Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced plans to transform the official Speaker’s residence into a knowledge centre dedicated to empowering members of all governance levels with expertise on key national and international issues.
Speaking at a meeting held on July 7 with a delegation from the European Union at Parliament, Dr. Wickramaratne said the proposed centre will provide Members of Local Authorities, Provincial Councils, and Parliament with essential knowledge on subjects such as international relations, fiscal policy, and governance.
He revealed that the centre will eventually be developed into a national and international-level research institution, supporting both qualitative and quantitative research to strengthen governance processes.
The Speaker made these remarks during discussions with Dr. Jonathan Murphy, Head of the Inter Pares global project implemented by the EU, and Ms. Ingrid Walker, Programme Manager of Inter Pares. The meeting was also attended by Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera and Assistant Secretary General Mr. Hansa Abeyratne.
The EU delegation was in Sri Lanka for the opening day of a four-day programme organised under the Inter Pares Global project to strengthen parliamentary capacity. The initiative aims to equip the Sri Lankan Parliament with knowledge to enhance legislative, oversight, financial, and administrative functions while enabling experience sharing with international counterparts.
During the meeting, the Speaker also briefed the delegation on the activities of key parliamentary committees such as the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). He stated that, in addition to current technical assistance, legal support is also being obtained for these committees to function effectively.
Dr. Wickramaratne stressed that Parliament is committed to making accurate decisions to accelerate national development while taking strict action against corruption.
The EU delegation is scheduled to meet heads of various departments and divisions of Parliament until July 11 to continue their engagements and knowledge exchange initiatives.
