Sitting of Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1735286612086554 ·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 Parliament Opening and Affirmation of Hon. Mohamed Nizam Kariapper 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports of Government Institutions 4 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) 93 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural Matters and Points of Order 40 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised concerns about 170 volunteer health assistants at Jaffna Teaching Hospital who, he said, had worked for three years without proper contracts or promised pay and were later prevented from returning to work despite assurances from the Health Minister. He alleged mistreatment by the hospital administrator and police when he intervened as the elected MP for Jaffna, claiming this violated his parliamentary privileges and formed part of wider corruption and abuse in the Northern and Eastern health sectors. He tabled letters from the affected workers and urged justice for them.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna alleged irregularities and political influence in the appointment of Dr. Sathyamoorthy to an administrative post at the hospital, claiming it blocked opportunities for others. He requested that the complaints he was tabling be accepted, that politically influenced appointees be removed, and that an impartial inquiry be conducted, including into matters raised at DCC meetings.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake raised a procedural objection, stating that the Member’s concerns about unfairness and opposition facilities had been recorded but that he was speaking beyond the text submitted. He asked the Speaker to direct the Member to adhere to the Standing Orders.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna requested the Speaker’s permission to briefly conclude his remarks, noting that he is a party leader.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna stated that he had been assaulted while in the Opposition Leader’s office and objected that he was unable to speak in Parliament. He said that if he was not allowed to speak, he should be told not to attend.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna stated that he and others entered Parliament with the aim of exposing corruption and said he would submit evidence of wrongdoing. Part of his remarks was ordered to be expunged.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Bimal Rathnayake stated that the question should have been submitted with prior notice to the Minister of Health, as required for urgent public questions from the Leader of the Opposition or a recognized party leader. He said the Health Minister had not received such notice, so a substantive reply could not be provided that day.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna states that he submitted the relevant item by 9:30 a.m. the previous day.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the matter could not be answered on that day and indicated that proper notice would be expected in future.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa rejected allegations made in his absence that his death threats caused a professor to leave the country and that complaints had been made about Law College examinations. He called on the Government to investigate any such threats or exam-related complaints, identify who made them and how they were communicated, and facilitate evidence from any person abroad if necessary with protection. He requested that the previous day’s statement be expunged from Hansard, arguing that unverified allegations under parliamentary privilege harm the Law College and the legal system.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe reiterated allegations concerning Hon. Namal Rajapaksa’s Law College final-year examination in 2010, stating that a complainant, Mr. Tushara Jayaratne, is expected to pursue formal proceedings and provide evidence regarding the arrangements under which the exam was taken. He also clarified remarks about a rejected postgraduate application to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, saying the alleged threat was made by the Vice Chancellor, not by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa. He called for investigations into both matters, noting that complainants and Hon. Namal Rajapaksa could give evidence.
- The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Namal Rajapaksa denied an allegation that he sat alone in an air-conditioned room and stated that he would resign from Parliament if it were proven. He called on the relevant Minister to resign if the allegation could not be proven.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe referred to ongoing investigations dating back to 2010 concerning an examination issue. He suggested that if the individual did not sit the exam alone, another person may have written the paper, noting that marks were obtained in the Commercial Law examination.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Namal Rajapaksa rejected an allegation, stating that if it were proven he had “sat alone in a room” he would resign, and otherwise the person making the claim should resign. The excerpt indicates a challenge over the veracity of a specific accusation, but provides no further context or details.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the record now shows the individual in question did not sit alone during an investigation. He demanded that the person disclose who else was present with him.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa rejected allegations relating to his legal qualifications and Law College examination matters, stating that any claims should be investigated by the Law College and reported to Parliament and the public. He said his degree was from City, University of London and asked that it be verified through the Secretary-General if necessary, while calling for investigations into any alleged threats or pressure. He argued that the issue had been politicized over many years, damaged institutions including the Law College and Parliament, and requested that the relevant remarks be expunged from the Hansard.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa set out a detailed account of his educational and professional records in response to remarks made the previous day, stating that he would table supporting documents from his schooling in Sri Lanka and the UK, his A/Level results, his LSE degree, University of Maryland postgraduate transcripts, and later Open University coursework. He denied allegations regarding false or unfavourable examination records, invited verification from the relevant institutions and examination boards, and said he was prepared to resign from Parliament, the Opposition Leadership and politics if any statement he made was proven false.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka - President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Digital Economy
AI summary Anura Kumara Dissanayaka defended the Government’s debt restructuring position and rejected claims that renewed debt payments in 2028 would lead to another bankruptcy, stating a target of USD 15.1 billion in foreign reserves by that year. He outlined revisions negotiated during the IMF third review, including PAYE tax relief, VAT exemptions for domestically produced fresh milk products, reducing the proposed services export tax from 30% to 15%, and raising withholding tax to 10% with safeguards for low-income retirees. He also announced a phased reopening of vehicle imports from December 2024 to February 2025, saying the policy was coordinated with the Central Bank to manage dollar outflows while supporting economic activity.
- The President
AI summary The President announced an agreed phased extension of the loan moratorium for SMEs, citing Rs. 1,385 billion in non-performing loans across 752,896 borrowers as of 30 September 2024, with 99% below Rs. 25 million, and said the approach seeks to balance borrower relief with protection of depositors and banking stability. The moratorium is extended to 31 March 2025, with restructuring timelines set according to loan size: up to 15 December 2025 for loans below Rs. 25 million, 15 September 2025 for Rs. 25–50 million, and 15 June 2025 for loans above Rs. 50 million, subject to borrowers indicating consent by 31 March 2025. He also outlined forthcoming Budget relief measures and related legislative needs, including the Rs. 3,000 pensioner allowance, fertilizer subsidy payments up to Rs. 25,000, fuel support for fishers, and a Rs. 6,000 school supplies allowance for children in Aswesuma beneficiary households, with an additional process to address beneficiary selection concerns.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva welcomed the President’s call for parliamentary support and emphasized that, under Article 148 of the Constitution, Parliament has full control over public finance. He thanked the Leader of the Opposition and Members for supporting his nomination to the Committee on Public Finance, noting that the Committee will consider necessary legal changes. He pledged cross-party cooperation to support national development under a new political culture.
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka requested that the Leader of the House extend the time allocated for speeches, noting that several important matters had taken up considerable parliamentary time that day. He argued this was necessary to ensure fair treatment of Members participating in the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake informed the Speaker that, following discussions with the Chief Opposition Whip, they would advise the House on the amount of additional time proposed to be allocated.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa requested that Parliament allocate additional time equivalent to the hour lost from Questions for Oral Answers due to statements being made. He argued that without compensation, Members from both sides would lose their opportunity to raise questions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake addressed the scheduling of parliamentary proceedings, noting that discussions would be held with the Opposition leadership before informing the House of any decision. He said the impact on officials, costs, and time lost due to conduct in the Chamber should be considered, and proposed using the lunch interval to consult and decide how to proceed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB
AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha raised a Point of Order under Standing Order 114, referring to the 2015 precedent of appointing an Opposition Member as Chair of COPE. He requested the President, Prime Minister, Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip to allocate the Chairs of COPE and COPA to the Opposition, citing the importance of those committees, and asked for a response from the Leader of the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated the Government’s position on parliamentary committee chairmanships, noting that COPA has been allocated to the Opposition and that Standing Orders place the Committee on Public Finance under the Opposition. He said COPE, given its mandate to examine institutional performance and past financial and administrative irregularities, should be chaired by the Government.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB
AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha argued that the Chairmanship of COPE should be given to the Opposition, noting that the committee already has a Government-side majority and that Opposition leadership would not obstruct its work. He referred to the previous practice of appointing Hon. Sunil Handunnetti as COPE Chair and urged that this tradition be continued to ensure proper oversight of government institutions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the future conduct of the person addressed would be assessed based on their actions. The remark functioned as a caution that subsequent behaviour would be subject to scrutiny or evaluation.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB
AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha stated that the President is familiar with their conduct, noting that he had worked with them over the previous five years.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that, after observing the relevant parties’ conduct, the matter would be discussed with the President.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Nihal Galappaththi JJB
AI summary Hon. Nihal Galappaththi briefly commented that media narratives are currently poor and suggested that this problem may continue in the future. No specific legislative proposal, question, or demand was raised in the excerpt.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a Point of Order addressed to the President, urging consideration of Hon. Nalin Bandara’s proposal regarding Committee Chair positions. He referred to their recent experience working together in Opposition and asked for an open-minded and positive response to the suggestion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka - The President
AI summary Anura Kumara Dissanayaka responded to the Leader of the Opposition regarding the allocation of parliamentary committee chairmanships. He stated that the Government had already decided to give the COPA Chair and the Public Finance Committee Chair to Opposition Members, while retaining the COPE Chair for the Government, describing this as a collective decision made at the outset rather than a personal position.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 5 Adjournment Adjournment Motion 1 speeches
- 6 Debate Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) 106 speeches
- 7 Procedural Procedural: Adjournment 2 speeches
- 8 Adjournment Adjournment Questions 9 speeches