Sitting of Thursday, 27 February 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1741437399068186 ·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 Session Commenced and Message from President on Public Security Proclamation 22 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Ministerial Notifications and Reports (Excise Ordinance, Foundation and Corporate Reports, Public Finance Committee Report) 3 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented by Multiple Members 8 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Grade 5 Scholarship Exam 2024 - Leak of Questions (Q.105/2024) 21 speeches
- 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
- 6 Oral question Oral Question under Standing Order 27(2): Rule of Law and Inclusive Justice System 9 speeches
- 7 Debate Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments 76 speeches
- 8 Adjournment Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton 19 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary Moved the Adjournment Motion, proposing that Parliament be adjourned.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Mano Ganesan moved an Adjournment Motion opposing reported plans to relocate the Norwood Divisional Secretariat in Nuwara Eliya District to Hatton. He said the Secretariat was established under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2147/28 of 29 October 2019 to serve 35 Grama Niladhari Divisions, largely plantation communities, by bringing public administration closer to marginalized residents. He asked whether the Minister was aware of the proposed move, whether it had Government approval, and whether any Coordinating Committee decision had been taken without public consultation, and requested that the relocation be stopped.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman supported the Adjournment Motion and said the proposal to expand Divisional Secretariats in Nuwara Eliya had originated under the previous “Good Governance” administration but was delayed until sub-offices were later secured at Talawakele and Norwood. He objected to reported moves to relocate the Norwood Divisional Secretariat above the Hatton Railway Station, arguing that no consultation had been held with residents, civil society or MPs and that the move would inconvenience about 200,000 people in areas such as Maskeliya, Polwaththa, Abbot and Ambagamuwa. He called for a cross-party solution to keep and strengthen the Divisional Secretariat in Norwood rather than moving it to Hatton.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB
AI summary Norwood Divisional Secretariat, established as a sub-office in 2019 and fully operational in 2023, is serving about 250,000 people with around 110 officers from premises of only about 1,500 square feet. Due to overcrowding, long travel distances, transport costs, and inadequate facilities—especially during rainy periods—officials and the public have requested a temporary relocation until a proper building is provided. A proposal to use a building associated with the railway station was submitted to the District Coordinating Committee on 30 January, but the matter remains only a proposal and is not a final decision; the relevant Minister is expected to address the technical and location issues.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB
AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera supported Mano Ganesan’s adjournment motion concerning the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, noting that it serves a large and remote population including estate workers who previously had to travel to Ginigathhena for services. He said the division was established after long-standing efforts by several representatives, but current premises reportedly lack adequate facilities. He urged that the Secretariat remain in Norwood and that, at minimum, a temporary building and proper facilities be provided.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB
AI summary Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran raised concerns about severe overcrowding at the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, where 110 staff serve a population of over 250,000 from a 1,500-square-foot office. He noted that relocating temporarily to the upper floor of the Hatton railway station building had only been discussed at the DCC meeting on 30 January 2025 and was not a final decision. He urged the authorities to make immediate alternative arrangements to reduce hardship for staff and the public and ensure uninterrupted, efficient services.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam opposed the proposal to relocate the Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton, arguing that a new building should instead be constructed in Norwood to serve over 200,000 residents. He questioned the Government’s priorities in light of railway-related Budget allocations and warned that moving the office would further disadvantage the upcountry community. He also referred to past injustices against estate Tamils, including disenfranchisement and administrative boundary changes, and raised concern over the lack of clarity on estate workers’ wages despite references to a Rs. 1,700 basic salary.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged ruling party Members representing the upcountry community to actively advocate for their constituents rather than merely follow party or procedural directions. He called for the Divisional Secretariat matter affecting those communities to be addressed immediately, while stressing that any related decision should remain only at the proposal stage for now.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister said the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, established after the 2019 gazette revising the Ambagamuwa Division, is currently operating from a 1,500-square-foot Grama Niladhari office despite serving over 200,000 people with 110 staff. He noted that a proposal was submitted to move it to an unused Railway Department building in Hatton with about 7,000 square feet of completed space, but stressed that no final decision has been made. He said the Ministry will study this and any alternative proposals after consulting relevant parties, and clarified that the matter was discussed openly at the District Coordinating Committee rather than decided secretly.
- The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Mano Ganesan clarified that V.S. Radhakrishnan had participated in the proceedings on the relevant day, but was not present when the decision was taken.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the minutes record Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan’s participation and do not indicate that he left the meeting. He said the proposal in question emerged from a public meeting involving public representatives, but added that the Government is prepared to review any aspects that may adversely affect the public and make a fairer decision.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural