Sitting of Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1741258607035810 ·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 4 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 9 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) 16 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Investigations into Damaging Buddha Statues in Mawanella (Q.6/2024) 5 speeches
- 6 Procedural Question by Private Notice: School Teachers Recruitment and Dhamma School Teacher Allowances (SO 27(2)) 24 speeches
- 7 Debate Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) 26 speeches
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved to exempt the day’s proceedings on item No. 1 of the Order Paper from Standing Order 88 and from the parliamentary resolution of 6 February 2025, which was agreed to. He then directed the House to resume the Second Reading debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2025, and invited R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara to begin his 20-minute contribution.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that the Government had abandoned many positions it held before coming to power, including on privatization, foreign investment, private universities, Indian-linked projects and the IMF agreement, and said the Budget did not reflect the mandate it claimed. He criticized the proposed public sector salary increases as largely offset by the absorption or reduction of existing allowances, while welcoming the restoration of pension calculations under Circular 03/2016 for 2016–2020 retirees. He opposed the Budget on the grounds that fertilizer subsidies were limited mainly to paddy farmers, the promised paddy buffer stock and price controls were inadequately funded, and VAT reductions on essentials promised before the election had not been implemented.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya defended the Government’s inaugural Budget as a value-based shift toward “Economic Democracy,” emphasizing social strengthening, equality, citizen participation, State regulation, and public investment rather than what she described as past cronyism and politicized economic management. She highlighted increased allocations for health and education, child protection reforms, support for women’s economic participation, special needs education, the removal of VAT on packaging inputs for locally produced medicines, and a Rs. 300 million “Sri Lankan Day” initiative for national unity. Responding to Opposition claims, she said the Budget implements the Government’s manifesto, denied that promises had been broken, and stated that salary increases would raise principals and teachers to among the higher-paid public service grades while restoring dignity to the public sector.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara disputed the Prime Minister’s claim that his statement was false, citing page 103 of the Government’s policy statement. He argued that the document’s reference to reducing VAT to one point on items such as infant milk, medicines, school supplies, agricultural equipment and solar panels indicates that VAT is included in the policy.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Minister of Finance would provide a detailed explanation later in the day regarding tax relief measures. He stated that, following passage of the Budget, Bills would be introduced to reduce VAT and revise PAYE tax slabs and rates, in line with policy measures announced before the Budget.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary VAT had been applied to domestically manufactured pharmaceutical products and to imported bulk drugs that were packed locally. The Minister stated that the Budget provides for the removal of VAT on those pharmaceutical products.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s earlier assurance that electricity bills would be reduced by one-third, noting that the actual average reduction was only about 20 percent. He sought clarification from the Prime Minister on the promised change to the electricity tariff formula, and challenged the Power Minister’s statement that bills may rise in future. He argued that such uncertainty would burden consumers, ordinary people, and potential investors.
Cost of Living Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary The Member stated that issues relating to the Ministry of Energy could be discussed in detail during the forthcoming Committee Stage when the Ministry’s Vote is taken.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK
AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan welcomed the 2025 Budget’s focus on economic transformation, digitalization and expanded welfare, but argued that many proposals lack implementation details and measurable outcomes. He called for transparent plans on FTAs, PPPs, state land leasing, digital infrastructure, cyber security, startup support, revenue sustainability, and public sector salary financing. He also urged more targeted and sustainable welfare measures, increased support for female-headed households, stronger agricultural modernization and rural infrastructure, and greater capital allocation to industry.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Sarath Kumara defended the 2025 Budget as a credible and socially responsive programme aimed at justice, equality and economic transformation, contrasting it with previous budgets he said had not materialized. He highlighted allocations for health, education, transport, agriculture, security, public administration and Rs. 749 billion for social protection, alongside salary and stipend increases and measures for farmers, estate workers, fisherfolk, students, public servants and private-sector workers. He said the Budget would be financed through projected revenue of Rs. 4,990 billion and domestic and foreign borrowing against expenditure of Rs. 8,835 billion, and emphasized digitization, infrastructure rehabilitation and research funding while criticizing alleged misuse of youth funds under the previous administration.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP
AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka criticized the Budget as departing from the Government’s manifesto, arguing that promised VAT removals and tax cuts had not materialized while revenue targets, withholding tax, excise measures, vehicle taxes, and import restrictions would burden ordinary people. He said support promised to fishers, farmers, unemployed graduates, and older job seekers was inadequate or absent, and alleged that paddy pricing decisions favoured millers over farmers. He urged the Government to allow previously granted vehicle permits for executive-grade and medical officers to be used. He also condemned an alleged threat made by a Government State Minister against Hon. Namal Rajapaksa and said the Opposition would not be intimidated.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB
AI summary Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana spoke in support of the Government’s first Budget during the final day of the Second Reading debate. He criticised members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, alleging misuse of public funds, excessive housing loans, corruption linked to projects such as the Krish building, and other criminal matters. He also challenged claims about past harbour development in Hambantota, Mirissa and Kirinda, arguing that these projects were poorly engineered and have not adequately served fishermen.
- The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP
AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka raised a point of order disputing a prior statement about fisheries harbours, stating they were built during the Yahapalana Government and designed by the Fisheries Ministry. He asserted that the projects were not design-build and urged that factual accuracy be maintained in the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB
AI summary Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana supported the Government’s first Budget, describing it as a “citizens’ Budget” focused on rural, low-income, marginalized and vulnerable groups. He highlighted allocations for low-income households, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, kidney patients, schoolbooks, autism support, and additional interest for senior citizens’ deposits, while criticizing alleged misuse of public funds by former ministers. He also referred to drug trafficking concerns in Hambantota and Beliatta and said steps were being taken to stop inflows through local harbours. He noted a Rs. 100 million allocation to rebuild and digitize the Jaffna Public Library, linking it to reconciliation after its burning in 1981.
- The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP
AI summary D.V. Chanaka raised a point of order challenging allegations against him or his family, asking that any such claims be made outside Parliament without relying on parliamentary privilege. He stated that he would respond through legal action and referred to a previous defamation case against Ranjan Ramanayake in which he said an apology was made in court.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC
AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam assessed the Budget against whether it marked a substantive departure from past policies affecting Tamils in the North and East, arguing that it lacked targeted measures for war-affected districts despite the Government’s stated commitments. He questioned allocations for northern roads and the Jaffna Library, called for protectionist and special economic provisions for the North and East, and highlighted disparities in district capital funding. He also raised concerns over the militarization of preschool education, land seizures by the Forest Department and High Security Zones, dairy land disputes in Mayilathamadu and Madhavanai, and irrigation projects such as Maduru Oya and Lower Malwathu Oya, warning that these could perpetuate displacement and colonization unless addressed.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- 8 Debate Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) 56 speeches
- 9 Debate Second Reading: Disposal of Waste (Prohibition) Bill 2025 9 speeches
- 10 Adjournment Adjournment 1 speeches