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Parliament unable to confirm Chief Govt. Whip’s claim that sittings cost Rs.10 mn a day

Published

2 years ago

2024/02/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kularatne and Ranatunga

Depts. of Catering and Housekeeping and Admin. account for more than 50% of total employees

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament G.K.A. Chaminda Kumara Kularatne said that the Parliament was not aware of the basis Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga, MP, declared that a day’s proceedings cost Rs 10 mn.

Attorney-at-law Kularatne said so in response to The Island query submitted to Parliament in terms of the Right to Information Act (RIT) of No 12 of 2016. The Chief of Staff, who is also the RTI Officer, said that the Parliament declined to answer the query in line with the RTI Act 3(1) as it didn’t have the relevant information the newspaper sought. Kularatne received the appointment on Sept 19, 2023.

The Island on Dec 18, 2023, sought an explanation from Parliament regarding Gampaha District lawmaker Ranatunga’s declaration in Parliament that the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) squandered Rs 10 mn by sabotaging the special debate on the VAT (Amendment) Bill on Dec 10. The SLPP heavyweight said so during a heated argument with SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

During Karu Jayasuriya’s tenure as the Speaker (2015-2019) the UNPer is on record as having said that a day’s proceedings cost taxpayer over Rs 4 mn.

Parliament responded to a set of queries posed by The Island on Feb 09, 2024 well after the stipulated period meant to answer RTI queries.

Responding to another query, the RTI Officer claimed it wouldn’t be possible to specifically disclose a day’s cost as such estimates weren’t made. Kularatne attributed their inability to the entire staff of Parliament reporting to work in working days other than the days’ sessions were held. Parliament meets eight days a month in the first and third weeks though this does not apply to the months of November and December in view of the budget presentation and the continuous debates.

Kularatne said that in the absence of an estimate of a day’s cost the queries whether at party leaders’ level decisions had been taken to reduce expenditure and for eight sittings in a month cost Rs 80 mn were irrelevant.

Asked for expenditure incurred during the last Budget and the total number of dates the Parliament met in that regard, Kularatne said that though sittings were held on 23 days (from Nov 23, 2023 to Dec 08, 2023) the estimated costs couldn’t be provided particularly because water, electricity and telephone bills were received monthly and advance preparations, too, have to be made.

Kularatne said that as explained previously, a day’s food and electricity costs couldn’t be estimated.

The Island also sought an explanation regarding measures taken by Parliament to reduce expenditure as part of the overall response to the continuing economic crisis. Kularatne emphasized that on the directions of the Speaker, leaders of all political parties, represented in Parliament, and the Secretary General of Parliament, all sections had taken measures to reduce expenditure incurred on water, electricity, air conditioning, fuel and stationery.

The official declined to compare the expenditure of the Sri Lanka Parliament and that of the region in terms of RTI Act 3(1). According to him, the query in respect of comparison of parliaments in this region was not covered by the relevant Act under which questions were posed to Parliament.

Responding to another query, the official said that as at January 23, 2024, the total number of Parliament employees was 847. According to the information received, the following is the breakdown of the setup: the Secretariat of Secretary General (07), Department of Serjeant-at-arms (126), Department of Administration 223, Department of Legislative Services (58), Department of Finance and Supplies (15), Hansard Department (72), Department of the Co-Coordinating Engineer (62), Department of Information Systems and Management (27), Department of Catering and Housekeeping (241) and Department of Communication (16).

Asked about information regarding overtime payments made to Parliament staff, Kularatne said that from February, 2024, drivers and assistants assigned for parliamentary staff had been allowed to make overtime claims. Earlier, overtime has been restricted to the drivers of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees, Kularatne said, adding that overtime was being paid in terms of relevant Public Administration circulars and Presidential Secretaries CA 1/17/1 and PS/CSA/00/1/4/1 circulars dated May 14, 2010 and Sept. 09, 2022, respectively.

Kularatne said that all expenditure, under the heads of Parliament, was subjected to the Auditor General’s scrutiny.

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]