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
- 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
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government on whether recent decisions affecting solar power align with its policy commitment to add 2,000 MW of solar capacity to the national grid. He requested detailed information on existing coal and diesel plants, generation and purchase costs by source, solar capacity targets and achievements, rooftop and ground-mounted solar tariffs, pending project approvals, and the impact of new network limits imposed by a March 2025 circular. He also asked whether tariff reductions or regulatory delays could discourage investment, whether the Government was favouring diesel IPPs, and when amendments or a new Electricity Act would be presented to Parliament.
- The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB
AI summary The Minister of Energy objected to a set of six questions containing 32 sub-questions submitted under Standing Order 27(2), arguing that the format exceeded the intended scope of a public importance question. He said the information required involved multiple affiliated institutions and detailed data that could not be collected and verified within the roughly three hours available. He requested the Speaker to ensure the Standing Orders are used appropriately and asked for two weeks to provide answers if the questions are presented under the correct procedure.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that his series of questions was submitted in accordance with Standing Orders and was intended to address renewable energy policy, not to support diesel power interests. He urged the Government to maintain consistency between its election commitments and post-election policy on renewable energy and solar power.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a point of order. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or argument was presented in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara requested that the Leader of the Opposition be given a brief opportunity to speak.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera briefly objected to an action by the Speaker, asking him not to proceed in that manner. No specific issue, proposal, or legislative context was stated in the remark.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to the proceedings, noting that only one Opposition Leader was present and questioning why he was not being allowed to speak. He requested that the member be given at least a minute to address the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa tabled several questions previously raised by the Opposition under Standing Order 27(2), stating that the procedure followed was proper and consistent with past practice. He argued that the substantive issue was whether policy was protecting a “diesel mafia” or prioritizing renewable energy, particularly solar, and called for an answer on that matter.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake raised concerns about the use of Standing Order 27(2), arguing that it is intended for questions of public importance after notice to the relevant Minister, not for extensive data requests during Budget debates. He said some recent questions required hours of preparation and disrupted ministerial work, and proposed that such detailed matters be handled through normal oral questions, Consultative Committees, or discussion at the Parliamentary Business Committee. He urged the Opposition to use the procedure according to its purpose and said past misuse should not be continued.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that asking questions during the Budget debate is part of the Opposition’s duty and said Ministers may request additional time if new data is needed. He noted that he had previously allowed Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara time to provide answers and argued that relevant data and issues should already have been considered in the Budget process.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that matters raised under Standing Order 27(2) should be judged by urgency and national importance rather than by the number of questions or pages. Citing his earlier question on Donald Trump’s deglobalization and tariff policies affecting Sri Lanka, he said delayed answers could make parliamentary responses ineffective when policy impacts are imminent. He urged ministries, with their staff resources, to provide timely answers to such urgent matters.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake began to raise a question in Parliament, but the provided extract contains no substantive content beyond the opening words. No specific issue, proposal, or demand can be identified from the text supplied.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 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