Sri Lankan Parliament is advancing plans to create a Parliamentary Research and Studies Centre with backing from the Max Planck Foundation, with the Speaker's official residence earmarked for conversion into the facility.
Parliament is progressing with establishing a dedicated Parliamentary Research and Studies Centre, according to discussions between Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne and representatives of the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law held on Thursday. The Max Planck Foundation, which serves as a development partner to Parliament, formally presented a project proposal for the initiative during the meeting.
The proposed centre would function as Parliament's tenth department and utilise the Speaker's official residence as its location. According to the Speaker, the institution would provide comprehensive support for strengthening parliamentary functions, including training programmes for Members of Parliament, Provincial Council members, and local government representatives to enhance their policymaking abilities. The centre would also conduct policy research and analysis while enabling public participation in the legislative process through mechanisms for citizens to comment on enacted laws.
Beyond its core functions, the centre would facilitate post-legislative scrutiny to evaluate the effectiveness and real-world impact of legislation. It would additionally create opportunities for researchers and academic professionals to contribute meaningfully to parliamentary work. The Speaker emphasised the importance of studying comparable institutions, particularly India's Lok Sabha research facilities and the Westminster Parliament in the United Kingdom, when finalising the proposal.
Jayalath Perera, Director of Legislative Services and head of the oversight committee, indicated the committee expects to complete and submit its proposal within two weeks, incorporating recommendations from the Max Planck Foundation. The Foundation representatives, including Managing Director Johannes Krusemark, pledged their full support for the project.
