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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Tuesday, 17 December 2024

10th Parliament· 15 debates· 315 speeches· 101 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1734685396083959 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) 22 speeches
    • CREMATION OF COVID-19 VICTIMS: DETAILS — The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law

      AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to provide detailed information on persons whose bodies were cremated under the Government’s COVID-19 disposal policy. He requested the total number cremated and, for each deceased person, identifying details, next-of-kin information, cremation date and place, and death registration particulars including certificate number, registration date, and district. He also asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.

      HealthcarePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa responded to a question on COVID-19-related cremations, stating that 13,183 bodies were cremated following COVID-19 infection. He said personal details could not be provided under the Right to Information Act and medical ethics, and that related registration information falls under the Department of the Registrar General rather than the Ministry of Health.

      HealthcareJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised concern over the non-disclosure of statistics relating to Muslims who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the matter as highly sensitive. He argued that such information should be available and publicly released in line with WHO norms, and said relying on the RTI Act to withhold it undermines the credibility of the Ministry of Health. He requested the Government to provide accurate statistics on the issue.

      Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa addressed the controversy over COVID-19 burial and cremation decisions, stating that the former Government’s approach was unscientific and politically driven. He said patient information is protected under medical ethics and the RTI Act, but broader information should not be concealed. He emphasized that such decisions should be based on science and pledged that similar wrongs would not be allowed in future.

      HealthcareJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem questioned the Government’s refusal to disclose details of persons who died and were cremated during the previous administration, asking for the names and addresses of the deceased and their next of kin. He challenged the Minister’s claim that medical ethics prevent such disclosure and requested that any specific ethical prohibition be identified, noting that the previous Government’s forced cremation policy had been acknowledged as a mistake.

      Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa stated that personal medical information cannot be provided under medical principles. He emphasized that the refusal was based solely on confidentiality considerations and not on any other reason.

      Healthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa referred to the previous policy of forced cremations, arguing that it lacked medical basis, violated international conventions, and targeted a specific ethnic and religious community. He urged the Minister to draw the Government’s attention to providing compensation to affected families and to initiate a formal compensation programme.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB

      AI summary Acknowledged that the previous Government’s act was egregious and said the Ministry would consult the Attorney General to provide as much information as legally permissible. He stated that there was no intention to suppress information, but that disclosure must remain within the existing legal framework.

      Justice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB

      AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman sought the Speaker’s permission to make a brief clarification. No substantive issue or policy matter was raised in the quoted speech.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB

      AI summary Mujibur Rahuman questioned the appointment of Dr. Anil Jasinghe as Secretary to the Health Ministry, in the context of the former Government’s mandatory cremation policy for COVID-19 deaths despite WHO guidance. He said Dr. Jasinghe had previously described the policy as a Health Ministry decision and accepted responsibility, and asked the Minister to clarify how such an official was appointed after acknowledging the country should be ashamed of that decision.

      Corruption & Governance ReformHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB

      AI summary (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa said that the decision-making committee during the COVID-19 period was established and operated under political pressure. He argued that advice from Health Ministry officials and medical specialists was not given sufficient weight, and that scientific concerns raised by officials were overridden by higher political considerations.

      HealthcareCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya criticized the previous Government’s pandemic-era decision affecting funeral and religious practices, stating it was insensitive, cruel, and lacked scientific basis. She said the current Government would not permit decisions that disrespect any community’s traditions or protect officials who act unscientifically or oppressively. She added that the affected community deserves redress and that the Government is prepared to discuss appropriate measures without causing further trauma or politicizing the issue.

      Justice & Human RightsReligion & CultureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB

      AI summary Raising a Point of Order, Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said a past health-related decision was a wrong political decision that had resulted in a tragedy, with officials acting on the recommendations of an appointed committee. He stated that the Prime Minister and Minister of Health had addressed the matter reasonably, and pledged that the Government would take care to prevent a recurrence, intervene where possible to remedy any injustice, and assume responsibility for relevant technical aspects.

      HealthcareParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Rauff Hakeem objected to the appointment of a committee member involved in an allegedly wrongful and unscientific decision as Acting Chief Epidemiologist. He urged the Ministry of Health to avoid appointing such individuals and to conduct a departmental inquiry, with penalties for those found responsible.

      Corruption & Governance ReformHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake described the forced cremation of COVID-19 victims as a communal crime justified through misused scientific claims, causing severe distress to Muslim families and forcing some to transport bodies long distances to Ottamavadi at significant cost. He said the issue went beyond administrative action and involved political decisions, and stated that the Government would consider legal and governmental measures, within the law, to hold those responsible accountable.

      Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that officials such as Directors General and Secretaries should not merely accept committee recommendations but independently assess their accuracy. Referring to concerns raised about violations of religious and cultural practices, he requested basic aggregate statistics on affected persons and maintained that the process had targeted a community using false data. He called on the Government to initiate and lead a compensation programme for the families who suffered.

      Religion & CultureJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to concerns about compensation for families of COVID-19 victims who were forcibly cremated, noting the Minister had cited legal constraints and would seek the Attorney General’s advice. He said monetary compensation may not adequately address the pain caused, but that any committee recommendation on compensation could be considered comprehensively. He then proposed moving to the next item of business due to time constraints and prior discussion.

      Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB

      AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha requested a brief extension of speaking time from the Chair.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →