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
- 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
- Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam asked the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing about unresolved issues arising from the ADB-assisted drinking water project for Vavuniya Town implemented in 2010–2011, including land acquisition and commitments under a 2013 tripartite agreement. He sought clarification on delays in providing permits, irrigation and access roads for alternative lands, priority employment for affected farmer families, and arrangements to channel surplus anicut water to renovated Agrarian Development tanks, and asked what measures the Government would take if these issues were acknowledged.
- Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to questions on alternative land and support measures related to an affected project area in Vavuniya, stating that temporary permits have been issued, Cabinet approval obtained for grants, and work is proceeding through the Divisional Secretariat with irrigation and road works accepted by farmers. He said agreed employment for 18 affected family members at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board requires approval due to recruitment restrictions, while they will be prioritized for labour contract vacancies in the interim. He also reported that a feasibility study found surplus water from the Periyaru tank cannot technically be released to certain higher-elevation renovated tanks, but provincial-funded interconnections among other tanks and canals have enabled water supply and paddy transplantation.
- Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam said affected persons from a project completed 13 years ago still hold only temporary permits and have been resettled in forest areas vulnerable to elephant incursions, asking whether funds will be allocated for protective measures. He also raised irrigation defects, stating that newly interconnected tanks have improperly positioned sluices that prevent water from reaching higher fields, and requested their repositioning. He further asked whether a 3 km access road, currently unusable in rainy seasons, could be rehabilitated under Budget allocations for Northern rural roads.
- Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka stated that temporary permits had been issued, Cabinet approval for land grants obtained, and the Divisional Secretariat was continuing the grant process. He said irrigation constraints around Periyaru tank were due to elevation differences, but Provincial funds had enabled water supply to three tanks and transplanting. He undertook to refer access road improvements and the elephant issue to the relevant Ministers and to alert the Divisional Secretary regarding possible road allocations.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns about farmers’ access to fields, stating that the road requires immediate rehabilitation and that crossing the Paranki Aru anicut becomes impossible during the rainy season due to submergence. He requested provision in the current year’s budget for at least a footbridge if a full bridge cannot be built, and called for sluices to be repositioned, arguing that farmers had been misled about water reaching the tanks because of elevation differences.
- Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka acknowledged the difficulties raised and stated that the concerns would be referred to the relevant authorities for resolution. He added that, regarding sluice elevations, a technical report already exists and further action would be taken accordingly.
- 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