The vote on the second reading of the 2023 Budget Appropriation Bill is set to be held today (23).

Accordingly, the debate on the second reading the 2023 Budget will continue until 5 pm today, later which the vote will commence.

The vote will be critical for the government to demonstrate its power in Parliament.

MIAP

There is no decision to remove the fuel management QR system from next month as suggested by certain reports, assured Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara in a tweet yesterday (21).

Accordingly, the Fuel Management QR System will be continued until the fuel requirements can be fulfilled, he added.

MIAP

President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured to provide the necessary assistance to expand the scouting movement by increasing its membership to 200,000 covering all nine provinces by 2024.

The President also mentioned that he would seek the support of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth Affairs for this purpose.

The Sri Lanka Scout Association officially conferred the title of Chief Scout to President Ranil Wickremesinghe this morning (21) at the President’s Office, where he made these comments.

The Scout Commissioner, Attorney-at-Law Janaprith Fernando, commissioned and presented the Scout Scarf and the appointment certificate to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A report on the progress of the Scout Movement was also presented to the President.

Speaking at this occasion the President further stated that he expects to get the full support of the Scout Movement for the 75th Independence Celebration.

President Wickremesinghe invited the Scout Movement to join the environment-related programmes which are being held with the intervention of the President’s Office and headed by President’s Adviser on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardena.

The commemorative medal for the 60th anniversary of the Homagama District Branch affiliated to the Sri Lanka Scout Association was presented to the President by Girl Scout Potaka Thitulu Kathya. The related commemorative souvenir was also presented to the President.

Deputy Chief Commissioner M.S.S. Muheed, Executive Committee Chairman Ransiri Perera and other officers including Homagama District Scout Commissioner Dr. Anil Perera, New District Commissioner K. A. Chandrapadma, Assistant District Commissioner Suranga Handapangoda and others participated in this event.

PMD

1. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara MP says the Central Committee of the SLFP has suspended membership of 9 top members, including former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge until the disciplinary action against them is concluded.
   
2. Minister of State for Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna says a de-merit points system for traffic offences is to be introduced from January 2023: the driver’s license of those who get more than 24 de-merit points to be cancelled for a period to be determined.
   
3. President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake says the Government intends to resume negotiations on FTAs: asserts it’s the vision of President Wickremasinghe to integrate Sri Lanka with the global value chains and the largest economies in South and East Asia.
   
4. Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal says the true Economic Hit-men are those who announced that the country is bankrupt even while there were credible, expected inflows of USD 10.7 bn in early April 22: the announcement of “bankruptcy” was made by CB Governor Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Siriwardene.
   
5. Sri Lanka Scouts Association confers title of “Chief Scout” on President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
   
6. SLFP and SJB decide to vote against the 2nd reading of the Budget 2023.
   
7. Census Department says headline inflation, as per the YoY change in the NCPI declines to 70.6% in October from 73.7% in September due to base effect: index value still at elevated levels showing that cost of living has not declined.
   
8. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Water Supply considers proposal for another water tariff hike: also discusses new taxes proposed to be levied on bottled water.
   
9. Chief Sanghanayake of the Ramanna Nikaya Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera says the Maha Sangha and Buddhists in Embilipitiya will not allow the Govt to implement the proposed project to cultivate 10,000 acres of Cannabis in Embilipitiya.
   
10. Posts appear in social media showing pictures of several female teachers who say they have attended their respective schools in attire other than saree: previously, Education Minister Susil Premajayanth had firmly announced that there would be no change in the policy of teachers’ attire.

The annual reports and performance reports of Parliament will be submitted as e-copies and action will be taken to keep a limited number of hard copies of them as per MPs’ request, said Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena addressing the House today (21).

The move will be carried out in compliance with the decision taken at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs held on June 02, 2022.

Accordingly, MPs will be provided with soft copies even in the case of the progress reports submitted to Parliament by each Ministry / Institution and Statutory Bodies during the Committee Stage debate period on the 2023 Budget, based on the decisions taken during the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on September 29, the Speaker noted.

He went on saying that measures will also be taken to keep a few hard copies of the aforesaid Reports in the Chamber and the Library for the use of MPs.

MIAP

Government’s intention was to resume the negotiations on free trade agreements said Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake.

It is the vision of the President that Sri Lanka will integrate with the global value chains and with the largest economies in South Asia and East Asia and then expand to the east region linking to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Further, the Secretary to the President invited private sector stakeholders to creatively engage in this development initiative as they are the ultimate beneficiaries.

He made these observations during an awareness session on the resumption of negotiations of free trade agreements held for Trade Chambers and Industry Advisory Committees at the Finance Ministry on November (16).

Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industries, and the members of the National Trade Negotiation Committee also participated.

The contours of Global trade have been significantly changed in recent years by bringing regional and global production networks as driving factors of international trade where Sri Lanka has not yet been engaged to tap the potential. Both the growth of supply capacity and the expansion of market access are therefore, recognized as essential for revitalizing the domestic economy.

Towards this end, the government intends to operationalize the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore and has taken steps to resume the negotiations of free trade agreements with India, China and Thailand where foreign direct investment can be largely attracted to channel the benefits to the goods and services trade through the Investment Trade nexus.

A Trade Negotiation Committee has already been appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers to reinvigorate the negotiations and these agreements will ultimately pave the path to gaining membership of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which consists of 30% of the world’s GDP, trade and population.

During his remarks, Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardhana emphasized the importance of leveraging the non-debt creating inflows and diversification of export products as well as markets.

He also mentioned the budget proposal- 2023 of establishing the International Trade Office (ITO) which will deal with all international trade negotiations in the future. The Treasury Secretary also emphasized the necessity of engagement with chambers and other stakeholders during the negotiation process.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Aruni Wijewardana highlighted that foreign missions and diplomatic channels have fully prepared to facilitate these trade negotiations. According to the government plan, once the proposed institutional mechanism is properly established the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will bear the mandate of international trade negotiations.

The private sector representatives engaged in the session with great enthusiasm and stressed in detail the necessity of giving the highest consideration to their offensive and defensive interests.

They also made a request to focus on other non-tariff barriers such as certain quota restrictions, various issues on laboratory facilities for testing standards, not having mutual standards recognition agreements etc. that are faced by the exporters, through these agreements while removing duties on our exports.
During this kick-off session of the stakeholder consultations, the National Trade Negotiation Committee gave the assurance of conducting broad dialogue with the private sector throughout the negotiations through the responsible government institutions.