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Opposition demands more slots on Parliamentary Business Committee

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/7

Govt. insists on capping its members to ensure functionality

In the previous Parliament, where there were six Opposition parties, 10 slots were allocated for the Opposition at the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

However, there were now 12 Opposition parties represented in Parliament but only four slots had been allocated for them in the same Committee, Chief Opposition Whip, SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilaka told Parliament on Friday (06).

“We met Speaker Ashoka Ranwala Friday morning to discuss this. How can we manage with four slots?” he asked.

Meanwhile, MP Ramanathan Archchuna, representing Independent Group 17 from Jaffna, urged the Speaker to allocate to him at least 30 seconds in each session because the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa would not allocate time for him to speak. “As you know I can’t go to his office to talk to him. Please consider my plight and give me some time during each session. Even 30 seconds is enough,” he said.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said the standing orders of Parliament would not be violated by increasing the number of members in the Committee on Parliamentary Business. “This won’t increase expenses. I urge the government to increase the number of Opposition MPs. I can guarantee that the Opposition MPs won’t just try to disrupt,” he said.

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) said that although he was an Opposition MP, he did not have a working relationship with the main Opposition. Most of the political parties in Parliament only had a single MP, he said. “Standing orders were created when there was effectively a two-party system. These do not accommodate the reality of the present Parliament. The Committee on Parliamentary Business must have at least one member from each party in Parliament,” he said.

Chief Government Whip, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the Committee on Parliamentary Business was the most important Committee in Parliament. According to Standing Orders, the Committee should comprise seven ex officio members and 12 other MPs.

“When we increase the non ex officio members to 16, the Committee on Parliamentary Business will have 23 members. I think we have to cap the number at this point. The number of political parties represented in Parliament may increase or decrease depending on the election. The number of parties can go up to 20 even. If we keep on increasing the number of members, we won’t have functioning committees. We can’t have 50 members in the Committee on Parliamentary Business,” he said.

Jayatissa said the Opposition leader and the Chief Opposition Whip are already included in the seven ex officio group. The government has agreed that four other MPs should be included in the non ex officio group. “There are six slots for the Opposition. It’s up to the Opposition to divide these slots among the MPs. If there is a problem with the Opposition not having enough time to express themselves in Parliament, we are willing to discuss and allocate some of our time. However, we urge the Speaker not to increase the number of members in the Committee on Parliamentary Business to more than 23,” he said.

Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake said they agree to allocate one more position at the Committee to the Opposition and the Opposition Leader must talk to the parties and appoint an MP. “By default, an additional slot will be given to the government, bringing the number of members in the Committee on Parliamentary Business to 16, excluding seven ex officio members” he said.

Minister Rathnayake said the Committee on Parliamentary Business must not be conflated with the party leaders group. This is also not the only Committee in Parliament. “The Parliament may someday decide that all political parties in Parliament must be represented in the Committee on Parliamentary Business. However, no such decision has been taken. There is an ad-hoc grouping called the party leaders meeting. The Committee on Parliamentary Business can’t accommodate everyone. The Committee is limited to a certain number of experienced, reasonable groups for a reason. The Committee on Parliamentary Business must start and end at a stipulated time. Our opinion is that this Committee must have a limited number of MPs. We can’t accommodate every party. This is the reality. I urge you to accept this reality,” he said.

Given that the Opposition Leader and the Chief Opposition Whip represent the SJB, the other four slots can be given to Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), New Democratic Front (NDF), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and to one other party.

“We have decided to give the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to an Opposition MP. We have also increased the number of members of COPA. People who can’t enter the Business Committee can join COPA because we think oversight should be increased. However, we will keep the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) because we need to investigate what the previous government has done. We can’t let a former Minister sit at the helm of COPE,” he said.

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Sun directly overhead Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon today (11)

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/11

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (11th) are Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition NCM against Energy Minister defeated

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

A no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 104 votes.At the end of the debate, 49 members voted in favour of the motion, while 153 voted against it.

The motion, submitted to the Speaker on 19 March, was signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB MPs, and other Opposition members.

It accused Minister Jayakody of failing to ensure the procurement of adequate and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, alleging that such negligence amounted to a breach of ministerial responsibility over a critical national energy asset.

The motion also cited ongoing legal proceedings against the Minister, noting that he has been indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and produced before the Colombo High Court under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, in connection with alleged acts of corruption during his tenure as Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The motion read: Vote of No Confidence against Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy,— Whereas the Provision in Section 6 of the Part III of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament which states that: “The Members shall on all occasions act in accordance with the public trust entrusted with them and shall always behave with probity and integrity, including the use by them of any public resources.” has been violated; And whereas the following rules of conduct set out in Section 9 of the Part V of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament have prima facie been breached, namely:- “(a) to be conscience; (c) to act so as to merit the trust and respect of the people; (e) to hold themselves accountable for the conduct and duties for which they are responsible;” And whereas it is observed that the Minister has failed, in his capacity as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, to discharge the fundamental duties incumbent upon him in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution;

And whereas it is established that the Minister of Energy has failed to discharge his primary duty of ensuring the procurement of adequate and good quality coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant;

And whereas such gross negligence in overseeing a critical national energy asset constitutes a fundamental breach of ministerial responsibility;

And whereas the Minister of Energy has failed to carry out the subjects and functions vested in him by the Notification of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2412/08 of 25th November 2024 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, including taking necessary steps to reduce the losses at the institutional management level and technical damages that occur to the electricity generation and distribution system and reduction of costs for generating electricity and removal of uncertainties during generation;

And whereas the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed formal indictments before the Colombo High Court against the incumbent Minister of Energy under Section 70 of the Bribery Act (Chapter 26) for the offence of “corruption” in connection with acts of corruption allegedly committed while he was serving as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertilizer Company;

And whereas, in light of the foregoing, the Minister of Energy has irretrievably forfeited the confidence of Parliament and the people of Sri Lanka by causing losses to public finances, endangering national energy security, corruptly mishandling the procurement process, being subjected to active judicial proceedings for the offence of “corruption”, and betraying the Government’s own “anti-corruption mandate”, and his continued tenure as the Minister of Energy is contrary to the public interest, the rule of law, and the principles of good governance;

That this Parliament resolves that it has no confidence in the competence of Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy to function as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers any longer.”

by Saman Indrajith

News

Chinese Ambassador assures Lanka China will not allow a fuel crisis to develop here

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong yesterday assured that China would not allow a fuel crisis to arise in Sri Lanka, under any circumstances, reaffirming Beijing’s continued support to the country.

The Ambassador made these remarks addressing the media after attending a dry ration distribution programme for 350 low-income families at Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, at Asgiriya, in Kandy.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, Ambassador Qi said China has consistently stood by Sri Lanka and remains ready to extend assistance whenever required.

Amid concerns over global energy disruptions, stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, he noted that several countries are already facing difficulties, but stressed that China is prepared to support Sri Lanka at any time.

He said that any potential fuel shortage in Sri Lanka could be managed with the involvement of China’s Sinopec.

Reiterating Beijing’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development, the Envoy also expressed hope that the current ceasefire in the Middle East would hold, while assuring that China stands ready to respond to any future developments and assist Sri Lanka as needed.

By SK Samaranayake