Sitting of Thursday, 6 March 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1742798688089503 ·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 Tabling of Annual Reports 4 speeches
- 2 Oral question Oral Questions (Q.1-4) 9 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Rohana Bandara) SJB
AI summary Asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for monthly figures from 1 January 2024 to date on SriLankan Airlines flight delays and cancellations. He also requested the additional costs incurred due to those disruptions and the measures proposed to address them, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma tabled a written answer on behalf of the Finance Minister regarding SriLankan Airlines delays and cancellations in 2024. The response provided month-wise data on cancellations, on-time performance, delays, and additional costs, and outlined operational measures including schedule adjustments, maintenance planning, standby aircraft use, spare parts management, fault monitoring software, and staff training to reduce disruptions.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development for detailed data on rice imports between 14 November 2023 and 13 November 2024, including separate quantities imported by the Government and the private sector. He also sought information on any rice imported after the 2024 Presidential Election, the reasons for importation, import costs, market release and consumer prices, and taxes levied on the imported rice.
- Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer on rice imports, stating that 49,621.6 metric tons were imported by the private sector during the queried period, while no government imports occurred in that overall period. He further stated that from 21 September 2024 to 26 February 2025 the Government imported 10,400 metric tons and the private sector 180,653.5 metric tons, with imports used as a temporary measure in late 2024 due to lack of buffer stocks, market concentration, reduced production, weather impacts, and diversion of rice to other uses. The response also cited controlled consumer prices under Gazette No. 2414/04 of 9 December 2024 and listed applicable duties and levies on imported rice categories.
- Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Kins Nelson) SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, on behalf of Hon. Kins Nelson, asked the Minister of Labour to provide details on institutions required to make Employees’ Provident Fund contributions, including their names and the amounts owed. He also requested information on the measures the Ministry intends to take to recover any outstanding contributions, and asked for reasons if such information cannot be provided.
Employment Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary As Minister of Labour, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha tabled a written answer stating that 22,450 institutions are required to pay EPF contributions, with outstanding dues of Rs. 34.99 billion as of 28 February 2025. He said the detailed list of institutions and the EPF recovery process were placed in the Library, and outlined recovery measures including inspections, notices, instalment plans, and Magistrates’ Court action for persistent non-compliance.
- Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha) SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, on behalf of Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for details on Japanese-assisted projects proposed since 2015. He sought the total number of such projects, the number and names of those currently halted, and the measures planned to resume them, or reasons if the information cannot be provided.
- Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Eighteen projects were identified, of which six have been halted, including the Kerawalapitiya power evacuation cable, Terrestrial Television Digitization Project, Central Expressway Section 3, LRT, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Wastewater Treatment Plant, and BIA Development Project. The tabled answer outlined current measures for each, including alternative financing, Cabinet-level review, domestic funding, reassessment of Colombo transport options, constraints from public protests, and restarting procurement for BIA after the OCC agreement and resumption of debt servicing.
- 3 Oral question Oral Question No. 5 (Q.390/2025) 2 speeches
- 4 Procedural Oral Question Stand Down Request 1 speeches
- 5 Oral question Private Notice Question: Reopening of Tile Factory in Oddusuddan 3 speeches
- 6 Oral question Private Notice Question: Construction of Tissa Rajamaha Viharaya on Private Land in Thyiddy 3 speeches
- 7 Procedural Outstanding Questions Raised 1 speeches
- 8 Debate Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media 127 speeches
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Challenges Faced by Medical Specialists (Postgraduate Trainees) 15 speeches