(Eighth Parliament - Fourth Session)

No. 14.] MINUTES OF PARLIAMENT

Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 9.30 a.m.

PRESENT :

Hon. , Speaker Hon. J. M. , Deputy Speaker and the Chair of Committees Hon. Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Deputy Chairperson of Committees

Hon. , Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economy and Policy Development, Minister of Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs and Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Housing Facilities Hon. , Minister of Transport Service Management and Minister of Power & Energy Hon. , Minister of Education and Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs Hon. , Minister of Foreign Relations and Minister of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations and Leader of the House of Parliament Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Information and Mass Media and Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Hon. S. M. Chandrasena, Minister of Environment and Wildlife Resources and Minister of Lands & Land Development Hon. , Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government Hon. Arumugan Thondaman, Minister of Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development Hon. , Minister of Justice, Human Rights & Legal Reforms Hon. , Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Hon. (Dr.) , Minister of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Hon. , Minister of Roads and Highways and Minister of Ports & Shipping and Chief Government Whip Hon. , Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation

( 2 ) M. No. 14 Hon. , Minister of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development and Minister of Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare and State Minister of Defence Hon. (Mrs.) Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Minister of Women & Child Affairs and Social Security and Minister of Healthcare and Indigenous Medical Services

Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardana, State Minister of Energy Hon. , State Minister of Irrigation and Rural Development Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, State Minister of Information and Communication Technology Hon. , State Minister of Transport Services Management Hon. , State Minister of Public Management and Accounting Hon. , State Minister of Renewable Energy & Power Hon. , State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Services Hon. , State Minister of Industries Hon. Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, State Minister of Human Rights and Law Reforms Hon. , State Minister of Youth Affairs Hon. S. B. Dissanayake, State Minister of Lands and Land Development Hon. Wimalaweera Dissanayaka, State Minister of Wildlife Resources Hon. , State Minister of Water Supply Facilities Hon. , State Minister of Small & Medium Enterprise Development Hon. , State Minister of Tourism Promotion Affairs Hon. A. D. , State Minister of International Co-operation Hon. , State Minister of Social Security Hon. , State Minister of Women & Child Affairs Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, State Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Welfare Hon. , State Minister of Mahaweli Development Hon. C. B. Rathnayake, State Minister of Railway Services Hon. , State Minister of Investment Promotions Hon. , State Minister of Community Development Hon. , State Minister of Urban Development Hon. , State Minister of Export Agriculture Hon. Vidura Wickramanayaka, State Minister of Agriculture Hon. Kanchana Wijesekara, State Minister of Tea Industry Development Hon. , State Minister of Environment

( 3 ) M. No. 14 Hon. , State Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Hon. , State Minister of Technology and Innovations Hon. Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Development Banking and Loan Schemes Hon. Herath, State Minister of Housing Hon. , State Minister of Ports Development Affairs

Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. Hon. Wajira Abeywardana Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe Hon. Sisira Kumara Abeysekara Hon. Hon. Amarasena Hon. J. C. Alawathuwala Hon. Hon. Ranjith Aluvihare Hon. Hon. (Dr.) S. M. Mohamed Ismail Hon. T. B. Ekanayake Hon. Gayantha Karunatileka Hon. Hon. Hon. Faizal Cassim Hon. Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar Hon. Velu Kumar Hon. Nalaka Prasad Colonne Hon. Hon. Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Udaya Prabhath Gammanpila Hon. ( 4 ) M. No. 14

Hon. Padma Udhayashantha Gunasekera Hon. Hon. D. V. Chanaka Hon. Hon. Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa Hon. Jayamaha Hon. Hon. Anura Sidney Jayarathne Hon. Lucky Jayawardana Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardana Hon. (Mrs.) Sumedha G. Jayasena Hon. Mylvaganam Thilakarajah Hon. K. Thurairetnasingam Hon. Palitha Kumara Thewarapperuma Hon. M. S. Thowfeek Hon. Hon. Hon. (Dr.) Hon. Palany Thigambaram Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. H. R. Sarathie Dushmantha Hon. Mohamadu Nazeer Hon. Hon. S. B. Nawinne Hon. I. Hon. Karunarathna Paranawithana Hon. K. K. Piyadasa Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera Hon. Hon. Hon. Ajith P. Perera Hon. Hon. Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle ( 5 ) M. No. 14

Hon. Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. A. D. Premadasa Hon. , Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Hon. S. Premarathna Hon. (Mrs.) Chandrani Bandara Hon. R. M. Hon. Hon. Shantha Bandara Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Tharanath Basnayaka Hon. Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Mansoor Hon. S. M. Marikkar Hon. Hon. K. Kader Masthan Hon. Imran Maharoof Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. Abdullah Mahrooff Hon. Hon. Hon. (Prof.) Ashu Marasinghe Hon. S. C. Mutukumarana Hon. Nishantha Muthuhettigamage Hon. Hon. Patali Hon. Hon. (Ven.) Hon. Saman Rathnapriya Hon. Hon. Hon. Mujibur Rahuman Hon. Hon. Namal Rajapaksa Hon. (Dr.) Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan ( 6 ) M. No. 14

Hon. Hon. Hon. Waruna Liyanage Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. A. A. Wijethunga Hon. Lakshman Ananda Wijemanne Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Thusitha Wijemanna Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. Hon. Hon. Hesha Withanage Hon. Thenuka Vidanagamage Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. S. Shritharan Hon. Gnanamuthu Srineshan Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan Hon. E. Saravanapavan Hon. Dharmalingam Sithadthan Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah Hon. (Dr.) Hon. Chathura Sandeepa Senaratne Hon. Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa Hon. D. M. Swaminathan Hon. ( 7 ) M. No. 14

Hon. Hon. H. M. M. Harees Hon. Abdul Haleem Hon. Hon. P. Harrison Hon. Hon. D. B. Herath Hon. Hon. Manoj Hewagampalage Hon. A. H. M. Fowzie Hon. Field Marshal

Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament Mr. Neil Iddawala, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Assistant Secretary-General

Mr. Tikiri K. Jayathilake, Assistant Secretary-General

Parliament met pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker took the Chair.

1. Presentation of Papers : (1) The Minister of Roads and Highways and Minister of Ports & Shipping presented the Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 120(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on Road Development Authority in the Third Report for the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Committee on Public Enterprises for the period from 01.03.2018 to 26.10.2018 which was presented to Parliament on 23.10.2019 and moved that the Report be referred to the Committee on Public Enterprises. Question put, and agreed to.

(2) The Minister of Roads and Highways and Minister of Ports & Shipping presented the Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy for the year 2018 and moved that the Report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy. Question put, and agreed to.

(3) The Minister of Roads and Highways and Minister of Ports & Shipping presented the— (i) Order made by the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education under Section 20(4)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of Emeritus Prof. Kathirkamanathan Kandasamy as the Competent Authority in lieu of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna with effect from August 7, 2019 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2137/94 of 23rd August 2019; ( 8 ) M. No. 14 (ii) Order made by the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education under Section 20(4)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of Major General (retired) Shantha Kumar Thirunavukarasu as the Competent Authority in lieu of Director of the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa with effect from August 15, 2019 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2137/95 of 23rd August 2019; (iii) Order made by the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education under Section 20(4)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of Major General (retired) Herath Mudiyanselage Udaya Bandara Herath as the Competent Authority in lieu of Director of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute with effect from November 1, 2019 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2148/34 of 07th November 2019. (iv) Order made by the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education under Section 20(4)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of Emeritus Prof. Kathirkamanathan Kandasamy as the Competent Authority in lieu of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna with effect from November 7, 2019 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2148/35 of 07th November 2019; and (v) Order made by the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education under Section 20(4)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of Major General (retired) Shantha Kumar Thirunavukarasu as the Competent Authority in lieu of Director of the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa with effect from November 15, 2019 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2148/36 of 07th November 2019

and moved that those Orders be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development. Question put, and agreed to.

(4) The Minister of Roads and Highways and Minister of Ports & Shipping presented the Annual Report of the Industrial Development Board of Ceylon for the year 2017 and moved that Report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Manufacturing and Services. Question put, and agreed to.

2. Presentation of Reports from Committees : (1) Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker, Chair of the Committee on High Posts presented the First Report of the Committee on High Posts for the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table and to be printed.

(2) Hon. J. M. Ananda Kumarasiri, Deputy Speaker, Chair of the Select Committee of Parliament to study and report to Parliament its recommendation to ensure National Evaluation Capacity in presented the Interim Report of the said Select Committee of Parliament. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table and to be printed. ( 9 ) M. No. 14

(3) Hon. (Prof.) Ashu Marasinghe, Member of the Committee on behalf of Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran, Chair of the Committee on Public Finance presented the Report of the said Committee on— (i) Performance Report of the Department of Public Enterprise for the year 2018; (ii) Performance Report of the Department of Public Finance for the year 2018; (iii) Annual Reports of the National Lotteries Board for the years 2015 and 2016; (iv) Annual Report of the Lady Lochore Loan Fund for the year 2017; (v) Performance Report of the Trade and Investment Policy for the year 2018; (vi) Annual Performance Report of the Department of Management Services for the year 2018; (vii) Annual Reports of the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015; (viii) Annual Report of the National Savings Bank for the Year 2017; (ix) Annual Reports of the People’s Bank of Sri Lanka for the years 2017 and 2018; (x) Annual Reports of the Department of Inland Revenue for the Years 2017 and 2018; (xi) Annual Reports of the Finance Commission for the Years 2017 and 2018; (xii) Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka for the Year 2017; (xiii) Annual Reports of the Development Lotteries Board for the Years 2015 and 2016; (xiv) Performance Report of the Department of National Budget for the year 2018; (xv) Annual Report of the Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka and Finance PLC for the year 2016; (xvi) Performance Report of the Department of External Resources for the Year 2018; (xvii) Annual Performance Report of the Department of Valuation for the year 2018; (xviii) Performance Reports of the Excise Department for the years 2016 and 2017; (xix) Performance Report of the Department of State Accounts for the year 2018; (xx) Performance Report of the Department of Management Audit for the year 2018; (xxi) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board for the year 2017; (xxii) Annual Report of the National Insurance Trust Fund for the year 2015; ( 10 ) M. No. 14 (xxiii) Performance Reports of the Department of Treasury Operations for the Years 2017 and 2018; (xxiv) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. for the year 2017; and (xxv) Annual Reports of the Sri Lanka Customs for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 which were referred to the said Committee.

Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table

(4) Hon. Vijitha Herath, Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Lands presented the Report of the said Committee on— (i) Performance Report of the Land Use Policy Planning Department for the year 2018; (ii) Annual Performance Report of the Land Commissioner General’s Department for the year 2018; (iii) Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Survey Department for the year 2018; (iv) Performance Report of the Land Title Settlement Department for the year 2018; (v) Performance Report of the Ministry of Lands & Parliamentary Reforms for the year 2018; (vi) Annual Report of the Sugarcane Research Institute for the year 2017; (vii) Annual Reports of the Kurunegala Plantations Limited for the years 2016 and 2017; (viii) Annual Report of the Coconut Development Authority for the year 2017; (ix) Annual Report of the Coconut Cultivation Board for the year 2017; (x) Annual Report of the Coconut Research Board for the year 2017 (xi) Annual Report of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka for the year 2017; (xii) Annual Report of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka for the year 2017 (xiii) Annual Report of the Kalubowitiyana Tea Factory Limited for the year 2017/18; (xiv) Annual Report of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority for the year 2017; (xv) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Tea Board for the year 2017; (xvi) Annual Report and Accounts of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation for the year 2017; (xvii) Annual Report of the Chilaw Plantations Ltd. for the year 2016; (xviii) Performance Report of the Department of Agriculture for the year 2018; (xix) Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development - Irrigation Sector for the year 2018; ( 11 ) M. No. 14 (xx) Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development - Fisheries Section for the year 2018; (xxi) Performance Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development for the year 2018; (xxii) Annual Report of the Lanka Phosphate Ltd for the year 2017/18; (xxiii) Annual Report of the Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2016; (xxiv) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy for the year 2018; (xxv) Annual Report of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute for the year 2017; (xxvi) Annual Report of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd. for the year 2017; (xxvii) Annual Report of the Institute of Post Harvest Technology for the year 2017; and (xxviii) Annual Report of the Commercial Fertilizers Ltd for the year 2017 which were referred to the said Committee. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table.

(5) Hon. Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Business and Commerce presented the Report of the said Committee on— (i) Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development for the year 2018; (ii) Performance Report and Annual Accounts of the Department of Commerce for the year 2018; (iii) Performance Report of the Department of Co-operative Development for the year 2018; (iv) Annual Reports of the Lanka Sathosa Limited for the years 2013 – 2015; and (v) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation Ltd. for the year 2016/2017 which were referred to the said Committee.

Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table.

(6) Hon. Malith Jayathilake, Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security presented the Report of the said Committee on— (i) Performance Reports of Ministry of Defence for the years 2017 and 2018; (ii) Annual Reports of the Rakna Arakshaka Lanka LTD for the years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016; ( 12 ) M. No. 14

(iii) Performance Reports of Sri Lanka Police for the years 2015 – 2018; (iv) Performance Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections for the years 2016 - 2018; (v) Performance Reports of the Department of Prisons for the years 2016 – 2018; (vi) Annual Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Air Force for the year 2017; (vii) Annual Performance Reports of the Sri Lanka Navy for the years 2017 and 2018; (viii) Annual Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Army for the year 2017; (ix) Performance Reports of the Civil Security Department for the for the years 2017 and 2018; and (x) Annual Performance Reports of the National Police Commission for the years 2014 - 2018 which were referred to the said Committee.

Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table.

(7) Hon. (Prof.) Ashu Marasinghe, Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development presented the Reports compiled by the said Committee on—

(i) Service Issues of Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service Officers who have been appointed to the Sri Lanka Principals' Service as Supernumerary Basis;

(ii) Service issue of the officers who appointed to the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service 1985 -1994; and

(iii) Formulation of the Advisory Committee and Policy Framework to Introduce Supplementary Reading Materials on Sexual and Reproductive Health Education through the Ministry of Education

Ordered that the said Reports do lie upon the Table.

Suspension of Sittings

At 10.30 a.m.

The Sitting was then suspended until 12.00 noon.

At 12.00 noon.

The Sitting was resumed. The Speaker took the Chair.

3. Business of the Parliament : The Leader of the House of Parliament,— That the proceedings on Item No. 1 of Public Business appearing on the Order Paper be exempted at this day’s sitting from the provisions of the Standing Order 27 of the Parliament. This motion was not moved. ( 13 ) M. No. 14

4. Sittings of the Parliament : The Leader of the House of Parliament moved,— That this Parliament at its rising this day do adjourn until 1.00 p.m. on Tuesday 03rd March, 2020. Question put, and agreed to.

5. Resolution under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka : The Minister of Foreign Relations and Minister of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economy and Policy Development, Minister of Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs and Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Housing Facilities moved,— That in terms of paragraph (2) of Article 150 Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, that this Parliament resolves that the resolution mentioned as *1 of the Order Paper of Parliament for Wednesday, October 23, 2019 bearing No. 101 and passed by Parliament on the same date, is hereby amended as follows:— (1) by the repeal of paragraph (a) thereof and the substitution therefor, of the following paragraph—

“(a) sums not exceeding Rupees One Thousand One Hundred Twenty Four Billion Six Hundred Eighty Three Million Six Hundred Sixty One Thousand (Rs. 1,124,683,661,000) shall be payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the services specified in the First Schedule to this Resolution, (being services in respect of which provision for expenditure was made by the Appropriation Act, No. 6 of 2019 and by Supplementary Estimates) and that the said sums may be expended during the aforesaid period, in the manner specified in such Schedule; and”; and

(2) by the repeal of paragraph (d) thereof and the substitution therefor, of the following paragraph—

“(d) sums not exceeding Rupees One Thousand Eighty Eight Billion (Rs. 1,088,000,000,000) shall be proceeds as loans to be raised in terms of relevant laws whether in or outside Sri Lanka, for and on behalf of the Government, in respect of which provision for expenditure for providing such services specified in the Schedules to this Resolution and the details of such loans shall be incorporated in the Final Budget Position Report which is required to be tabled in Parliament under Section 13 of the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act, No. 3 of 2003.”.

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Motion with leave of the House withdrawn.

6. Adjournment (Airbus Deal) : The Leader of the House of Parliament moved,— That this Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed, and debated.

(At 12.38 p.m. the Deputy Chairperson of Committees took the Chair.)

Hon. Karunarathna Paranawithana seconded by Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma moved,—That Hon. Edward Gunasekara do take the Chair. Question put, and agreed to. (At 1.22 p.m. Hon. Edward Gunasekara took the Chair.) The State Minister of Small & Medium Enterprise Development moved,—That Hon. Anura Sidney Jayarathne do take the Chair. Question put, and agreed to. (At 1.51 p.m. Hon. Anura Sidney Jayarathne took the Chair.) The Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation moved,—That Hon. K. Thurairetnasingam do take the Chair.

Question put, and agreed to. (At 2.55 p.m. Hon. K. Thurairetnasingam took the Chair.) The Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation moved,—That Hon. K. Thurairetnasingam do take the Chair.

Question put, and agreed to.

(At 2.55 p.m. Hon. K. Thurairetnasingam took the Chair.) The Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation moved,—That Hon. Hesha Withanage do take the Chair.

Question put, and agreed to.

(At 4.10 p.m. Hon. Hesha Withanage took the Chair.) Hon. J. C. Alawathuwala seconded by Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar moved,—That Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Thusitha Wijemanna do take the Chair.

Question put, and agreed to.

(At 4.45 p.m. Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Thusitha Wijemanna took the Chair.) The Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation moved,—That Hon. Wijepala Hettiarachchi do take the Chair. ( 31 ) M. No. 14

Question put, and agreed to. (At 5.32 p.m. Hon. Wijepala Hettiarachchi took the Chair.)

Question put, and agreed to; the Parliament was at 7.25 p.m. adjourned until 1.00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 03, 2020 pursuant to the Resolution of Parliament this day.