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
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment: Liquor Shop Permits and Licensing 23 speeches
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The Chair put the adjournment question to the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam moved an Adjournment Motion calling for the cancellation of liquor shop permits in Periya Nilavanai, Ampara, citing public protests and the President’s earlier claim that such permits were issued as political bribes under the previous Government. He argued that issuing liquor licences does not promote tourism in areas lacking transport and visitor infrastructure, and said increased outlets worsen social and economic conditions, especially in the North and East. He demanded that the Government disclose who recommended the permits, refer allegedly bribery-based licences to the Bribery Commission, cancel them, and take action beyond merely publishing lists of beneficiaries.
- The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran seconded the motion and urged the Government to cancel liquor shop permits, particularly the bar established in Periya Nilavanai, where residents are protesting. He argued that the President has the executive authority to revoke newly issued permits through Gazette notices and said liquor outlets should not be located in poor residential areas, citing social, family, and student-related harms. He called for all unnecessarily granted liquor shop permits in both Tamil and Sinhala areas to be cancelled, noting the Government’s parliamentary majority.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Susantha Dodawatta said liquor bar licences had historically been issued through political patronage, including as inducements for MPs, and alleged that the previous government granted many licences shortly before an election for political advantage. He said licences should be assessed against local need, economic conditions, and social and cultural factors, and that the current government is investigating whether recent licences met required recommendations and regulations. He stated that the National People’s Power government would not issue licences as bribes or favours and would pursue legal action or cancellation where investigations find breaches.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB
AI summary Eranga Gunasekara, speaking for the government on the Adjournment Motion moved by Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, said bar permits had been used as part of a broader political culture rather than as an issue divided along ethnic lines. He stated that the National People’s Power government had moved to change this practice by halting the issuance of bar permits without proper inquiry, assessment of economic value, or alignment with tourism policy. He also noted that the government recognizes the lawful right of adults to consume alcohol.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB
AI summary Time was limited for Hon. Eranga Gunasekara’s intervention, and no substantive policy position, proposal, question, or demand was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam sought permission from the Presiding Member to briefly speak and requested a clarification, contingent on the Deputy Minister’s agreement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam sought clarification on the Government’s pledge regarding liquor bar permits, noting that the President had promised during election meetings to cancel such permits after taking office. He argued that not all MPs were involved in the alleged permit culture and questioned why the promised cancellations had not yet been carried out.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB
AI summary Hon. Eranga Gunasekara said the new Government’s position on bar permits is aligned with concerns raised about corruption, noting that although it could have resumed issuing permits after coming to power, the President halted the process. He stated that names connected to alleged bribery in the issuance of permits had been tabled in Parliament by the Chief Government Whip, and that investigations into the matter had now begun.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a question seeking clarification on who is conducting the relevant investigation. No further context or details were provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB
AI summary The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara stated that the investigation in question is being conducted by the current government.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB
AI summary Eranga Gunasekara stated that the government is investigating alleged political bribery connected to liquor/bar permits and will disclose in Parliament the names of politicians involved once inquiries are completed. Responding to an Adjournment Motion by Hon. Rasamanickam, he rejected claims that the government was hiding or delaying the matter and said the administration is seeking to change the previous political culture around permit issuance. He cited alleged examples involving former Kurunegala politicians and said the government recognizes lawful alcohol consumption while committing to proper investigations and disclosure.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to an Adjournment Motion on excise licences, citing Section 28A(1) of the Excise Ordinance and stating that a retail liquor licence for Kegalle Beverages (Pvt) Ltd. in Periyaneelavanai, Ampara, had been approved under the previous government. He said no excise licence approvals had been granted since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed duties as Minister of Finance and Planning, and that licences issued under the previous government are under investigation. He added that the government’s policy for developing Ampara and the Eastern Province is not based on issuing bar permits, but on planned investment in health, education, roads and tourism zones through the Budget.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam rose on a Point of Order during the proceedings. No substantive argument, question, or proposal is recorded in the excerpt, which was interrupted.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - An Hon. Member
AI summary An Hon. Member briefly urged the Presiding Member to consider both sides of the matter under discussion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma
AI summary The Hon. Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that, once the necessary investigations are concluded, the House will be duly informed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam began his remarks by addressing the Presiding Member, but no substantive content, arguments, proposals, or questions are provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Staff Matter (Incomplete) 2 speeches