Sitting of Thursday, 6 February 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1739271735020022 ·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 Papers Papers Presented 5 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions 6 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question: Bachelor of Laws Degree Awards (Q.1/2024) 10 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.3/2024) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Price Control of Rice 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Bingiriya Export Processing Zone (Q.5/2024) 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka National Hospital Procurement (Q.7/2024) 9 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural Matters and Points of Order 39 speeches
- 9 Oral question Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) 40 speeches
- 10 Opening Ministerial Statement: Wind Power Plant Tender Process in Mannar 10 speeches
- 11 Procedural Notice of Motions and Procedural Orders 8 speeches
- 12 Debate Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) 98 speeches
- 13 Adjournment Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment 8 speeches
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament. The presiding member put the adjournment question to the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development for details on recruitment to the Sevanagala Sugar Factory between 1 January 2022 and the 21 September 2024 Presidential Election. He requested figures on excess employees, the resulting additional monthly expenditure, and the Government’s planned measures for developing the factory.
- The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister provided figures on recruitment at the institution, stating that 310 employees were recruited from 2022 to 2024 and that the workforce has risen from 545 at the 2011 government takeover to 1,319 currently. He said a proposed cadre has been submitted for approval, and while shortages or excess cannot be formally determined before approval, there appears to be an excess, with December 2024 salary and overtime costs totaling about Rs. 132 million. He outlined measures to improve operations and revenue, including increasing factory capacity, upgrading ethanol quality, addressing wastewater management, using tourist bungalows for accommodation, diversifying into jaggery and treacle, and reducing brown sugar prices to increase consumption.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Finance for updates on three Kalutara District industrial and investment projects: the Bandaragama–Millaniya Investment Promotion Zone, the Horana–Millawa Investment Promotion Zone, and the Raigampura Green Industrial Zone at Bandaragama–Galpatha. He sought details of expenditure to date, including a reported Rs. 360 million spent by the BOI on access to the Southern Expressway at Pelpola, and asked whether the Government would proceed with them as national-level economic development projects. He highlighted their importance for employment and industrial development in Kalutara District.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, the Deputy Minister stated that land acquisition for the proposed Millaniya Investment Promotion Zone has been halted due to pending litigation, and further decisions will await the court outcome. He provided details on Millawa Industrial Park, including 11 acres of government land, Rs. 97 million in public expenditure, 13 operational domestic industries, Rs. 604 million in private investment, Rs. 67.48 million monthly revenue, and 383 jobs. He also outlined progress at Raigam Industrial Park, noting 24 acres under the Land Reforms Commission, Rs. 876.701 million in expenditure, partial road works, access-road preparations, and Rs. 385 million already paid, while adding that further Treasury expenditure details on the Millaniya zone will be provided once obtained.
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera urged the Deputy Minister to take note that land acquisitions for the Millaniya Investment Promotion Zone had been completed, though much of the land had since reverted to rubber cultivation. He said about Rs. 360 million had already been spent on the 460-acre project and called for it to be prioritized as a strategic initiative that could be completed within the current Government’s term.