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
- 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
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara criticized the Government’s first Budget as a departure from the JVP’s earlier anti-IMF and anti-neoliberal positions, arguing that it continues policies associated with the previous administration, including tax-based stabilization and market-oriented reforms. He questioned shifts in Government policy on India, the CEB, underutilized lands, free trade zones and investment boards, and alleged that the public had been misled about these changes. He also raised national security concerns following shootings and a killing inside a courthouse, calling for investigations into possible internal complicity and for stronger protection for judges and MPs. He further questioned the reduction of earlier promises to employ 35,000 graduates, including in teaching, IT and state services, to a 30,000-person youth employment scheme.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara urged the authorities to ensure fair treatment for farmers in paddy procurement. He specifically objected to requiring farmers to bear additional transport costs to deliver paddy to cleaned warehouses.
- The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Minister briefly stated that he would explain the relevant system shortly.
Agriculture Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara briefly concluded his remarks without raising any substantive issue, proposal, question, or reference to legislation or policy in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB
AI summary Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe began his remarks by addressing the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, but no substantive speech content or policy position is provided in the excerpt. No specific proposal, question, demand, legislation, event, or labour-related issue is identifiable from the supplied text.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB
AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe rejected Dayasiri Jayasekara’s allegation that he had climbed over a temple wall, stating that he had only visited a disputed land site allegedly acquired under the previous Rajapaksa administration and had left when access was denied. He said he had requested a CID investigation and a Divisional Secretary’s report on the land’s ownership and acquisition, and denied any intention to interfere with Buddhist or other religious sites. He also said past governments had failed to address long-standing teachers’ salary anomalies, while the current Government would work to resolve remaining issues.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to another Member being allowed to take excessive time during his speech. The intervention was procedural in nature, raising a concern about time allocation in the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to granting another member additional speaking time during the sitting. The intervention was procedural and addressed to the Deputy Chairperson.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB
AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha rejected Opposition claims that supporters of the Government were disappointed with the Budget and responded to criticism about the Government’s economic model. He stated that the Budget rejects Adam Smith’s laissez-faire approach and affirmed that the State will intervene in the economy as a central policy direction.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB
AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha argued that the Budget is based on “economic democracy” rather than classical liberalism, social liberalism, state-controlled socialism, or neoliberalism. He said the Government will neither withdraw from the economy nor take it over entirely, but will intervene where necessary, including by taking a fair stake alongside private actors, cooperatives and foreign investors. He also defended planned recruitment of 30,000 public servants to fill essential vacancies and justified public sector wage increases as a response to long-neglected wages and rising living costs.
- Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB
AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha argued that the Budget is based on “economic democracy,” aimed at ensuring that workers, pensioners, plantation communities, farmers and other groups who contributed to the economy receive a fairer share. He said wage and pension increases were designed to address past social injustices, with larger relief directed to groups that had suffered greater disadvantage. He cited the Government’s intervention in the paddy and rice market, including a Rs. 120 per kilo floor price for Nadu paddy and a Rs. 230 per kilo ceiling price for Nadu rice, as an example of calibrated state action to protect both farmers and consumers.
- Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB
AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha said the Budget gives priority to public and private sector workers, oppressed groups, and others facing heavy social burdens, reflecting the movement’s longstanding focus on those subjected to injustice. He stated that investors and affluent groups are also not excluded, as the Government’s approach of “economic democracy” accommodates both social protection and investment. He rejected classical liberalism, social liberalism, neoliberalism, and full state-control socialism, arguing that this Budget is the first in Sri Lanka to present economic democracy as its guiding doctrine.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Ilayathamby Srinath
AI summary Hon. Dr. Ilayathamby Srinath welcomed the Budget’s allocations to health, education, the North, and the estate sector, but urged comparable attention to Batticaloa and the Eastern Province, particularly war-affected and underdeveloped areas such as Paduvaankarai. He requested increased funding for irrigation, tank rehabilitation, permanent bridges, flood mitigation, and the long-discussed Kithul–Rugam tank linkage, arguing it could reduce flooding, expand cultivation by 8,000–10,000 acres, and help address future drinking water shortages. He also called for dredging and cleaning the Batticaloa Lagoon, reconstruction of Kiraan Bridge, and clearer development strategies for agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and tourism to improve the district economy.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the Budget is not neoliberal, despite being framed within IMF-related constraints and the fiscal limits of the State Finance Management Act of 2024. She said the Budget reasserts the state’s role through major allocations for social protection, education, health, and public investment, including Rs. 749 billion for social protection and about Rs. 1.9 trillion combined for education, health and welfare. She also cited proposed amendments to the Electricity Act to halt privatization and changes to strengthen the Paddy Marketing Board’s role in the paddy market as evidence of increased state intervention.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the Budget departs from neoliberal policy by intervening to raise private sector wages, including for plantation and other private industry workers. She said that despite financial and legal constraints, the Government has taken a compassionate, people-focused approach, and rejected claims that the Budget is neoliberal.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne NDF
AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne argued that the Budget must be accompanied by credible plans to maintain security, rule of law, revenue, reserves, and export growth. He cited recent court and prison security alerts to stress the need for proper intelligence and procedures, and said economic stability achieved since the 2022 crisis should not be put at risk. He questioned whether projected revenues, including from vehicle imports, and the target of US$ 19 billion in exports are realistic, especially while essential goods are still being imported. He welcomed the Government’s continuation of the IMF programme and some practical policy shifts, while urging clearer long-term planning to avoid renewed economic difficulty.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB
AI summary Hon. Nishantha Samaraweera defended the Budget, arguing that the Government is prioritizing public relief and economic revival while reducing its own privileges within fiscal constraints. He said the Government has no intention of driving away investors such as Adani, but will assess concessions based on benefits to Sri Lanka. He emphasized that public sector salary reforms, including for health workers, shift income toward higher basic salaries rather than allowances, and stated that existing overtime or extra-duty earnings would not be reduced while further salary improvements are intended as the economy recovers.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB
AI summary Hon. Thilina Samarakoon defended the 2025 Budget, arguing that it is consistent with the Government’s policy direction and balances limited fiscal space with increased allocations for health, education, agriculture, industry, welfare, and basic infrastructure. He highlighted specific measures including higher stipends and allowances, support for child suspects’ transport to court, modernization of nutrition and food storage facilities, SME and dairy sector funding, and measures to address human–elephant conflict. He also rejected claims that the Government would undermine religion, citing allocations for religious affairs and places of worship, and said entrepreneur support would be channelled through existing state banks and Regional Development Banks rather than a new development bank.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB
AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera criticised the Government’s inaugural Budget as lacking a transformative national vision, comparing it unfavourably with recent Indian and Singaporean Budgets. He argued for an “entrepreneurial State” approach to revive collapsed SMEs, restore investor and entrepreneur confidence, attract tourism and investment, and create youth aspiration, saying the allocation to the Industry and Entrepreneurship Ministry was inadequate for the scale of SME distress. He also questioned whether the welfare measures and campaign-style policy branding would be felt at grassroots level, describing the Budget as largely conventional and closer to neoliberal continuity than a new economic direction.
- The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB
AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera argued that Budget measures for migrant workers and remittances must create tangible benefits, including addressing high conversion charges, rather than relying on modest duty-free allowance changes. He criticized the concentration of expenditure under the President through the Finance and Defence Ministries and proposed that the President instead lead an Entrepreneurial Development Ministry focused on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises. He questioned an apparent discrepancy between the Rs. 50 million allocation for the Clean Sri Lanka programme in the Estimates and the Rs. 5,000 million cited in the Budget Speech, and noted the absence of a clear digital programme while referencing changing positions and rising costs related to MOSIP.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB
AI summary No substantive remarks are provided beyond addressing the Deputy Speaker, so there are no policy points, proposals, questions, or arguments to summarize.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB
AI summary Sunil Rathnasiri clarified Budget 2025 allocations related to the Clean Sri Lanka programme and the President’s Vote. He stated that Rs. 5,000 million has been allocated for Clean Sri Lanka, while the President’s Vote has been reduced from Rs. 6,601 million in 2024 to Rs. 2,992 million in 2025, including reductions in both recurrent and capital expenditure. He said his intervention was intended to correct what he described as a mistaken impression raised in the debate.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB
AI summary Dilith Jayaweera raised a Point of Order seeking clarification on figures in the budget documents provided to Members, stating that he could not locate the numbers being referred to. He noted that the figures may appear elsewhere or in the Budget Speech, and clarified that any earlier misreading was unintentional and not meant to mislead the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Jagath Manuwarna JJB
AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna defended the Government’s Appropriation Bill, arguing that national security should be assessed not only by defence allocations but also by investments in policing, justice, identification systems, social integration, women and children, prisons, and culture. Referring to the Aluthkade court shooting, he said similar incidents had occurred in the past, accused previous political cultures of enabling crime, and noted that the alleged gunman was arrested within hours. He also supported the proposed digital ID system as a measure to prevent misuse of identity in secure places, and highlighted cultural funding, including renovation of the John de Silva Memorial Theatre, as part of building a safer and more humane society.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of National Integration JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Appropriation Bill, arguing that the Budget is fair and inclusive despite the country’s economic difficulties, and contrasted it with past governments’ alleged misuse of state resources. He said the President had reduced personal expenditure and that the Government was seeking national development rather than benefits for officeholders. Responding to claims that the Eastern Province had been neglected, he cited allocations including funds for Kalmunai sports facilities, Eastern University, hospitals in Trincomalee and Ampara, a Trincomalee dockyard, Eastern infrastructure, Swami Vipulananda Institute, and a cardiology unit in Ampara.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan said the Opposition would support beneficial Budget measures while offering constructive criticism, welcoming welfare programmes for low-income groups, rural children, pregnant mothers and plantation communities, particularly to address malnutrition. He urged stronger support for SMEs and farmers, lower interest rates, expert economic management, and conditions to attract foreign investment while continuing action against bribery and corruption. He called on the Government to ensure implementation of the proposed Rs. 1,700 basic daily wage for plantation workers by pressuring both private plantation companies and state entities, noting earlier promises of a Rs. 2,000 wage and rising cost-of-living pressures.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Priyantha Wijerathna, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Priyantha Wijerathna supported the 2025 Appropriation Bill, stating that it was prepared under the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, within limits on primary expenditure, and framed around a national productive economy. He rejected Opposition claims that the Eastern Province had been neglected, citing Budget provisions for Eastern development and allocations for youth agro-entrepreneurship, dairy production, and human-elephant conflict mitigation. He argued that the Government aims to reduce inter-provincial economic disparities and protect citizens’ economic rights following the Aragalaya.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi highlighted Budget allocations intended to support under-resourced but talented young athletes, including Rs. 500 million for specialized sports schools in five provinces and an increase in the monthly nutrition allowance from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000. She noted the absence of a national sports information database by province, district and school, and said this gap was raised with officials at the Youth and Sports Ministry Advisory Committee. She also referred to allocations for women’s empowerment and protection, including Rs. 120 million to prevent violence against women and children and Rs. 720 million to strengthen institutional support. In addition, she cited Rs. 250 million for child-friendly transport for minors in detention attending court, arguing that the Budget focuses on practical support for vulnerable groups.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna criticized the Budget as debt-dependent and lacking credible revenue measures, arguing that it remains within IMF and Treasury parameters despite the Government’s earlier policy promises and references to an Economic Council. She questioned how many commitments in the Government’s policy document are reflected in the Budget and said many proposals, including customs reform, port expansion, Trincomalee oil tank development and North-East industrialization, continue policies of previous administrations. She welcomed certain shifts, including support for foreign investment, international education, disability-related measures, estate hospitals and pension adjustments for 2016–2020 retirees, while urging the Government to acknowledge past opposition to similar economic reforms and the costs of political violence.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ajith Agalakada JJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith Agalakada defended the NPP Government’s Appropriation Bill as consistent with its campaign commitments to build a productive economy, link working-age people to it, and distribute generated wealth fairly. He cited allocations for roads, dairy, innovation, coconut cultivation, youth agri-entrepreneurship, digitalization, job creation, social protection, nutrition, autism and neurological treatment, and support for Malaiyagam communities, while also referring to a planned Chinese-backed refinery investment. He rejected opposition characterizations of the Budget as a continuation of previous policies and argued that its spending priorities reflect the Government’s stated economic programme.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri defended the NPP Budget, arguing that it provides the maximum relief possible for professionals and public servants within the constraints created by past mismanagement. He rejected Opposition claims that the Budget is defined by the IMF or former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, stating that its results should be judged over the Government’s five-year mandate. He also said the Budget reflects an inclusive national mandate across race, religion and region, and criticized past governments since 1977 for corruption, failed leadership and responsibility for crises including the Central Bank bond scam and Easter attacks.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson argued that the Budget should be assessed against the Government’s election promises, including public sector salary increases and a guaranteed paddy price of Rs. 154 per kilogram. He questioned the absence of relief on consumer prices and taxes affecting food items, citing the State’s constitutional duty to ensure basic needs. He urged cooperation between Government and Opposition MPs, proposed a post-Budget parliamentary workshop to improve coordination, and called for farmers to receive quality fertilizer at an affordable price, lower agrochemical costs, and a fair paddy price rather than politically driven free-fertilizer promises.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Gayan Janaka JJB
AI summary Hon. Gayan Janaka supported the Second Reading of the Government’s maiden Budget, arguing that it differs from previous Budgets by prioritizing concessions and relief for ordinary people rather than political interests. He said the Budget reflects proposals developed through public engagement and is part of a broader programme to rebuild the economy, link education with growth, and ensure citizens share in economic benefits. Responding to Opposition criticism, he asked for time for the new administration to implement its programme and said the Government would work to make the Budget’s proposals a reality.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister defended the 2025 Budget as focused on ordinary people, particularly groups without strong trade union representation, citing increased allocations for Triposha, nutrition packs for pregnant mothers, preschool meals, textbooks, uniforms, scholarships, student transport, and Aswesuma welfare benefits. He argued that the Budget links welfare recipients to productive sectors such as agriculture, small industries and livestock, while also supporting export crops and entrepreneurs. He highlighted major allocations for health services outside Colombo, postgraduate medical training, school and university development, and continuation of expressway infrastructure projects, presenting these as part of building a productive, knowledge-based economy.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Chamindranee Kiriella argued that the 2025 Budget relies heavily on taxes such as income tax, VAT and the Special Commodity Levy, making it inconsistent with Government claims of being people-friendly and with NPP promises to remove VAT on essentials. She urged the Government to promote exports and foreign investment, citing Adani Group’s withdrawal, and to protect the independence and perceived independence of the legal system to maintain investor confidence. She welcomed the allocation for sanitary napkins for schoolgirls but called for stronger action to increase women’s labour force participation, specifically proposing that the State fund maternity benefits, estimated at Rs. 7.4 billion, in line with practices in many other countries.
- The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu JJB
AI summary Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu said the Budget’s allocations for rural economic development, education, health and agriculture should be implemented through public participation and directed to Batticaloa District priorities. He outlined proposals on hospital and preschool facilities, libraries, human-elephant conflict mitigation through 83 km of electric fencing, coconut development, tank rehabilitation, grain cultivation, aquaculture, social protection, rural transport, and mangrove conservation. He also called for improved feasibility studies, supervision, quality control and accountability in road and bridge projects, particularly after recent flood damage, and said development should be routed through District and Divisional Development Committees with public input.
- The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Budget against Opposition claims that it was an IMF or capitalist Budget, arguing that it begins a programme of economic democracy and social justice through allocations for health, education, housing, agriculture, and environmental initiatives. He highlighted measures including fuel price reductions, school supply assistance, pension increases, a higher fertilizer subsidy, and a guaranteed paddy price of Rs. 120 per kilogram with a consumer rice price ceiling of Rs. 230 per kilogram. He also referred to action on rice pricing, rehabilitation of electric fences to address human-elephant conflict, plans to expand big onion cultivation to reduce imports, and proposals for youth and cooperative farmer villages.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar moved that Hon. Aravinda Senarath take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. Aravinda Senarath assumed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB
AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha argued that the 2025 Budget, framed within the IMF programme, does not deliver the direct consumer relief or development commitments expected from the NPP manifesto, citing rising prices of rice, coconuts, salt and other essentials despite welfare increases. He called for specific support for three-wheeler operators, whose vehicles are ageing and whose livelihoods have been affected by import restrictions and high replacement costs. He also urged greater attention to Ratnapura District, including assistance for estate and export crop farmers, action against clove re-export practices affecting local producers, and legal reforms to support gem mining livelihoods.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga supported the Government’s maiden Budget, presenting it as an initial programme to address economic hardship while reducing political privileges and expanding public benefits. She highlighted salary and wage increases, support for vulnerable groups, school nutrition, preschool meals, sanitary pads, footwear, scholarships, gold-pawning relief, and allocations for entrepreneurship, SMEs, industrial zones, investment promotion, and digitization. She argued that anti-corruption measures and renewed international confidence would attract investment, and called on the Opposition to support the Budget rather than criticize it.
- The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB
AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara supported the Second Reading of the Government’s 2025 maiden Budget, stating that it is viewed positively by the public and provides significant relief. He criticized the Opposition for portraying the Budget as capitalist and anti-people while, in his view, failing to acknowledge its success and public benefits.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB
AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara defended the Government’s Budget, citing foreign investment agreements signed during the President’s visit to China and criticizing Opposition claims over credit. He welcomed pension increases, particularly alignment with 2020 salary scales and the implementation of “One Rank, One Pension” for retired Tri-Forces personnel. Representing Kurunegala and Kuliyapitiya, he highlighted allocations for agriculture and irrigation rehabilitation, including neglected tanks, and called for upgrades to Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital, including equipment, ambulances, and ward expansion.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC
AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir supported the 2025 Budget’s increased allocations for some regions but asked whether it includes specific funding for Eastern Province priorities in agriculture, fisheries, water, transport, health, education, and tourism. He called for better use of Senanayake Samudraya water, rehabilitation of the Oluvil fisheries harbour and coastal erosion measures, release of lands held by state agencies and security forces, implementation of the Heda Oya drinking water project, and revival of freshwater fisheries through tank cleaning and fingerling supply. He also requested road and bridge repairs in Ampara District, improvements to hospitals and older school buildings, establishment of Medicine and Agriculture Faculties at South Eastern University, and improved tourism connectivity including a Batticaloa-Arugam Bay rail extension and SLTB bus links.
- The Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi JJB
AI summary Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi supported the Government’s inaugural Budget, arguing that it fulfils election commitments while stabilizing inflation, the exchange rate and public finances. He highlighted public-sector salary and pension increases, higher disaster loan limits, electricity tariff relief, and expected spillover benefits for private industry and SMEs. He also cited allocations for pregnant mothers, school infrastructure, shoes for students, Daham Pasal education, and tourism measures including restarting a JICA airport terminal project and introducing e-ticketing at tourist sites.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB
AI summary Arun Hemachandra supported the Budget as a corrective response after bankruptcy, arguing that it addresses corruption, waste and past political excesses while increasing public servant salaries, expanding welfare measures and prioritizing digitalization through initiatives such as decentralized President’s Fund services, digital consular services and GovPay. He said the Government is changing political culture by reducing privileges, citing past presidential foreign travel entourages and costs, and highlighted the abolition of transferable duty-free vehicle permits as an anti-corruption reform. Responding to claims that the East had been neglected, he listed Budget allocations for education, hospitals, roads, fisheries, resettlement, water harvesting and development planning in the Eastern and Northern-Eastern areas, including projects in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam sought clarification on whether the listed projects for the Eastern Province were funded by Indian grants or special allocations, or through Sri Lanka’s Budget using taxpayer funds. He referred to a 2021 request by the TNA and other Tamil parties to the Indian High Commissioner for increased Indian funding to the East, given larger allocations to the North, and asked the Deputy Minister to specify the funding source of the projects mentioned.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that allocations for Sri Lankans are made by the Government of Sri Lanka, emphasizing that such funding decisions are the responsibility of the Government.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Asked whether the matter being discussed should be considered a grant, seeking clarification from the relevant Minister or officials.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that the allocation in question is made by the Government of Sri Lanka, not by the Government of India. He stated that the Indian Government cannot allocate budgetary funds for the people of Sri Lanka.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the allocation in question is made by the Government of Sri Lanka for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka. No further policy detail, proposal, or question was included in the excerpt.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Chithral Fernando criticized the Government’s Reconstruction Budget as continuing the same post-1977 economic policy framework previously opposed by its leaders, citing past Budget speeches by Sunil Handunnetti and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He accused the Government of inconsistency on issues such as alliances, nationalism, the Adani wind power project, and claims about ending vehicle permits. He urged the Government to resolve the Italian driving licence recognition issue affecting Sri Lankan expatriates, particularly from Wennappuwa, and questioned Budget provisions on diaspora incentives and tourist vehicle permits.
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB
AI summary The Minister defended the National People’s Power Government’s inaugural Budget as the first step in a five-year economic programme within IMF-related constraints following the debt crisis. He said the Budget prioritizes a production- and export-oriented economy through allocations for rural roads, fisheries, livestock, plantations, SMEs, tourism and industry, and referred to a planned National Export Development Plan. He also highlighted welfare increases for senior citizens, elderly persons, students and chronic kidney patients, arguing that the Government is directing resources to previously neglected groups while asking the public for patience as economic reforms are implemented.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment: Liquor Shop Permits and Licensing 23 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Staff Matter (Incomplete) 2 speeches