News
Five days of parliament sittings next week
By Saman Indrajith
It had been decided at the party leaders’ meeting yesterday to hold parliament sittings on five days next week, Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.
Minsiter Fernando said that the usual sitting week should have been only for four days from Tuesday to Friday but Monday too had been included to enable opposition MPs to raise questions because some of their questions had been deferred during the past few weeks due to time constraints.
Minister Fernando said that the Leader of the House, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had informed the meeting that the government would present the Appropriation Bill for the year 2022 during the next sitting week.
The party leaders’ meeting was held at the Parliamentary complex yesterday with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena presiding.
Minister Fernando said that the entire day on Monday (Oct 4) had been set aside as a special sitting day for Questions for Oral Answers. Time had been allocated from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. for 40 questions which were earlier postponed due to various reasons.
Parliament will meet on Tuesday (5) at 10.00 am and from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm Regulations and Order under the Value Added Tax Act, Regulations and Order under the Inland Revenue Act, an Order under the Finance Act are listed for debate.
The Petroleum Resources Bill (Second Reading) will be taken up for debate on Wednesday (6) from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm.
On Thursday (7) from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading), Employees’ Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading), an Order under the Employees Provident Fund is scheduled to be taken up for debate.
The Adjournment debate on the Mid-Year Financial Position Report for the year 2021 will be taken up for debate on Friday (8) from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm.
Time has also been allotted for Questions at the Adjournment Time from Tuesday to Thursday from 4.30 pm to 4.50 pm. The Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Government will be on Tuesday and Thursday from 4.50 pm to 5.30 pm whilst the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition will be on Wednesday.
Due to the considerable time spent on following the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act No. 09 of 1950, approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-01-2021 to amend the said Land Acquisition Act appropriate to the current requirement so that the time taken for the process of acquisition of lands can be minimized, lands can be acquired under a simple procedure, and the compensation can be paid under a unified procedure. The initial draft has been prepared for that purpose, and the legal draftsman has informed that the policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers should be taken for the completion of the activities of the preparation of the draft.
Accordingly, taking into consideration the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to instruct the legal draftsman to prepare the draft promptly.
Since the procedures that should be followed in obtaining and managing foreign debts are covered by the Public Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024, the Foreign Debt Act No. 29 of 1957 and all the amendments thereto should be cancelled. The policy agreement has been provided at the cabinet meeting held on 09-12-2024 for that purpose. The clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the Foreign Debt (Abolishment) Draft prepared by the draftsman.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to publish the said draft in the Government Gazette and thereafter to present it to the Parliament for approval.
It was decided by the then Cabinet of Ministers at the cabinet meeting held on 02-09-2024 to liquidate the Co-operative Wholesale Corporation Act No. 47 of 1949 and to liquidate the said establishment.
However, there is a possibility to perform a decisive role for the Co-operative Wholesale Corporation in the implementation of government roles within the market operation with the objective of a continuous supply of quality goods and services to the public under a reasonable price through the promotion of market competitiveness in compliance with the “Rich country—beautiful life” policy framework.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Trade, Commercial, Food Security, and Cooperative Development to abolish the previous cabinet decision in respect of the liquidation of the Cooperative Wholesale Corporation and recommence the business activities of the said corporation based on a feasible business plan.
Cabinet nod to amend Land Acquisition Act No.09 of 1950
Foreign Debt Act No. 29 of 1957 and all amendments thereto to be repealed
Co-operative Wholesale Establishment to continue
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