News
SJB claims Online Safety Act already effective
By Saman Indrajith
The SJB says the Online Safety Act is already effective because the Speaker as Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene endorsed while Parliament was prorogued.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella on Wednesday said that the Bill had been taken up for debate on Jan 23 and 24 and the Speaker had claimed that it was passed. “Thereafter Parliament was prorogued on Jan 2626 Jan., and its new session commenced on 07 Feb. It was announced that the Speaker had certified the Bill on 01 Feb. This is wrong. A Speaker cannot endorse a bill during a prorogation. He should have waited till Parliament reopened to complete unfinished business as per Standing Orders. Endorsing a Bill is a legislative act which is not valid during prorogation,” Kiriella said.
“Article 70 (4) of the Constitution says that all matters which, having been duly brought before Parliament, have not been disposed of at the time of the prorogation of Parliament, may be proceeded with during the next session,” Kiriella said.
“The Speaker, in a mighty hurry, placed his signature to endorse this Bill on 01 Feb., without waiting till 07 Feb. By doing so, he violated the Constitution and thereby rendered this Bill invalid,” Kiriella said, adding that his party hoped to raise the issue in support of petitions being argued against the passing of the Online Safety Bill before the Supreme Court.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development to recognize the “Sri Lanka National Export
Development Plan – 2026–2030” as the official strategic framework for export development and promotion of exports in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board, in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders connected to the export sector, has formulated the National Export Development Plan 2026–2030 by obtaining technical assistance under the Policy-Based Lending Programme of the Asian Development Bank.
The aforementioned Plan provides a comprehensive strategic framework to guide and monitor Sri Lanka’s export development process, with the target of earning US$ 36 billion in foreign exchange through the export of goods and services by the year 2030
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to accept the Global Charter for Children’s Care Reform for Sri Lanka.
Approval has been granted by the Cabinet of Ministers on several earlier occasions to amend the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet
meeting held on 2023-05-02, the Legal Draftsman is currently in the process of preparing the relevant amended Bill, and the Legal Draftsman has informed that it would be appropriate to obtain policy approval from the present Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
Accordingly, taking into consideration the necessity of restructuring the Consumer Affairs Authority too, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative
Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to expeditiously complete the preparation of the relevant Bill to enable the amendment of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 9 of 2003.
Cabinet approves recognition of ‘Sri Lanka National Export Development Plan – 2026–2030’
Cabinet nod to accept the Global Charter for Children’s Care Reform for Sri Lanka
Cabinet grants policy approval to amend the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 9 of 2003
Cabinet approal for Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill to enable the amendment of Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011
M.S. Mahadiulwewa appointed act in the post of Director General of Commerce
Wimal S.K. Liyanagama appointed Director General of Customs
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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