs. 27,000/-, minimum daily wage to Rs. 1080/-
Parallel to salary hike of public sector officers by the budget proposals 2025, it has been proposed to increase the salaries of private sector employees as well.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Labour to revise the national minimum monthly salary and national minimum daily wage and follow other legal actions as follows:
• To raise the minimum national monthly salary by rupees 9,500/- from rupees 17,500/- to rupees 27,000/- with effect from 01.04.2025
• To raise the minimum national daily salary by rupees 380/- from rupees 700/- to rupees 1,080/- with effect from 01.04.2025
• To raise the minimum national monthly salary by rupees 3,000/- from rupees 27,000/- to rupees 30,000/- with effect from 01.01.2026
• To raise the minimum national daily salary by rupees 120/- from rupees 1,080 /- to rupees 1,200/- with effect from 01.01.2026
News
Draft bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals – Sri Lanka to be completed
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to grant policy approval of the current Cabinet of Ministers for completion of formulating the draft bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals – Sri Lanka
Establishment of the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka has been recognized in order to accomplish the requirement of a training institute for carrying out relevant studies with the objective of presenting media intellects fortified with skills for the uplifting quality and standards of media society of this country while creating chartered professional journalists.
Cabinet approval to prepare new Act for securing the rights of plant species
National minimum monthly salary for private sector employees raised to Rs. 27,000/-, minimum daily wage to Rs. 1080/-
Draft bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals – Sri Lanka to be completed
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