DEBATE ON PCOI REPORT IN PARLIAMENT FROM WEDNESDAY

The Business Committee meeting of Parliament chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday decided to commence the debate on the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks from next Wednesday, a statement from the parliamentary media unit said.

The government will move the Adjournment Debate on the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks, the media unit said quoting Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake.

Parliamentary sittings will be held on March 9 and 10 as decided at the Committee meeting.

Accordingly, Parliament will convene on March 9 at 10.00 a.m. and time will be allotted for Questions for Oral Answers by the MPS from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.

The Adjourned debate on Regulations under the National Gem and Jewellery Authority Act, a Regulation under the Foreign Exchange Act and Two Orders under the Export Development Act will be taken up for debate from 11.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. as decided by the Party Leaders during the Committee meeting, Mr. Dassanayake said.

The Secretary General of Parliament also stated that the Notice of Motion by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to establish a Select Committee to look into and report to the Parliament its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality with special emphasis on looking into gender-based discrimination and violations of women’s rights in Sri Lanka is also scheduled to be presented to the Parliament next week.

The Motion at the Adjournment Time at 3.30 p.m. on March 9 which is to be moved by SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna will be held from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. regarding the violation of women’s rights and the promotion of gender equality.

Although the Prime Minister’s Questions for Wednesday, March 10 will not be scheduled, time will be allotted for Questions for Oral Answers by the Members of Parliament from 10.00 a.m. to

11.00 a.m.