Sitting of Friday, 7 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 Announcements: Privilege Question on Non-Allocation of Speaking Time 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Ministerial Reports and Annual Reports 2 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Tabled 5 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions 99 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: National Schools in Colombo North 2 speeches ▸
6. 6 Papers Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation 26 speeches ▸
7. 7 Procedural Procedural Motions on Standing Order Exemption and Time Amendment 8 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB

     AI summary The Leader of the House moved that proceedings on Items 1 to 6 of the Order Paper be exempted from Standing Order 24(2). The motion was put to the House and agreed to.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB

     AI summary Moved an amendment to the Motion on the Order Paper to change the scheduled time from 9.45 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. The House agreed to the amendment.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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   • The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB

     AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised a procedural objection that his first Private Member’s Motion, concerning reductions to MPs’ pensions and perks of MPs and former Presidents, had been removed from the Order Paper despite being submitted first. He said the Table Office indicated such decisions are for the Committee on Parliamentary Business, but he had been informed no such decision was taken, and requested clarification on who removed the Motion. He asked that his entitlement as a Member to move the Motion be respected and sought permission to present that Motion instead of the one listed.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB

     AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the matter raised had not been discussed in the Committee on Parliamentary Business and that the Government side was not involved in it. He requested the Deputy Speaker to obtain clarification from the Parliamentary Secretariat and provide a response, adding that the two sides could discuss the issue together.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB

     AI summary As Chief Opposition Whip, Gayantha Karunathilleka stated that the matter under discussion had not been raised at the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

     AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri argued that Private Members’ Motions fall under Standing Order 16, not the provisions governing Private Members’ Bills, and said the Member’s Motion should therefore receive priority. He noted that although the Committee on Parliamentary Business controls the Order Paper, the reported absence of discussion by the Leader of the House and Opposition Chief Whip was a serious matter requiring the Speaker’s attention. He suggested the situation raised suspicion that the Government was seeking to avoid a Motion concerning former Presidents.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB

     AI summary Bimal Rathnayake corrected the procedural reference, stating that Standing Order 528 applies to Private Members’ Bills, while the House was dealing with Private Members’ Motions under Standing Order 16.

     Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
8. 8 Debate Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government 25 speeches ▸
9. 9 Debate Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives 15 speeches ▸
10. 10 Debate Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve 16 speeches ▸
11. 11 Debate Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers 9 speeches ▸
12. 12 Debate Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament 20 speeches ▸
13. 13 Debate Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions 14 speeches ▸
14. 14 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Sri Lanka Cricket Development and Anti-Corruption Measures 6 speeches ▸