The three sub-committees were appointed when the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation met in Parliament on 24.01.2025 under the chairmanship of the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament, Bimal Ratnayake.
The first Ministerial Consultative Committee of the first session of the Tenth Parliament was held with the participation of 60 Members of Parliament, including Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena. 40 officials from relevant government institutions were also present at this meeting.
Accordingly, a subcommittee has been appointed to ensure the occupational safety of professionals associated with the transport industry, with the membership of Members of Parliament Jagath Withana, Dinidu Saman and Devananda Suraweera.
It has been decided to appoint another subcommittee under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Lakmali Hemachandra and with the membership of Members of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Thanura Dissanayake and Sujeewa Dissanayake, to steer the transport sector in a positive direction by strengthening the legal framework related to the transport sector.
Similarly, with the aim of generating revenue through the creation of additional services related to the transport industry, another sub-committee has been appointed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe and with the membership of the Hon. Members of Parliament Ravindra Bandara and Dhanushka Ranganath.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Ratnayake emphasized that the committees will operate without political divisions and that the existing problems should be identified and solutions should be sought together with the support of all Members of Parliament. Accordingly, he proposed to appoint three sub-committees that would be responsible to the Ministerial Consultative Committee and that could work in this regard. It was also emphasized that the rights, problems and welfare of employees working in the transport, highways, ports and civil aviation sectors should be addressed.
The meeting provided a platform for Members of Parliament to raise several issues, including vacancies within the Sri Lanka Transport Board. Practical steps to address these vacancies were discussed. Also, the Railway Department officials expressed their views and said that in addition to the existing facilities for the disabled, further measures will be taken in the future.
Mr. Jayalath Perera, Director of Legislative Services and Acting Director of Communications, also participated in the meeting and provided an overview of the role and functions of the Ministerial Consultative Committees, enhancing the understanding among the attendees.
