Sitting of Thursday, 10 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 Parliament Opening 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Petitions 7 speeches ▸
3. 3 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation 7 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question 10/2024: National Schools - Lack of Qualified Principals 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question 71/2024: Bakki-ella, Villukulam and Ambilanturai Roads in Batticaloa 11 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question 212/2024: Sri Lanka Police - Vacancies and Promotions 7 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question 541/2025: National Cancer Institute - Essential Drugs 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Procedural Procedural: Request for Standing Order 27(2) Question and Tabling 7 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question 572/2025: Elephant Management Reserves in Hambantota District 6 speeches ▸
10. 10 Procedural Procedural: Point of Order - Privilege Issue 5 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question 579/2025: Sexual Crimes Against Women Serving in Government Institutions 8 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Minister provided data on complaints of sexual harassment and related offences against women in government institutions, stating that no complaints were recorded by the National Committee on Women’s Complaints Centre or the 1938 Women’s Help Line from 2015 to 2021, while nine complaints were recorded through those channels from 2022 to 2025. She said further police data from 2015 to March 2025 and action taken reports had been submitted as annexes to the Library. She outlined ongoing measures, including awareness programmes on laws, redress mechanisms and the 1938 Help Line, and training and sensitization programmes for police, public officers and officials working with women and children, with participation figures for 2023 to early 2025.

      Women & ChildrenLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Asked the Minister to clarify whether the data being referenced were from 2015.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj JJB

      AI summary Provided statistics on reported victims and categories of offences from 2015 to March 2025, noting that most cases involved sexual harassment and that 148 cases have been instituted in court, with annexed details tabled in the Library. She said the Ministry, the National Committee on Women, and the National Child Protection Authority are preparing ethical media reporting guidelines on gender-based violence with the Ministry of Mass Media. Addressing delays in women’s and children’s cases, she stated that about 40,000 complaints have accumulated over the past decade and that recruitment to add 109 NCPA staff, faster forensic and DNA reporting, and coordination with the Minister of Justice, including on the Corporal Punishment (Prohibition) Bill, are being pursued.

      Justice & Human RightsWomen & Children Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna briefly rose to seek a clarification from the Deputy Speaker. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question is recorded in the excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised concerns about delays in child-related cases that remain pending for years. She asked whether existing courts could allocate a specific day each week to hear and conclude such cases more quickly, instead of relying only on establishing new courts or recruiting additional officials. She sought clarification on whether a systematic mechanism exists to expedite these hearings.

      Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj JJB

      AI summary At a Ministry Advisory Committee, the Ministry agreed with the Police Children and Women Bureau to record child victims’ video testimony at the earliest stage so they need not give evidence repeatedly. Measures are being pursued to speed up court processes and enable children in remand or probation homes to testify securely by remote means, reducing transport, exposure and risks to victim identity. She said further details on judicial procedure could be obtained by inviting the Minister of Justice to respond.

      Justice & Human RightsHealthcare Full speech →
12. 12 Oral question Oral Questions: Primary Health Care and School Infrastructure Projects 9 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions (Tabled) 6 speeches ▸
14. 14 Procedural Procedural: Adjournment Motions 3 speeches ▸
15. 15 Debate Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers 71 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Administrative Notes and Hansard Publication Information 2 speeches ▸