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
- 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
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP
AI summary Asked whether the Government will continue the previous administration’s programme to grant freehold deeds to holders of government land deeds. He requested details on how many freehold deeds have been issued, whether authorities are aware that landholders surrendered their deeds to Divisional Secretariats for this purpose, and how those surrendered deeds will be returned if necessary.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe, answering for the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, stated that a Cabinet-approved expert committee has been appointed to review the “Urumaya” freehold deeds programme and that Cabinet will decide its future based on the committee’s recommendations. He reported that 22,362 freehold deeds have been issued by the Land Commissioner General’s Department, while the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has prepared 26,968 deeds, of which 8,011 have been distributed and 18,958 remain with local offices for distribution. He also explained that applicants who surrendered old deeds may request their return through the relevant Divisional Secretariat under Circular No. 2023/01-11 dated 21 November 2024, with the same procedure applying under the Mahaweli Authority’s second phase.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP
AI summary Chanaka Madugoda asked the Deputy Minister whether obtaining the relevant Cabinet decision would take a long time.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the question posed by the Hon. Member was unclear and did not provide a substantive response.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP
AI summary Asked whether the proposed formulation of a new procedure would take a long time.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation stated that the new programme for issuing land deeds can begin in May.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP
AI summary Asked whether applications already being processed through Divisional Secretariats but halted midway would be affected by the relevant change, or whether those applications would continue under the existing process.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that deeds signed by the President are already being issued, while further applications remain under processing. He said applicants who wish to collect their deeds may apply through the relevant Divisional Secretariat or Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority Division Management Office under the applicable circular, and that others may obtain deeds through a new programme beginning in May.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP
AI summary Raised a question about individuals referred by the Divisional Secretariat for the issuance of deeds, seeking clarification on their status or how such cases are being handled.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary Applications are currently held either at Divisional Secretariats, the Department of the Land Commissioner General, or, where submitted to the Mahaweli Authority, at its divisional, residential enterprise management, or head offices. The Deputy Minister said documents can be retrieved by submitting an application, while requests for new deeds may be processed under a new programme beginning in May, and assured that the records are safely maintained.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP
AI summary Asked the Deputy Minister whether land deeds already being processed through Divisional Secretariats could be completed under the existing procedure, rather than requiring a new process.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that permits, deeds, and tax documents remain in effect, and that the issue concerns deeds under the “Urumaya” programme, which converted permits to freehold ownership. He stated that deeds already signed by the President will be issued, while pending cases may either be withdrawn or processed under a new programme beginning in May.
Land & Housing Full speech →
- 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