Sitting of Thursday, 10 April 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1747999742032122 ·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 Parliament Opening 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Petitions 7 speeches
- 3 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation 7 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question 10/2024: National Schools - Lack of Qualified Principals 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question 71/2024: Bakki-ella, Villukulam and Ambilanturai Roads in Batticaloa 11 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question 212/2024: Sri Lanka Police - Vacancies and Promotions 7 speeches
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara asked the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to provide details of current vacancies in the Sri Lanka Police by post. He also sought information on whether the Ministry recognizes delays in police promotions, what measures will be taken to expedite them, and what steps are planned to increase salaries and improve welfare facilities for police officers.
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister provided figures on Police Service vacancies, stating that there are 26,047 vacancies in the General and STF cadres, plus 1,821 in supporting services. He said recruitment and promotions have been delayed partly due to over 100 Supreme Court cases, but ASP recruitment is at the final stage and 5,940 officers awaiting promotion are being processed under applicable schemes. He outlined Budget 2025 and Police Welfare Fund allocations for food, uniforms, buildings, quarters, welfare facilities and medical support, and said work is underway on revised allowances and a separate Police salary structure for possible consideration in the 2026 Budget.
- Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara raised concerns about poor working conditions in the Police, including long shifts, restricted leave, distant transfers, and disparities with the Armed Forces in rations, retirement terms, and pensions. Referring to the newly passed proceeds of crime law, he argued that an effective and dignified Police service is essential to combat theft, corruption, and fraud. He asked whether the Police could be placed on a higher salary scale and when the proposed reforms, including measures mentioned for 2026, would be implemented.
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that Budget 2025 has made provision for police-related needs, including urgent approval to recruit 2,500 officers, with gazetting planned for the following month subject to training capacity. He said further recruitment, improved medical facilities, and transfer arrangements to nearby divisions are being pursued to reduce workload pressures. He also noted that the Ministry is working with the Attorney-General to resolve more than 100 pending Supreme Court cases affecting police promotions.
- Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara urged the Minister to ensure faster implementation of decisions and questioned a new circular dated 04.04.2025 establishing Public Security Committees under the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative. He argued that Community Police Committees already operate across all 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions and asked whether the new structure would politicize grassroots policing or replace existing committees. He also raised the transfer of the OIC of Kobeigane, noting that the National Police Commission had reversed it but the appointment letter was pending, and alleged that charges were being prepared after the fact to justify the transfer.
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the Government is taking steps to depoliticize the Police in response to rising crime, underworld activity and narcotics use, including among schoolchildren. He said non-politicized Public Security Committees are being established to replace or improve upon existing Community Police Committees, and noted that their membership would include Divisional Secretaries, religious leaders, principals, retired police officers and retired military personnel under the relevant circular.
- 7 Oral question Oral Question 541/2025: National Cancer Institute - Essential Drugs 6 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural: Request for Standing Order 27(2) Question and Tabling 7 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question 572/2025: Elephant Management Reserves in Hambantota District 6 speeches
- 10 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order - Privilege Issue 5 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question 579/2025: Sexual Crimes Against Women Serving in Government Institutions 8 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Questions: Primary Health Care and School Infrastructure Projects 9 speeches
- 13 Oral question Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions (Tabled) 6 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Adjournment Motions 3 speeches
- 15 Debate Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers 71 speeches
- 16 Procedural Administrative Notes and Hansard Publication Information 2 speeches