News
Debate on no-confidence motion against Minister Gammanpila on July 19, 20
By Saman Indrajith
Party leaders yesterday decided to hold the debate and vote on the no confidence motion against Power and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila on 19 and 20 July.
It was decided at the party leaders’ meeting presided by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, at the parliamentary complex that Parliament would meet for four days from today (06) until Friday (09), Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.
Accordingly, Parliament will convene today (06) at 10.00 a.m. and from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Accordingly, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Amendment) Bill, an Order under the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act and the revision of salaries and allowances accorded to the Office of the Missing Persons is scheduled to be taken up for debate, Dasanayake said.
The Motion at the Adjournment Time by the government would be taken up for debate from 4.50 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Tomorrow ( 07), two Orders under the Export Development Act are scheduled to be taken up for debate and approved. Thereafter, Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition would be taken up for debate from 4.50 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
The Registration of Electors (Amendment) Bill, General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill, Regulations under the Immigration and Emigration Act will be taken up for debate on Thursday (8) from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Thereafter, Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition would be taken up for debate from 4.50 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Meanwhile, it has been decided to hold the Adjournment Debate on the Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for the year 2020 on Friday (09) from 11.00 am to 5.30 p.m.
During the four days of Parliament, time has been allotted for Questions for Oral answers of the Members of Parliament from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and time has also been allotted for Questions at the Adjournment Time on all three days except on Friday (09) from 4.30 p.m. to 4.50 p.m. for both the Opposition and the ruling party.
Leader of the House Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Cabinet Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Prof. G.L. Peiris, Douglas Devananda, Dullas Alahapperuma, Wimal Weerawansa, Mahinda Amaraweera, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, M.U. M. Ali Sabry, Prasanna Ranatunga and MPs Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Gayantha Karunatilleka, Rishad Bathiudeen, Field marshal Sarath Fonseka were present at the meeting.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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