Press Release on the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport

Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport focus on the possibility of setting up an agency to regulate the transport of goods and services by inland waterways

• The Committee inquire regarding the non-operation of the advanced water transportation system that existed in this country before the colonial era form officials.

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport drew its attention to the possibility of setting up an agency to regulate the transport of goods and services by inland waterways.

Attention was drawn to the said when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport met in Parliament recently (09) under the Chairmanship of its Chairman, Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda Member of Parliament.    

The discussion on this was done according to a proposal presented by the Hon. Madhura Withanage, Member of Parliament to the Committee. The Committee pointed out that although there had been discussions on how to carry out transportation through waterways for a long time, no formal system had been prepared for this. Furthermore, since Sri Lanka is an island, transportation by waterways can be encouraged as a remedy to reduce the traffic congestion during the period when office services start in the morning around the city of Colombo.

Furthermore, the Committee inquired from the officials regarding the non-operation of the advanced water transportation system that existed in this country before the colonial era and the Chair of the Committee Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda pointed out that it is important to prepare a suitable system for this purpose. As a result, the Committee Chair instructed the officials that it is important to establish an institution to regulate the transport of goods and services through inland waterways and to take necessary steps for that purpose. The Chair also instructed the officials to inform the Committee regarding the progress on the said within a month.

Apart from this, the written submissions received for the newspaper advertisements published to seek “Ideas and proposals to overcome the backwardness of the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka” and “Ideas and proposals on energy security in Sri Lanka” were also discussed.

State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Committee Members Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Udayakantha Gunathilaka, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena and Hon. Madhura Withanage were present at the Committee meeting held.