President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the government has decided to provide relief to electricity consumers who use less than 90 units. 

Addressing the Parliament today, he said the concession will be provided during the next electricity tariff revision. 

The President further said that the government will bear the cost for the next three months. 

The decision has been taken due to the increase in fuel prices and the prevailing dry weather conditions, which require the use of thermal power plants for electricity generation, he said. 

The President revealed that the government has allocated Rs. 15 billion for this purpose. 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake disclosed the information while briefing the Parliament on the special relief package introduced by the government, amidst the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East region. (Newswire)

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A bill to repeal the Parliamentary Pensions Act No. 1 of 1977 has been presented to Parliament.

The “Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill,” which seeks to abolish the pension entitlements granted to Members of Parliament, was tabled today. 

It was presented by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara. (Newswire)

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Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has endorsed the certification on the President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, which was passed in parliament today. 

Accordingly, this Bill will come into force as the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act, No. 18 of 2025.

The President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed in Parliament today by a majority of 150 votes. 

The debate on the second reading of the Bill began at 11.30 am today and was followed by a second reading vote at around 3.30 pm, with 151 votes in favour and 1 vote against. Thereafter, the third reading of the Bill was passed without amendments. 

This Bill, which was presented to Parliament on 7th August 2025 by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, is a Bill to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986.

Accordingly, any residence provided to, or monthly allowance paid to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 2 of the repealed Act;  monthly secretarial allowance paid to, and official transport and such other facilities provided to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 3 of the repealed Act; and monthly pension paid to the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 4 of the repealed Act, will be abolished. (Newswire)

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Speaker of the Parliament, Jagath Wickramaratne, says the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has determined that no provision of the President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution.

The Speaker announced that, as such, the Supreme Court states that the Bill can be enacted with the simple majority of Parliament. 

He further said that the Supreme Court has rejected the petition filed challenging the Bill on the grounds that it had failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of Article 121 (1) of the Constitution, invoking the jurisdiction of the court.

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced the determination of the Supreme Court while addressing the Parliament of Sri Lanka today. 

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill to Parliament on 07th August.

The Bill seeks to revoke the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and abolish special benefits granted to former Presidents, their widows, and retired Members of Parliament.

The proposed legislation, published in the Gazette dated July 31, 2025, would end entitlements including official residences, monthly allowances, secretarial support, transport facilities, and pensions for former Presidents and their widows. 

Three petitions were filed at the Supreme  Court challenging the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution. (Newswire)

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Two more petitions have been submitted to the Supreme Court challenging the bill presented to Parliament by the government to revoke the entitlements of former Presidents.

According to reports, the petitions were filed by Harindrarathna Banagala, a resident of the Weyangoda area, and Premasiri Wijesekara, a resident of Pannipitiya.

The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the case.

The petitioners claim that clauses 01 to 04 of the proposed Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill violate the principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution.

Additionally, the petitions allege that several clauses in the bill infringe upon the sovereignty of the people and the independence guaranteed by the Constitution.

Taken as a whole, the petitioners argue that the provisions of the proposed bill violate the fundamental framework of the Constitution, including Articles 1, 3, and 4, as well as the fundamental human rights outlined in Article 12(1).

Accordingly, the petitioners request the Supreme Court to issue an order stating that the contested clauses of the bill must be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and approved by a public referendum.

On 07th August, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill to Parliament, seeking to revoke the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and abolish special benefits granted to former Presidents, their widows, and retired Members of Parliament.

The proposed legislation, published in the Gazette dated July 31, 2025, would end entitlements including official residences, monthly allowances, secretarial support, transport facilities, and pensions for former Presidents and their widows. 

Last week, SLPP Administrative Secretary Renuka Perera filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the bill. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has granted approval for the Bill to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority in Sri Lanka.

According to a Parliament statement, the Bill was approved at the meeting of the COPF held this week (12) under the acting chairmanship of MP Rauf Hakeem.  

Due to the overseas travel of the Chairperson of the COPF, MP Harsha de Silva, opposition MP Rauf Hakeem was appointed as the acting chairperson of the committee.

The Bill, which was discussed on several occasions in the COPF, provides for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority as an independent regulatory body.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority has been proposed to be established with a broad scope to standardize betting and gaming establishments in Sri Lanka, minimize social harm, develop the tourism sector and grow the economy. (Newswire)

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The proposal to include more provisions in the existing Draft Bill on the establishment of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Sri Lanka (AAIBSL) has received a Cabinet nod. 

According to the government, per the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Act No. 34 of 2002, the Authority is entrusted with the responsibility of investigating flight crashes and related incidents within the Sri Lankan territory. 

However, a survival supervisory audit conducted in 2010 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation revealed Sri Lanka does not have an independent process to investigate aircraft accidents and related incidents. 

Accordingly, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at a meeting held in 2016 to establish an aircraft accident investigation bureau in Sri Lanka.

Despite the Legal Draftsman having prepared a draft bill for the purpose, the relevant parties have pointed out that a few more provisions should be introduced to the bill. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal by the Minister of Civil Aviation to prepare the relevant draft bill with the inclusion of the required provisions. (Newswire)

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Speaker Dr. Ashoka Ranwala today informed the Parliament that the certificates of three Bills have been endorsed in terms of the provisions of Article 79 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

According to a Parliament statement, the three Bills were endorsed by the Speaker of the previous Parliament.

The certificate on the “National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment)” Bill was endorsed on 11th September 2024.

Meanwhile, the certificates on the “Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments” and “Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment)” Bills were endorsed on 13th September 2024. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to prepare the Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Bill by incorporating the proposed amendments. 

Cabinet approval was received in December 2023 for publishing the Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Bill in the Government Gazette. 

However, due to the submission of further amendment proposals for the said bill by various parties, no steps were taken to present the said bill to the Parliament. 

The Interim Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism has conducted several consultation rounds and identified the amendments to be made to the relevant bill. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the joint proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Reforms, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the bill.

The joint proposal requests to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a bill based by incorporating the said amendments to the preliminary draft and to cancel the gazette notification issued earlier. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved amending the existing Prevention of Domestic Violence Act to present a new bill to Parliament, State Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe announced.

The State Minister also revealed that plans are in progress to establish the National Commission for Women, following the introduction of the already gazetted Bill on Women’s Empowerment.

State Minister Geetha Kumarasinghe made the remarks during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Tuesday (Apr 02). 

Speaking further, the State Minister said the Cabinet approved the Women’s Empowerment Bill in April 2023 and subsequently, the draft bill was officially published in the gazette in July 2023. 

She further said that it is scheduled to be presented in Parliament soon and that the Act includes provisions regarding the establishment of the National Commission for Women.

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has also convened a discussion in Parliament recently (Mar 20), regarding the bill for women’s empowerment. Various stakeholders, such as the President’s Office, the Attorney General’s Department, and the Legal Draftsman’s Department, actively participated in the discussion.

The observations made by the World Bank regarding the Bill on Women’s Empowerment were also taken into consideration. The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to review the observations within one week. If there are any additional amendments deemed necessary, the Bill will be re-published in the gazette and presented to Parliament, she said.

State Minister Kumarasinghe pointed out that additionally, several crucial clauses have been added, such as the provision for a close associate to file a case on behalf of women facing domestic violence. The Cabinet of Ministers has also approved to amend the existing Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and present it to Parliament as a new Act.

Temporary detention centres for abused women have been established in Gampaha, Ratnapura, Colombo, Matara, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Monaragala, and Nuwara Eliya districts, she said.

State Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs also revealed that the Bill on Gender Equality has received Cabinet approval and will now be forwarded to the government printing press for gazetting. 

She added that the Cabinet has also approved the national guidelines for the management of women’s care homes dedicated to victims of sexual and gender-based violence. (NewsWire)

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Consumers across Sri Lanka have failed to pay arrears amounting to nearly Rs. 14.5 billion to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa, a spokesman for the water board said that the consumers have already been informed to settle their outstanding payments.

The spokesman further said the water supply of many consumers who have defaulted on their water bill payments has been disconnected.

The Water Board spokesman added that it has been observed that consumers are avoiding paying their water bills on time due to economic difficulties. (NewsWire)

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The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has introduced several methods for consumers to pay their electricity bills.

Issuing a statement, the CEB said consumers can now make their payments via;

The CEBCare mobile application

Online banking

The CEB’s official website, www.ceb.lk

Any Postal Department

Any bank Kiosks

Supermarkets, such as Cargills or Keells

The CEB further said that consumers can contact the CEB via the hotline 1987 for any issues related to electricity supply. (NewsWire)

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The third reading of the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed with amendments in Parliament today.

Accordingly, 100 Parliamentarians voted in favour of the bill, while 55 MPs voted against it.

Earlier this evening, the second reading of the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament with a majority of 57 votes.

During the vote, 98 Parliamentarians had voted in favour of the Bill, while 41 MPs had voted against it.

MP Roshan Ranasinghe who was recently sacked from his ministerial portfolio voted against the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill.

The debate on the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, which was adjourned yesterday due to a lack of quorum, was held this evening.

The government in its Budget for the fiscal year 2024 has proposed to increase VAT to 18% effective from January. (NewsWire)

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Speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has endorsed the certificate on two bills passed in the Parliament recently. 

According to a Parliament statement, the Speaker yesterday endorsed the certificate on the Conferring the Honour of Senior Instructing Attorneys-at-Law Bill presented by the Minister of Justice (Dr.) Wijedasa Rajapaksa. This bill was passed on 18 October 2023 following the second reading debate in Parliament.

The Speaker also endorsed the certificate on the Balapitiya Sri Rahularama Purana Viharastha Samanera Akalpa Sangwardena Bikshu Vidyalaya (Incorporation) Bill which was presented as a private member’s bill by the MP Gayantha Karunathilaka. This Bill was passed on 17 October 2023 in Parliament.

Accordingly, the Balapitiya Sri Rahularama Purana Viharastha Samanera Akalpa Sangwardena Bikshu Vidyalaya (Incorporation) Act No. 25 of 2023 and the Conferring the Honour of Senior Instructing Attorneys-at-Law Act No. 26 of 2023, come into force from November 01, 2023. (NewsWire)

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Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has refuted media reports of an electricity tariff hike, assuring that there will be no price revision on electricity. 

Taking to Twitter, Minister Wijesekera stated that the government policy decision is to revise electricity prices biannually, in January and July every year. 

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has planned for an uninterrupted supply of power islandwide throughout the year with no scheduled power cuts and currently full capacity of available power plants is in use for power generation, he revealed.

The Minister also provided details of the meeting that was held at the President’s Office yesterday with officials from the CEB and Irrigation Department. 

Minister Wijesekera stated that options related to ensuring a continuous power supply with no scheduled power cuts and the maximum water that can be released for agriculture will be shared with the Cabinet of Ministers today. 

Details related to the power generation for the next 12 months, the release of water for agriculture, hydropower capacity, and thermal power options available will be shared and discussed, he said.

Minister Wijesekera went on to state that a discussion to settle the dispute between the land owner and CEB to complete the Asian Development Bank (ADB) financed Polpitiya-Hambantota transmission line has been set for August 11 by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). 

The 150km transmission line connecting the southern province has come to a stop in the last 3 months due to a dispute over the government valuation for a 650-meter stretch of land the lines are connected through. 

If the dispute is settled the work can be completed in 4 days. The CEB has already paid 2500 other individuals compensation on government valuation and completed the work in the 150 km stretch over those areas, he added. (NewsWire)

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