Sitting of Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1749010823009957 ·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 Announcements: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill - Supreme Court Determination 2 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented and Committee Reports 8 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 34 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Yala National Park - Safari Jeeps and Employee Issues (Q.571/2025) 10 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Irrigation Reservoirs and Land Settlement (Q.578/2025 and Q.3519/2025) 13 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Questions: Plantation Community Infrastructure and Transport Issues 4 speeches
- 8 Procedural Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial 32 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised a Standing Order 27(2) question alleging that the Government’s measures to prevent shootings, killings, threats, and gang-related violence are inadequate, citing 79 shootings and 28 deaths over eight months. He asked the Government to present a specific plan to address the violence, clarify its implications for national security, tourism, and investment, and outline alternatives to current anti-crime efforts. He also sought updates on action taken over death threats and attacks involving MPs, public officials, provincial politicians, and attorneys, and called for measures by the Minister of Public Security and the Speaker to ensure the safety of citizens and elected representatives.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister said recent shootings were inter-gang underworld incidents linked to long-standing organized crime, political interference, military deserters, and leakage of weapons from some military camps, with investigations ongoing and implicated politicians to be named after police inquiries. He reported that about 3,000 military deserters, 2,106 suspects, and 1,278 firearms had been taken into custody or seized, and that 52 high-crime police divisions were being targeted by 15 special task teams. He outlined measures including island-wide raids and patrols, inter-agency task forces, intelligence and database upgrades, prison monitoring, maritime and airport controls, INTERPOL action, officer incentives, and coordination with the Attorney General to expedite prosecutions. Planned steps include new laws against organized crime, repatriation of overseas drug network leaders, reducing the domestic drug market, establishing a forensic laboratory, and further upgrading airport surveillance.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that recent violence is linked to internal clashes among organized criminal gangs and drug trafficking, but said the Government does not consider it a threat to the State or national security. He outlined enforcement actions including arrests in 32 concluded incidents, seizure of weapons and vehicles, Red Notice requests for overseas traffickers, repatriation of 11 suspects, and airport arrests using facial recognition. He also described measures against drug smuggling and gang operations, including scanners at ports, limits on SIM ownership, financial controls, prison phone disruption, rehabilitation programmes, and school awareness initiatives. Referring to threats against public officials, he said complaints are under investigation, including an alleged assassination contract involving “Kanjipani Imran” and an inmate at Boossa Prison.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa challenged the Minister of Public Security’s claim that recent violence is not unusual, stating that 52 deaths in eight months is higher than comparable periods. He said Opposition MPs, including Hon. Rohana Bandara in relation to local body control in Kebitigollewa and Medawachchiya, face threats and political intimidation despite the matter being raised with the President and the Speaker. Raising the issue under Standing Order 27(2), he demanded a substantive Government response on public security and the right to life of all citizens.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake rejected the implication that only the Opposition represents the public, stating that the Government also represents Sri Lanka’s 22 million people. He defended the Public Security Minister’s detailed response, acknowledged existing challenges, and said plans had been presented to address them while continuing to protect the public.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Under Standing Order 92(2)(a), Dayasiri Jayasekara requested that the Minister clarify which political parties and individuals were alleged to be involved, specifically asking whether the Samagi Jana Balawegaya had been mentioned. The intervention sought procedural clarity for the House, amid subsequent exchanges in which interruptions and unparliamentary remarks were ordered expunged by the Chair.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB
AI summary The Minister objected to a Member’s intervention, stating that a point of order under Standing Order 92(2)(a) is limited to one minute and must raise a valid procedural issue. He urged the Chair not to allow parliamentary time to be wasted and said unsubstantiated allegations against the Leader of the House or any Member should not be permitted without evidence.
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 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe attempted to raise a point of order during the sitting but did not specify a valid procedural ground. The Chair ruled that no point of order had been raised and declined to grant him the floor.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Raised concerns about national security and the safety of Opposition Members, noting that murders and other incidents were occurring in various places. He called for serious attention to be given to these security issues.
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka rejected suggestions that Opposition Members were raising the issue for political theatrics, stressing that 79 shooting incidents and 52 deaths had occurred. He highlighted public killings and threats against MPs as serious security concerns requiring attention.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Ramanathan Archchuna rose to speak under Standing Order 92(2)(a). No substantive argument, proposal, question, or policy matter is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns under Standing Order 27(2) about the posting of National Colleges of Education diploma-holders after training. He asked whether admissions are based on district subject vacancies and questioned the fairness of assigning graduates to distant areas despite shortages in their home districts. He requested that factors such as family circumstances, economic hardship, transport, accommodation and personal safety be considered, and urged the Minister to place trainees within the districts for which they were originally recruited.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister said teacher requirements are assessed by subject, vacancies, retirements and difficult-area needs, with National College of Education intakes aligned accordingly. She stated that appointments after the National Diploma in Teaching are based on final-year competitive results, and that trainees may be posted outside their district or province where vacancies are unavailable, as permitted by the relevant 2020 Gazette. She acknowledged concerns about recruitment, vacancy identification and postings, and said the Ministry is reviewing these procedures to identify necessary corrections.
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan urged the Prime Minister to consider the difficulties faced by teacher trainees from the North and East who, after three years of training, are being posted to distant southern schools with low starting salaries and an eight-year mandatory service requirement. He requested a rule allowing transfers back to their home districts after two years, citing humanitarian concerns and noting existing vacancies in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister addressed concerns regarding appointments from the 2020/2022 batch, noting that personal circumstances of appointees may have changed over the five-year period. She stated that while school staffing needs must be met, appointees should first accept their current postings and then seek transfers through an agreed process, including mutual transfers across regions. Appeals would be considered on a case-by-case basis after acceptance of postings.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister outlined problems in intermediate-grade admissions to National Schools, noting that high demand and Cabinet-authorized exceptions had led to admissions beyond vacancies and class-size limits. She said this had caused overcrowding, reduced opportunities for Grade 5 Scholarship entrants, complicated staff transfers, contributed to complaints and investigations, and widened inequities between popular National Schools and other schools. She proposed revising admission authority and circulars to prohibit admissions without vacancies or beyond maximum class sizes, establish fair and transparent criteria with limited hardship exceptions, and pursue broader reforms including improved resources and expanded bilingual education.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Minister clarified, in response to a question raised under Standing Order 27(2), that no Gazette had been issued for land acquisition. He stated that the relevant Gazette issued by the Department of Land Settlement concerned land regularization and settlement, and that further questions based on an assumption of acquisition were therefore not applicable.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns about the 28 March Gazette affecting landowners in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Mullaitivu, particularly displaced persons whose land records may be missing due to the war. He asked the Minister whether the Gazette, which could result in such lands being deemed State property if title is not proven within the specified timeframe, would be withdrawn.
- The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary K.D. Lal Kantha stated that the Government’s land process in the North and East is intended to regularize and return unresolved lands from the war period, not to acquire them, and assured that no land would be acquired. He said claimants could prove ownership through documents or attestations, while noting that settlement completion in the North and East lags behind the rest of the country. He proposed a discussion in Parliament with the Prime Minister, Attorney-General and officials to clarify concerns, adding that the Gazette could be paused if necessary but that doing so would delay land regularization for affected constituents.
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns that in areas such as Pullaaveli, Kattaikadu and Vetrilaikeni, private lands affected by military camps, missing documents, religious structures and past appropriation attempts may be at risk under the new Gazette. He asked whether the Minister would withdraw the Gazette and reissue it only after consultations, to prevent lands without clear legal claims being transferred for settlements or military use.
- The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary Minister K.D. Lal Kantha stated that the Government’s objective is to regularize land ownership and grant titles to those who can establish valid claims in four northern districts: Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar. He said concerns should be raised at the meeting on the 23rd, and that while the relevant Gazette could be suspended if necessary, doing so would delay returning land to people. He assured that lands without established claims would remain with the State, but not for arbitrary acquisition, and that no one’s land would be seized.
Land & Housing Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that Sri Lanka has consistently objected to the “Tamil Genocide Memorial” unveiled in Brampton, Canada, and outlined the project’s development since 2021 despite protests by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions. He said the Foreign Minister summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to reject genocide allegations as unsubstantiated and to protest related Canadian proclamations, while noting Canada’s position that the memorial was a municipal and privately funded initiative. He argued that such initiatives could undermine Sri Lanka’s reconciliation efforts and said the Government would continue diplomatic action to challenge these narratives and prevent similar measures.
- Hon. Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara JJB
AI summary Hon. Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara stated that the Government’s priority is to counter terrorism and prevent divisions or provocations that could contribute to a resurgence of terrorist activity. He said the Government would act decisively and would not hesitate to protest such activities, whether in Canada or elsewhere internationally.
Security & Defence Full speech →
- 9 Procedural Points of Order and Privilege Matter: Death Threats to Hon. Rohana Bandara 39 speeches
- 10 Debate Debate: Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act - Electric Vehicle Tax Revision 4 speeches
- 11 Debate Debate: Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act - Electric Vehicle Tax Revision (Continued) 107 speeches
- 12 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Land Settlement Gazette Notification 2430/2025 (Tamil Lands in North and East) 12 speeches