Sitting of Friday, 21 March 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1747297753031842 ·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 Speaker's Certificate - Article 79 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Vocational Training Authority Report and Petitions 4 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins 20 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to Question No. 127/2024 on currency note printing, stating that although the Central Bank awarded the 2024 annual printing order on 20 October 2024, no consignment has yet been received and no notes have been printed since the 2024 Presidential Election. He cited the Monetary Law Act, No. 16 of 2023, to explain the Central Bank’s exclusive authority to issue currency, replace unfit notes and coins, maintain working stocks, and approve printing or minting orders. He added that future production and issuance of notes and coins will be based on demand forecasts, with annual or semi-annual orders placed as required.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned the Deputy Minister on government borrowings as of 5 March 2025, citing Rs. 3,775 billion in Treasury Bills, Rs. 1,063 billion in Treasury Bonds, and USD 1,084 million from the World Bank, IMF, and ADB. He asked for an explanation of how the total borrowings, estimated at about Rs. 5,156 billion, had been utilized.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that supplementary questions should remain relevant to the main question on printing notes and minting coins. He added that the Government’s management of public funds had reduced reliance on domestic borrowing and contributed to lower bank interest rates. He advised that detailed information on Treasury Bill issuance should be sought through a separate question to the Treasury.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned a statement by Hon. Wijitha Herath that Booking.com should leave Sri Lanka if it does not pay taxes, noting that about 40 per cent of tourists use the platform. He asked whether the matter had been discussed with the Ministry of Finance, given the absence of a legal framework to tax such platforms, and sought clarification on what was meant by “removing” Booking.com.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that established parliamentary practice has allowed supplementary questions to be asked when the relevant Minister or Deputy Minister is willing to respond. He raised this as a procedural point regarding how such questions have been handled in the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to limiting questions directed at the Finance Ministry, stating that if the Deputy Minister required separate questions for supplementary matters, he was prepared to submit them accordingly. He noted that he had already followed this procedure after his first supplementary question and would do the same for a second if requested.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the supplementary question was not relevant to the main question. He advised that, if an answer was required, a separate question should be submitted to the relevant Minister.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister questioned whether a Member of Parliament has authority under the Standing Orders to direct or order the Speaker to act in a particular way. He asked for clarification on the procedural basis and permissibility of such an instruction.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that Members may seek clarification from the Speaker but cannot direct or order the Speaker. He emphasized that protecting the dignity of the Speaker is necessary to uphold the dignity of Parliament, and questioned the repeated pattern of conduct challenging that principle.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara requested permission from the Speaker to make a brief statement. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was presented in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that he was not attempting to instruct the Speaker, but was referring to parliamentary practice. He criticized the Government side, arguing that members who had frequently questioned Ministers while in Opposition were now reluctant to face similar questioning in Government.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister briefly remarked on the conduct of the Speaker, asking rhetorically whether members had seen a Speaker act with such fairness. No specific policy proposal, demand, or legislative matter was raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara briefly acknowledged that similar situations had arisen before, but stated that the current situation was different in nature or severity. No specific proposal, demand, or legislative issue was raised in this intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti contrasted past parliamentary discipline under former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, saying Members responded when called to order and were deterred by being named. His remarks referred to the authority of the Chair and order in parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara referred to having challenged or stood up to Chamal Rajapaksa. The excerpt contains no further policy argument, proposal, or procedural demand.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB
AI summary Sunil Handunnetti briefly acknowledged the Speaker and did not make a substantive argument, proposal, or request.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 4 Oral question Oral Question No. 3 - 276/2024: Safe Medical Termination of Pregnancy 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Questions Nos. 4-5 - Stand Down (294/2024, 305/2024) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Second Round Question No. 2 - 191/2024 - Stand Down 3 speeches
- 7 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Power Generation Policy 21 speeches
- 8 Procedural Personal Explanation and Procedural Matters 9 speeches
- 9 Procedural Business of Parliament: Appropriation Bill Exemption Motion 2 speeches
- 10 Debate Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading 145 speeches