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
- 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
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary Minister Abayarathna formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The Presiding Member then proposed the question on the adjournment motion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government about the implementation of Circular No. 14/2022, which allowed public officers to take local or foreign no-pay leave without prejudice to seniority and pension. He noted that short notice for foreign employment and delays in leave approval had led some officers to leave without approval and risk losing their public service posts. He requested figures on officers who obtained local and foreign no-pay leave, those who went abroad without approval, reasons for non-approval, actions taken against them, and whether the Minister accepts that current leave-approval procedures are inconsistent with the circular and institutional code.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister provided figures on no-pay leave granted to public officers, stating that 3,766 had obtained local no-pay leave and 8,121 had gone abroad with approval on foreign no-pay leave, while no data had been reported on officers who left without approved leave. He explained that Public Administration Circular 14/2022 was issued following a Cabinet decision and operates outside the Establishments Code, outlining differences in eligibility, service obligations, foreign remittance requirements, seniority and pension treatment, and approval procedures.
- The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri sought the Presiding Member’s permission to ask a supplementary question, subject to the Minister’s agreement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Upul Kithsiri sought permission to pose a question, noting that the Minister had agreed to it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Asked permission from the Presiding Member to pose a question during the proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Upul Kithsiri asked whether relief could be provided to public servants who left Sri Lanka during the economic crisis after attempting, but failing, to obtain timely leave approval through proper procedures. He requested the Minister to consider measures allowing such officers, who hoped to resume their local posts on return, an opportunity to regularize their status.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister acknowledged that some officers had applied for leave correctly but left without formal approval because approvals were delayed by institutional or timing constraints. He stated that the Ministry would consider compassionate relief in such cases and take steps to provide it where appropriate.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB
AI summary Upul Kithsiri briefly thanked the Minister and made no substantive argument, proposal, or question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government whether legislation is being prepared to enable Provincial Council elections in line with the President’s pledge to hold them within the year. He noted that all Provincial Councils have had expired terms since 2017–2019 and referred to a previous Private Member’s Bill by former MP M.A. Sumanthiran that was not enacted, seeking clarification on the Ministry’s actions or reasons for any delay.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister confirmed that the Government intends to hold Provincial Council elections, but said certain legal prerequisites must first be completed. He stated that the Ministry has begun preliminary work and is expediting action after prioritising the recent Local Government elections.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary M. Nizam Kariapper requested clarification on the drafting status of a Bill, following an affirmative answer to his initial question. He posed this as a supplementary question seeking further detail on the legislative process.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister said the Government is considering previous Bills on Provincial Council elections, including proposals by Hon. Faiszer Musthapha and former MP M.A. Sumanthiran, and acknowledged that the process requires time. He stated that the Government has no intention of postponing elections and is committed to protecting democratic rights and holding Provincial Council elections. He added that while the Government intends to pursue devolution through a scientific process, the existing Provincial Council framework should continue to function, and requested Opposition cooperation to conduct the elections.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper briefly expressed thanks, without raising any substantive policy matter, proposal, or question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural