Sitting of Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

1. 1 Opening Opening: Parliament commencement, President's Message, Announcements, and Committee Listings 85 speeches ▸
2. 2 Opening Opening: Message from President, Speaker's Certificate, VAT Bill Determination, and Death Notice 4 speeches ▸
3. 3 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Institutional Statements 10 speeches ▸
4. 4 Procedural Procedural: Welfare Benefits Gazette Discussion and Clarifications 7 speeches ▸
5. 5 Committee report Committee Reports: Justice and Governance Committee Reports 4 speeches ▸
6. 6 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented 5 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: EPF and ETF Files (276/2024) 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Transport Board and Railways (383/2025) 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Drinking Water Supply Vavuniya (424/2025) 7 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Drinking Water Facilities Trincomalee (427/2025) 6 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Soldiers Recruitment Special Workwear (445/2025) 6 speeches ▾
    • Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB

      AI summary Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara asked the Minister of Defence about tri-forces personnel recruited under special enlistment schemes and deployed in occupational roles. He sought details on their numbers, duties, privileges, and rules governing whether they may wear civilian clothes, workwear, or service uniforms, including who issues relevant instructions and whether institutional heads can require uniforms. He specifically raised the case of 43 Navy IT Division personnel reportedly instructed to wear uniforms and asked what attire they currently use for duty.

      Security & Defence Full speech →
    • Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Defence, the Deputy Minister stated that military personnel recruited for specialised vocations have been assigned duties relevant to those roles, and that the Army, Navy and Air Force permit civilian attire in certain duties depending on service orders and the nature of work. He reported that 46 naval personnel in the Information Technology Division who had been serving in civilian attire had refused to perform duties in uniform. He also referred to an annex providing service-wise details of personnel recruited under special enlistments and those currently in service.

      Security & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB

      AI summary The Member drew the Deputy Minister of Defence’s attention to recruitment and allowance issues concerning Sri Lanka Navy Information Technology Unit personnel recruited under Naval Message No. 5 of 2004, which stated that uniforms would not be provided under that scheme. He tabled the relevant 2004 and 2023 naval messages and the 2024 Internal Audit Management Committee minutes, noting inconsistencies in later recruitment instructions. He said an audit sample found Rs. 1,293,850.34 in uniform allowances had been paid in 28 instances, and emphasized that this reflected weaknesses in internal controls rather than fraud by the sailors.

      Security & DefencePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB

      AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara stated that an administrative error by the Navy had caused an injustice to a particular group, as evidenced by relevant documents. He requested the Deputy Minister of Defence to examine the matter and take corrective action.

      Justice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera JJB

      AI summary Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera stated that he would obtain the relevant messages from the Member in order to take action on the matter raised. He thanked the Member for presenting the facts.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Question 569/2025 (Stand Down) 3 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: Land Deeds for Government Lands Program 14 speeches ▸
14. 14 Oral question Oral Question: Private Tuition Regulation and Child Safety 10 speeches ▸
15. 15 Oral question Oral Question: Chilaw General Hospital Development 4 speeches ▸
16. 16 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority and Officer Pensions 2 speeches ▸
17. 17 Oral question Oral Question: MSME Tariff Crisis and Trade Negotiations (SO 27(2)) 18 speeches ▸
18. 18 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order on Trade Agreements and Privilege Matter 5 speeches ▸
19. 19 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order on Members' Conduct and Sitting Hours 4 speeches ▸
20. 20 Debate Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading 86 speeches ▸
21. 21 Procedural Procedural: Inspector-General of Police Removal Resolution and Division Vote 13 speeches ▸