Sitting of Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1747715041076408 ·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 Opening: Parliament commencement, President's Message, Announcements, and Committee Listings 85 speeches
- 2 Opening Opening: Message from President, Speaker's Certificate, VAT Bill Determination, and Death Notice 4 speeches
- 3 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Institutional Statements 10 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural: Welfare Benefits Gazette Discussion and Clarifications 7 speeches
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva briefly rose to make a clarification during the proceedings. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva noted that the Prime Minister had tabled proposals under the Welfare Benefits Act and said there was no objection to considering them. He requested that, in future, Members be given more time to study such papers before they are taken up in Committee, rather than being tabled in the morning and considered the same afternoon.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Gazette proposes to increase both the number of welfare beneficiaries and the payment amounts. He said the Parliamentary Business Committee considered the matter that day, and that it was being presented with the agreement of the Chief Opposition Whip and the understanding of Parliament, with no objection to further discussion in Committee.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka stated that the Opposition does not object to the allowance increases in the Gazette, given the rising cost of living. He questioned why the number eligible for the disability allowance is reduced from 410,000 in the 2024 document to 310,000 under the Gazette, and asked the Government to explain its plan for the remaining 100,000 beneficiaries by the next day.
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary The Minister clarified that, although a higher figure appears in the relevant Gazette, only about 138,000 persons with disabilities have actually been receiving the allowance under his Ministry. He stated that the Government is now expanding the scheme to cover 310,000 beneficiaries.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that while he accepted the Minister’s position, the concern was the delayed receipt of the Gazette. He said timely access would have allowed the matter to be examined in Committee and details obtained without requiring debate in the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government is following the stipulated timeframe for Ministers to present Gazettes to Parliament. He added that this process is being carried out in accordance with instructions from the Attorney-General.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 5 Committee report Committee Reports: Justice and Governance Committee Reports 4 speeches
- 6 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented 5 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: EPF and ETF Files (276/2024) 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Transport Board and Railways (383/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Drinking Water Supply Vavuniya (424/2025) 7 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Drinking Water Facilities Trincomalee (427/2025) 6 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Soldiers Recruitment Special Workwear (445/2025) 6 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Question 569/2025 (Stand Down) 3 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question: Land Deeds for Government Lands Program 14 speeches
- 14 Oral question Oral Question: Private Tuition Regulation and Child Safety 10 speeches
- 15 Oral question Oral Question: Chilaw General Hospital Development 4 speeches
- 16 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority and Officer Pensions 2 speeches
- 17 Oral question Oral Question: MSME Tariff Crisis and Trade Negotiations (SO 27(2)) 18 speeches
- 18 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order on Trade Agreements and Privilege Matter 5 speeches
- 19 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order on Members' Conduct and Sitting Hours 4 speeches
- 20 Debate Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading 86 speeches
- 21 Procedural Procedural: Inspector-General of Police Removal Resolution and Division Vote 13 speeches