Sitting of Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1737023464031571 ·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 Message from President 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented 6 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question: Clean Sri Lanka Programme and Related Questions to Prime Minister 26 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act 26 speeches
- 5 Procedural Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Question and Exemption Motion 4 speeches
- 6 Debate Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation 18 speeches
- The Hon. (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary Hon. Harini Amarasuriya informed the House that Items 1 and 5 on the Order Paper would not be moved that day. She presented Items 2, 3, 4 and 6 for approval.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary Harini Amarasuriya moved for parliamentary approval of an Order made under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2389/08 and presented on 7 January 2025, with Cabinet approval noted. She also moved approval of related Orders under the Payments and Settlements Systems Act, the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, and the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, before opening the debate and calling on Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe supported presenting several Gazette orders and regulations for parliamentary approval, noting that many originated under the previous Cabinet but must now be approved within statutory timelines. He attributed the economic crisis to past revenue cuts, weak tax collection, corruption, and borrowing, while stating that tax and revenue adjustments under the IMF programme must be phased and transparently implemented. On the specific measures, he backed import controls to strengthen standards and anti-dumping protections for domestic industry, supported gradual liberalization of foreign exchange repatriation limits up to USD 500,000, and highlighted the need to regulate informal remittance channels such as hawala/hundi due to foreign exchange and anti-money-laundering concerns.
- The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that no institution had voluntarily registered under the relevant process, prompting inquiries with the Central Bank about its practicality. He also said that an Order to amend tariff lines under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, linked to the Sri Lanka–Singapore Free Trade Agreement and a decision of the previous Government, would not be presented to Parliament that day. He explained that the new Government’s policy is to analyse the Sri Lanka–Singapore FTA and other trade agreements under discussion before proceeding.
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim briefly sought permission from the Deputy Minister to intervene during the proceedings. No substantive policy point, proposal, or question was recorded in this excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned the Government on delays to the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, noting that it had undergone extensive study and was considered advantageous to Sri Lanka. He asked why the agreement was being held up despite being simpler than the proposed ETCA, and sought the Government’s position on both trade agreements.
- The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Government supports free trade agreements but intends to review existing agreements to ensure Sri Lanka has the industrial and product development strategies needed to benefit from them. Referring to the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, he said industry concerns include rules of origin and value addition, given Singapore’s role as a trading hub, and said the Agreement would be reviewed rather than rejected. On ETCA, he noted past concerns over the 2018 proposal and said negotiations with India would begin to address such issues, including restrictions on labour mobility and professional access.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary Chathuranga Abeysinghe noted that casino regulation had been discussed the previous day and sought a brief opportunity to address the matter further. His remarks indicate continued attention to regulatory issues concerning casinos, though the excerpt provides no specific proposal or position.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim’s recorded intervention consists only of addressing the Deputy Minister, with no substantive remarks, questions, proposals, or arguments provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister requested permission to conclude his remarks, addressing an Hon. Member during the proceedings. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in the quoted statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim spoke in relation to the Casino Business (Regulation) Bill, addressing the need for a clear regulatory framework for casino operations. He focused on the policy and legislative context of regulating the sector, including oversight and compliance requirements.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that he would provide clarification on the matter under discussion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim noted that Harsha de Silva continues as Chair of the Public Finance Committee and reiterated the position that a regulatory authority should be established before any licence is accepted. He questioned why the Government had still not appointed such an authority despite three months having passed.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister responded that the Government should not be blamed immediately, noting that a committee discussion had taken place and that Hon. Harsha de Silva had highlighted long-standing requests from public officials for a Bill to establish a regulatory body for casinos. He said conditional approval was granted because casinos currently exist without a proper authority or law to regulate them, and stated that the new Government would intervene while not accepting responsibility for prior administrative delays.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the proposed regulation concerning the Colombo Port City Commission, stating that it is needed to improve the quality of the 68 ongoing developments and should be adopted. He said the Government would continue bringing necessary regulations to strengthen the National People’s Power’s economic policy, in response to the economic policy failures for which the electorate had mandated change.
- 7 Debate Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) 31 speeches
- 8 Procedural Sitting Suspension for Lunch 1 speeches
- 9 Debate Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) 88 speeches
- 10 Debate Motions: Approval of Regulations under Payment Systems Act, Casino Business Regulation, and Colombo Port City Economic Commission 3 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment and Adjournment Questions 10 speeches