Sitting of Thursday, 8 May 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1748426168056758 ·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 Met at 9.30 a.m. 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents 9 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions - Citizens' Petitions Presented 3 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural - Interjections on Order of Business 8 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Prevention of Delay in Ending Civil Court Cases (Q.133/2024) 28 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Foreign Official Visits by Former President (Q.5/2024) and Follow-up Questions 16 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Currency Printed/Minted Since 2015 (Q.9/2025) 16 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Questions: Martyrs' Day Commemorations and OPD Attendance (Q.10/2024, etc.) 21 speeches
- 9 Procedural Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - IMF Conditions and Privilege Matters 58 speeches
- 10 Procedural Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance 13 speeches
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns that large areas of land in the North and East remain under military occupation, leaving many Tamil residents displaced, and cited examples including Palaly, Kilinochchi and families expelled from Anuradhapura. Referring to Gazette Extraordinary No. 2430 of 28 March 2025, he asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation why about 5,700 acres in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Mullaitivu are being acquired and what the urgent purpose is. He further questioned how displaced people, including those who lost land documents during the war, would be able to assert ownership claims, and sought clarification on the Government’s intention behind issuing the Gazette before releasing occupied lands.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that he requires one week to respond to Hon. Shritharan’s question raised under Standing Order 27(2).
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister tabled a written reply to Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Standing Order 27(2) question on rice supply, prices and imports. The reply stated that the Maha 2024/25 paddy harvest is forecast at 2.6 million metric tons, with reduced Nadu cultivation and possible Samba/Keeri Samba shortages, while 103,409.8 metric tons of rice were imported in the first quarter of 2025. It noted that intermediaries and high private purchase prices may affect market prices, and said the Government is using guaranteed paddy prices, monitoring by the Consumer Affairs Authority, and selective short-term private imports under maximum retail prices to stabilize supply and prices.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister to outline the Government’s forward-looking plan for resolving the issue under discussion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Maha 2024/25 harvest is estimated to be about 200,000 metric tons below expectations and that the matter has been referred to the Food Security Committee to maintain uninterrupted market availability of rice. He said around 65% of stocks comprise Nadu, Samba, Keeri Samba and Red Rice, and noted that while other varieties have adequate verified stocks, the Government may import the required quantity of Keeri Samba if a shortfall arises.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Argued that productivity should be improved and markets opened with appropriate tariffs to promote competition. Proposed levying a tax to cover production costs, suggesting that this would remove the need for minimum guaranteed prices and benefit consumers.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that rice import policy is aimed at protecting paddy farmers, noting that around 27% of the population depends on paddy cultivation. He said imports are being allowed where necessary, including permits for 200,000 MT of maize for poultry and other industries, and arrangements for beer producers to import their own annual rice requirement. He attributed current pressure on the rice market, particularly Kakulu rice, to animal feed and industrial demand, and said the Government would import required Kakulu quantities directly for those sectors to protect both consumers and industry.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued from the consumer perspective that rice pricing should reflect paddy costs, noting that a retail price of Rs. 260 per kilogram can be assessed by dividing by 1.6 to estimate the paddy cost. He suggested imposing an excise if necessary to address concerns over end use, while allowing market forces to determine the sector’s direction.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that maximum retail prices for rice and guaranteed prices for paddy are intended to protect both consumers and farmers. He said market opening with duties would be limited to what is necessary, noting that current stocks are adequate, farmers have received good prices, and the Government will ensure an uninterrupted rice supply.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma requested additional time to provide an answer, indicating that the response would be given the following day.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 11 Procedural Procedural - Committee Matter and Staff Notice; Bills Presented 7 speeches
- 12 Debate Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles 105 speeches