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

Sitting of Friday, 21 February 2025

10th Parliament· 9 debates· 165 speeches· 53 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1740809173064396 ·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.

  3. 3 Oral question Oral Question: Compensation for Natural Disaster Damages (Q. First Round) 15 speeches
    • The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Defence to provide district-wise annual figures from 2017 onward on compensation paid and outstanding for deaths, property damage, and business losses caused by natural disasters. He queried whether the disaster insurance scheme under the National Insurance Trust Fund and Circular No. 03/2016 is recognized as relief for victims, and raised concerns that Circular No. 01/2020 requiring proof of land ownership for compensation above Rs. 10,000 has prevented many families from receiving payments. He also asked whether daily allocations for dry rations and cooked food and the assessment values under the 09.09.2020 circular would be increased to reflect current needs.

      Public FinanceEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekera responded on behalf of the Minister of Defence to questions on natural disaster compensation from 2017 to 2024, stating that district-wise details on property, business, and loss-of-life payments had been submitted as annexes. He explained procedures for verifying land ownership for claims above Rs. 10,000, while allowing District Secretaries to consider residence history or owner consent in certain cases. He outlined current relief rates for cooked meals and dry rations, and said revised NBRO property-damage valuation estimates had been prepared for approval due to increased construction costs. He added that all compensation due for fully assessed houses from 2017 had been paid by end-2024, with remaining delays linked to pending District Secretary proposals, late assessments, or documentation issues to be submitted by 28 February 2025.

      Justice & Human RightsEnvironmentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB

      AI summary Asked whether the Government will implement a programme in 2025 to provide basic infrastructure, particularly drinking water and roads, in disaster-relocated villages in the Ratnapura District. He noted that although houses have been provided in areas such as Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura, Elapatha and Pelmadulla, inadequate facilities are discouraging beneficiaries from settling there.

      Land & HousingInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence acknowledged the issue and said discussions had been held with District Secretaries over the previous six weeks. He stated that the National Council for Disaster Management would be convened soon, and that a special programme with relevant line ministries to improve basic infrastructure in disaster-relocated areas had been prepared for submission to Cabinet.

      InfrastructureSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB

      AI summary Waruna Liyanage asked the Government to consider reintroducing and funding the National Insurance Trust Fund’s disaster insurance scheme in the next Budget, noting that it had provided significant relief to disaster-affected people. He suggested that support could be sought through the IMF programme and highlighted the recurring annual flood risk in Rathnapura.

      Public FinanceEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Aruna Panagoda JJB

      AI summary Hon. Aruna Panagoda asked the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing about the long-defunct drainage sewerage system at the Maththegoda Housing Scheme in Homagama and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s current construction of a fence around it. He sought details on the estimated cost, start and completion dates, selected contractor, and whether proper tender procedures were followed. He also asked whether the Minister was aware that the fencing had blocked roads used by residents for around 40 years, and what steps would be taken to remedy the situation.

      InfrastructureLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Maththegoda lagoon sewerage system is over 40 years old but remains operational, with treated effluent monitored by the NWSDB and CEA, though some components require rehabilitation and funding. He explained that fencing was initiated to prevent unsafe access, heavy-vehicle damage, illegal dumping and accidents, citing a 2023 fatal incident, but the Rs. 7.1 million project has been suspended following public protests until an alternative access route is completed. He added that the contract was awarded through NWSDB tender procedure and that the issue has been discussed with local authorities, police and relevant public representatives.

      EnvironmentInfrastructureLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Aruna Panagoda JJB

      AI summary Aruna Panagoda raised concerns over a fence erected by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board around a lagoon, stating that it was decided without requests from residents or public representatives and obstructs a road used for decades. He questioned the justification based on safety risks, including a reported suicide, and asked the Minister to intervene and review the decision to protect public access. He also noted alleged damage to embankments and water leakage into fields, suggesting that official reports on the site’s condition may be inaccurate.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has acknowledged that some sections require rehabilitation, with designs, estimates and funding arrangements underway. He added that an alternative access route has been proposed after discussions, fence construction has been suspended until that route is completed, and the matter will be further investigated as requested.

      Land & HousingInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK

      AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan asked the Minister of Environment for detailed data on Sri Lanka’s forest extent, elephant-suitable habitats, and the wild elephant population. He sought annual figures from 2020 to 2024 on human injuries and deaths caused by elephants and elephant deaths linked to human-elephant conflict. He also asked whether the elephant population exceeds available forest cover, what mechanisms exist to control it, whether such measures will be implemented, and what methods are available to reduce destruction caused by wild elephants.

      EnvironmentSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB

      AI summary The Minister of Environment responded to questions on forest cover, elephant habitat and human-elephant conflict, citing the 2020 Forest Inventory and the 2011 elephant survey estimate of at least 5,879 wild elephants. He provided conflict figures for 2020–2024, showing annual human and elephant deaths, and stated that no national study has established whether Sri Lanka’s elephant population exceeds ecosystem carrying capacity. He outlined current mitigation measures, including electric fencing, deployment of Civil Security Department personnel, elephant drives, compensation payments, GPS-collar research, removal of problem elephants, securing elephant corridors, community awareness programmes, habitat enrichment, and trials of deterrent technologies.

      Law & OrderEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK

      AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan raised concerns about increasing human-elephant conflict in Batticaloa, citing recent incidents in Kokkatticholai and Siththandi and shortages of Wildlife Department offices, personnel, vehicles and drivers compared with neighbouring Ampara. He requested urgent expansion of wildlife services in Batticaloa, including more officers, guards, vehicles and drivers, and noted that a previously announced staffing programme had not materialized. He also asked that scientific elephant population-control methods be explored, while stating he did not support culling.

      InfrastructureEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB

      AI summary The Minister responded that additional Budget funds have been allocated to address the human-elephant conflict, emphasizing the need to protect both people’s lives and property and Sri Lanka’s protected elephant population. He said approaches used for other species in other countries are not applicable to elephants in Sri Lanka, and noted that ongoing interventions in Ampara and Batticaloa would continue with Members’ support toward a sustainable, scientific solution.

      Public FinanceEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK

      AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan stated that Trincomalee is also affected and urged the Minister to increase administrative capacity in Batticaloa. He specifically requested more offices, officers, vehicles and drivers to address the situation.

      Law & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB

      AI summary The Minister of Environment responded briefly to an Hon. Member, stating that the Ministry would intervene as appropriate. No further details, proposals, or policy measures were specified.

      Environment Full speech →