Sitting of Thursday, 22 May 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1750307293077610 ·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 Speaker's Announcements: Seminar for Sectoral Oversight Committees 1 speeches
- 2 Committee report Presentation of Committee Reports 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Presentation of Petitions 9 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Grant of Lands by Mahaweli Authority for Large-Scale Projects (Q.1/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Teachers' Colleges Training Programme (Q.2/2025) 4 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Tea Smallholders in Kalutara District (Q.3/2025) 6 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Question No. 4 (Q.718/2025) - Stand Down 3 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Grant of State Land in Mahiyanganaya Town (Q.5/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Takeover of Community Water Supply Centres by NWSDB (Q.6/2025) 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Sand Mining Permits and Stray Dog Control (Q.7/2025) 12 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: University Hostels and Student Allowances (Q.8/2025) 4 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Minimum Monthly Wage for Migrant Workers (SO 27(2)) 4 speeches
- 13 Papers Papers: Presentation of Regulations I to XI 2 speeches
- 14 Debate Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions 78 speeches
- 15 Papers Resolutions under Appropriation Act, No. 34 of 2023 10 speeches
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Empowerment of Small and Medium Exporters in Northern Province 24 speeches
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion “That Parliament do now adjourn” was proposed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB
AI summary Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy moved an Adjournment Motion calling for Government action to develop export-oriented SMEs and cottage industries in the Northern Province, particularly in agriculture, fisheries and palmyrah-based products. He cited lack of export awareness, infrastructure, market access, training and supply-chain support as barriers, and requested programmes for quality improvement, technology, transport and export-market strategy. He noted post-war economic disparities, including the North’s low GDP contribution, while referencing ongoing Government projects such as industrial estates, saltern and factory development, cassava cultivation for export, sports infrastructure and a proposed palmyrah triangle.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported the Adjournment Motion and called for revival of SMEs in the Northern Province, noting that many industries in Jaffna and other districts had closed due to the war and political factors. He proposed developing SMEs in agriculture, fisheries, handloom and palmyrah products, with vocational training, bank finance, market access, incentives and public-private partnerships. He also urged the removal of government impediments and export bottlenecks, including allowing direct exports, to increase employment, foreign exchange earnings and the North’s contribution to national output.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper supported the Adjournment Motion on empowering SME exporters in the Northern Province, proposing that it be extended to include the Eastern Province due to shared economic conditions and export potential. He argued that agriculture, fisheries, co-operatives, cottage industries and local economic development fall within Provincial Council responsibilities under the Ninth Schedule, and called for long-delayed Provincial Council Elections to restore local institutional capacity. He identified export opportunities in traditional foods, handloom, palmyrah products and seafood, and proposed SME export incubation zones in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Ampara, along with support for co-operatives, collectives, certification, marketing, credit, cold chains and diaspora trade engagement.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB
AI summary Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran supported the Motion on developing SMEs in the Northern Province, stating that despite abundant raw materials, successive Governments since 2009 had not adequately supported the sector. He called for improved market access, technological upgrading, value addition, processing facilities, workspace, and export-oriented technical advice to increase production and shelf-life. He also noted steps to link producers with institutions such as Laksala, BCC, and Sathosa, arguing that stronger promotion and market opportunities could raise incomes, particularly for women-headed households in the North.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the Motion on small and medium exporters in Jaffna but urged that development proposals also include the Eastern Province, referring to the North and East as the Tamil homeland. He proposed establishing a leather-tanning factory in the North or East, specifically suggesting Chavakachcheri, and called for the long-unopened Chavakachcheri Economic Centre built in 2017 to be addressed at the next District Coordinating Committee meeting. He also raised concerns about northern salt being transported south instead of being packed and distributed from the North, criticized remarks attributed to Minister Sunil Handunnetti, and rejected allegations that he was linked to the LTTE while making broader remarks on how different communities regard wartime figures.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna contrasts historical Sinhala reverence for Tamil King Ellalan with what he describes as the present government’s failure to honour its own war heroes. He characterizes this as a matter of concern and indicates he wished to add a further point.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna briefly requested to be given 20 seconds to speak.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna criticized the Government, alleging that Ministers are unable or unwilling to speak openly about people being killed because of legal constraints. He described this as a shameful situation and thanked Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy for bringing the Adjournment Motion.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB
AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy raised a point of order objecting to another Member’s attempt to distinguish between the SVP and the National People’s Power. He stated that his concern related to development in the Northern Province and criticized efforts to divert the discussion from that matter.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe argued that post-war development, accountability, compensation, and non-recurrence measures in the North and East had not been adequately implemented by previous administrations. He said the Government is initiating export processing zones in Mankulam, KKS, and Paranthan, expanding Export Development Board services, and identifying 300 small and medium-scale exporters for support within five months. He also outlined allocations for SME development in the North and East, the need for air connectivity to support exports, and fisheries-sector interventions including facilities for multi-day boats, sea cucumber aquaculture, lobster farming, and seaweed cultivation.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe stated that the Government is planning a major development programme for the North and East, involving the University of Jaffna, a private IT university in Jaffna, Provincial Councils, and Local Authorities. He said roadmaps have been prepared to start export-oriented industries, particularly in agricultural and fisheries value addition, and noted that current GDP calculations may not fully reflect production from the North that is exported through the South.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural