News
Persons with special needs call for establishing commission to address their problems
Members of the Disability Organisations Joint Front (DOJF) have called on the government to estblish an independent commission, specifically aimed at addressing the issues faced by persons with disabilities, the Parliament’s media division said.
They made this call during a meeting with Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament last week, where they discussed a series of ongoing challenges faced by the disabled community in Sri Lanka.
The meeting was attended by MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, and Chairperson of the DOJF, Rasanjali Pathirage.
The DOJF members highlighted the need for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in the country’s policy-making processes. Despite representing a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s population, people with disabilities are often left out of decisions that directly affect their lives, the members stressed.
One of the key requests put forward during the meeting was the establishment of an independent commission to specifically address the issues faced by persons with disabilities. The DOJF called for a formal coordination programme that would include policy formulation and strategic solutions, ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are met in all sectors, including healthcare, education, and employment.
Furthermore, the DOJF emphasised the importance of passing the Bill to recognise sign language as a national language, a move they believe would greatly enhance communication access for the hearing-impaired community. The organization also pointed out the pressing need for a comprehensive health programme targeting the unique challenges faced by women with hearing impairments.
In addition, the DOJF members requested the Speaker to facilitate the re-establishment of the ‘Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities’ in the Tenth Parliament. This initiative, they argued, would provide a structured platform for addressing the long-standing issues of people with disabilities and ensure that their voices are heard in the legislative process.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne said that for the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, a visually impaired MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva, is serving as a representative. He further mentioned that MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva had already made a formal request to the Secretary General of Parliament to establish the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. The Speaker assured the DOJF that the caucus would be set up promptly, recognizing its potential to address the critical issues faced by people with disabilities in Sri Lanka, Parliament media division said.
The Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 has enabled provisions to impose telecommunication levy. The budget 2026 has proposed to introduce amendments for the act including changes imposed from time to time regarding the telecommunication levy.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated a draft bill for
amending the Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 including provisions to extend applicable to envisage all the tax amounts applicable from the year 2015 along with the telecommunication levy existing at present, applicable of taxes on unrecovered revenue (bad debts) and to extend the provisions of that act to cater the telecommunication suppliers.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said draft bill in the Government Gazette Notification and subsequently to submit the same for the concurrence of the House.
In accordance with the guidance of the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros and the All Ceylon Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, it has been identified as appropriate to conduct the State Vesak Festival for the year 2026 (Buddhist Era 2570) at the historic Medillawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara District, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Department of Buddhist Affairs.
It has been decided to conduct this year’s State Vesak Festival under the theme “Abhiththaretha Kalyane” (“Let us
hasten towards the common good”). Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the joint resolution furnished by the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government and the. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to: conduct the National Vesak Festival
centering the Medillawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara District; to declare the period from 27 May to 02 June 2026 as Vesak Week; and organize and implement various Buddhist religious programmes across the island during that period.
With the objective of promoting the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 21-07-2025 to implement a programme to issue free tourist visas, for a period of six months, without charging fees, to passport holders of 39 selected countries.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to submit, for the concurrence of the Parliament, the draft regulations prepared by the Legal Draftsman for the issuance
of free tourist visas in terms of the provisions of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act.
Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 to be amended
Management of State Expenditure during the Energy Crisis
Vesak week from 27 May to 02 June
Free Tourist Visas for Passport Holders of 39 Countries
Implementation of the “Diviyata Saviyak” Housing Programme
Export of scrap metal required for domestic industry to be banned
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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