Sitting of Saturday, 22 February 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1741001658041256 ·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 Opening: Parliament Convenes and Papers Tabled 3 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Questions: STaRR Project (Q.1/2025), KL-2 Project Kalutara (Q.2/2025), Lands - Elpitiya DS (Q.3/2025), Meegahakiula Bus Station (Q.4/2025) 22 speeches
- 4 Procedural Ministerial Statements: Elephant Deaths from Train Collisions and Power Outage 20 speeches
- 5 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Foreign Reserves and Debt Servicing, with Points of Order and Procedural Matters 16 speeches
- 6 Debate Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) 137 speeches
- 7 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Unlawful Fishing Activities in the North 14 speeches
- The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary Anura Karunathilaka formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The presiding member put the question to the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran moved an adjournment motion calling for immediate Government action against illegal fishing practices in the Northern Province, including trawl nets, light fishing and dynamite fishing. He said these activities are undermining the livelihoods of fishermen in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Jaffna, including many female-headed households, and alleged that enforcement by the Navy, Police, Coast Guard and Fisheries Department is inadequate. He urged the Minister to restore law and order at sea, protect fish stocks, and provide clear answers on whether the Government will stop banned practices and safeguard northern fishing communities.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam seconded the Adjournment Motion on behalf of Northern fishermen, arguing that illegal fishing is destroying Northern marine resources and threatening fishing livelihoods. He urged the Fisheries Minister, Hon. Chandrasegar, to press Cabinet for immediate action and said ITAK MPs would support him by applying external pressure. He referred to the 2017 Private Member’s Bill brought by Hon. M.A. Sumanthiran that became law, and warned that failure to resolve the issue had damaged the position of the previous Minister, Hon. Douglas Devananda.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB
AI summary Hon. Roshan Akmeemana said prohibited fishing methods such as purse seine nets, dynamite, and light-based fishing are causing serious hardship for coastal fishing communities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including Trincomalee, across ethnic lines. He argued that the issue must be understood in the context of inadequate state support for fishers’ livelihoods, which can drive some local fishers into illegal practices. He noted that the Government has begun coordinated enforcement with the Navy, Coast Guard, Police, and a dedicated task force, including plans for a joint Navy/Coast Guard checkpoint near Nandikadal Lagoon and Mullivaikkal to curb dynamite fishing.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB
AI summary Hon. Roshan Akmeemana reported recent enforcement action against fisheries-related offences, citing raids and prosecutions in Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Trincomalee, including 18 cases in Trincomalee in January and 8 in the first half of February. He said enforcement alone is insufficient because the legal framework is not yet complete, and noted resource constraints in the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, including limited staff and vehicles. He stated that the government recognizes the seriousness of the issue, is working to address it quickly, and seeks cooperation from the Opposition and fishing communities.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB
AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy supported the Adjournment Motion on fisheries issues in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, noting their major historical contribution to Sri Lanka’s fish production and the national economy. He said war, displacement, illegal fishing, and transboundary incursions have severely damaged livelihoods, marine resources, and coral reefs, particularly in Jaffna. He urged the Fisheries Ministry and relevant authorities to take immediate action to address these problems and protect affected fishers’ livelihoods.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary The Minister supported the motion on illegal fishing, identifying bottom trawling by pair/trawl boats as a major cause of damage to livelihoods and the marine environment in the Northern Province. He welcomed the issue being raised in Parliament and said he had intended to begin discussions with Tamil Members from the North and East, particularly Northern Province MPs. He stated that illegal fishing must be stopped.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Raised a Point of Order urging that more time be requested to address the issue of bottom trawling. He stated that bottom trawling is illegal and called for action against all those engaging in it, including operators within Sri Lanka.
- The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to concerns about bottom trawling and illegal fishing, stating that over 200 bottom trawl boats operate in Sri Lanka and that recent assessments and enforcement action have been undertaken. He said a forthcoming Bill would introduce provisions to restrict trawling to designated zones under specific licensing and controls, following consultations with fishers and leaders. He cited seizures of illegal fishing boats in Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar in 2023 and 2025, and called for enforcement, public awareness and cross-party support to eliminate destructive fishing methods.