Sitting of Friday, 9 May 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1748600585013314 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
Order of business
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- 1 Opening Opening and Announcements 10 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions 4 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question: National-Level Stadiums in Northern and Eastern Provinces (Q.1/2024) 14 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Agriculture (Q.9/2025) - Stand Down 2 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Questions - Second Round (Q.2/2024, Q.3/2025, Q.4/2025, Q.5/2025, Q.6/2025) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Matters of Urgent Public Importance 32 speeches
- 7 Procedural Ministry Statements and Privilege Matter 5 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural Matters: Standing Order Exemptions and Private Members' Bills 5 speeches
- 9 Debate Private Members' Motion (P.2/2024): Curtailing Privileges of MPs and Former Heads of State 18 speeches
- 10 Debate Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution 77 speeches
- 11 Procedural Procedural Points of Order 6 speeches
- 12 Debate Private Members' Motion (P.19/2024): Course of Action for Implementing Audit Recommendations 24 speeches
- 13 Debate Private Members' Motion (P.25/2024): Providing Housing for Every Family in Sri Lanka 16 speeches
- 14 Debate Private Members' Motion (P.37/2025): Public Transport Standards and Bus Specifications 17 speeches
- 15 Debate Private Members' Motion (P.38/2025): Utilization of Abandoned Development Projects 15 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB
AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath moved a Private Member’s Motion urging the Government to identify and rehabilitate unused or incomplete buildings constructed with foreign aid, loans, or public funds, arguing that many have become wasted assets and safety or public health risks. He said such structures include hospitals, schools, offices, community halls and sports facilities, while public institutions continue to spend on rented premises. He proposed a nationwide census, a detailed status report, and a multidisciplinary expert committee with community consultation to assess rehabilitation needs and suitable public uses. He also called for transparent implementation and funding through the Budget, private investment, foreign assistance, PPPs, or reallocation of inactive state funds.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB
AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera seconded Hon. Lal Premanath’s Motion on repurposing old and partially built public structures, arguing that such unused buildings represent wasted national wealth and borrowed public funds. He cited examples from Elpitiya, including post-tsunami Pradeshiya Sabha buildings, a disputed library project, and a COVID-era building allegedly constructed on private land, and linked such waste to broader public hardships during the economic crisis. He urged the Government to act quickly to convert these structures into productive assets.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the Motion and referred to the former Government’s construction of a “Presidential Palace” in Jaffna on land acquired from displaced or deceased residents. He said the current President and Minister Bimal Rathnayake had promised to convert it for public use, but no action had followed after seven months. He urged the Government to be transparent about whether funds are available and questioned whether it genuinely wants proposals or assistance from local representatives.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna alleged that the Government was protecting an individual connected to the death of a hill-country student because he was an NPP district coordinator. He appealed for the matter to be considered from a parental perspective and urged that justice be delivered for the student’s death.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB
AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody supported the Motion to bring unused buildings constructed under past development projects into public use, arguing that many such projects were politically driven and not based on local needs. He cited Gampaha District, where he said about 289 buildings from various special projects remain unused or incomplete due to issues such as lack of electricity, sanitation, access roads, or clear purpose. He stated that the Gampaha District Development Committee has decided to prepare a report assessing the cost and steps needed to make these buildings usable and to adapt them for practical public purposes.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe supported the Motion to put unused buildings from past development projects into public use, arguing that many were built without assessing local need, access, or economic value and have since remained abandoned. She cited unmet needs in education and health, including unfinished multi-storey structures at Chilaw General Hospital, and said the Government had cancelled problematic PPP-style agreements and allocated funds to complete such facilities. She also referred to reusing abandoned paddy stores, identifying underused ministry buildings, and creating a national inventory and data system for state-owned buildings, with funds allocated to bring halted projects to usable standards.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma supported the Motion to bring abandoned development structures into public use, stating that public funds and borrowings had been spent on assets that now create maintenance costs, illegal activity, waste dumping and health risks. He said the Government will identify expenditure and asset details, complete and repurpose such structures for markets, trade, tourism, business support, education and training, using Budget allocations and Public-Private-People partnerships, with asset data systems and dashboards being developed under the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Comptroller General’s Office. He also updated the House on SME parate execution relief, noting that about Rs. 81 billion of Rs. 212 billion in stage 3 default loans had been brought to banks for negotiation, with around Rs. 6 billion restructured, and urged remaining SMEs to engage with banks.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB
AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath thanked Members who supported and seconded his Motion and acknowledged the Deputy Minister of Finance’s remarks on recovering wasted public assets. He emphasized the duty of public representatives to safeguard public funds and prevent waste, and called for the Motion to be passed unanimously.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention 13 speeches