Sitting of Friday, 7 February 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1739786070060795 ·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 Announcements: Privilege Question on Non-Allocation of Speaking Time 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Ministerial Reports and Annual Reports 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Tabled 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions 99 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: National Schools in Colombo North 2 speeches
- 6 Papers Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation 26 speeches
- 7 Procedural Procedural Motions on Standing Order Exemption and Time Amendment 8 speeches
- 8 Debate Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government 25 speeches
- 9 Debate Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives 15 speeches
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson moved a motion urging the Government to create a proper procurement mechanism for co-operative societies, arguing that the sector has declined due to politicization, weak purchasing standards, substandard goods, and lack of modernization. He proposed investigations into co-op purchasing practices, introduction of digital payment facilities, rotation of senior co-operative officers, and renovation of unused or dilapidated buildings and warehouses. Citing Polonnaruwa and national co-operative assets, he called for co-ops to be used to buy, store, mill, and sell paddy through small and medium mills, thereby reducing price control by a few major millers and improving outcomes for farmers and consumers.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara supported the motion on strengthening the co-operative network, arguing that politicization and lack of capital have weakened many societies despite their grassroots reach and potential to provide goods and services at lower prices. He proposed integrating co-operatives with Sathosa for bulk procurement and imports, digitizing operations, and ensuring accountable divisional-level oversight. Citing Horowpothana in Anuradhapura, he requested ministerial support for capital and facilities, and suggested piloting a programme in Anuradhapura to enable co-operatives to purchase paddy directly, manage drying and storage, revive co-operative rice mills, and supply affordable rice to villages.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri supported the motion for a proper procurement programme for co-operatives, arguing that the co-op sector historically strengthened rural livelihoods and supplied quality essentials before declining after the 1977 open economy. He said procurement malpractice and corruption had weakened public trust, and criticized previous governments for failing to revive the sector. He stated that the Government intends to use co-operatives, including through the Clean Sri Lanka programme and Sathosa stores in Polonnaruwa, to support paddy purchasing, reduce rural poverty, and provide quality essentials at fair prices.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri supported the motion on cooperatives, arguing that past mismanagement, land grabs, and unlawful decisions had undermined institutions originally built from members’ savings. He noted that cooperatives are a devolved subject under the 13th Amendment and urged the Government to pursue legal or regulatory changes through provincial mechanisms if it intends to revive the sector. He also questioned whether cooperative financial institutions issuing loans and accepting deposits have Monetary Board approval, calling for action to address banking-like activities without proper authority.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe supported Hon. Kins Nelson’s motion, arguing that corruption and irregularities in procurement affect the wider State sector as well as cooperatives and require a proper mechanism. He said the Government views the cooperative movement as important for restoring livelihoods and empowering communities, while noting that political interference and misuse have weakened it over decades. He cited the Gampaha SANASA-type deposit issue, claiming over Rs. 3 billion in public deposits are at risk, and urged the Minister to revive cooperatives while establishing programmes to compensate and assist affected depositors.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran supported the motion for a proper procurement programme for co-operatives and urged the Government to revive dormant multipurpose co-operative societies. He cautioned against reclaiming powers devolved under the 13th Amendment, including areas related to co-operatives, arguing that this would especially affect the North and East. He requested controlled-price goods, concessional supplies, and working capital or credit lines through local administration to strengthen co-op outlets and enable local paddy purchasing, milling, and fair-price rice distribution in areas such as Thirukkovil, Navithanveli and Karaitivu.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB
AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the co-operative sector’s main crisis is not procurement rules but fraud, misuse of co-operative structures, and a shift by many societies from consumer service to deposit-taking and lending. He cited investigations into financially distressed and allegedly corrupt co-operatives, while noting successful examples such as Medawachchiya, Akurassa, and Walasmulla. He said the Government will recover misappropriated co-operative assets, reform procurement and recruitment, prevent misuse of the co-operative name, and use the 2025 International Year of Co-operatives to support revival efforts. He outlined plans to strengthen consumer and producer co-operatives, expand up to 10,000 Co-op City-type outlets, revive MARKFED and COOPFED, and link co-operative distribution with Sathosa to improve access to essential goods.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Kins Nelson thanked Members who contributed to his motion on revitalizing cooperatives and said the Opposition had raised these concerns across successive Parliaments to restore an institution important to rural communities. He called for investigations into past fraud and illegal occupation of cooperative property, while urging the Government to address institutional gaps and modernize cooperatives with technology, supermarket-style services, debit card facilities, and improved consumer convenience.
- 10 Debate Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve 16 speeches
- 11 Debate Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers 9 speeches
- 12 Debate Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament 20 speeches
- 13 Debate Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions 14 speeches
- 14 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Sri Lanka Cricket Development and Anti-Corruption Measures 6 speeches