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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 20 February 2025

10th Parliament· 12 debates· 173 speeches· 59 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1740657427093848 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) 11 speeches
    • The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB

      AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism about issues affecting Sri Lankans employed abroad, including Puttalam District workers in Italy who face difficulties renewing driving licences. He sought details on government action regarding licence renewal, responses to alleged inhuman torture of Sri Lankan migrant workers, and measures to take legal action against individuals or institutions that defraud people with false promises of foreign employment. He also asked how swindled money would be recovered, or why no action would be taken.

      EmploymentForeign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister, answering for the relevant Minister, said difficulties faced by Sri Lankans in Italy over conversion of driving licences stem from the expiry of the 2011 bilateral agreement and delays in finalizing a new agreement due to clarifications on changed Sri Lankan licence formats and data exchange rules. He stated that the agreed text is ready for signature once Italy sends the final table of licence category equivalences for Sri Lankan verification. He also outlined SLBFE complaint and legal procedures for migrant worker abuse and fraud, noting that fewer than 150 of about 3,000 annual complaints involve physical, psychological or sexual violence, and that action is taken through missions, licensed agencies, the Consular Affairs Division and Magistrate’s Courts under the SLBFE Act.

      Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB

      AI summary Ajith Gihan noted that Italy is an important source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, particularly through workers from the Puttalam District. He asked why a persistent issue affecting them had not been resolved by previous governments and what had prevented earlier intervention.

      EmploymentForeign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB

      AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra said the problem arose because officials failed to renew an agreement before it lapsed, but action has been initiated and a solution is expected shortly. On the proposed agreement with Italy, he stated that discussions began in 2022, the main text is ready for signature, clarifications on Sri Lanka’s licence format changes and personal data exchange have been addressed, and the final equivalence table will be confirmed before signing.

      Foreign Affairs Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB

      AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra stated that while the SLBFE receives about 3,000 complaints annually from migrant workers, fewer than 150 concern violence against female domestic workers. He outlined the procedures for handling such complaints under Sections 44, 65 and 66, including coordination with licensed agencies, missions and foreign employers, diplomatic intervention where needed, and referral of unregistered self-migrant cases to the Consular Affairs Division. He also said fraud cases are prosecuted under Section 64(a) for licensees and Section 64(b) for unlicensed actors, with money recovery first attempted through SLBFE-mediated settlement and then through Magistrate’s Court orders if necessary.

      Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB

      AI summary Ajith Gihan raised concerns about large-scale fraud schemes promising foreign employment and taking millions of rupees from victims. He asked how the Ministry would ensure swift legal action, justice for affected persons currently before the courts, and relief for victims.

      EmploymentJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB

      AI summary Registered recruitment through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment facilitates tracing and enforcement action when problems arise. Even for unregistered cases, the Government accepts responsibility to protect citizens and works through the Consular Division, while acknowledging constraints in some locations and stating that measures are being taken to address them.

      Foreign Affairs Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB

      AI summary Ajith Gihan alleged that ministers from previous governments were involved in rackets and called for investigations into those allegations. He asked whether the government would take action against those found responsible.

      Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB

      AI summary Complaints to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment’s Special Investigations Division are handled by summoning both parties and examining evidence of payments. Efforts are first made to secure settlements and refunds, failing which cases are filed in Magistrates’ Courts and resolved according to court orders.

      Justice & Human Rights Full speech →