Sitting of Wednesday, 5 February 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: Parliament Meeting and Presidential Message 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Auditor-General's Reports - Printing Order 1 speeches ▸
3. 3 Procedural Procedural: Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Supreme Court Determination Status 13 speeches ▸
4. 4 Papers Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders 11 speeches ▸
5. 5 Petitions Petitions: Three Petitions Presented 3 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) 7 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Coconut Production Decline (Q.290/2024) 10 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Export Growth and Economic Competitiveness (Q.292/2024) 11 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Electricity Act Amendments (Q.293/2024) 7 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: People's Bank - Corporate Governance and Operations (Q.294/2024) 9 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: UDA Housing Units and Deed Distribution (Q.295/2024) 13 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: COVID-19 Health Guidelines (Q.249/2024) 2 speeches ▸
14. 14 Procedural Procedural: Privilege Questions and Sitting Time Motion 26 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Procedural: Sitting Time Amendment Motion 1 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Procedural: Committee Composition and Debate Commencement 5 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary The speech supported parliamentary approval of an Order under the Foreign Exchange Act and Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, describing them as temporary measures to protect reserves and support economic stabilization. It outlined limits on outward investments, targets to increase foreign reserves, and a phased relaxation of vehicle import restrictions with registration deadlines, penalties, and licence sanctions. It also explained recent rice import relaxations in response to shortages and said the Government is improving data systems and using these measures to normalize the economy, support tourism, revenue, production, and public transport.

      Public FinanceAgricultureInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB

      AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim argued that the Government and President failed to address a Customs-led work-to-rule and related “container crisis” at the Port, which he said delayed imports and exports, increased demurrage costs, and harmed foreign exchange earnings. He stated that the problem reflected longstanding resistance to Customs reform and alleged that union influence had prevented effective intervention, while many ordinary Customs officers had worked to clear the backlog. He questioned the President’s explanation for congestion and requested detailed data from the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning and the Committee on Public Finance on container examinations, examination capacity, recoveries, staffing costs, demurrage payments and examination yard charges. He estimated delay-related losses at over Rs. 10 billion and called on the Government to address entrenched “mafias” in Customs and other sectors under its “Clean Sri Lanka” agenda.

      Public FinanceLaw & OrderForeign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
17. 17 Debate Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act 47 speeches ▸
18. 18 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues 65 speeches ▸
19. 19 Opening Closing: Parliament Adjournment and Written Answers 2 speeches ▸