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

Sitting of Friday, 20 June 2025

10th Parliament· 18 debates· 194 speeches· 60 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1751600792021434 ·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.

  10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) 9 speeches
    • The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF

      AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation for details on the Southern Expressway, including the number of interchanges and the distance between Gelanigama and Dodangoda. He sought information on land acquisition and compensation for the proposed Pelpola Interchange, whether it would be relocated, the reasons for any relocation, and the Government’s position.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake provided answers on the proposed Pelpola Interchange and related land acquisition, stating that the expressway section from Kottawa to Mattala has 21 interchanges and that 115 land plots have been acquired, with compensation paid for 45 plots. He said the BOI advanced Rs. 91.5 million in 2017 for acquisition expenses, of which about Rs. 91.13 million has been spent. He further stated there is no plan to relocate the interchange, and that BOI support was halted because a court case over land identified for the proposed Millaniya Industrial Zone affected the related project.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF

      AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana said the 21 km gap between the Gelanigama and Dodangoda interchanges on the Southern Expressway creates a significant access problem for residents and nearby economic activity. He asked the Minister whether the Government would proceed with the proposed Pelpola Interchange, noting that land has been acquired, funds allocated, and that it would serve an adjacent industrial zone and Investment Board-related needs.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that two Southern Expressway interchanges, at Kapuduwa and Baddegama, were added outside the original design due to political influence, at significant cost. He noted that an interchange can cost over Rs. 1 billion, or at least around Rs. 600 million, and said the current obstacle cited is court action affecting land acquisition. He also observed that the proposed industrial zone connected to the matter had not yet been built.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF

      AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana briefly stated that the matter under discussion is still under construction, without providing further details, proposals, or demands.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the proposal in question is not currently included in the Government’s plans, noting that it is estimated to cost over Rs. 1 billion. He indicated that, given this cost, it is not being pursued at present.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF

      AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana briefly yielded the floor to allow Hon. Ajith P. Perera to ask the second supplementary question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB

      AI summary Ajith P. Perera said around 230 acres had been acquired under Section 38 for the Pelpola Investment Zone and argued that the Minister had been misinformed about litigation, stating the pending case concerned valuation of rubber cultivation rather than ownership. He said the land was suitable for an investment zone, with water, power funding and partial site preparation already in place, and requested priority action to provide nearby expressway access for Kalutara, Morontuduwa, Wadduwa and Bulathsinhala. He noted that engineers had identified a feasible access point near Bandaragama or Gelanigama after an earlier location was rejected, and said this would also support the developing 100-acre Galpatha zone.

      Public FinanceLand & HousingInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said he had examined the previously raised BOQ-related issue and discussed it with Minister Nalinda Jayatissa and his Ministry Secretary, noting that a site visit had also taken place. He stated that the proposed expressway crossing or related work was not in current plans due to its high cost and past deviations in Southern Expressway planning, but said it could be reconsidered if the Industry Ministry, the relevant Members and Ministers resolved litigation and funding issues through the BOI and line ministries.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →