Sitting of Wednesday, 5 March 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1742473561091594 ·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: Annual Reports and Committee Reports 5 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented by Members 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Madunagala Tourist Project (Q.1/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Cey-Nor Housing Scheme, Batticaloa (Q.2/2025) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Substandard Coconut Oil (Q.3/2025) 6 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Shops Leased Out in Polonnaruwa City Center (Q.4/2025) 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Nilwala River Salinity Barrier - Farmer Compensation (Q.5/2025) 4 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Fire Service Units in Mannar (Q.27(2)/2025) 3 speeches
- 10 Debate Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Heads 124, 216, 331, 151 and 290 27 speeches
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka moved the customary token reduction of Rs. 10 each from the Recurrent and Capital Expenditure under Heads 124, 216, 331, 151 and 290 during the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025. He then opened the debate and invited Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi to speak.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB
AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi supported returning “Ocean Resources” to the Fisheries Ministry and proposed placing the Ocean University under it, arguing that Sri Lanka needs a dedicated institution and plan to develop ocean-based sectors sustainably. He criticized the 2025 Budget for insufficient support to fisheries, especially fuel relief, and proposed subsidized diesel through fisheries harbour outlets, alongside concessionary loans to refit laid-up multi-day vessels. He also called for a boat ambulance and rescue service, resumed upgrading of fish landing sites, consultation-based redrafting of fisheries law amendments, and rehabilitation of stalled or deteriorated harbour and anchorage projects including Rekawa, Marawila/Matallae, and Kirinda.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB
AI summary Dilip Wedaarachchi requested the Chair to grant him one additional minute to continue his remarks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary The Opposition agreed to grant the Member an additional two minutes to continue speaking during the Committee proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB
AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi stated that documentation from prior “Blue Economy” initiatives is available to the Ministry and offered cooperation with the Fisheries Minister to rebuild the sector. He asked that the existing surveys and reports on the Rekawa and Marawila harbour projects be reviewed, and called for an investigation into alleged waste of funds and responsibility for it.
- The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister outlined the Government’s fisheries programme under the 2025 Budget, noting an increased allocation of Rs. 11.44 billion plus Rs. 3 billion for fuel relief, with Rs. 863 million already disbursed under a Rs. 25-per-litre subsidy scheme. He said the Ministry is introducing a coordinated central-provincial administrative framework, expanding and rectifying harbour facilities, addressing ice monopolies, reducing post-harvest losses through new technology, and expanding fish distribution through Ceylon Fisheries Corporation outlets, Sathosa and Co-op Cities. He also highlighted measures for the North, inland fisheries under NAQDA’s “Reservoirs to Factories” concept, and proposed reforms to fisher insurance and institutional debts inherited by the Fisheries Corporation.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that poverty eradication and community empowerment require accurate, consistent data, including a clear poverty definition, reliable household income and expenditure indicators, and targeting down to Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari levels. He criticized the Government’s reliance on cash transfers without a broader programme for savings, investment, production and exports, and called for lessons from Samurdhi and Aswesuma to address exclusion and ineligible beneficiaries. He also demanded action on promised graduate employment and fuel relief for fishers and other vulnerable groups, supported stronger farmer and fisher pension and insurance schemes, and urged development of the blue economy within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone under a sustainable model.
- The Hon. Rathna Gamage JJB
AI summary Hon. Rathna Gamage responded to the Leader of the Opposition’s claim that fuel subsidies were not being provided, stating that fuel relief had been given since the President assumed office. He said Rs. 863 million had already been disbursed out of an allocation of Rs. 3,000 million and undertook to table district- and vessel-level details of the subsidies for transparency.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa challenged the Deputy Minister to verify directly with fishing communities at each harbour whether the amount and frequency of relief provided match the Government’s claims. He argued that the communities’ responses would reveal whether they are satisfied with the assistance.
Employment Full speech → - The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB
AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi said the promised fuel relief for fishers had not been fully paid, with some areas receiving only the first tranche and no payments for four months. He argued that the relief originated under Ranil Wickremesinghe and called for the Government to provide the promised Rs. 150 per litre diesel subsidy by removing the specified harbour and bank-related components.
- The Hon. Rathna Gamage JJB
AI summary Hon. Rathna Gamage clarified that the Government had not promised fuel at Rs. 150 per litre, but was instead providing a Rs. 25 per litre fuel subsidy for fisheries, capped at Rs. 300,000 per multi-day trip with proportionate limits for smaller craft. He disputed claims that no assistance had been paid, citing subsidy payments allegedly made to vessels associated with Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB
AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi said fuel subsidy payments to his fishing boats had been received for November but not for the subsequent four months, citing bank statements as evidence. He rejected insinuations against fishers, asked what had happened to the promised Rs. 150 per litre support, and questioned who was receiving the alleged Rs. 60 commission under previous arrangements. He urged the authorities to stop making false claims and ensure the subsidy is delivered properly.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary Minister Pannilage defended the President’s use of poverty data in the Budget, arguing that multidimensional poverty must be assessed through living standards, education and health rather than a single indicator. He said the Ministry’s priorities are rural development and social security, including preparation of development plans for all 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions through a new Rural Development Agency, supported by Rs. 1,012 million and reallocated Grama Shakthi funds. He stated that Rs. 749 billion has been earmarked for social protection, including a new disability registry, an increase in the disability allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000, and expanded coverage from about 139,000 to 410,000 beneficiaries.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran raised concern over unlawful incursions by Indian bottom-trawling vessels into Sri Lankan waters, particularly in the North and East, stating that they are destroying marine habitats and undermining local fishermen’s livelihoods. He called for strict enforcement of Sri Lanka’s ban on bottom trawling, legal action against both foreign and local illegal fishers, and stronger action by the Navy, Police and Fisheries authorities to protect maritime boundaries. He urged the Minister to intervene firmly and warned that affected fishing communities in Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi may be forced into public protest if their livelihoods are not protected.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana urged the Government to implement its fisheries-related election commitments, particularly reducing diesel by the promised Rs. 160 per litre and paying overdue kerosene subsidies for fishermen in areas such as Beruwala. He raised concerns about high fish prices, fuel and gear costs, salt shortages affecting dry-fish production, and imports of fish products that he said depress local fishermen’s incomes. He also called for introducing satellite-based fish-location technology, expanding cold storage capacity, allowing competitive importation of approved VMS devices, and supporting mechanization for net-mending and related activities.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB
AI summary Ajith Gihan supported the Budget allocation for the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources and Marine Resources, arguing that the new Government should be given time to address long-standing problems in the sector. He cited the scale of Sri Lanka’s maritime zone and fisheries employment, and said high fuel, gear and operating costs, institutional debt, and neglected bodies such as NAQDA, North Sea Ltd. and Cey-Nor had weakened the industry. He stated that the Government plans rule-based management, revival of aquaculture, inland fisheries, prawn farming and related institutions, with technology-enabled progress expected within a year.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA
AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan urged stronger support for the fisheries sector, including fuel support, insurance for gear lost due to Indian bottom trawlers, cold storage, fisheries harbours in Mullaitivu or Mannar, inland fisheries development, and a fisheries academic facility in the North. He called for structured talks with the Tamil Nadu Government and the Indian Central Government to stop illegal trawler incursions, while opposing third-country involvement in the northern maritime area. He also requested action against illegal fishing practices, corrupt officials, and delays caused by the fishermen’s pass system, arguing that improved livelihoods and education in fishing communities would help the sector earn foreign exchange.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- 11 Debate Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 133 speeches
- 12 Procedural Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report 18 speeches
- 13 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Jaffna - Social Impact of Drug Addiction Among Youth 17 speeches