Sitting of Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1733893521018713 ·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 Papers Papers: Regulation by Minister of Education (Gazette No. 2411/59) 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Performance Report of Legal Aid Commission Department 2023 2 speeches
- 3 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Arrests for Spreading False Information on Social Media 48 speeches
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala stated that recent arrests were made in response to alleged social media disinformation that used old or foreign images to falsely portray LTTE-related commemorations in Sri Lanka in 2024 and incite communal tensions. He said the Government recognizes the right to remember deceased relatives but will not permit displays of LTTE symbols, noting that Police recorded 244 Maaveerar events in the North, with legal action taken in a small number involving LTTE-related symbols. He outlined arrests in Chunnakam, Baddegama, Maradana and Boralesgamuwa, saying investigations indicated a coordinated political effort to mislead the public and create ethnic discord.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that he wished to seek a brief clarification regarding a statement made by the Minister. No substantive issue or specific question is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Moved and obtained approval for a suspension of Standing Order 88 to set the day’s sitting hours from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The motion also provided for Standing Order 8(5) to operate at 5.30 p.m. and for the Speaker to adjourn Parliament at 9.30 p.m. without putting the question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara said the Government’s electoral mandate reflects public demand for a new political culture, rule of law, action against corruption, and national reconciliation. He stated that the Government would prioritize social cohesion, reject racist and religious extremist politics, and protect dignified remembrance and freedom of expression while preventing incitement. He said the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be repealed and replaced with a counter-terrorism law aligned with international best practices, with existing laws used in the interim to curb racism, religious hatred, and extremism.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara thanked Kurunegala voters and said his alliance with the SJB was based on a centrist political position, while congratulating the President and Government on their mandate. He argued that the collapse of traditional parties resulted from outdated ideology, family control, corruption, and failure to renew leadership, and traced the NPP’s rise to public rejection of those trends after 2014 and successive government failures. He said the Opposition would support the Government where appropriate, but urged it to avoid arrogance, prosecute actual corruption without branding all MPs as thieves, and reconcile its earlier pledges on perks, family politics, and constitutional limits on removing former presidential benefits. He also questioned emerging “crony politics,” campaign financing links, claims about recovering funds from Uganda, and the Government’s position on debt sustainability and the IMF framework.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to the Deputy Minister speaking during his allotted time. He requested that the Deputy Minister use his own speaking time instead.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe clarified two points after his name was mentioned in the debate: that his father is Hon. Nihal Abeysinghe, and that the Government’s policy on the Debt Sustainability Analysis is to present and discuss an updated approach. He emphasized that there had been no statement suggesting an arbitrary change to the DSA.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara endorsed the President’s call to reject racism, stating that those who incite racism should not be excused. He also said all communities have the right to commemorate their dead, but argued that the law must be applied uniformly across the country. He questioned why cases in the South were being filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act while similar matters in the North were handled under the Penal Code, calling for consistency in legal treatment.
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB
AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath raised a point of order following a statement by the Minister of Public Security, saying questions should be taken at the appropriate stage of that item rather than intermittently. He urged that proceedings continue according to parliamentary rules, with the Speaker making the final decision.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to the manner in which the Speaker was addressed, saying parliamentary decorum requires Members not to tell the Speaker to “go ahead.” He emphasized that any Member has the right to seek clarifications on a Ministerial Statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Prosecutions are initiated by the Police, and the Minister stated that officers are being allowed to act independently without political direction. He said decisions on the applicable law in each case are made by investigators, not by the Minister.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned the selective use of legal provisions, asking why the Penal Code is applied in the North while the Prevention of Terrorism Act is used in the South. He urged the Minister to obtain proper legal advice before filing cases, noting the presence of lawyer Harshana Nanayakkara.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Only a limited number of cases are referred by the Police to the Attorney-General for advice, typically when necessary or where uncertainty exists. The Minister stated that he cannot direct the Police or the Attorney-General on what advice should be sought, and noted that if Police make errors, available remedies include human rights and other legal mechanisms rather than ministerial intervention.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to what he characterized as arbitrary police action, arguing that the matter concerned communal harmony rather than an ordinary criminal complaint. He urged that law enforcement handle such issues carefully and not in a manner that could undermine social cohesion.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned the Government’s claims on fuel and electricity costs, stating that high taxes on petrol and diesel, including VAT, were contributing significantly to prices. He called for reductions in these taxes and for the Government to deliver promised relief. He also welcomed the President’s “Clean Sri Lanka” vision and proposed a national public sanitation system and more urban green spaces.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister said the NPP’s mandate reflects public demand for economic reform after mismanagement, exclusion of citizens from economic activity, and failures in state enterprises such as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. He argued that tourism can help rebuild the economy by using Sri Lanka’s coastline, wildlife, forests, and cultural heritage while linking village craftsmen, farmers, and other ordinary citizens to the tourism value chain. Referring to Thailand’s long-term planning and Sri Lanka’s slower progress, he criticized past patronage and corrupt practices in the sector and stated that the Government has prepared a National Tourism Policy to guide future development.
- Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe outlined the National People’s Power tourism policy, emphasizing a participatory and sustainable model that includes small operators and protects cultural and natural resources such as Yala and Mirissa. He said tourism should generate short-term foreign exchange, targeting over two million arrivals and USD 3 billion in 2024, rising to five million arrivals and USD 5 billion in 2025, with a longer-term goal of a USD 10 billion tourism economy by 2030. He criticized frequent changes to Sri Lanka’s tourism branding and proposed a unified national branding campaign covering tourism, gems, tea, heritage and natural assets, supported by strategic reforms including amendments to the Tourism Act and coordination across relevant institutions.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Ananda Wijepala raised a point of order responding to Dayasiri Jayasekara’s claim that different laws were applied to arrests in the North and South. He said he had consulted the Inspector-General of Police, who stated that the relevant matters in the North were handled under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and argued that Jayasekara’s claim was false and inflammatory.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a point of order, noting that a Minister had mentioned his name.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara rejected an allegation by Minister Ananda Wijepala that he had engaged in racist politics, stating that he had never stood on a racist platform. He also referred to Wijepala’s remarks on non-interference with police duties and noted that actions taken by Wijepala as Secretary to the former Anti-Corruption Committee under Anura Dissanayake are currently before the courts.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly addressed the Chair, stating only that he was speaking to the Speaker. No substantive policy issue, proposal, question, or demand was raised in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned whether he was being permitted to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in this brief intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake urged that the exchange following Dayasiri Jayasekara’s statement be brought to a close, noting that the Minister had already obtained information from the IGP and responded to the House. He asked that further debate not be permitted and called on Jayasekara to respect the Chair’s ruling to avoid prolonging the matter.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara briefly intervened to state that he wished to clarify a matter under discussion. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is contained in the provided text.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake questioned why Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara was being afforded special privilege. The intervention appears to raise a procedural or fairness concern regarding the conduct of parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that the matter raised does not constitute a parliamentary privilege issue. No further substantive argument, proposal, or request was presented.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that parliamentary seniority or the number of years served should not be treated as the decisive measure of a Member’s value or credibility. He referred to a Member who had served for 24 years to emphasize that length of service alone should not be the basis for expectations or judgments.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to a statement made in the House, alleging it was false, communal in nature, and contrary to Standing Orders. He requested the Speaker to intervene and disallow such remarks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a procedural objection concerning order in Parliament, stating that the Leader of the House was unable to control proceedings. He requested the Speaker’s intervention and asked to be given the microphone, emphasizing that the matter was serious.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara reminded the Speaker of his authority over parliamentary proceedings and asked him to decide whether Jayasekara should be given the microphone.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara made a brief procedural intervention, seeking permission to make a statement. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to being called a racist, noting that the matter in question was before court and asking that the statement be withdrawn. He said his point was that police should seek advice from the Attorney-General’s Department when filing cases in both the North and South, and argued that proper legal decision-making is needed to end racism.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to instructions being given by Minister Ananda Wijepala, stating that directions should come from the President rather than from the Minister. The intervention was brief and procedural in nature.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 4 Debate Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate 95 speeches
- 5 Procedural Motion on the Government's Policy Statement - Agreed Unanimously 1 speeches
- 6 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Compensation for Damaged Crops and Victims of Adverse Weather (Cyclone Fengal) 59 speeches