Sitting of Saturday, 15 March 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1745317151078324 ·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 and Speaker's Announcements - Resignation of Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports Tabled 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 3 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Projects Planned on Land of Walahanduwa Estate, Galle (Q.255/2024) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Provisions for Electricity to Isolated Villages and Houses (Q.429/2025) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Road from IDH to Kolonnawa Junction Development (Q.275/2024) 2 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Samurdhi Development Officers and Samurdhi Managers Details (Q.382/2025) 2 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order on Public Petitions and Committee Discussion (Q.429/2025 Answer) 10 speeches
- 9 Opening Ministerial Statement: Provision of Smart Boards and Equipment for Schools 2 speeches
- 10 Debate Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) 71 speeches
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy moved the customary Rs. 10 reduction under Head No. 112 during the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2025, and argued that foreign affairs should be used more strategically to advance economic diplomacy, digital economy linkages, export markets, diaspora engagement, tourism, food security, and social priorities. He called for region-specific diplomatic planning, stronger embassy roles, and structured engagement with Sri Lankans and other supporters abroad beyond remittances and fundraising. He specifically urged urgent action to renew or resolve driving licence conversion arrangements for Sri Lankans in Italy and Poland, noting that unresolved administrative issues are restricting employment opportunities. He also proposed improved digital remittance channels, higher-value tourism products, and reforms to hotel and skills training.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB
AI summary The Minister said the integration of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment was intended to increase foreign inflows through tourism, remittances and investment while restoring Sri Lanka’s international standing after the economic crisis and debt restructuring process. He outlined ongoing diplomatic and economic engagements with India, China, the UAE, Japan, the EU, the US and multilateral bodies, including planned MoUs, grant-funded projects, refinery proposals, GSP+ review preparations, and measures to address potential US tariff impacts through market diversification and investment promotion. He also reported progress on consular digitization, including online applications for civil certificates through missions abroad, and said discussions with Italy on driving licence recognition are continuing after issues arose over differing Sri Lankan licence formats.
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy raised concerns about Sri Lankan driving licences being accepted abroad, noting that issues related to format and security features affect multiple countries beyond Italy and Poland, and urged that digitization meet international requirements. He also highlighted difficulties faced by Sri Lankans in Italy receiving special sojourn permissions for hardship or illness, requesting action to resolve Foreign Ministry certification and passport-related documentation bottlenecks that prevent them from working or moving freely.
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB
AI summary Vijitha Herath acknowledged technical issues affecting passports and stated that steps are being taken to address and resolve them.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concern that a series of recent murders and unresolved law-and-order issues are creating a public security crisis with potential effects on tourism, and called for urgent action and clarity from authorities. He questioned the Government’s continuation of the previous debt restructuring and IMF framework, arguing that current growth, revenue, and debt assumptions are unrealistic and urging renewed engagement with creditors and international financial institutions to avoid difficulty meeting debt service obligations by 2028. He also called for export market diversification, stronger trade and investment links with India and China including FTAs and dedicated industrial zones, and proactive engagement with the United States to mitigate possible tariff impacts.
- The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne addressed migrant worker issues during the debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, citing COPE revelations on underage domestic workers, fraudulent certification, untrained placements, and institutional malpractice involving recruitment networks. She said the Government would strengthen Missions, implement the National Policy on Migration for Employment, amend the SLBFE Act, address trafficking, and establish migration policy and resource mechanisms. She outlined plans to increase skilled migration, support returnees through social protection and enterprise assistance, and use SLBFE allocations for training, loans, scholarships, housing support, and export-oriented businesses.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam criticized the Government’s approach to accountability for gross human rights violations, arguing that proposed domestic mechanisms have been inadequate and that the State tends to protect itself. Referring to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Al Jazeera interview on wartime conduct, he questioned the defence of previous government actions and cited reports on aid blockages and hospital bombings. He tabled Human Rights Watch material documenting repeated shelling of hospitals in 2008-2009 and said he would place an aid worker’s account of the Valayanmadam Hospital attack in the Library.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary The member cited Human Rights Watch and witness accounts alleging shelling of hospitals, including Putumattalan, during the final stages of the war despite visible Red Cross markings, and criticised former and current governments for defending the State internationally. He rejected reliance on domestic accountability mechanisms, arguing that past commissions such as Paranagama and Udalagama had not led to action, and questioned whether the Government would pursue justice for Tamil victims after tabling the Batalanda Commission Report. He also referred to a JDS report alleging 219 wartime torture sites and demanded investigations into more recent alleged torture and atrocities, not only the Batalanda-era cases.
Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns that coastal lands in Hambantota, Tissamaharama and Thalaimannar, initially given for exploration, were being moved toward mining permits, alleging a conflict of interest involving a former GSMB Chairman now consulting for James Global (Pvt) Ltd. He warned that allocating such lands for mining would undermine tourism development, particularly in the North and East, where he said airport, ferry, harbour and connectivity projects remain undeveloped. He also urged the Minister to update the Government’s estimate of average tourist daily spending, noting that the current figure is based on a 2018 survey.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the Government’s calculation of foreign exchange earnings from tourism, arguing that arrival numbers alone are insufficient without assessing actual per-tourist spending and whether high-spending visitors are being attracted. He also urged Hon. Vijitha Herath to use his influence within his party to support a credible investigation into accountability issues that the affected community can trust.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB
AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi argued that foreign employment has long sustained Sri Lanka’s economy but was historically unmanaged, particularly through the untrained migration of women to domestic work in the Middle East, creating social and family hardships. He called for a structured system to train workers for overseas employment, involving the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment authorities, vocational training institutions, and the Education Ministry, citing the Philippines as an example. He also urged urgent action to address unpaid Cyprus social security contributions owed to Sri Lankan migrant workers, including opening a Sri Lankan embassy in Cyprus and recovering the funds.
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB
AI summary Funding has been allocated and preliminary arrangements completed to open a Sri Lankan embassy in Cyprus. The embassy is expected to be opened within the next couple of weeks.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa argued that foreign policy should be closely integrated with national security and economic policy, maintaining a non-aligned and friendly approach while ensuring foreign investment agreements are favourable to Sri Lanka. He urged the Government and Foreign Ministry to respond strategically to changing global trade conditions, promote Colombo Port City as a financial hub, and work with economic institutions to protect sovereignty and maximize commercial benefits. He also called for expanded airport capacity, including development of Mattala and Jaffna through private partnerships, to support higher tourism targets, and for incentives and streamlined formal channels for foreign remittances. He additionally linked foreign policy to addressing organized crime and drugs while safeguarding national unity in international forums.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala responded to Hon. Namal Rajapaksa’s allegation that he had filed numerous corruption cases against him and his family while serving at CIABOC. He clarified that CIABOC acted on complaints received, referred matters to the relevant investigative bodies such as the CID, FCID or Bribery Commission, and that prosecutions were handled by the Attorney-General’s Department, denying any personal or targeted agenda.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Namal Rajapaksa thanked the Minister for the clarification but noted that many individuals who had submitted the majority of the complaints under discussion were now members of the Minister’s Cabinet. The remark sought to highlight a potential inconsistency or political context surrounding those complaints.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Members of the previous Government, other political parties, and civil society organisations lodged complaints without restriction. The point made was that the complaints process was open and accessible to all.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma said the Government’s foreign affairs and economic strategy is based on integrating Sri Lanka into global value chains while ensuring investor protection, transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption. He cited proposed investment protection legislation, investor-ready industrial sites in the North, continued engagement with the IMF Programme and debt restructuring process, and strengthened bilateral and multilateral ties with partners including Japan, India, China, the World Bank and ADB. He also emphasized tourism promotion, people-to-people diplomacy, sovereignty in investment decisions, support for overseas Sri Lankan businesses, and a target to raise exports from US$19 billion to US$40 billion within five years through diversification and trade facilitation.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera JJB
AI summary Ruwan Wijeweera argued that Sri Lanka’s foreign service had been weakened by politicization, nepotism and crony appointments, citing media reports of political family members in diplomatic posts, and said the NPP Government would restore professionalism through merit-based appointments. He emphasized Monaragala District’s underused tourism and agricultural potential and outlined plans to develop Kataragama through city branding, create and upgrade tourism zones, and support a national target of three million tourists. He also proposed easing congestion at Yala National Park through a Maligawila entrance and linking heritage and natural sites such as Maragala, Yudaganawa, Siyambalanduwa and Pottuvil into a district tourism strategy.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned whether the Government was adhering to its policy commitment to appoint professional and ethical career diplomats, citing several recalled and replacement heads of mission whom he characterized as political appointments and raising concerns about alleged misconduct affecting female Foreign Service officers. He urged the Government to review diplomatic appointments and prioritize qualified career officers. He also called for legislation to establish a comprehensive Truth-Seeking Commission covering disappearances and violence from 1971, 1983, 1988-89, the war period, and later “white van” abductions, arguing that such a process is needed for accountability, reconciliation, and to allow accused security officials to testify and clear their names.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake addressed the Ministry’s work amid Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange constraints, commending attention to foreign employment while urging a shift from low-skilled domestic work to officially trained, skilled migration. He proposed strengthening vocational skills, technology training, and English proficiency, citing the Philippines as an example, to increase the value of remittances. He noted that remittances reached US$6.58 billion in 2024 and said current monthly inflows of US$700–750 million could support higher annual foreign exchange earnings if sustained.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged the Government to provide targeted incentives for high-remitting migrant workers, including higher duty-free allowances and improved airport services, arguing that legal remittances are a major source of foreign exchange. He also called for a stronger tourism strategy to reach higher visitor and revenue targets by 2030, including rapid airport development, expanded international flight frequencies, revival of domestic scheduled air services, and better regulation of online booking platforms to retain foreign exchange locally. He proposed airport information centres, tourist credit card benefits, benchmarking against regional competitors, and reforms to address scams and procedural weaknesses at Cultural Triangle sites and other tourist infrastructure.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB
AI summary Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa supported the allocations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and argued that improved domestic stability and international confidence are increasing tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings. He highlighted the Eastern Province’s tourism potential, including Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Arugam Bay, Kumana and related natural and cultural attractions, and proposed upgrading the Pottuvil aerodrome into a runway and developing a rail link from Batticaloa to Pottuvil/Arugam Bay. He also raised concern over the relocation of the Foreign Employment Bureau office from Kalmunai and urged that foreign employment and tourism services be made accessible to people across the Eastern Province.
- The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Rauff Hakeem commended former MP M.S.M. Nazeer’s service and urged party members to win local-level mandates as a route back to Parliament. He asked the Foreign Affairs Minister to urgently operationalize visa-free entry for listed countries, citing the UAE, and to resolve difficulties faced by Iranian diplomats in opening bank accounts and obtaining credit cards in Sri Lanka. He called for a clearer, modern and balanced foreign policy, especially in the Indian Ocean, with better alignment between security, development and sustainable use of marine resources. He welcomed constructive engagement at the UNHRC but sought substantive action on reconciliation and accountability, including strengthening domestic mechanisms, avoiding surveillance of civil society, and addressing omissions such as the PTA, a Public Prosecutor’s Office, the 13th Amendment and Easter Sunday justice.
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB
AI summary The Government has decided to grant free visas to nationals of 39 countries and is considering adding Pakistan, with the relevant Gazette to be submitted to Parliament for approval. Regarding Iranian diplomats’ bank accounts, the issue was said to have arisen about a year earlier and been resolved, though the Government will check whether any current difficulties remain.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Chairman procedural
- The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Government’s tourism policy, citing recent international recognition of Sri Lanka as evidence of improved global perception and disputing Opposition claims about inaction. He outlined initiatives for tourism development in the North and North-Central, including plans related to Mannar, Talaimannar, Wilpattu access, and the Talaimannar–Rameswaram ferry, and denied that SLTDA land in Kuchchaveli had been allocated for sand mining. He reported increased tourism FDI, clearance of a 5,000-plus SLTDA registration backlog, planned expansion of training, regulation of informal accommodation, and Budget allocations for city-based promotion and upgrading 100 attractions. He also said the Government would introduce a contributory pension scheme and social protection fund for tourism workers while expanding tourism benefits to less-developed areas.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB
AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister to adopt a consultative approach and consider constructive Opposition proposals, given the importance of these sectors to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. He noted that war, the Easter attacks and COVID-19 severely affected tourism and remittances, but highlighted the recovery of tourism earnings from 2022 to 2024 and over two million arrivals in 2024. He argued that resolving structural issues in tourism and foreign employment is essential to secure sustainable foreign exchange inflows, especially ahead of increased external debt servicing from 2028.
- Hon. Presiding Member
AI summary The Presiding Member urged reforms to expand tourism, including better facilities at destinations such as Sigiriya, designated nightlife opportunities with safeguards, support for hotel investors, and improved security to attract higher-spending visitors and increase foreign exchange earnings. He also called for long-term measures to raise remittances by promoting skilled migration and improving welfare, airport facilities, and dignity for returning migrant workers and their families. He requested clarification and investigation into misunderstandings over UAE visit visa procedures raised in COPA, arguing that mischaracterization of lawful migration processes had caused harassment and harmed workers who generate foreign exchange.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake tabled documents relating to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s September 2023 visit to Wolverhampton and London, arguing that Foreign Ministry funds were used for what was initially described in official correspondence as a private visit. He cited requests and budget allocations amounting to about £40,000, plus related rupee releases, including accommodation, protocol costs, and other expenses, and noted that later internal documentation reclassified the trip as an “Official Programme.” He questioned how public expenditure was incurred for a private visit by the former President and spouse, and requested an investigation and action against responsible officials.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC
AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam criticized successive governments’ use of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to counter international scrutiny over alleged violations during the ethnic conflict and argued that the current Government has not changed this approach. Citing the 2015 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ recommendation for a hybrid special court, he said any credible accountability process must include international judges, prosecutors, investigators and witness protection, and that a purely domestic mechanism or truth commission without prosecutorial powers would lack victims’ confidence. He also asked the Minister to question the Chinese Ambassador over political comments made in Jaffna and raised concern about reported Chinese proposals for a cultural centre in Jaffna following a visit by China’s National Ethnic Affairs Commission.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar called for a more coordinated tourism strategy focused on increasing arrivals and per-capita spending, including better use of the Tourism Development Levy, centralized promotion through missions and tourism agencies, commercial use of Ratmalana Airport, development of the Negombo–Kalpitiya–Wilpattu tourism corridor, and upgraded wildlife tourism facilities and visitor services. He argued that Sri Lanka should monetize cultural, wildlife and geographic attractions through improved infrastructure, trained guides, taxi networks and marketing, rather than relying on nightlife-related tourism. Referring to the Batalanda Commission Report, he supported action against alleged torturers but urged that accountability be applied comprehensively to all political violence and victims, without selectivity. He also objected to unsupported religious criticism in Parliament and said reforms such as those concerning the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act should be handled through proper expert and religious processes.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika JJB
AI summary Requested that the photograph shown by another Member be tabled so that Members could identify and examine it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asserted his right to use his allotted speaking time and stated that he was not required to submit a document unless he explicitly said he was tabling it. The remark appears to address a procedural dispute over whether material referred to during debate had to be formally produced.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar concluded his remarks and thanked the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Hasara Liyanage argued that Sri Lanka had lacked a coherent tourism policy and national brand, and said the Government is addressing this through institutional reorganization and the proposed National Tourism Commission. She cited 600,000 tourist arrivals so far in 2025 and highlighted a Rs. 600 million Budget allocation under Clean Sri Lanka to improve sanitation, information centres, rest facilities and basic infrastructure at selected destinations. She emphasized expanding rural benefits through agro-, eco- and integrated tourism, and noted that a longstanding drinking water issue in Bentota is being addressed with expected results by May.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana emphasized the need for Sri Lanka to engage pragmatically with international partners, acknowledging assistance from India, China, Japan and Bangladesh during the economic crisis and urging continued engagement with the United States to protect export livelihoods. He called for targeted debt relief for medium-scale tourism entrepreneurs, especially in Negombo, and a lawful mechanism to restore liquor licences for bona fide tourist establishments. He proposed developing health and wellness tourism, improving tourist transport and sanitation, learning from international hospitality and events models, and protecting wildlife and natural assets. He also urged stronger law enforcement to address crime-related security concerns and requested a coherent national tourism policy, offering Opposition input.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra defended the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Ministry’s performance, arguing that it is restoring public confidence in foreign missions through merit-based appointments, digitization of consular services, and clearing passport backlogs. He cited past corruption allegations involving former ambassadors as context for reforms, and said the eBMD portal now enables overseas issuance of birth, marriage and death certificates while generating foreign exchange. He also outlined steps to strengthen policy preparedness through the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and to reform foreign employment processes, including reviving E-8 visas through the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency, restoring Italian driving licence conversion recognition, and resuming Italy work visa processes.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Chamindranee Kiriella discussed the historical evolution of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, noting shifts between Western alignment, non-alignment, and anti-Western or ideologically driven positions under successive governments. She argued that frequent changes linked to domestic political priorities have hindered consistency, contrasting this with countries such as China, Malaysia and Singapore that maintained long-term continuity in foreign policy. She urged the Foreign Minister to move toward a long-term foreign policy framework with substantial continuity regardless of changes in government.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Attorney-at-Law Chamindranee Kiriella
AI summary Hon. Chamindranee Kiriella urged the Government to adopt a long-term foreign policy spanning 10 to 15 years, rather than allowing policy shifts based on changes in political ideology. She called for stronger commercial diplomacy, including consideration of performance-based incentives for relevant Foreign Ministry staff to attract investment, and requested action to depoliticize the Foreign Service in line with campaign commitments. She also proposed a pension scheme for female migrant domestic workers, funded through salary deductions and coordinated with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, to provide retirement support when they return to Sri Lanka.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of National Integration JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer said foreign employment and tourism are key sources of foreign exchange, noting plans to send 243,100 workers abroad in 2025, mainly to Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with greater attention to worker welfare and children’s education. He argued that Middle Eastern tourist arrivals had fallen sharply since 2018 due to post-2019 policies and related international perceptions, and called for targeted promotion, capable diplomatic appointments, Arabic-language guide training and seasonal marketing to capture that market. He also proposed stronger pre-departure training, including languages, for migrant workers, and highlighted tourism development initiatives such as the “Ruhunu Ring,” whale-watching revival, and rural tourism proposals in Alawwa.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns about a Foreign Ministry-linked official now serving as Minister Vijitha Herath’s Private Secretary, alleging past complaints were suppressed and asking the Minister to investigate. He also urged the Tourism Ministry to issue licences to trained driver-tour guides, and called for fairness in selecting workers for Korean employment schemes. Referring to the tabling of the Batalanda Commission Report, he requested that other commission reports, including on the assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga and killings of SLFP members in 1989, also be tabled, while alleging electoral irregularities in the 1989 Presidential Election in Monaragala District.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake stated that his side was not taking a partisan position, noting that both their supporters and Sri Lanka Freedom Party members were affected by past violence. He said that while justice is pursued regarding Batalanda, they would also raise the murders of SLFP organizers, members, and former Ministers, and present the Presidential Commission Report on the assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary The member welcomed the creation of a unified Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and commended its work in strengthening foreign relations, attracting investment and promoting tourism. She highlighted tourism as the third-highest foreign exchange earner, cited targets of over 3 million tourist arrivals in 2025, allocations of Rs. 600 million for tourism-zone infrastructure, and rising tourism investment in early 2025. She proposed expanding beyond traditional destinations through ecotourism, geotourism, medical and research tourism, including development of sites in the North Western Province, old forts, canal routes, Kalpitiya, Puttalam and a new Wilpattu access point via Eluwankulama.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB
AI summary Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne raised a point under Standing Order 75 during the debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. She responded to earlier criticism by Hon. S. M. Marikkar about government attendance, stating that government Members were present and participating, while only one Opposition Member was present, and urged the Opposition to address its own attendance rather than make public criticisms.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan supported the Expenditure Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, arguing that the Ministry is central to addressing the dollar crisis through remittances, tourism, investment and improved diplomatic relations. He said the Government is rebuilding trust after past cronyism in diplomatic appointments and corruption in investment and foreign employment processes, and cited migrant remittances of about US$ 7.5 billion and a trade deficit of around US$ 8 billion. He referred to recent action on issues affecting Sri Lankan workers in Italy and outlined expected job opportunities in South Korea, Israel and Japan, while pledging fairer and less corrupt foreign employment administration.
- 11 Papers Papers: Annual Reports - Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management 4 speeches