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As the life of Parliament ends, so does the life of about 80 committees and sub-committees
View(s):By Sandun Jayawardana
All parliamentary committees and sub committees stand dissolved following the dissolution of Parliament.
A senior Parliament official said about 80 committees and sub-committees were functioning prior to the dissolution of Parliament by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake effective from midnight on September 24. Once the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14 is concluded, the new Parliament will meet on November 21.
Parliament has five types of committees: Select Committees, Sectoral Oversight Committees, Ministerial Consultative Committees, Legislative Standing Committees and Committees for Special Purposes. These five types of committees are now dissolved effective from the date of dissolution. They will have to be reconstituted and new members appointed after the new Parliament meets on November 21.
Unlike during a prorogation, when committees such as Committee on High Posts, Sectoral Oversight Committees and Select Committees of Parliament can continue to function, no committee can function after dissolution as the life of that Parliament has ended and there are no more MPs to function, the official explained.
Parliamentary Select Committees (PSCs) that were still functioning when the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka was dissolved included the PSC investigating issues that have arisen related to the Nilwala River and other water bodies in the Matara District, the one investigating causes for the country’s financial bankruptcy, the PSC probing disasters caused by New Diamond and X-Press Pearl vessels in Sri Lanka’s maritime zone, and the PSC appointed to identify mechanisms needed to be implemented to control and eradicate the country’s drug menace.
There were some 19 Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs). They included the SOC on alleviating the impact of the economic crisis, the SOC on an open and accountable government, SOCs on children, women and gender, education, energy and transport, environmental, natural resources & sustainable development, and the SOC on food security and agriculture.
The wide array of Ministerial Consultative Committees (MCCs) include the MCCs on environment, finance, economic stabilisation and national policies. Among others are the MCCs on fisheries, foreign affairs, industries, investment promotion and health.
The Legislative Standing Committee considers bills and statutes referred to it by Parliament. This includes government bills as well as private member’s motions.
The Committees for Special Purposes comprise some of the most powerful committees in Parliament. They include the Committee on Parliamentary Business, Committee on Public Finance, Committee on Public Enterprises, Committee on Public Accounts, Committee of Selection and the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
In addition, there were 12 parliamentary caucuses looking into different issues. Among these was the Parliamentary Caucuses for Persons with Disabilities, Women Parliamentarians, Children, Youth, Animal Welfare, Human Rights and Protection of Hill Country.
Meanwhile, all questions for oral answers raised by MPs that are still pending, as well as all pending government and private members’ bills will now stand abolished. Any newly elected government will have to reintroduce such bills to Parliament anew if they wish to get them passed.
Meanwhile, the Police said on Friday that all police personnel assigned to provide security to former Parliamentarians have been recalled, except those providing security to the former Speaker, former Deputy Speaker and former Opposition Leader.
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