| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Parliament
|
| Date of creation |
5 February 2002 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
The Committee examines and decides on petitions of individuals or groups of individuals, presented to Parliament by MPs regarding infringements of fundamental rights or other injustices by a public official or an official of a public corporation, local authority or other like institution. |
| Membership |
As per the article 74 (1) (ii) the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
Subject to the provisions of the Constitutions, Parliament may be resolution or Standing Order provide for the regulation of its business, the preservation of order at its sittings and any other matter for which provision is required or authorised to be so made by the Constitution. Therefore, the setting up of Committees is not matter of Constitutional Procedure and instead, they are established under the Standing Orders of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Herein after referred as Standing Order) formulated as per above article by the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The Committee of Selection, which consist of Mr. Speaker as Chairman and 24 members including the leaders of political parties or their nominees, appointed at the commencement of every Parliament to consider the number, functions and constitution (including quorum) of Committees for special purposes and to nominate members to serve upon them, for every session for the life of the its session. (Standing Order 121)
The Public Petions Committee; one of the Committee for special purposes in the Parliament of Sri Lanka, which consists of 31 members; 16 from governmental side and 15 from opposition, nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve for the particular session. At the 1st meeting of the Committee on Public Petitions the Chairman of the committee has been appointed among the 31 members.
Selection - Nomination by the Committee of Selection
Strenght - 31 members (Governmental side -16; Oppositional side -15)
Term - for the particular session
The duty of the Committee is to consider the petitions which have been referred to the Committee after presenting it to the Parliament according to the Standing Orders by the Members of Parliament. (Standing Orders 25 A (10) and 128). The quorum of the Committee is 3 members (Standing Order 128(8)). The schedule of the Committee meetings for the month is prepared in accordance with the practice, taking into consideration dates and times, the house is sitting. |
| Working methods |
Parliamentary control or oversight refers to checks on the implementations of the law by the executive. Work on Petitions Committee which scrutinize the regular work of the executive and try to give reasonable solutions to the petitioners on agreements based specially on law of equity.
When the Committee is of the view that any petition discloses an infringement of a fundamental right or other injustice by a public officer or an officer of a public corporation, local authority or other like institution, the petition either may
i. refer to the Parliament Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) (Standing Order 128-3) for investigation and report.
Or
ii. Committee itself may inquire the petition.
Inquiry by Ombudsman
After receiving Ombudsman report for the petition the Committee considers and comes to their opinion upon the conclusion of the Ombudsman and action be taken accordingly.
Inquiry by the Public Petitions Committee
The Committee sends the petition to relevant Ministry/Institution to obtain their views of the said injustice by the petitioner and after receiving their report, it sends to the petitioners for his views.
After gathering all the information the Committee starts the inquiry of the petitioner in the presence of the officials and tries to come for an agreement/settlements with the consent of the two parties. The decision arrived at the Committee is not mandatory. However if the agreeing parties not obey the agreements it could be tantamount to a breach of privileges of the Committee members.
|
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Committee reports to Parliament on its findings and recommendations, and the corresponding report is published by Parliament. |
| Relations with external bodies |
As the Committee is empowered to inquire into infringements of fundamental rights or other injustices caused by official actions of public officers, it has the power to call for reports from ministries. It has the discretion to refer cases to the Ombudsman and call for reports. |
| Subjects dealt with |
Reinstatement of officers in public service, provincial public service and statutory bodies who had been treated as having vacated their posts: Mr. W.A.D. Abeynaike, Petition N° 6752; and Mrs. T.M.S. Deepani Tennakoon, Petition N° 6900. Conferment of permanency in service: Mrs. P.k. Darlinahamy, Petition N° 6817.
Request for revocation of vacate of posts/dismissals and reinstate; denial of due promotions/due salary point; injustices caused in granting compensation for flood victims and tsunami victims; irregularities happened at interviews when granting promotion/recruitment; Land acquisition matters/Delay of granting deeds; Revocation of conditions/punishments imposed upon the finding of the disciplinary inquiries; rectification of pension rights, requests of ex-gratia allowances; environmental problems - Quarries/Construction of Highways. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Committee Office
Parliament of Sri Lanka
SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA KOTTE |
| Phone |
... |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
... |
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Mr. Mahindayapa Abeywardena |
| Notes |
President |
| Address (if different from above) |
8th Floor
Sethsiripaya
BATTARAMULLA
|
| Phone |
+94 11 288 85 02 |
| Fax |
+94 11 288 85 04 |
| E-mail |
mcanew@hotmail.com, it@cultural.gov.lk |
| Website |
www.cultural.gov.lk
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Mr. Mahesh De Silva |
| Notes |
Assistant Director (Administration) |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+94 11 277 73 02 |
| Fax |
+94 11 277 75 58
|
| E-mail |
Mahesh_d@parliament.lk, legis_copp@parliament.lk |
| web site: |
...
|
| Notes |
|
| Name |
Ms. Shyama M. Fernando |
| Notes |
Principal Officer |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+94 11 277 72 82
|
| Fax |
+94 11 277 75 58 |
| E-mail |
Shyama_f@parliament.lk, legis_copp@parliament.lk
|
| web site: |
...
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| Notes |
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