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10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 5 June 2025

10th Parliament· 16 debates· 166 speeches· 58 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1750828922068945 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  13. 13 Oral question Questions by Private Notice: Coconut Industry and Northern Provincial Health Service (Q.27(2)) 11 speeches
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a Standing Order 27(2) matter on the decline in Sri Lanka’s coconut industry, citing reduced yields from weather impacts, fertilizer shortages, pests, and aging plantations, and noting effects on coconut-based exports and rural livelihoods. He requested updated production and export statistics for 2024 and 2025, assessments of the causes of decline, and details of Ministry action on inputs, smallholder support, credit, intercropping, cultivation expansion, and productivity technology. He also asked whether the Government would establish a Coconut Industry Revitalization Task Force and provide relief or restructuring support for coconut aggregators and exporters to maintain markets and meet international standards.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna – Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

      AI summary The Minister provided coconut production figures for 2014–2024 and said the Coconut Research Institute forecasts 2,700–2,800 million nuts in 2025, attributing the decline to poor estate management, inadequate fertilizer use, ageing palms, climate impacts, and pests and diseases. He said the Government aims to raise production to 4,200 million nuts by 2030 and earn USD 1.5 billion in exports through a UNIDO-supported 10-year roadmap and five-year strategic plan. He outlined subsidized fertilizer distribution, seedling programmes, model plantations, irrigation and moisture-conservation projects, concessional finance, pest and nutrient management measures, and expansion into non-traditional coconut-growing areas.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake welcomed the Minister’s reply but questioned whether the Government has a short-term plan to improve coconut productivity, noting that exporter demand is already about 4,000 million nuts against a 2030 target of 4,200 million. He argued that imports may be necessary to support exporters but said the priority should be closing Sri Lanka’s yield gap with India through measures such as hybrid seedlings and drip irrigation, which he said had shown success in areas such as Monaragala.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB

      AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Government is working with the Coconut Research Institute and the Coconut Development Authority to raise average coconut yields from about 45 nuts per tree to 60–70 within five years through fertilizer use, moisture conservation and water supply. He said replanting is being undertaken for long-term national demand, while short-term gains are expected by rehabilitating neglected large estates in areas such as Kurunegala and Puttalam through owner engagement, inputs, training, credit and equipment support. He added that the Coconut Estate Rehabilitation Program aims to increase output from existing trees within one to two years toward a target of 4,200 million nuts, supported by detailed planning based on tree counts and required numbers.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna

      AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna questioned the Minister of Health and Mass Media about alleged financial mismanagement and corruption in Northern Province hospitals, particularly regarding Patient Welfare Societies handling public donations. He asked whether audit reports for the past 15 years could be submitted to Parliament, and if not, whether investigations would be initiated against hospital administrators for misuse of public funds. He also requested action through the Bribery Commission against administrators who failed to submit accounts or were involved in corruption, with impartial support for public complaints.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni – Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to questions raised under Standing Order 27(2), stating that information from Northern provincial health authorities and the Ministry’s Chief Internal Auditor is still being obtained and that audit reports for the requested 15-year period will be tabled when received. He said investigations can proceed where complaints are made, including through the Bribery Commission, with the Ministry’s cooperation. He also announced steps to establish a formal Donation Unit under a Director to manage health sector donations transparently, address mismatched donations, and align donated items with hospital priorities.

      HealthcarePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna

      AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna noted that Peradeniya Teaching Hospital receives both equipment and financial support, contrasting this with concerns in the Northern Province that central government support for hospitals there is insufficient. He said this perceived neglect has led the diaspora to provide donations to Northern hospitals.

      HealthcareEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni – Deputy Minister

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that any funds received by hospital committees, regardless of amount, must be deposited in their official accounts and reported to the authorities. He emphasized that large donations require prior notification before acceptance and said the Government would fully cooperate with any ongoing inquiries to establish the facts.

      Public FinanceHealthcare Full speech →