Sitting of Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1742359468086980 ·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 Papers Papers presented 3 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions presented 5 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question 1: Shakya Kingdom replica at Kahapola (Q.481/2025) 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question 2: National Equipment and Machinery Organization (Q.4838/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question 3: Gemstone mining licences in Wellawaya (Q.489/2025) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question 4: Arabic schools curriculum (Q.481/2025) 2 speeches
- 7 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Online Safety Act and tax on export services 20 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government on its election pledge to amend the Online Safety Act and asked whether its operation would be suspended pending amendment, citing concerns over freedom of expression. He requested data on arrests, remand orders and convictions under the Act. He also sought clarification on the proposed 15 per cent income tax on foreign exchange earnings from IT services, including the number affected, expected revenue, whether the policy would proceed, and what mechanisms or studies exist to assess its impact on the digital economy and remittance channels.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister said the Government remains committed to freedom of expression and that Cabinet has initiated a public consultation process to identify amendments to the Online Safety Act, with a concept paper to be submitted by the relevant ministries. He stated that no arrests, remands, or prosecutions have occurred under the Act to date. He also explained that the proposed tax on profits from service exports by residents, including IT services, was reduced from the previous Government’s proposed 30 per cent to 15 per cent, with non-resident migrant worker remittances excluded and expected 2025 revenue estimated at about 0.04 per cent of GDP.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned why the tax on services exports was only reduced from 30% to 15% after IMF discussions rather than being removed entirely, citing the need to increase dollar inflows from SMEs in IT and digital services. He urged the Government to reconsider and fully withdraw the remaining 15% tax in line with its digital export promotion policy, and also called for the suspension of the OSA pending new legislation.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha explained that the proposed 15 per cent tax rate on export services was negotiated under the IMF programme, alongside the removal of some measures such as the Imputed Rental Income Tax. He argued that residents should pay tax on income earned locally or abroad subject to thresholds, while export service income receives a concession compared with ordinary income tax slabs. He stated that routing such earnings through banks is required to verify eligibility under self-assessment, and framed the measure as consistent with tax fairness and global efforts to address cross-border tax avoidance.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva sought to raise a point of order under Standing Order No. 91(b). No substantive policy argument or proposal was included in the statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva sought permission, with the Deputy Minister’s agreement, to ask a brief clarification. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva questioned the Government’s proposal to tax online service exporters, contrasting it with the absence of taxation on online casinos. He asked why online casinos are not being charged even a 5 per cent tax while online workers could face a 15 per cent tax, urging the Deputy Minister to address this apparent disparity.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha stated that all individuals are subject to tax law under the Government’s framework, including those engaged in online or other forms of business. He acknowledged practical and technical difficulties in tracing and enforcing tax collection, but said the Government is not exempting such taxpayers and will move progressively to improve enforcement.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva questioned why taxes should not be imposed on the relevant group or entities being discussed. The remark indicates support for applying taxation as part of the policy debate, though the excerpt does not provide further context on the specific tax, sector, or legislative matter.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Prof. Anil Jayantha stated that the parties under discussion fall within the applicable framework and are not exempt from taxation. He argued that they therefore cannot simply avoid paying tax.
Public Finance Full speech → - An Hon. Member
AI summary An Hon. Member briefly clarified that the persons or matters being discussed are not exempt. The remark was made amid an interruption and contains no further substantive argument or proposal.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha clarified that casino operators are not tax-exempt and described the issue as one of non-declaration, non-payment, and avoidance across multiple sectors and professions. He said the Government intends to reduce these practices gradually by creating a fairer, simpler, and more convenient tax payment system, including through digital technology, while allowing for cases where taxpayers may be unable to pay immediately.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva made a brief intervention indicating he wished to add one further point. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was stated in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva urged the Ministry of Finance to act on recommendations made by the Committee on Public Finance regarding online casinos. He said he had raised the issue under both the current and previous Governments, disputed claims that no online casinos operate, and warned that such operations may be generating very large daily revenues similar to offline casinos.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 8 Procedural Ministerial Statements and Points of Order 76 speeches
- 9 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Salary increases for doctors (Budget 2025) 1 speeches
- 10 Procedural Personal Explanations 5 speeches
- 11 Procedural Notices of Motions: Privilege matter 2 speeches
- 12 Debate Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage 103 speeches
- 13 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Flood Mitigation in Ratnapura District 10 speeches
- 14 Procedural Adjournment of Parliament 2 speeches