Sitting of Thursday, 20 February 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1740657427093848 ·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 Parliament Opening 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented 5 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented 9 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) 11 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Prison Officer Staffing and Overcrowding (Q.2/2025) 20 speeches
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration to provide prison-by-prison details on staffing levels, infrastructure deficiencies, and measures taken to improve facilities. He also sought information on rehabilitation centres for imprisoned persons, including the number of centres, the number of persons undergoing rehabilitation in each, and the rehabilitation methods used.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration provided figures on the prison system, stating that 5,218 officers serve across 318 institutions, with details by prison and related facilities. He identified major deficiencies including severe overcrowding, dilapidated and ageing buildings, inadequate sanitation, visitor facilities, transport, accessibility measures, infant care facilities, telephone access, and staff housing. He outlined ongoing and planned measures for 2025, including infrastructure repairs, sanitation and wastewater projects, new barracks, construction at Wataraka Open Prison Camp, proposals to reduce overcrowding and rehabilitate drug users, and plans to relocate the Colombo Prison Complex to Millewa, Horana, subject to implementation and budget allocations.
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana highlighted staffing shortages in the Prisons Department, noting that 37 prisons hold about 30,000 inmates and remandees with 5,218 officers against an estimated cadre need of around 7,000, and referred to planned recruitment. Referring to the incident at the Hulftsdorp Courts complex and past incidents including at Kalutara Prison, he urged attention to the safety of prison officers and staff. He also asked what action would be taken to address prison officers’ pay, which he said is lower than that of police despite comparable duties, and to improve their security.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary The Attorney-at-Law stated that the Government is treating a court incident involving a suspect disguised as a lawyer seriously and has appointed a committee to review security procedures. He said discussions with the IGP, prison authorities, the Judicial Service Commission, Police and the Bar Association would consider allowing armed guards in courts in special cases for high-risk inmates and strengthening court screening. He also noted that the inmate’s transfer from Boossa was handled properly, while acknowledging risks faced by prison officers due to underworld activity and the need to improve their allowances and welfare.
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana requested the line Minister to consider aligning the salary scales of the Police and Prisons Departments. He argued that both departments perform similar services and should therefore receive comparable pay.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Assured the Member that the proposal raised would receive attention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara stated that while nationwide wartime-style checkpoints are unnecessary, court premises require stronger security measures and action will be taken. He said amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure are before Cabinet to allow testimony via video link, reducing the need to produce remand prisoners in court and assisting witnesses, including those overseas. He indicated the Government aims to bring the amendments to Parliament by March or April and enact them as a longer-term solution.
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana raised a second supplementary question concerning overcrowding in prisons, citing Mahara Prison as an example. The intervention appears to seek clarification on conditions and possible measures to address prison congestion.
Law & Order Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana stated that, as a senior Member, he listens respectfully to proceedings, while urging the Chair to consider the importance of the matter under discussion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana briefly responded to the Speaker, stating that he had not taken 15 minutes of speaking time.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Requested that both sides of the House be informed, addressing the Chair.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana sought the Speaker’s permission to respond during the proceedings. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana raised concerns about severe overcrowding in prisons, citing Mahara Prison holding 3,136 inmates against a capacity of 975 and Kalutara Prison holding 1,400 against a capacity of 800, with similar conditions at Colombo Magazine, CRP, and Welikada. He referred to government plans to demolish prison buildings and drew attention to the situation at Kalutara Prison, seeking clarification in that context.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary A committee involving the Prisons Department was appointed to examine prison overcrowding and has already met. The judiciary, prisons, police, and other relevant agencies are expected to submit a report within a month with proposals to reduce congestion, after which the Government plans to implement the recommendations.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary All locations, including Kalutara, are being considered under a single committee. The statement indicates that the committee will apply the same approach uniformly rather than treating Kalutara separately.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Hospitals and Health Services in Kalutara District (Q.422/2025) 12 speeches
- 7 Procedural Privilege Question 3 speeches
- 8 Procedural Leader of Opposition Statement on Court Security 2 speeches
- 9 Procedural Government Response on Court Security 1 speeches
- 10 Debate Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate 84 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment: Liquor Shop Permits and Licensing 23 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Staff Matter (Incomplete) 2 speeches