Two Parliament sitting days next month set aside for ’Questions for Oral Answers’

The Committee on Parliamentary Business recently decided to set aside time from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm on September 6 and 27 for 68 questions for oral answers which MPs had been unable to ask in Parliament due to various reasons, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake said.

It was also decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to hold four sitting days from 17th August to 20th August the Secretary General said.

Accordingly, Parliament will convene on August 17 at 10.00 am and from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm. The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill, Regulations under the Value Added Tax Act No. 14 of 2002, 06 Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and 05 Orders under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act No. 18 of 2011 are to be debated.

On the same day time has been allotted for Questions at the Adjournment Time from 4.30 pm to 4.50 pm and Motion at the Adjournment Time moved by the government will be taken up for debate from 4.50pm to 5.30 pm.

On August 18, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Bill, 03 Orders under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, 02 Resolutions under the Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235)  will be taken up for debate.

Thereafter, time has been allotted for Questions at the Adjournment Time from 4.30 pm to 4.50 pm and Motion at the Adjournment Time moved by the opposition will be taken up for debate from 4.50pm to 5.30 pm.

The Registrar of Electors (Amendment) Bill is scheduled to be passed without debate on August 19 from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon, the Secretary General said. Thereafter, the Adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on "Current Problems in the Field of Education in Sri Lanka" will be debated from 12.00 noon to 5.30 pm.

On the 20th the adjournment debate on the Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report for the year 2021 will be held from 11.00 am to 5.30 pm on a motion moved by the Government.

The Secretary General also said that during the four sitting days, time will be allotted from 10.00 am to 11.00 am for ‘Questions for Oral Answers’ of the Members of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Committee decided to close the time allotted for Questions for Oral Answers by 11.00 am. It was also decided to give 05 minutes to the party leader who asks questions under Standing Order 27 (2) and 05 minutes to the relevant Minister if he answers them.

The Committee on Parliamentary Business also decided to appoint a special committee chaired by the Prime Minister and consisting of five other Members of Parliament to look into matters which are not currently under the purview of any Ministry that are presented to Parliament, Secretary General said.