Sitting of Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1733459564028450 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
Order of business
Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.
- 1 Opening Opening of Parliament and Affirmation 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Supplementary Estimates and Notifications 1 speeches
- 3 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Standing Orders Clarifications (Vote on Account, Ministry Advisory Committees, Party Leaders' Agreement) 71 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order (Party Leaders Definition, Provincial Council System) 7 speeches
- 5 Procedural Procedural: Committee on Selection Meeting Announcement 1 speeches
- 6 Debate Debate: President's Policy Statement 11 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister moved that Parliament approve the President’s Statement of Government Policy presented on 21 November 2024, arguing that the recent electoral mandate rejected corruption, elite politics, ethno-nationalism, and abusive governance practices. She said the new Government would prioritize rule of law, public participation, transparency, evidence-based policymaking, and policy continuity to restore economic, social, and political stability. She also defended the composition of the Cabinet as scientifically structured, cost-conscious, and based on qualifications and competencies.
Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionParliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa said the Opposition would support beneficial public programmes while opposing harmful measures, and urged the Government to stop using the Prevention of Terrorism Act against civil liberties and social media activists, in line with its pledge to repeal it. He called for urgent action on MSME debt restructuring before the parate moratorium lapses, disaster relief and early warning systems, health-sector shortages, fertilizer subsidy payments, Development Officers’ grievances, rice supply stabilization, and promised fuel price reductions. He also questioned whether the Government’s commitments on revising the IMF programme, debt sustainability agreement, tax thresholds and VAT had been included in the recent Staff-Level Agreement, and demanded that it be tabled for transparency.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayathissa supported the President’s Policy Statement and emphasized that the NPP’s electoral mandate should be respected in parliamentary conduct, criticizing Opposition actions that he said disrupted agreed debate time. He outlined Government responses to recent disasters, economic difficulties, rice supply shortages, and production support for farmers and fishers, including rice imports through state channels and broader import facilitation. He detailed social protection measures, including extended Aswesuma allowances, increased benefits for poor and extremely poor households, proposed increases for elders, kidney patients and persons with disabilities, and Rs. 6,000 grants for vulnerable schoolchildren. He also said the Government would review Development Officer recruitments and would not permit a return to ethnic or religious extremism.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to concerns about suspending Standing Orders for the Vote on Account by citing precedents from 2018, 2019, and 2020 where Standing Orders 27 and/or 121 were suspended for similar business. He stated that these examples, involving previous governments and Members, should guide newer Members, and placed the relevant documents in the Library.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva referred to past instances where parliamentary procedure was bypassed, including after the 2018 constitutional crisis, during the 2019 presidential nomination period, and under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tax cuts, which he linked to the economic collapse. He urged the Government not to routinely use its two-thirds majority to suspend Standing Orders and requested more time for the Opposition to study and debate the Vote on Account, including debt servicing provisions and implications of the IMF agreement.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that extended debate was unnecessary, noting that while precedents existed, action had been taken according to the current need as clarified by the Speaker. He said the documents he tabled were only to assist Members’ understanding.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a point of order requesting that the Vote on Account documents be tabled the following day. He said this would allow Members at least one day to study the documents, echoing a request made by Hon. Harsha de Silva.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that he had already provided the relevant documents or information to Hon. Harsha de Silva.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB
AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen raised concerns about the response to recent floods in Ampara, where eight deaths occurred, stating that police barriers and timely rescue action could have prevented the tragedy. He alleged delays by the Disaster Management Centre and Navy response, police inaction, and subsequent inconvenience to victims lodging complaints, while noting that the madrasa principal had been remanded. He requested an independent investigation into the incident and the establishment of effective procedures to prevent similar tragedies.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that disaster-related matters had already been discussed and would also be taken up at the Party Leaders’ meeting. He noted that the Minister of Public Security would take note of Rishad Bathiudeen’s views and requested the Speaker to allow time for the Party Leaders’ meeting.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs said the Government would not permit actions that incite ethno-nationalism and stated that he would make a parliamentary statement the next day on arrests raised by the Opposition Leader. Responding to Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, he said the matter would be examined and noted broader issues in police stations, including what he described as 182 politically appointed OICs under the previous Government, with decisions to be taken to improve police station effectiveness and responsiveness.
- 7 Procedural Procedural: Party Leaders' Meeting Announcement and Chair Change 1 speeches
- 8 Debate Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) 83 speeches