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PARLIAMENT
House takes up four Bills for debate:
‘Amendments moved by the President would promote national economy’
Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range
Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided, when Parliament met at 1
pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the
House took up one order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, two
orders under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, three regulations
under the Food Act, the Marriage Registration (Amendment) Bill, the
Kandyan Marriage and Divorce (Amendment) Bill, the Muslim Marriage and
Divorce (Amendment) Bill and the Births and Deaths Registration
(Amendment) Bill for debate.
Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Sarath Amunugama : These
amendments were presented with the 2013 budget moved by President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance and Planning Minister. We
expect that the national economy would be promoted through these
amendments.
The fees in relation to the registration of marriage have not been
revised for a long time.
This is not an attempt to place extra burdens on the people.
This is an attempt to streamline the entire process. Under these
amendments, the motor spare parts industry had been granted tax
concessions. Tax concessions have also been granted to boost the tourism
industry. Today the tourism industry is booming.
New hotels are being constructed while existing hotels are being
refurbished. Our target is to increase tourist arrivals up to 5 million
by 2016. Sri Lanka has already been promoted as a best tourism
destination in the world. We have been able to fulfill 95 percent of the
requirement of the electricity demand of the entire country.
P Harison (UNP): The government is attempting to increase its revenue
through these amendments. The public would be adversely affected by
these amendments. Fees of the affidavit certificate had been increased
from Rs 25 to Rs 250.
Notary fees too had been increased in a manner where the public has
been badly affected.The government has placed extra burdens on the
people by bringing these amendments.
The spread of the chronic kidney disease throughout the country is an
added problem on the people. Why has the government still failed to
eliminating this disease?
These Bills were passed with amendments.
The House was adjourned until 1 pm on May 7.
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