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
- 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
- EDUCATIONAL ZONES IN PUTTALAM DISTRICT: SCARCITY OF TEACHERS — The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka on behalf of the Hon. Chithral Fernando
AI summary Asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to provide details on the number of National Schools and Educational Zones in the Puttalam District, and the teacher vacancies in each zone by subject. The question also sought information on what measures would be taken to provide a permanent solution to the teacher shortage in the district, or reasons if such information or action could not be provided.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya responded to a question on education staffing in Puttalam District, stating that there are eight National Schools, two Educational Zones, 179 teacher vacancies in National Schools and 1,262 in Provincial Schools, with detailed breakdowns tabled. She said around 4,500 National Colleges of Education diploma holders are expected to be appointed in January 2025, and further recruitment to vacancies arising after 30 June 2023 has Cabinet approval for 2025. She also explained that absorption of Development Officers and other graduates into the teaching service remains suspended due to a court order and lack of Public Service Commission approval for recruitment without competitive exams, while ministerial and officials’ committees are preparing recommendations for a long-term solution.
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka SJB
AI summary No substantive speech content is provided beyond the formal address to the Deputy Speaker, so no policy position, proposal, question, or argument can be summarized.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunatilleka raised concern over the reduction of preferential fixed deposit interest rates for senior citizens, noting that many retired private-sector workers depend on EPF/ETF savings interest for living expenses. He contrasted the former 15% rate with the current 7.5% and cited the Government’s policy statement promising an additional 5% above normal bank rates for senior citizens’ deposits. He asked the Leader of the House to clarify why the rate was reduced and when the promised increase would be implemented, including whether it would be addressed in the next Budget.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the proposal could be considered in the context of the upcoming Budget by the Ministry of Finance, with a more precise response to be provided at that stage. He also said the concern would be referred to the relevant Ministry.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala clarified in Parliament that, contrary to a statement by Hon. Nalin Bandara regarding the recent incident involving Development Officers in which three police officers were stabbed, the arrested individuals were not detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
- REASSESSMENT OF SECURITY PROVIDED TO FORMER PRESIDENTS: STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS — The Hon. Ananda Wijepala
AI summary The Minister stated that security for former Presidents is being reassessed under the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, which requires “adequate security” but does not prescribe numbers. He said the Government is implementing recommendations of the Chitrasiri Committee to base such security on formal threat assessments, describing the process as standardization and removal of excess personnel rather than a targeted reduction against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He detailed current security deployments and reported that Rs. 1,448 million had been spent in 2024 on security and related maintenance for former Presidents and a former First Lady, arguing that public expenditure must be aligned with assessed need.
- The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB
AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha raised a Point of Order seeking clarification from Minister Ananda Wijepala regarding an incident involving Development Officers. He questioned the Minister’s statement that they were not arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and asked who deployed an Intelligence officer alleged to have injured police officers with a blade, and what exactly occurred.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake challenged a statement by Nalin Bandara Jayamaha that certain detainees were apprehended under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, noting that the Minister of Public Security had contradicted it. He requested that the remark be withdrawn, arguing that references to PTA arrests carry international implications for Sri Lanka.
- The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB
AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said he had stated, based on information received, that certain arrests were made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He declined to withdraw the statement solely on the Minister’s assurance, saying he would verify the matter with lawyers and withdraw it the following day if investigations showed it was incorrect.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly notes that the addressee is expected to attend Parliament the following day. No substantive policy issue, legislative matter, or specific demand is raised in the statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Ananda Wijepala clarified that Development Officers were not arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and confirmed that an Army Intelligence officer taken into custody during the protest was released after a statement was recorded, as he was not linked to the stabbings. He said two suspects have been arrested over the slashing and injuring of three police officers with a sharp weapon, and further investigations are ongoing.
- 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