Sitting of Tuesday, 17 June 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 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Regulations, Annual Reports and Ministerial Consultative Committee Reports 5 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches ▸
4. 4 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Question Scheduling 17 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question Q.279/2024: SMS Service for Electricity Bills 7 speeches ▸
6. 6 Procedural Oral Question Q.307/2024 (Standalone, Deferred) 4 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question Q.??/2024: Gin River Overflow and Flood Management 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Question Scheduling 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair 4 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB

     AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development to provide details on the most recent Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair, including its date, venue, and expenditure. He also requested the current value of the capital assets of the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.

     EducationPublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB

     AI summary The Deputy Minister provided a written response on the Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Secretariat and the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund. He stated that the last Mahapola fair was held in Ja-Ela from 13 to 17 December 2023, with Rs. 93.21 million disbursed, Rs. 52.42 million recovered, and Rs. 40.79 million outstanding, while a planned Anuradhapura fair did not take place despite related advance and vehicle hire payments in 2024. He also reported the Fund’s assets as Rs. 2,092.71 million, including investment properties, National Wealth Ltd. investment, and other assets, with supporting annexures placed in the Library.

     Public Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB

     AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan asked whether a mechanism could be established to reduce delays in Mahapola stipend payments, noting that current payments are delayed by about three months. He requested that payments be made within approximately one month.

     Education Full speech →
   • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB

     AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana explained delays in Mahapola stipend payments, noting that the current system requires Treasury funds to pass through the UGC and the Mahapola Trust Fund, while universities must also provide updated and accurate beneficiary lists. He stated that payments of Rs. 5,000 per month up to March are ready to be completed once Treasury funds are received, and that from April the allowance has increased to Rs. 7,500, with two months still pending due to roll-update delays. He said the Trust and Ministry are working to reduce the present three-month lag to about one month.

     EducationPublic Finance Full speech →
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question Q.??/2025: Land Reform Commission Employee Land Grants 8 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Questions Second Round Q.875/2025 and Related Questions 9 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Chemmani Cemetery and Related Issues (Q.27(2)) 46 speeches ▸
13. 13 Procedural Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy 79 speeches ▸
14. 14 Papers Presentation of Bills 4 speeches ▸
15. 15 Debate Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations 62 speeches ▸
16. 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact 17 speeches ▸