Sitting of Friday, 23 May 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1750228312097834 ·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: Committee to Inquire into Complaint on Behaviour of Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Financial Statements of Central Bank and Committee Report on Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented by MPs 8 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question 1: Crop Damage and Compensation (Q.72/2024) 7 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question 6: Compulsory Teaching of Languages in Schools (Q.222/2024) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question 10: Sarusara Loan Scheme (Q.441/2025) 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question Second Round: Physical Training Instructors and Other Matters (Tabled Answers) 11 speeches
- 8 Procedural Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Procedural Matters and Opposition Questions 27 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka noted that the Speaker had appointed a three-member committee to consider a complaint concerning MP Dayasiri Jayasekara’s conduct. He said he was unaware of the basis for the complaint and observed that his own name had been included in the committee.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka said the Opposition should also be able to request inquiries where necessary, not only the Government. He noted that committees may need to be appointed and asked that, before nominating an Opposition member, the Speaker consult the Leader of the Opposition or the Opposition Leader’s Office.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned whether the Government is fulfilling its 2024 presidential election mandate to secure more favourable IMF and debt sustainability terms under the “A Rich Country – A Beautiful Life” manifesto. He requested details on bilateral and private creditor debt, annual debt servicing, macroeconomic targets, IMF EFF tranche conditions and amounts, and whether domestic debt restructuring affecting EPF/ETF funds was required by the IMF. He also asked whether proposed electricity and water tariff increases are linked to IMF conditionalities, arguing that the Government has a responsibility to reduce the public burden through more concessional terms.
- The Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma
AI summary Requests additional time to provide answers, stating that responses will be given in the next sitting week.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the delay in providing requested financial figures, stating that such information is essential for preparing a Budget. He argued that, despite the usual practice of agreeing to requests for additional time, the matter was too important to be postponed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma
AI summary Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that the question had been received at the last minute and that officials’ attendance at the Committee on Public Finance had delayed preparation of the response. He undertook to provide the answers at the next sitting.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB
AI summary The Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing responded to the Leader of the Opposition’s claim that water tariffs would be increased, noting that water charges fall under his Ministry. He asked the Opposition Leader to identify the source and basis of the information behind the claim.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government over utility tariffs, stating that the Opposition had earlier warned of an electricity price increase linked to IMF conditionality before it was officially announced. He noted that the Government had promised a 33 per cent reduction but was now raising electricity tariffs by 18 per cent, and asked the Minister to clearly state whether water charges would also increase or decrease.
- The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary Anura Karunathilaka challenged the basis of claims about utility price increases, noting a prior prediction of a 35 per cent electricity tariff hike that resulted in an 18 per cent increase. He clarified that the current discussion concerned water and stated that there was no Ministry-level discussion to increase potable water tariffs, adding that he believed such an increase was unnecessary.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order. No substantive issue or proposal was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa requested one minute to respond to an allegation made during proceedings. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in the brief intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is contained in the provided extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the reported shortage of table salt and conditions at the Elephant Pass and Paranthan salterns in the Northern Province. He alleged politicized management changes, transfers of experienced staff, worker protests, Police-assisted evictions, and reduced production, and asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to clarify the renaming of “Elephant Pass Salt” as “Raja Salt,” current production levels, and whether Cabinet had approved salt imports. He urged the Government to meet the workers, address their demands, restore normal salt production, and ensure dignified treatment and basic facilities for employees.
- The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the question had been received at around 2.00 p.m. the previous day and noted that he had already provided some clarification in his earlier speech. He undertook to submit a full, detailed answer to Parliament within one week.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna stated that he had previously submitted the question under consideration.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Ramanathan Archchuna disputed a claim about the timing of a submission, stating that it had been submitted six days earlier rather than the previous afternoon.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 9 Papers Papers: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill Presented 1 speeches
- 10 Debate Debate: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading 82 speeches
- 11 Procedural Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill - Procedural Resolutions (Second Reading, Committee Stage, Third Reading) 4 speeches
- 12 Adjournment Adjournment Motion and Adjournment Debate: Public Administration and Provincial Council Elections 20 speeches