Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Defence, I reply as follows: (a) (i) Action is being taken pursuant to Cabinet decision No. AMP/25/1780/803/050 dated 2025.10.08. (ii) In terms of the Explosives Act, No. 21 of 1956 and its amendments, and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder, storage and issuance of explosives are carried out under Circular 01/2024 issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence acting as Controller of Explosives. The details are set out in Annex 01. (iii) For the purposes of the Act, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence functions as Controller of Explosives. For the purposes of the Act, each Additional Secretary and a Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry have been appointed as Deputy Controllers of Explosives, and each Assistant Secretary as an Assistant Controller of Explosives. Additionally, for implementation, officers appointed as Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers perform duties under the Act. Every police officer not below the rank of Sergeant is empowered to act as an Explosives Inspector for the purposes of the Act. (iv) Yes. Assistant Controllers of Explosives have been assigned to districts; at present 13 officers cover the entire island. Their duties are shown in Annex 02. A Deputy Controller has been appointed to supervise these officers; his duties appear at Annex 03. (v) There is no designation titled “Controller of Fireworks.” (vi) Not applicable. (vii) Does not arise. (b) (i) As at 2025.11.30: - Licences for import of explosives: 58 - Licences for other suppliers: 514 - Explosives permits: 1,355 - Fireworks manufacturing licences: 232 - Explosives manufacturing licences: 08 - Matchbox manufacturing permits: 12 (ii) Storage and issuance are carried out under the Explosives Act, No. 21 of 1956 (as amended), the Regulations and Orders made thereunder, and Circular 01/2024 issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence acting as Controller of Explosives. The functions and procedures are detailed in Annex 01. (iii) Yes. (iv) As at present, there are 33 explosives stores under direct police guard; in each such store, day-and-night security is provided under the supervision of a police officer not below the rank of Sergeant/Sub-Inspector, with a police beat post established at the premises. In addition, 2,179 stores maintained by licence/permit holders are under the supervision of the nearest police station. (v) Locations maintained by permit and licence holders are kept under their custody, with stores constructed at a location more secure than both the worksite and residence, and supervised by the nearest police station. (vi) The quantities issued at a time are determined by Assistant Controllers after field inspections, considering the quantities applied for, the facilities and manpower of licence/permit holders, and the conditions of other permits/approvals. This is done under the supervision of the relevant District Secretary. (c) Not applicable. - Annexes 01, 02, 03 and 04 were laid on the Table. - Placed in the Library.