Sitting of Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1750929357043199 ·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 Parliament Opening 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Regulations, Annual Reports and Ministerial Consultative Committee Reports 5 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Question Scheduling 17 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question Q.279/2024: SMS Service for Electricity Bills 7 speeches
- 6 Procedural Oral Question Q.307/2024 (Standalone, Deferred) 4 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question Q.??/2024: Gin River Overflow and Flood Management 6 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Question Scheduling 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair 4 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question Q.??/2025: Land Reform Commission Employee Land Grants 8 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Questions Second Round Q.875/2025 and Related Questions 9 speeches
- 12 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Chemmani Cemetery and Related Issues (Q.27(2)) 46 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the Government’s decision to stop admitting non-cadet local medical students to Kotelawala Defence University from 2025. He sought details on public expenditure on KDU, medical degree fees, per-student costs, the stated shortage of specialist trainers, safeguards for equal access, and the treatment of local versus foreign students. He also questioned teacher recruitment from state and non-state higher education programmes and the quality assurance of such degrees. He urged the Government to reverse the KDU admissions decision, arguing it undermines free education and equal access while forcing students to seek costlier medical education abroad.
- The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence stated that the Government had noted the questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition and would consult the Minister of Education, with the Deputy Minister of Higher Education present in the House. He undertook to provide answers within the following week.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa briefly seeks permission from the Chair to raise or invite attention to a different matter, clarifying that his intervention is not on the preceding issue. No substantive policy position or proposal is stated in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, briefly requested the Chair’s permission to extend an invitation. No substantive policy issue, legislative matter, or detailed proposal was raised in this intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought permission to raise a special matter, describing it as an issue of national importance.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to the proceedings, noting that only one Leader of the Opposition was present. He urged that time be allocated to him and indicated that his side would refrain from speaking.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera briefly urged the Speaker not to proceed with or allow an unspecified action during the proceedings. The intervention was procedural in nature and did not present a substantive policy argument or proposal.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara urged the Chair not to interrupt or restrict another Member’s remarks and requested that he be allowed to continue speaking. The intervention was procedural, concerning the conduct of the debate rather than a substantive policy issue.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera briefly urged the Speaker to act with prudence. No specific policy matter, legislative issue, or proposal was raised in the remark.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara requested that speaking time be allocated to the Leader of the Opposition. The intervention was procedural and concerned the distribution of debate time.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara intervened briefly to request that another member be allowed to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in the intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera briefly urged the Speaker to act sensibly, without raising a specific policy matter, proposal, or legislative issue.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan informed the House that he was unable to speak due to noise in the Chamber. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised questions under Standing Order 27(2) to the Minister of Justice and National Integration regarding mass graves and disappeared persons in the North and East linked to the armed conflict. He asked whether the Government acknowledges the existence of these sites and called for impartial investigations into skeletal remains found at Chemmani/Sinnaththoppu, Kokkuthoduvai, Mandaitivu, and Thiruketheeswaram. He also sought specific responses on the status of excavations and judicial action, and on appeals from families, including a mother seeking answers about two children who disappeared in Mandaitivu.
- The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB
AI summary The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj directed Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara to take his seat, indicating a procedural intervention to maintain order during proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to being told to sit down and directed the other member to return to their seat. The intervention appears to be a brief procedural exchange rather than a substantive contribution on legislation or policy.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration acknowledged Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan for raising the matter but did not provide any substantive response, proposal, or policy position in the recorded speech.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara rose on a point of order. No substantive argument or proposal was recorded before an interruption.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka briefly requested the Speaker to grant him one minute to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration thanked the Member for raising the matter and sought the Speaker’s permission to proceed amid an interruption. No substantive policy position, proposal, or response was recorded in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan requested permission to restate his questions, explaining that interruptions had prevented him from properly presenting them earlier.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration stated that he clearly understood the question, noting that the interpretation was adequate and that the question had also been provided to him in writing.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a point of order, stating that there was a discrepancy in the interpretation, but his intervention was interrupted before he could elaborate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration responded to a query by stating that he was unaware whether the matter had been reported in the media. He indicated that he understood the issue raised and was prepared to proceed with his response.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Minister Nanayakkara outlined ongoing court-led and forensic investigations into suspected human remains at Chemmani, Kokkuthoduvai and Thiruketheeswaram, noting allocations for excavation, preservation, expert reports and radiocarbon dating where ordered. He said the Chemmani site, discovered in February 2025 during work on an electrical cremation facility, has yielded 19 sets of remains and a second excavation phase is scheduled for 26 June 2025 with site protection in place. On Mandaitivu, he stated that the Office on Missing Persons is observing multiple sites but cannot initiate action there without a police complaint, court order or credible information. He emphasized that the Government would support impartial investigations while requiring formal and reliable evidence before proceeding.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan referred to JMO findings that unclothed remains of infants, children, women and men showed signs of torture, alleging these were crimes committed under previous governments and that further remains may exist near former torture sites. Citing Mandaitivu, the area near St. Thomas’ Church, and the NESHOR report “Footprints in the Sand,” he said youths taken in 1990 from Mandaitivu, Allaipitty and Mankumban were detained and disappeared. He called for an investigation into Douglas Devananda, alleging his complicity through his then association with EPRLF/EPDP paramilitary activity.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan alleged that Douglas Devananda is implicated in 60 murders and urged the authorities to expedite investigations into persons taken from Allaipitty, Mandaitivu and Mankumban, as well as related mass graves. He asked what action the Government would take on these matters.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the Government cannot act on hearsay regarding the matter raised. He said action could be taken if the authors of the report make a police complaint, if there is a court order, or if the report is tabled in Parliament, in which case authorities would pursue any leads as part of their policy to investigate all matters.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Allegations were raised that the army detained, assaulted, and buried individuals, with the Member stating that sufficient evidence exists. He questioned where complaints against army actions can be lodged and called for investigations into the matter.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said investigations cannot proceed on hearsay and must follow complaints and court orders. He stated that authorities are willing to act impartially where leads are provided, noting that Mandaitivu is the only location where action has not begun because no complaint has been made, and rejected allegations of a cover-up.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that interpretation was unavailable because the relevant microphone was off, and therefore he was unable to respond further.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 13 Procedural Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy 79 speeches
- 14 Papers Presentation of Bills 4 speeches
- 15 Debate Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations 62 speeches
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact 17 speeches