Sitting of Monday, 3 March 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1742268353096939 ·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 Auditor-General's Report and Ministerial Consultative Committee Report 1 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 4 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Gem-Mining Permits (Q.1/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Industrial Parks in Elpitiya (Q.2/2025) 8 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Industrial Parks in Sri Lanka - Current Status (Q.5/2025) 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Wild Elephants and HEC Deaths (Q.6/2025) 2 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: TRIAD Company Payment to Urban Development Authority (Q.7-Q.8/2025) 3 speeches
- 9 Procedural Matter of Privilege: News Report in Sathi Aga Aruna Newspaper 2 speeches
- 10 Debate Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) 94 speeches
- 11 Procedural Voting on Head 119 and Adjournment Motion 2 speeches
- 12 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Reorganization of National Youth Services Council 6 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi JJB
AI summary Chandima Hettiaratchi moved an Adjournment Motion calling for the reorganization of the National Youth Services Council, its branches, and related bodies such as the National Youth Corps to better deliver youth empowerment, leadership development, vocational training, and social service programmes under the Government’s “A Fulfilled Youth” policy. He alleged that public funds of the Council, including Rs. 100 million transferred before the Presidential Election, had been misused for election campaigning, and said such institutions must be restored to serve youth and the public. He cited Budget allocations of about Rs. 4,000 million for youth institutions and Rs. 38.6 billion for SMEs and youth entrepreneurs, arguing that these should support youth participation in economic, social, technological, and leadership development.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake seconded the Adjournment Motion on youth institutions, arguing that bodies such as the National Youth Services Council and National Youth Corps have only partly achieved their objectives in youth empowerment, leadership development and vocational training. He said Sri Lankan youth have fallen behind global peers and called for their creativity and skills to be directed into national development rather than overseas labour migration. He referred to alleged past misuse of youth-related funds highlighted in COP reports and stated that the Budget and the NPP policy platform provide opportunities to build a fulfilled, creative youth cohort, while urging Parliament to combat corruption and provide leadership for this effort.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports JJB
AI summary Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage supported Chandima Hettiaratchi’s Motion on strengthening the National Youth Services Council, stating that the Council and the National Youth Corps had not fulfilled their objectives due to past politicization and misuse of funds. He said the Government had identified youth isolation and wider problems caused by economic, educational, cultural, and health-related failures, and had begun programmes to network youth through centres at Grama Niladhari Division level. He outlined plans to promote entrepreneurship, sports, English and IT skills, and cultural development, and pledged to implement the Ministry’s policies as a comprehensive youth uplift programme.