Sitting of Thursday, 23 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 Parliament Opening and Announcements 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Committee report Committee Report: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 4 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

     AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on import/export control regulations, a Strategic Development Projects Act notification, and a Ports and Airports Development Levy order. He noted action to resolve discrepancies between food import standards and Consumer Affairs Authority standards, and raised concerns about inconsistent paddy and rice production data used to justify rice import decisions, asking the Agriculture and Finance Ministries to examine the matter, including claims of missing or hoarded rice stocks. He also stated that the Committee approved measures under the Sri Lanka–Singapore FTA to phase down the Ports and Airports Development Levy over five years, in line with the Government’s stated position.

     Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Full speech →
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB

     AI summary The Minister responded to concerns raised by Hon. Harsha de Silva regarding rice data, stating that some figures cited were inaccurate, including the claim that one million metric tons of rice were missing. He acknowledged that the Maha harvest was lower than previously stated and said he would provide factual details and outline Government measures to address data-related issues during the debate.

     AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

     AI summary Clarified to the Minister that he had not personally alleged that one million metric tons was missing, but had only relayed information that had been stated to him.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

     AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe corrected a prior statement, asserting that Sri Lanka has never recorded a 4.9 million metric ton Maha harvest. He affirmed that the referenced figure was incorrect.

     Agriculture Full speech →
3. 3 Oral question Oral Question No. 1 – 103/2024: Bingiriya Export Processing Zone Infrastructure Facilities 8 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question No. 3 & 4 – 149/2024 & 176/2024: Bank of Ceylon Financial Status and Performance 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Family Medicine Specialist Training Stream 4 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Disposal of the Dead Due to COVID-19 During 2019–2022 7 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Educational Reforms and Student Welfare Programmes 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: IMF-related Economic Measures and Vehicle Imports Policy 7 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Vehicle Assignments to Government Members 13 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Olcott Mawatha Traders and Floating Market 6 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Fuel Imports (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene and Crude Oil) 2 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Palpola Interchange on Southern Expressway 2 speeches ▸
13. 13 Procedural Chair Change: Deputy Speaker Takes Chair 1 speeches ▸
14. 14 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Delay in Issuing Passports 3 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Matter of Privilege: Non-Allocation of Time to Speak in Parliament 15 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Motion: Sittings of Parliament 1 speeches ▸
17. 17 Debate Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures 62 speeches ▸
18. 18 Procedural Motions: Strategic Development Projects and Ports Authority Regulations 3 speeches ▸
19. 19 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka 27 speeches ▸