Prez as FM will present second reading of interim budget on Aug 30

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies would present the second reading of the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill on 30 Aug , Acting Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera said yesterday.

She said the decision to allocate the date had been taken at the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse yesterday morning (24) to discuss the business of parliament for the coming week.

Parliament is scheduled to convene at 1:00 PM on 30 August, and the President is to present the second reading of the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill and thereafter, Parliament will be adjourned.

The debate on the second reading of the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill will be held on 31 Aug and 01 Sept. from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm without a lunch break.

It has also been decided that debate will continue from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on

02 Sept. and the Bill is scheduled to be passed after the committee stage and the third reading on that day.

Three regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act, a resolution under the Customs Ordinance and Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act are also scheduled to be approved in Parliament on the same day.

On 29 August, the adjournment debate will be held from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on “The difficulties faced by the General Public due to increase in the electricity Tariff by a large Proportion”.

Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayantha has informed the committee that a special programme to inform the government and Opposition members about the current economic situation will be held on 30 August from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm conducted by the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. The Leader of the House also stated that he expects the participation of all members of the government and the opposition.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the House said that by making an amendment to the Standing Orders, they will promptly appoint the Sectoral Oversight Committees. He also said that according to the President’s suggestion three more standing committees are expected to be established in order to strengthen the Parliamentary Committee system.

A discussion was also held regarding the need to give fair time to the Members of Parliament who left the government party and act independently during the parliamentary debates.