Sitting of Wednesday, 21 May 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 and Speaker's Announcements 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers - Annual Reports Tabling 6 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions - Presented to Committee on Public Petitions 8 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Lands Acquired for Kurunegala-Habarana Railway Line - Compensation/Ex-Gratia Payment (Q.1/2025) 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Bridge at Pansilgoda, Minuwangoda - Non-Completion (Q.2/2025) 7 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Lady Ridgeway Hospital - Donations for Purchase of Surgical Items (Q.3/2025) 6 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Sinhala and Tamil-Medium Government Schools - Teacher Vacancies (Q.4/2025) 4 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Warehouses of Co-operative Wholesale Establishment in Welisara - Lease (Q.8/2025) 4 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. Speaker procedural
     Full speech →
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe – Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development

     AI summary The Minister answered a parliamentary question on warehouses under the Ministry’s purview, stating that there are five warehouses and that some have been leased to Lanka Sathosa and Abans PLC. He provided the floor areas and current monthly rents for three leased premises, including two to Lanka Sathosa and one to Abans. He said the premises have been referred to the Government Valuation Department for reassessment of rent at current government valuation, after which further action will be taken.

     Public Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB

     AI summary Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage raised a supplementary question on the condition of co-operatives, citing the Gampaha Co-operative and alleged irregular promissory notes at its head office. He asked the Minister how long the Ministry would take and what procedure it would follow to regularize not only warehouses but also shops and plots leased out under various arrangements.

     Land & HousingPublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

     AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the closure of the CWE had been done without properly identifying its assets and liabilities, resulting in expired leases and outdated rents at properties including Welisara and near the head office. He said inspections found expired or absent agreements for warehouses and small shops, issues with access to an adjacent court, and properties islandwide leased under questionable arrangements, including to political associates. He outlined steps to obtain valuations, execute new two-year lease agreements at fair market rates, regularize documentation through a legal panel, and re-establish the CWE as the “National Co-operative Wholesale Establishment” to intervene in wholesale trade.

     Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Director of Jaffna Teaching Hospital Appointment (Q.9/2025) 4 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Millennium City Housing Complex, Oruwala - Lands for Common Amenities (Q.10/2025) 6 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Questions - Various Tabled and Private Notice Questions 7 speeches ▸
12. 12 Debate Debate: Finance Act Order - Tax Exemptions and Government Policy on Renewable Energy 11 speeches ▸
13. 13 Debate Debate: Finance Act Order - Continued Discussion (Multiple Speakers) 29 speeches ▸
14. 14 Debate Debate: Finance Act Order and Notification on Luxury Tax on Motor Vehicles - Continued (Afternoon Session) 37 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Procedural: Questions on Bank of Ceylon Relief and Allied Health Graduates - Final Business 8 speeches ▸