( ) [ Seventh Parliament -First Session] No. 236.] ORDER PAPER OF PARLIAMENT FOR Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 9.30 a.m. QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS 1944/’11 1. Hon. Buddhika Pathirana,— To ask the Minister of Education,—(1) (a) Will he inform this House— (i) whether there is an arrangment to shift the MR/Deiyandara Primary School administered by the Mulatiyana Zonal Education Office in Matara District, to some other area; (ii) if so, of the place where the school will be relocated; (iii) whether plans have been made for that purpose; (iv) whether necessary allocations have been made; and (v) if so, of the date on which the construction activities of the new school will commence? (b) If not, why? 2277/’12 2. Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara,— To ask the Minister of Social Services,—(1) (a) Will he state— (i) approximately, the number of families with differently abled and elderly persons in Sri Lanka without any income; (ii) whether a sum of Rs. 3000/= is granted as per the pledge given in the Mahinda Chintana –2005 manifesto that “each family with differently abled person and not having any income will be provided with a monthly grant of Rs 3000/=”; (iii) if so, the number of families receiving this benefit; and (iv) separately, the money spent annually from the year 2005 up to now, for providing the aforesaid grant ? (b) Will he also state the reasons, if the pledge referred to in the above (a) (ii) is not being implemented at present ? (c) If not, why ? (2) 2315/’12 3. Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Labour and Labour Relations,—(1) (a) Will he admit that — (i) the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act of 1958 was amended on the 18th of January 2012; and (ii) the amendment was done so as to utilize the money in EPF for buying a land and construction of a building ? (b) Will he state— (i) the total cost estimated for the aforesaid building; (ii) the estimated cost per square foot of the building; (iii) the names of the tenderers bided for construction of that building and the bid value of each tenderer separately; and (iv) the person responsible for projecting the requirement of that building to be 35 floors? (c) Will he also state— (i) as to why the EPF is wasted on building constructions; and (ii) the reason for not using state funds for the above purpose? (d) If not, why? 2339/’12 4. Hon. Sajith Premadasa,— To ask the Minister of Health,—(1) (a) Is he aware that it has been proposed by ‘Mahinda Chinthana - A vision for the future’ manifesto that one Open Garden Hospital for the patients who need mental rest, including heart patients should be established in each province ? (b) Will he state— (i) whether the work related to the establishment of the aforesaid hospitals has been commenced by now; and (ii) if so, the provinces in which the construction work of the aforesaid hospitals has been commenced? (c) If not, why? (3) 2870/’12 5. Hon. Eran Wickramaratne,— To ask the Minister of Higher Education,—(1) (a) Will he inform this House— (i) of the reasons for terminating the aptitude test implemented by the University of Visual and Performing Arts as an entrance requirement; (ii) whether any discussions were held with the university officials before taking the decision to terminate the aforesaid aptitude test ; (iii) if not, the reason for not having such a discussion ; and (iv) if so, the stance taken by the university officials in respect to terminating the aptitude test as an entrance requirement ? (b) Will he state— (i) whether the Ministry or the University Grants Commission received petitions from applicants that the aptitude test is corrupt on the basis that lecturers are partial to applicants whom they are in good terms with ; (ii) if so, as to why there has been no investigation or inquiry in this regard; and (iii) whether the Ministry had attempted to improve the transparency of the aforesaid test? (c) If not, why? 2958/’12 6. Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam,— To ask the Minister of Health,—(1) (a) Is he aware that— (i) a six- storeyed building was constructed in Kurunegala Teaching Hospital in the year 2008 in order to establish a Cardiac Surgery Unit; and (ii) an operating theatre has not been established in the aforesaid building up to now in order to facilitate heart surgeries? (b) Will he state— (i) the number of government hospitals where heart surgeries are performed at present; (ii) the number of heart surgeries performed in the aforesaid hospitals annually; and (iii) the number of cardiac patients who have been registered in the waiting lists of the government hospitals at present awaiting heart surgeries ? (4) (c) Will he also state whether immediate action will be taken to — (i) grant approval for the establishment of a Cardiac Surgery Unit in the aforesaid building which was constructed in the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital; and (ii) provide surgical equipment and drugs required for the aforesaid purpose ? (d) If not, why ? 3031/’12 7. Hon. (Mrs.) Rosy Senanayake,— To ask the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development,—(1) (a) Will he inform this House of — (i) the name of the country that granted financial aid for the reconstruction activities of the Moratuwa-Modera Fisheries Harbour, which had been destroyed by the Tsunami disaster of 2004; (ii) the amount so received as aid, and (iii) the date on which the reconstruction work of the aforesaid Fisheries Harbour commenced? (b) Will he also inform this House of— (i) the length and breadth of the Moratuwa-Modera breakwater in metres; and (ii) the size of the bend of the breakwater in metres ? (c) If not, why ? 3076/’12 8. Hon. (Al-Haj) A.H.M. Azwer,— To ask the Minister of Sports,—(1) (a) Is he aware that hundreds of youths and school children have faced difficulties without a sports ground in Pulmoddai area in Trincomalee District? (b) Will he take action to provide a full pledged play ground, so as to enable the youths of the area to improve their skills in sports? (c) If not, why? AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS Notice of Motions 1. Hon. John Amaratunga,— Leave to introduce a Bill,— That leave be granted to introduce the following Bill:— “ Bill to incorporate the Medicina Alternativa Institute.” (5) NOTICE OF MOTIONS AND ORDERS OF THE DAY *a1. Appropriation Bill (2013)— (Fifteenth Allotted Day)—Committee (Progress 26th November). *2. The Minister Plantation Industries,— Regulations under the Tea Small Holdings Development Law,— That the Regulations made by the Minister of Plantation Industries under Section 22, read with Section 15 of the Tea Small Holdings Development Law, No. 35 of 1975 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1783/26 of November 8th, 2012, which were presented on 22.11.2012, be approved. *3. The Minister Plantation Industries,— Regulations under the Rubber Replanting Subsidy Act,— That the Regulations made by the Minister of Plantation Industries under Section 8 of the Rubber Replanting Subsidy Act (Chapter 437) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1776/36 of September 20th, 2012, which were presented on 23.11.2012, be approved. *4. Divineguma Bill—Adjourned debate on question (06th November, 2012) [1]. *5. The Prime Minister and Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs,— Determination under the Constitution,— That this Parliament determines that the salary of Mr. H.A.S. Samaraweera, the incumbent Auditor - General appointed with effect from 15.08.2011 shall be as follows in terms of Article 153(2) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. That this Parliament further determines that Mr. H.A.S. Samaraweera, Auditor - General shall be placed on the salary point of Rs.48,940/- which is the 2nd step in the salary scale of SL-4-2006, with effect from 15.08.2011 when he was appointed to the said post and that he be paid the other allowances relevant to the post and such annual salary increments as specified in the salary scale. (Cabinet approval signified.) *6. Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Bill— Second Reading. *7. The Minister of External Affairs,— Resolution under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (No.1),— That this Parliament resolves under Article 157 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, that the Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the State of Kuwait for the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments, signed on 05th November 2009, being an Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments in Sri Lanka of such foreign State, its nationals or corporations, companies and other associations incorporated or constituted under its Laws, which was presented on 07.09.2011 be approved, as being essential for the development of the national economy. (Cabinet approval signified.) (6) *8. The Minister of External Affairs,— Resolution under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (No.2),— That this Parliament resolves under Article 157 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, that the Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the Promotion and Protection of Investments, signed on 22nd October 2009, being an Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments in Sri Lanka of such foreign State, its nationals or of corporations, companies and other associations incorporated or constituted under its Laws, which was presented on 07.09.2011 be approved, as being essential for the development of the national economy.