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
- 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
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that Parliament consider the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the establishment and maintenance of unlawful detention sites and torture chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme. The report had been tabled in Parliament on 14 March 2025, and the motion formally initiated parliamentary consideration of it.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala seconded the Motion and cited findings of the Batalanda Commission, arguing that its report implicated Ranil Wickremesinghe in abuse of power, unlawful interference with police functions, and indirect responsibility for unlawful detention and torture chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme between 1988 and 1990. He referred to specific report passages identifying houses allegedly used for detention and torture, including premises linked to Wickremesinghe and police officers, and said the report also recorded that Wickremesinghe accepted there was no proof connecting the JVP or NSSP to the July 1983 riots. He framed the debate as an opportunity to seek justice for those killed or tortured during the period, including political activists and Attorney-at-Law Wijedasa Liyanarachchi.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahman referred to the Batalanda Commission Report and questioned why the JVP/NPP had not pursued the issue earlier despite past opportunities and political alliances, arguing that any renewed accountability process should examine all actors and periods even-handedly. He asked whether the Government would investigate individuals now aligned with it who were allegedly involved in operations against the JVP during 1988-89, as well as other past incidents including those linked to Matale. He also raised current concerns about the use of counter-terror laws, citing the detention of a youth over a sticker critical of Israel, and urged proportional policing, respect for expression and assembly, and due process.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe argued that the Batalanda Report should be understood within the wider context of unlawful detention, torture, abductions and disappearances during the 1988-89 period, which he attributed to the policies and actions of the then UNP Government. He referred to the JVP’s participation in democratic politics before its 1983 ban, evidence in the Report disputing its responsibility for the July 1983 violence, and the escalation of repression after the Indo-Lanka Accord. He stated that the current Government, in office for four months, would take lawful measures to investigate crimes committed across the country and hold perpetrators accountable, also recounting his own alleged near-abduction in October 1989.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam said the Batalanda Commission Report records serious abuses during 1988–1990, including abductions, extrajudicial killings, vigilante activity with state involvement, obstruction of investigations, and protection of alleged perpetrators. He linked these findings to other periods of violence, including the southern insurrection and the war in the North and East, arguing that many commission reports on grave abuses have remained unimplemented. He urged the Government to investigate those named, prosecute where warranted, and implement the recommendations of this and other commissions to ensure accountability and prevent recurrence.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB
AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna, speaking during the debate on the Batalanda Commission Report, characterized the abuses examined by the Commission as state terrorism involving torture, killings and death squad activity against youth and professionals. He linked the Batalanda site to the former urea factory and alleged responsibility of political leaders of the period, including Ranil Wickremesinghe, while naming several district-level figures he said were associated with similar camps and squads. He called for the truth recorded in the report to be translated into justice and for safeguards to prevent such structures from re-emerging.
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna argued that the Batalanda Commission material and related records should be made public and used to pursue justice, not revenge, for abuses and killings during 1971 and 1988-89. He alleged that state-linked groups and political actors were responsible for torture centres, killings, and the Sapugaskanda Police Station attack, citing the report as contradicting Ranil Wickremesinghe’s claim that the JVP carried it out. He also criticized the use of presidential pardons and political power to protect criminals, referring to Gonawala Sunil and comparing such actions to later instances of abuse of power.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne NDF
AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne said the Batalanda Commission Report should be addressed through legal institutions if the objective is justice for victims, rather than used for political advantage decades later. He argued that any inquiry should also examine the broader governance failures, misuse of power and context of the 1987-1988 violence, and questioned the Government’s purpose in debating the report in Parliament instead of pursuing legal action. He also called on NPP and JVP MPs to state their positions on the events and warned against repeatedly reopening past conflicts for political mobilization.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar said the Batalanda debate should contribute to documenting torture camps and killings during 1987-1989, and called for those responsible to be identified and punished. He linked those events to wider patterns of repression, including Black July, the burning of the Jaffna Library, violence against Hill Country communities, and disappearances in both the North and South. He alleged responsibility by past UNP leaders for these incidents and demanded investigations and justice for victims across all affected communities.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara said the 1988-89 insurgency caused major loss of life, destruction of public and economic assets, and long-term harm to Sri Lanka’s development, while arguing that responsibility should be examined without protecting any political or security figures linked to Batalanda. He condemned both LTTE and JVP-related violence, describing the difficulty security forces faced in identifying guerrilla actors embedded among civilians and linking such conditions to abusive interrogation practices. He also accused current political leaders associated with that period of having incited youth and schoolchildren through slogans and agitation, and called attention to the burning of tea factories, Agrarian Service Centres, local government buildings and railway property.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology JJB
AI summary The Minister, speaking during debate on the Batalanda Commission Report, accused the UNP leadership of responsibility for anti-democratic actions, torture, disappearances and killings during 1977-1990, particularly under J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe. He cited events including the 1980 general strike dismissals, burning of the Jaffna Library, the 1982 referendum, Black July, party bans, suppression of student unions, and alleged torture centres such as Batalanda. Referring to an Amnesty International report and the ICCPR right to life, he argued that JVP, SLFP, LSSP and even UNP members were detained, tortured, disappeared or killed, and linked these abuses to state security forces and associated groups operating at the time.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna argued that the 1985-1991 JVP insurrection was a national tragedy that successive governments failed to conclusively address, while later political cooperation with the JVP/NPP was pursued in the interest of moving the country forward. She referred to the Youth Unrest Commission, subsequent political alliances, and the Batalanda Commission, asserting that counter-insurgency measures were presented as necessary to maintain order during the period. She cited figures on killings and deaths, disputed higher casualty estimates, and stated that she would table lists of victims and attacks, including losses suffered by political parties and families not represented in Parliament.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Nihal Galappaththi JJB
AI summary Hon. Nihal Galappaththi criticized Ranil Wickremesinghe in relation to the Batalanda Commission Report, citing passages alleging unlawful meetings, torture, abductions, killings, and questions over Wickremesinghe’s role despite not holding a Defence portfolio. He referred in detail to the arrest, torture, and killing of human rights lawyer Vijaya D. Liyanarachchi and argued that such events must remain part of the historical record. He also linked these issues to the public mandate received by his party and rejected a claim by Hon. S.M. Marikkar that the JVP had not sought an inquiry into Rohana Wijeweera’s killing.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB
AI summary Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna argued that camps such as Batalanda were established as security measures in response to JVP violence during the 1987-89 period, particularly after attacks linked to protests against the Indo-Lanka Accord. He cited and tabled documents listing alleged JVP attacks on army and police camps, looting of weapons, destruction of paddy stores, and killings of civilians and monks. He also accused the JVP of past attacks on Parliament, the Temple of the Tooth, the Kataragama Perahera and Katunayake Airport, questioning its present criticism of state actions during that period.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB
AI summary Harshana Rajakaruna informed the Chair that the Chief Opposition Whip would arrange for him to receive an additional five minutes of speaking time.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB
AI summary Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna accused the JVP of past anti-democratic violence, citing killings of clergy, politicians, public servants, security personnel and UNP supporters, as well as destruction of buses and depots during its opposition to the Provincial Council system. He said President J.R. Jayewardene had attempted to bring the JVP into democratic politics by releasing Rohana Wijeweera, and welcomed the party’s current participation in the democratic framework. He called for any inquiry into the Batalanda torture camp to be accompanied by a separate inquiry into the causes of the violence of that period, with redress for affected families, and defended Ranil Wickremesinghe against what he described as intimidation.
- The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary The Hon. Sunil Watagala challenged another member’s implication regarding the Batalanda issue by asking whether they considered Batalanda to have been acceptable. His intervention appears to question or criticize the stance being taken in the debate on that matter.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala argued that the Batalanda Commission Report should be viewed within the broader context of state violence, disappearances, torture camps and mass graves during the J.R. Jayewardene and Premadasa era, rather than through isolated incidents. He cited other commission reports recording 16,263 complaints of killings, disappearances and abductions across provinces, the killing of 44 children under 14, and numerous alleged torture and burial sites linked to local political actors. He contended that the 1983 ban on the JVP and suppression of democracy contributed to the conflict, and stated that the Batalanda Report identifies Ranil Wickremesinghe as directly connected to that apparatus of oppression.
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahman challenged the Minister’s account of an arrest, saying parents alleged counter-terrorism officers pressured them not to inform others, including human rights bodies. He questioned why a youth was arrested for pasting a sticker, why the Colombo Crime Division visited homes linked to a protest looking for stickers, and why a poet in Eravur who wrote in support of Palestine was summoned to record a statement, requesting clarification.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Investigations are being conducted into reported extremist activities, including an inquiry concerning Miflan Moulavi. Action is being taken based on available information, with inquiries pursued where necessary rather than automatic arrest or detention.
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahman requested one additional minute from the Deputy Chairperson, stating that the matter he wished to address was important.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahman requested one minute of speaking time. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or argument was raised in the statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahman informed the Minister in charge of Police of an incident in which the Colombo Crime Division allegedly questioned a person for calling Netanyahu a terrorist and for expressing concern over children dying in Palestine. He asked why police officers were posing such questions and urged the Minister to be aware of such conduct, clarifying that he was raising the matter as information rather than an accusation.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that while he could not direct the Police or CID on questioning methods, any alleged shortcomings could be examined. He clarified that the Moulavi in question had not been arrested but that his house had been searched, and said he would avoid further details given the 22-year-old youth’s future. He warned against the re-emergence of communal nationalism and stressed the need to ensure the safety of Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Ananda Wijepala cautioned against generalizing individual incidents to broader society and said separate, lengthy investigations are conducted for that reason. He responded to a claim that 90 people had been detained without cause, indicating the matter was being considered in the context of investigative processes.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake accused the Government of selective law enforcement, arguing that public officers and lesser political figures were being targeted while senior political figures were not. He criticized the continued travel ban and lack of bail for the former Passport Office head, questioned the handling of Batalanda-related discussions, and alleged past abuses at the Beragala camp. He also claimed the Government had failed to deliver promised dry-ration assistance, neglected families of those killed during the 1988–89 violence, and mishandled economic issues affecting garment workers.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha JJB
AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasingha argued that the Batalanda Commission Report should be used to understand past State repression, the banning of the JVP after 1983, and the denial of democratic rights despite the Commission’s finding that the JVP was not responsible for the Black July violence. She linked the events to broader patterns of political suppression, illegal detention, torture, sexual violence, and killings, citing cases such as Embilipitiya and the 1988 arrests and murders of Deepika Muthuhettigama and Chaminee Geethanjali. She called for justice for victims across the North, South, and East, while also briefly noting recent workers’ salary increases as gains achieved through public struggle and sacrifice.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Chrishantha Abeysena JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Chrishantha Abeysena moved that Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha assumed the Chair.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP
AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka criticized the Government’s decision to debate the 25-year-old Batalanda Commission Report, arguing that it had gained attention only after a recent Al Jazeera interview with Ranil Wickremesinghe and a demand from the Frontline Socialist Party. He accused the JVP of past violence, including destruction of infrastructure, attacks, killings and robberies, and rejected its justification that it took up arms after being banned by the J.R. Jayewardene Government. He argued that the JVP’s actions contributed significantly to Sri Lanka’s economic decline and said the country was rebuilt after 2009 despite later challenges such as COVID-19.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB
AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe argued that the Batalanda Commission Report showed serious unlawful actions and politicization of the Police under former UNP administrations, and criticized Opposition members for allegedly avoiding the Report’s findings while focusing on JVP violence. He cited specific references from the Report, including illegal promotions and disappearances, and stressed that any state response must comply with the rule of law. He said those responsible for Batalanda should be punished through empowered legal institutions, while the NPP Government would pursue reconciliation across political, ethnic, and regional divides rather than retaliation.
Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna contrasted the Government’s pursuit of justice for politically motivated killings with what he described as the lack of parliamentary attention to Tamil suffering, citing the 1983 pogrom, the burning of the Jaffna Public Library, and deaths at Mullivaikkal in 2009. He alleged that successive governments used Tamil armed groups and collaborators to target Tamils, and questioned why some figures had been arrested while others had not. He also accused Chief Government Whip Bimal Rathnayake of falsely reporting to the Speaker that he had made remarks about attorney Swastika Arulingam, invoking the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act and Penal Code Section 190, and said he would seek legal redress.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB
AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva linked the violence of 1988–89 to earlier political events, including the 1977 UNP mandate, the Jaffna Public Library burning, the 1982 referendum, Black July, and the proscription of the JVP. He argued that the suppression of open political activity led to underground resistance and cited the Batalanda Report and other alleged detention and torture sites as evidence of state-linked abuses against youth and left activists. He called for renewed parliamentary attention to these incidents, justice for victims, and punishment of those responsible regardless of status or family connections.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe used the debate on the alleged Batalanda torture camp to recall wider post-Independence restrictions on freedoms, the impact of the three-decade war, and the losses suffered by all communities. He argued that the 1987 Indo–Lanka Accord and Provincial Councils provided an important political and development mechanism for Tamil-speaking communities and helped promote ethnic harmony in the Eastern Province despite conflict conditions. He urged the Government to restore provincial powers and hold long-delayed Provincial Council elections, criticizing governance through Governors and noting inconsistent statements on whether elections would be held or the system abolished. He also briefly referred to Sri Lanka’s position on continuing violence against Palestinians.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe condemned Israel’s actions and raised concern over the arrest and 90-day detention of a youth, Rusthi, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after he allegedly pasted a sticker criticizing Israel. He disputed a Police Media Spokesman’s statement suggesting the All Ceylon Jameiyyathul Ulama had described the youth as needing rehabilitation, saying ACJU had rejected such a claim. He argued that the Government, despite previously opposing and promising to abolish the PTA, was now using it in a manner that undermined Muslim public trust.
- The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake argued that the Batalanda Commission Report clearly identifies responsibility for torture and killings, including the alleged role of Ranil Wickremesinghe and police officer Douglas Peiris, while accusing Opposition Members of avoiding the report’s substantive findings. He linked Batalanda to a wider network of alleged torture camps operated during the UNP period and called for Parliament to examine those sites and for those responsible for killings, disappearances, and mass graves such as Matale to be held accountable. He also criticized alleged political protection, irregular promotions, and the use of state and paramilitary structures in suppressing youth uprisings.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK
AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan condemned the torture documented in relation to the Batalanda Housing Scheme and argued that accountability must apply equally to abuses committed in the North, East and South against all communities. He detailed the alleged 1990 Sathurukondan massacre in Batticaloa, stating that 186 civilians were killed after a cordon-and-search operation and calling for prosecutions after decades without justice. He also welcomed recent arrests in connection with killings in the East, including the murder of Professor Ravindranath, and requested that pending Road Development Authority appointments, including Eastern Province posts, be completed through proper administration.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe supported further action on the Batalanda Commission report, stating that the Batalanda Housing Scheme, originally intended for Fertilizer Corporation employees, had been converted into an illegal detention and torture centre during 1988-1989. He accused former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and associated police units of responsibility for abuses there and argued that the law must be applied against those involved. He said the Government would pursue proper inquiries into Batalanda and other alleged detention centres, while placing the issue in the wider context of past political violence in both the South and the North.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara argued that the 1987–1990 violence must be examined in full, acknowledging killings by the JVP, the UNP-led state and other actors rather than presenting any side as heroic. He cited political repression, constitutional changes, Black July, university violence, election rigging, assassinations, robberies, destruction of public property and alleged atrocities as part of the escalation. He questioned the justification for armed struggle and damage to national assets, while urging Parliament to close the chapter and move forward without selectively relitigating the past.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary The Minister said the Government had allocated two days to debate the Batalanda Commission Report and framed the issue as part of a broader need for justice, reconciliation, and accountability for violence from 1971, 1987–90, and the Northern war. He criticized previous political leaderships for failing to properly conclude the Batalanda process, while stating that the current Government’s approach is reconciliation rather than revenge and that the JVP’s armed phase arose after prolonged repression and failed democratic avenues. He said the Government’s immediate priorities had been economic stabilization and restoring electoral democracy, with a later phase focused on coexistence, addressing disappearances, and healing wounds across communities.
Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Leader of the House, the Member moved to adjourn the debate on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the establishment and operation of illegal detention centres and torture chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme. The motion was agreed to, and the debate was adjourned for continuation on a later date.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- 16 Procedural Administrative Notes and Hansard Publication Information 2 speeches