Sitting of Tuesday, 17 December 2024
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1734685396083959 ·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: Parliament Meeting, Affirmations, and Speaker's Election 35 speeches
- Mr. Deputy Speaker - Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih
AI summary Parliament convened at 9.30 a.m. with Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih, Deputy Speaker, presiding in the Chair. No substantive debate or policy statement was recorded in this excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Mohomed Faiszer Musthapha
AI summary Hon. Mohomed Faiszer Musthapha made and subscribed the affirmation required by law and signed the parliamentary register at the Table.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe made and subscribed the Affirmation required by law and signed the Book at the Table.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Muhammedu Ismail Muththu Muhammedu
AI summary Hon. Muhammedu Ismail Muththu Muhammedu made and subscribed the legally required Affirmation on 17 December 2024 and signed the Book at the Table.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan made and subscribed the Affirmation required by law and signed the Book at the Table.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Presidential Secretariat (letter read by the Secretary-General)
AI summary The Secretary-General read a letter from the Presidential Secretariat informing Parliament that Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala had submitted his resignation from the Office of Speaker with effect from 13 December 2024. The letter stated that the President had accepted the resignation from the same date.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala, MP (letter to the President; read) JJB
AI summary Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala informed the President in writing that he was resigning from the Office of Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The resignation took effect on 13 December 2024.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya formally proposed the name of Hon. Jagath Wickramaratne, Member of Parliament, for election to the Office of Speaker of the Tenth Parliament. The intervention was a procedural nomination made during parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake seconded the Prime Minister’s proposal nominating Hon. Jagath Wickramaratne, MP, as suitable for the office of Speaker of the Tenth Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB
AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya congratulated the newly appointed Speaker of the Tenth Parliament, noting his political experience, district representation, and suitability for the office. She expressed confidence that he would uphold the decorum and standards expected by the public and wished him success in carrying out his duties.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Rauff Hakeem congratulated the newly elected Speaker on behalf of the Opposition and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, emphasizing the Speaker’s role in safeguarding Members’ rights and maintaining impartiality, decorum, and parliamentary traditions. He noted that the recent need to elect a new Speaker showed the importance of accountability, institutional safeguards, and the media’s role in good governance, while also acknowledging the former Speaker’s resignation in response to criticism. He urged that parliamentary conduct allow those facing criticism to vindicate themselves through proper conduct in the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka congratulated the newly appointed Speaker on behalf of the Opposition, including the Leader of the Opposition. He expressed the hope that the Speaker would serve all Members equally, protect parliamentary decorum, and uphold the new political culture expected by the public.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan congratulated the Speaker on behalf of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the Tamil Progressive Alliance, and the Opposition. He emphasized Sri Lanka’s ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity and urged the Speaker to protect all Members equally and provide fair opportunities to both Government and Opposition.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB
AI summary Rishad Bathiudeen, speaking on behalf of the Opposition and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, congratulated the newly elected Speaker. He noted the Speaker’s election by the ruling party’s large parliamentary majority and his professional background as a medical doctor, and expressed the expectation that the Speaker would act fairly and respect all Members and parties in the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa congratulated the newly appointed Speaker and emphasized the Speaker’s responsibility to uphold the rights of all Members, ensure equal treatment in the Chamber, and strengthen democratic practice. He referred to the Opposition’s previous No-Confidence Motion against the former Speaker and expressed hope that such action would not be necessary again, stressing the need for a stable country with a strong Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Namal Rajapaksa congratulated the newly appointed Speaker on behalf of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and its Parliamentary Group, wishing him success in his role. He urged the Speaker to act impartially, protect the privileges of all Members, and uphold the dignity of Parliament, particularly in light of recent issues affecting confidence in the House and the Office of the Speaker.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake congratulated the newly elected Speaker and urged him to restore decorum in Parliament. He pledged support from Members of Parliament and conveyed best wishes on behalf of the United National Party and the NDF.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman congratulated the Speaker on behalf of the Hill Country Tamils and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress. He wished the Speaker strength and wisdom to conduct proceedings fairly during Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and in the context of a large single-party parliamentary majority, and pledged full support.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC
AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam congratulated the new Speaker while stressing that the role requires impartiality beyond party mandate, especially given the Government’s two-thirds majority. He urged the Speaker to avoid the shortcomings of the previous Parliament by ensuring minor parties receive adequate opportunities and by interpreting Standing Orders flexibly and progressively. He said the Tamil National People’s Front would extend its fullest support if the Speaker acts fairly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna congratulated the newly elected Speaker, noting their shared professional background. He expressed hope that the Speaker would act appropriately in serving both the Government and Opposition parties in Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB
AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera congratulated the new Speaker and urged him to act independently while preserving the dignity and traditions of Parliament. He proposed that professional titles such as “Doctor” and “Professor” be omitted when Members are formally addressed or called to speak in the Chamber, arguing that this would support egalitarian parliamentary practice and avoid social divisions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary On behalf of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam congratulated the newly elected Speaker. He urged the Speaker to act impartially, protect the privileges and safety of all Members including the Opposition and ITAK, and ensure equal treatment of Members in carrying out their parliamentary duties.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 2 Papers Papers: Auditor-General's Report and Reports Tabled 10 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) 7 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: White Onion Fraud and Trade Ministry Investigation (Q.52/2024) 45 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Ungazetted Livestock Grasslands in Batticaloa District (Q.64/2024) 26 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: IMF Delegation Expenses in Washington DC (Q.96/2024) 11 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Wayamba University Faculties Details (Q.106/2024) 10 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) 22 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Questions: Paddy Stocks, Fuel Price Revisions, and Teacher Scarcity (Q.11, Q.12, Q.10/2024) 5 speeches
- 11 Procedural Procedural: Ministerial Statement and Points of Order 14 speeches
- 12 Procedural Procedural: Personal Explanation and Suspension Order Motions 4 speeches
- 13 Debate Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) 68 speeches
- 14 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement 50 speeches
- 15 Adjournment Adjournment: Parliament Adjourned 1 speeches