Amendment to Minimum Wages Act set for Parliament debate

COLOMBO: The first sitting of Parliament for 2021 will convene from Jan. 5 to Jan. 9, the secretary general of parliament Dhammika Dasanayake announced.

This was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Wednesday.

The meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business was chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of Committees Angajan Ramanathan.

It was also decided to permit media to enter the Parliament premises for the purpose of covering Parliamentary proceedings.

Accordingly, journalists will be allowed to enter the Parliament premises subjected to the guidelines set out in accordance with the COVID-19 health regulations.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Johnston Fernando, Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Douglas Devananda, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Ali Sabry PC, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and MPs Rauff Hakeem, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Dilan Perera, Mano Ganesan were present at this meeting.

Accordingly, Parliament will convene from Tuesday, Jan. 5 to Thursday, Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Parliament will convene on Friday, Jan. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Motion at the Adjournment Time by the government will be taken up on Jan. 5 and Jan. 7 respectively and will be held from 4.30 p. m. to 5.30 p.m.

The Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition to be taken up on Jan. 6 will be held at 4.30.

The Adjournment Debate by the opposition on the current situation of the country is scheduled to be held from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Jan. 8.

Time has been allotted from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on the same day for Questions for Oral Answers presented by the MPs.

Four bills including amendments to the Shop and Office Employees Act will be taken up on Jan. 5 and three Bills including the amendment to the Minimum Wages Act are scheduled to be debated in parliament on Jan. 6

In addition, the secretary general stated that the second reading of the Intellectual Property (Amendment) Bill is scheduled for Jan. 7 and 10 regulations including airport taxes will also be taken up for debate.

Adding to it, the secretary general stated that, time has been allotted for Prime Ministers questions on Wednesday, Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.