Sitting of Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1739261035021938 ·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: Announcements and Joint Annual General Meeting 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports Tabled (Sri Lanka Institute of Policy Studies, Ministry of Health, Department of Coast Conservation) 3 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question: Wild Elephant Detention Centre in Lunugamwehera (Q.1/2025) 6 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines Profit/Loss and Customs Operations (Q.2/2025) 11 speeches
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to provide year-by-year details of SriLankan Airlines’ profits or losses from 2015 to date, along with the reasons for those financial outcomes. He also sought information on what measures the Government intends to take to prevent the airline from continuing to incur losses.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma responded on behalf of the Finance Minister to a question on SriLankan Airlines’ financial performance, listing annual profits and losses from 2014/2015 to 2023/2024, including a Rs. 166 billion loss in 2021/2022 and a Rs. 3.87 billion profit in 2023/2024. He attributed losses to factors including mismanagement, politicization, fuel price increases, airport closure, aircraft lease cancellation costs, interest costs, the Easter attacks, COVID-19 travel restrictions, currency depreciation and economic turmoil. He stated that a Board-approved comprehensive Business Plan would be submitted to an EGM for shareholder approval, with future action to follow, and placed the detailed answer in the Library.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri referred to losses linked to aircraft procurement transactions and a profit in one year attributed to exchange gains. He asked for a briefing to the House on the immediate short- and medium-term measures being taken to sustain profitability until shareholder approval is obtained for the new plan.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning stated that preparatory measures are being taken pending shareholder approval for the relevant programme.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri asked what proposals had been put to the shareholders. The intervention appears to be a brief question seeking clarification on discussions or decisions involving shareholders.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning stated that a new Board had been appointed and asked the member to proceed with the next supplementary question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the Deputy Minister about reports that more than 200 red-labelled containers at the port had been released despite Customs’ role in screening cargo and levying duties under the Finance Ministry. He asked whether the release followed a directive from the President as Finance Minister or from the Deputy Minister, noting public allegations of political influence and concerns raised by Customs officers.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri briefly noted that the question being raised was important and timely, and requested a few seconds to address it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri questioned whether consignments were released without political influence, asking specifically if the Opposition or any other party had exerted pressure in the matter.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the information he had prepared related to SriLankan Airlines, while the question raised concerned Customs, for which he did not have details available. He added that institutions operate according to proper procedures and without political interference.
Public Finance Full speech →
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Housing Scheme Non-Completion in Vavunativu (Q.3/2025) 8 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Lands Owned by Land Reform Commission - Fraudulent Acquisition (Q.4/2025) 9 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Kinniya CEB Consumer Service Centre - Power Disconnections (Q.5/2025) 7 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat Status (Q.6/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Cess Levied on Finished Tea - Income Earned in 2024 (Q.8/2025) 7 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Lands Released from Land Reform Commission to Dharmayathana Protection Council (Q.7/2025) 6 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Rivers in Sri Lanka and Pollution Measures (Q.9/2025) 2 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Police Mounted Unit - Horses Information Tabled 1 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question by Private Notice: Issues Faced by Youth Migrated to Russia (Standing Order 27(2)) 4 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Privilege Question on Ceylon Electricity Board - Referred to Committee on Ethics and Privileges 5 speeches
- 15 Procedural Procedural: Motion on Sittings - Point of Order Raised 4 speeches
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) 72 speeches