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 ▸
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 ▾
   • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

     AI summary From 2019 to 23 December 2023, 3,154 families were identified across 14 landslide-risk districts, with Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle most affected; 264 families remain in temporary housing, including 128 staying with relatives or friends. The Deputy Minister cited legal, socio-economic, land availability, tenure, programme and funding constraints as reasons for delays in providing alternative housing or land. He stated that amendments to the Disaster Management Act are being prepared, grants for land and housing are proposed to be increased subject to Cabinet approval, and Rs. 79 million was allocated in 2024 for infrastructure on state lands. He also outlined plans to strengthen early warning, coordinated disaster management mechanisms, restrictions on future development in high-risk zones, and action against activities contributing to landslide risk.

     Public FinanceLand & HousingEnvironment Full speech →
   • The Hon. Ravindra Bandara

     AI summary Ravindra Bandara highlighted prolonged displacement in landslide-prone areas of Haputale, including families from Kabaragala and Kalifana living in temporary accommodation for one to two years. He asked the Deputy Minister to address delays caused by NBRO clearance requirements and proposed pre-identifying suitable state or LRC lands in advance, with prior technical assessments, to expedite resettlement after future disasters.

     EnvironmentLand & HousingInfrastructure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera JJB

     AI summary The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera acknowledged the Member’s technical point and said data collection is underway with input from the National Building Research Organisation. He stated that national-level structural changes are being proposed to incorporate the relevant mechanism, and that the Member’s suggestions are included in that approach.

     Infrastructure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Ravindra Bandara

     AI summary Ravindra Bandara alleged that state lands are being illegally misused with political patronage and requested information from the Lands Ministry on such cases. He welcomed the proposed increases in housing-related grants but asked whether compensation for deaths caused by recent incidents such as elephant attacks and landslides has also been increased.

     Land & HousingCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
   • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera JJB

     AI summary Compensation for deaths from crocodile attacks or human-elephant conflict is currently Rs. 1 million, while disaster-related deaths are compensated at Rs. 250,000 under existing law. A Cabinet paper has been submitted to raise disaster-death compensation to Rs. 1 million, with funding to be allocated in the next Budget if approved.

     Public FinanceLaw & Order Full speech →
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 ▸