News
Some MPs get impatient with delay in issuing their duty-free vehicle permits
By Saman Indrajith
A group of government and opposition MPs are planning to meet the House Committee, which is responsible for MPs’ amenities, seeking duty free vehicle permits entitled to them as in the past when parliament meets next week, parliament.
The group comprising most backbencher MPs would seek a meeting with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in this regard and they are of the opinion that if parliament cannot provide them with duty-free vehicle permits, then vehicle must be made available to them at lower prices.
An MP said that the matter had been raised several times at group meetings and other forums, but the House Committee headed by Speaker Abeywardena had not taken any action.
“There are many backbenchers who have no vehicles. Each MP is entitled to a duty-free permit for a vehicle worth Rs 20 million. The last time the permits were given was nine years abo in 2015. The permits issuance was suspended citing the prevailing economic situation in the country. We find it difficult to attend our duties without a vehicle,” the MP said.
Another MP said that the House Committee too had not been convened for months. He said that the duty-free vehicle permit should be given to the MPs before the next election. If this permit is not given, many MPs, especially the backbenchers, would not contest the next general election as they have no means to contest,” he said, adding that some MPs had already made statements to that effect.
A senior parliamentary official said that the Finance Ministry under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe had suspended issuance of duty-free car permits to the MPs. “
The House Committee consists of the Speaker as Chair and nine Members nominated by the Committee of Selection.
The Committee on Parliamentary Business, which met on 05 April, decided that the Parliament would be in session for three days during the last sitting week this month. Accordingly the House will meet on 24, 25 and 26 April in accordance with a motion brought by the Opposition and an Adjournment
The debate on the Easter Sunday attack would be held on the above three days, the Acting Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne said.
by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
by Norman Palihawadane
Department of Prisons’ Media Spokesperson, Gamini Dissanayake said yesterday that retired Superintendent of the high security Boossa Prison, Siridath Dhammika, who was tragically gunned down at Thalagaha, in Akmeemana, on Thursday (13), had been provided with a firearm for his protection during his tenure, considering the potential threat to his life.
Dissanayake said that during his service period, he had received threats from certain individuals.
Furthermore, the Prison Department stated that during his service, there were no significant issues or shortcomings found in his personal records.
Dissanayake said that the majority of detainees at the Boossa Prison are individuals linked to organized crimes.
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