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

Sitting of Thursday, 27 February 2025

10th Parliament· 8 debates· 177 speeches· 70 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1741437399068186 ·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.

  5. 5 Oral question Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) 19 speeches
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB

      AI summary Ajith P. Perera formally raised a question in Parliament. No further details of the question or its subject matter were provided in the excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Power, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa requested one week to provide an answer to a parliamentary question, noting that the Minister had spoken with the Member concerned and intended to respond when present. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi – Minister of Environment

      AI summary The Minister answered Question 188/2024 on human-elephant conflict, providing expenditure figures for electric fence construction and maintenance from 2015 to 2024 and data on elephant deaths, human deaths and property damage, noting increases in cumulative casualties and damage in 2020-2024 compared with 2015-2019. He stated that no separate item was applicable under part (a)(iii) and tabled a document setting out ongoing mitigation measures, including expansion and maintenance of electric fencing, deployment of Civil Security personnel, night patrols, elephant crackers, compensation payments and GPS-collar research. He also outlined further measures such as habitat enrichment, protection of elephant corridors, community awareness programmes, removal or capture of identified problem elephants, and trials using drones, ultrasonic devices, bee sounds, smoke deterrents and fence upgrades.

      EnvironmentPublic FinanceLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB

      AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha highlighted the scale and cost of human-elephant conflict, citing 3,519 elephant deaths and 1,198 human deaths over ten years, with substantial public expenditure on related compensation and departmental costs. He noted that deaths declined in 2024 compared to 2023 and attributed this partly to improved management by the Department, including civil defence support and better fence management. He urged the Minister to address staffing shortages urgently, strengthen cadre and performance monitoring, and asked whether measures would be taken to increase staffing and ensure their effectiveness.

      EnvironmentPublic FinanceSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB

      AI summary Additional budgetary provisions have been allocated to strengthen staffing and address vacancies in the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Necessary follow-up measures will be taken to implement these staffing improvements.

      EnvironmentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB

      AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha raised concerns about human-elephant conflict, noting that both communities and elephants are affected. He proposed measures beyond electric fences, including spring gates and targeted, household-level awareness programmes tailored to different groups in affected villages. He asked whether the Minister has planned a structured public awareness programme using available government cadres to educate communities on managing interactions with elephants.

      Law & OrderEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB

      AI summary Assured that the Ministry and Department are consulting affected-area MPs, environmental experts, and local communities to address the issue under discussion. He said the Government expects to reduce the conflict significantly in a short period and is prepared to incorporate Members’ proposals into its interventions.

      EnvironmentCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna – Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government

      AI summary The Minister answered Question 291/2024 on the “Majma Nagar” Cemetery in Batticaloa, stating that the 10-acre State land is under the Koralaipattu West (Oddamavadi) Pradeshiya Sabha, with a request submitted to vest it formally in the Sabha and acquisition steps to follow. He said no Central Government funds were allocated for its development, while maintenance was met from Pradeshiya Sabha funds and private donations supported burials, construction materials, a multipurpose building, fencing, electricity, and machinery use. He also noted that 3,634 bodies were buried there between 5 March 2021 and 5 March 2022.

      Land & HousingPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Rauff Hakeem raised concerns about the burial site used for over 3,000 COVID-19 victims, stating that the decision to require burial in deep groundwater areas caused hardship to families seeking dignified last rites. He highlighted the impact on poor residents and cultivation permit holders in Majma Nagar following land acquisition, and asked whether alternate State lands in nearby areas would be provided to about 10 affected permit holders.

      Land & HousingJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the land taken for a cemetery is State land that had been informally used for cultivation. He said there is no obstacle to providing alternative land to those affected, as suggested by the Member.

      Land & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem yielded his opportunity to allow Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem to ask the second supplementary question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem

      AI summary Requested Government action to provide an elephant fence around Majma Nagar, noting that about 21 km is needed for full protection although the District Coordinating Committee had indicated only 6 km may be possible. He also highlighted the need for about 3.5 km of access roads, citing regular visits by families from several districts, and asked the Minister to give priority to the matter.

      EnvironmentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB

      AI summary Records indicate that 10 acres have been allocated for a cemetery and an elephant fence has already been erected around it. Further action on any additional requirements can be taken with the intervention of the Minister of Environment.

      Land & HousingEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna – Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government

      AI summary In response to Question 389/2025, the Minister stated that the Uva Province Public Service Commission currently has 10 members, compared with 8 previously including the Chairman. He said details on members’ names, previous institutions, positions, social responsibilities, and allowances were provided in annexes, and indicated that part (b) was not applicable.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the Speaker on the expansion of the Uva Provincial Public Service Commission from 6 to 10 members. He argued that this would increase costs despite prior commitments to reduce expenditure, and asked why such a large membership was needed for Uva.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that the Provincial Public Service Commission membership had increased from eight, including the Chairman, to ten, while noting that the law sets only a minimum of three members and no maximum. He said expenditure control was important and further reductions could be considered, but argued that larger savings had already been made elsewhere in the overall budgetary context.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns about governance in the Province, alleging that the Governor’s Office is exercising political control through two seconded schoolteachers who are involved in arbitrary transfers of teachers and officers. He asked that this situation be investigated, noting that it is not occurring in other Provinces. He also questioned a graduate registration programme that is creating expectations of employment and sought clarification on the matter.

      Corruption & Governance ReformEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB

      AI summary The Minister corrected that the relevant body previously had eight members including the Chairman, not six. He stated that the personnel seconded to the Governor’s Office were State officers rather than teachers, based on his information, and declined to answer on graduates’ registration as it fell outside the scope of the principal question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →