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
- 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
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary A procedural motion was moved proposing that Hon. Chanaka Madugoda take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. Chanaka Madugoda assumed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri moved a private members’ motion calling for a proper methodology to appoint Labour Welfare Officers responsible for supporting Sri Lankan migrant workers. He argued that past appointments were influenced by political patronage and urged the Government to establish a transparent, merit-based process with advertised applications, clear service criteria, and attention to education, capacity, and relevant skills. He also asked that vacancies be filled promptly, noting that migrant workers face abuse and welfare issues overseas and require effective official support.
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy seconded Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri’s motion, emphasizing the need to shift Sri Lanka’s foreign employment sector from mainly domestic work to a professionally trained skilled workforce. He proposed a stronger selection and training framework for Labour Welfare Officers, stressing compassion, integrity, independence from agencies and employers, and knowledge of host-country laws, languages, institutions, and labour systems. He called for selecting suitable officers from relevant services and giving them 6–12 months of rigorous preparation before posting, so they can better support and protect Sri Lankan workers abroad.
- The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB
AI summary The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the motion calling for a proper procedure to appoint Labour Welfare Officers responsible for Sri Lankan migrant workers’ welfare. He said past governments had allowed ad hoc contract appointments without standardized criteria, citing Hansard records from 2007 and Cabinet instructions in 2021 that were not implemented. He stated that the Government is reviewing and regularizing the recruitment process to ensure merit, transparency, and improved service at Sri Lankan missions abroad.
- The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB
AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala supported the motion, emphasizing that embassy and consulate Labour Welfare Officers must act promptly and effectively to assist more than one million Sri Lankan migrant workers, whose remittances are a major source of foreign exchange. He cited the difficulties faced during COVID-19 as evidence of past neglect and called for suitable appointments, greater resources, and stronger funding for labour sections. He also urged missions, particularly in places such as Dubai, to protect Sri Lankan employment opportunities and remittance potential by addressing issues around visit visas, foreign agents, and job quota allocations, citing the Philippines as a model for migrant worker support.
- The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Sarath Kumara supported the private member’s motion to establish a clear procedure for appointing Labour Welfare Officers, citing Sections 21 and 22 of Act No. 21 of 1985 as having allowed ministerial discretion and politically influenced appointments. He argued that past failures to follow criteria within the Foreign Employment Bureau damaged Sri Lanka’s reputation and harmed migrant workers. He called for faithful implementation of appointment procedures, effective state regulation of foreign employment, accountability for officers who neglected duties, and the use of ILO and IOM guidelines to standardize practice.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara supported the motion, arguing that existing procedures for labour welfare in Sri Lankan missions are not being properly implemented and calling for stronger staffing, fairer promotion opportunities for junior managers, and labour or welfare sections in Japan, Romania, and Cyprus. He also urged urgent government action on SMEs facing bank seizures, CRIB-related restrictions, and lack of restart support following successive crises. He raised concerns about Sri Lankans drawn into the Russia-Ukraine conflict and requested Foreign Ministry intervention, and called for an investigation into reported high levels of hexavalent chromium in water supplies linked to public health risks.
- The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to a motion on establishing a proper methodology for appointing Labour Welfare Officers, acknowledging past politically influenced and ad hoc appointments to foreign missions and welfare posts. He said the Government has recalled unsuitable officers, is reviewing mission postings through a committee, and will coordinate with relevant ministries to address specific welfare cases and country-level gaps. He stated that future appointments will be based on competency assessments, competitive examinations, structured interviews, transparent criteria, and pre-departure training, with the aim of improving protection for Sri Lankan workers overseas.
- 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