Sitting of Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Order of business

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

1. 1 Opening Opening: Announcements and Parliamentary Staff Introductions 21 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Tabling of Annual Reports and Regulations 5 speeches ▸
3. 3 Committee report Committee Report: Public Finance Committee on Mid-Year Fiscal Position 3 speeches ▸
4. 4 Opening Opening Statement: Leader of the Opposition 1 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Government Hospitals in Puttalam District Vacancies (Q.132/2024) 9 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Maharagama Multi-purpose Co-operative Societies (Q.233/2024) 5 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB

     AI summary The Minister provided figures on financial co-operative societies, stating that 4,981 are operating under Provincial Councils and line ministries, including 1,244 in the Western Province. He confirmed that the Maharagama Co-operative Rural Bank is under the Western Provincial Co-operative Development Commissioner and said depositors have faced withdrawal difficulties due to a financial crisis, with inquiries underway under the relevant Western Provincial statute and by the FCID. He outlined remedial steps including appointing departmental officers to the Board, taking legal action to recover loans, approving the disposal of 12 properties, arranging sales of two lands, and releasing Rs. 100 million to depositors, including full payment of accounts below Rs. 5,000 and 10 per cent payments to others as at 31 August 2024.

     Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
   • The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB

     AI summary Hon. Dewananda Suraweera raised concerns about alleged large-scale theft and fraud in multi-purpose co-operative societies in Colombo District, particularly Maharagama, where he said Rs. 1 billion affecting 33,000 depositors is at issue. He said many depositors, including elderly people who used rural banks for savings, are in financial distress, and questioned the slow progress of inquiries by the Commissioner’s offices. He also argued that proposals to sell society properties would be inadequate, as the limited land available would recover only a small portion of the losses.

     Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

     AI summary The Minister said the Ministry is receiving many complaints about lending co-operative societies, including cases in several areas where large deposits have not been repaid, and identified legal gaps in accountability when deposits are misused. He stated that the Commissioner is using existing powers to appoint boards, manage assets and make limited repayments, but that stronger legal reforms are needed. He announced that no further lending societies will be registered under the Co-operative Development Department and said urgent inquiries, audits and legal action will be pursued to protect affected depositors, many of whom are pensioners and retirees.

     Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
   • The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB

     AI summary Hon. Dewananda Suraweera questioned whether continued sale of the society’s properties could realistically repay depositors, noting that two land sales had yielded only about 10 per cent of the Rs. 1 billion owed and that four more sales would add only around 5 per cent. He asked what would happen to depositors and the society after the remaining lands were exhausted, and called for an immediate halt to the sale of these public assets.

     Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

     AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that, in response to concerns raised by a Member, the management board of the relevant society would be urgently summoned to review its decisions and current status. He assured Parliament that the Government would intervene to ensure depositors are not disadvantaged and would report back on the matter.

     EducationParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Bandaragama Central Secondary School Development (Continuation of earlier question) 5 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Economic Projections and Key Development Sectors (Q.234/2024) 7 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Landslide Risk Districts and Disaster Compensation (Q.235/2024) 5 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Software System for Management of Medicine Stocks (Q.236/2024) 7 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Government and Private Hospitals Shortage of Medicines and Equipment (Q.238/2024) 7 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Proposed Flyover over Kirulapona Junction Funding (Q.242/2024) 7 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: Persons Responsible for Easter Attack Prosecution (Q.251/2024) 5 speeches ▸
14. 14 Oral question Oral Question: Death of Pigs Due to Epidemic Disease and Procedural Matters (Q.187/2024) 20 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Procedural: Amendment to Sitting Hours and Adjournment Motion 3 speeches ▸
16. 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 100 speeches ▸
17. 17 Oral question Oral Question: Proposed Domestic Airport in Digana Area (Q. unspecified) 2 speeches ▸