High Commission of India
Colombo

  PRESS RELEASE

Visit of Sri Lankan Parliamentary Officials to India (24-28 August 2026)

A 26-member delegation of Sri Lankan Parliamentary Officials, led by Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, visited India from 24-28 August 2026 to participate in a Capacity Building Programme organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi. The initiative is aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and providing Sri Lankan Parliamentary officials with greater exposure to the functioning and practices of the Indian Parliament.

2. The five-day programme commenced with a welcome and orientation session, followed by detailed briefings on the organizational structure of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the functioning of its Administration Branch. Participants were also familiarized with the various services provided to Members of Parliament, including the roles of the Members’ Services, Members’ Services Allowances and Welfare Branches. Sessions on parliamentary privileges and ethics provided further insights into the institutional framework governing parliamentary functioning.

3. The programme also covered the role and functions of Parliamentary Committees in ensuring executive accountability, as well as the functioning and management of Committee Secretariats and Branches. Participants were briefed on International Parliamentary Relations and Protocol, and were provided an overview of Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) in the Indian Parliament. Other sessions focused on the role and powers of Presiding Officers in legislatures and the preparation and management of the Secretariat’s budget, including the functioning of the Integrated Finance Unit (IFU) and Budget and Parliament (B&P) Branches.

4. As part of the programme, the officials visited the Parliament Library Building and Parliament House, including the Chambers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. The delegation also undertook a visit to Agra, where they visited the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, as well as local sightseeing in Delhi, providing an opportunity for cultural familiarization alongside the capacity building component of the programme.

5. The programme was organized under the enhanced capacity building framework announced by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, whereby 700 customized slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals. The programme further reaffirms the enduring ties between two strong democracies, strengthening parliamentary cooperation and sharing institutional experiences.

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 Colombo
31 August 2026