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

Sitting of Thursday, 19 June 2025

10th Parliament· 15 debates· 132 speeches· 55 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1751430648025512 ·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.

  7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Re-lease of Land in Mahaweli C Zone to Informatics (Pvt.) Limited (Q.5/2025) 9 speeches
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation whether a 1,000-acre land in the Mahaweli “C” Zone leased to Informatics (Pvt.) Limited received a tax or lease concession upon renewal, allegedly causing a loss of Government revenue. She sought clarification on whether such a concession was legally permissible, the basis for granting it, and what measures would be taken to revise it.

      AgricultureLand & HousingPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe said the Mahaweli Authority leased 1,000 acres in Dehiattakandiya to Informatics Agrotech (Pvt.) Ltd. in 1991 for 30 years, and Cabinet approved a further 30-year lease from 1 January 2021. He stated that the renewed rent was calculated under Lands Circular 2017/01 as the previous final-year rent plus 20%, rather than through a fresh valuation under the State Lands Ordinance. He said the Ministry is examining whether this arrangement can be revisited by amending or rescinding the relevant Lands and Mahaweli Authority circulars.

      Public FinanceLand & HousingLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe JJB

      AI summary Raised a supplementary question on a Mahaweli Authority land lease, stating that although court findings required rent based on current valuation, a circular-based method had reduced annual rent from about Rs. 10 million to around Rs. 550,000. She asked how the Department could act unilaterally in applying that method, given the resulting estimated annual loss of Rs. 9.495 million to the Government.

      Public FinanceLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary The revision in question was made under Lands Circular 2017/1 of 4 July 2017 rather than the State Lands Ordinance. The Minister stated that the validity of the circular, possible amendments to it, and whether the revision can be changed will be examined before taking appropriate action.

      Land & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Susil Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Susil Ranasinghe answered questions on the C/S Hiriyala Farmers’ Company, stating that Rs. 37,621,110 had been paid including compensation and interest, and that the original project was a pilot initiative for processing agricultural produce. He said the land had been leased for 30 years at Rs. 304,000 annually, but had not been properly developed and had been subleased without approval to outside parties, including Raigam (Wayamba) Cereals Ltd. He further stated that action to cancel the lease was being pursued due to breach of conditions, while taking account of the lease being mortgaged to Lankaputra Bank and related loan recovery and court settlement issues.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chandana Thennakoon JJB

      AI summary Chandana Thennakoon questioned a land leasing transaction involving C/S Hiriyala Farmers’ Company, noting that its chairman was former MP Manjula Disanayake and that former Deputy Minister Salinda Dissanayake had intervened in the lease. He alleged that public funds were misused, citing around Rs. 38 million spent on land acquisition and Rs. 56 million by the BOI for development, and asked the Deputy Minister to state his view on what he described as a major fraud.

      Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Susil Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Susil Ranasinghe described alleged irregularities involving a 76-acre LRC land in Kurunegala vested in the Agriculture Ministry in 2000 and later leased to the Hiriyala Farmers’ Company after BOI-funded development. He said lease rents were reduced and revisions halted through presidential directions, payments were not made, the lease was mortgaged to Lankaputra Bank, and unlawful subleasing occurred despite the State receiving no revenue. He stated that a committee has been appointed to examine how the land can be repossessed and that legal steps are being considered to re-vest it in the State.

      Public FinanceLand & HousingCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chandana Thennakoon JJB

      AI summary Hon. Chandana Thennakoon questioned what action the Government would take after the six-month period granted by the Commissioner General of Lands for redevelopment had expired. He noted that no visible development had occurred, apart from coconut trees, and alleged that previously existing teak trees had been cut and sold.

      Land & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Susil Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Susil Ranasinghe stated that if the company regularized under the interim sublease has failed to develop the land in accordance with the lease conditions, steps will be taken to repossess it. He said a committee led by the Divisional Secretary is examining compliance, re-vesting procedures, the related bank mortgage issue, and measures to protect State interests and recover arrears.

      Land & Housing Full speech →