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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.

  17. 17 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: District Coordinating Committees - Effectiveness, Accountability and Legal Clarity of Decisions 8 speeches
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB

      AI summary Moved the adjournment motion, “That Parliament do now adjourn,” after which the question was proposed.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB

      AI summary Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy moved an Adjournment Motion raising concerns about the effectiveness, accountability and legal clarity of District Coordinating Committee decisions. He said DCC resolutions are often not monitored, inadequately implemented or disregarded, and that uncertainty over their legal authority weakens accountability among State agencies. He proposed a national monitoring framework with periodic reports to Parliament, a review and possible amendment of the legal framework, oversight by the District Secretary or an independent body, and quarterly implementation reports for MPs.

      Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu JJB

      AI summary Kanthasamy Prabu seconded the Adjournment Motion on the effectiveness and legal framework for District Coordinating Committee decisions. He said DCCs are intended to resolve district-level development issues by bringing together officials, MPs, the District Secretary and the Governor, and argued that their implementation and monitoring mechanisms should be strengthened through a clearer legal framework. He also called for constructive input from Opposition Members to improve transparency, accountability and development outcomes.

      InfrastructureCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna

      AI summary Supported the Adjournment Motion criticizing District Coordinating Committees, arguing that DCCs lack legal basis in the absence of functioning Provincial Councils, conflict with the 13th Amendment, and have no effective mechanism to implement decisions. Citing issues in Jaffna including sand mining and concerns raised about Tellippalai Base Hospital, he called for a DCC Bill to give such bodies legal authority and requested that a more suitable chair, such as Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, be appointed for the Jaffna DCC. He also alleged that he had faced attempts to restrict or penalize him for statements made in Parliament, including over “Container 323”, and expressed concern about ongoing legal and investigative actions against him.

      Law & OrderParliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Hon. Thushari Jayasingha argued that District and Divisional Coordinating Committees are important forums for addressing public grievances while MPs work in their electorates outside parliamentary sitting days. She said decisions taken after examining issues often lack effective implementation, and supported the Motion as a means to create a follow-up and accountability mechanism for district development decisions. She emphasized that such a mechanism should secure results through proper procedures and respect for officials, rather than through intimidation or political pressure.

      Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB

      AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper warned that District Coordinating Committees have historically been used as politicized instruments by central governments to retain control in areas where they lacked local or provincial authority, thereby undermining devolved power. While acknowledging positive aspects of the Motion, he called for clear rules on who chairs DCCs and their composition, including Provincial Council members, Chief Ministers, Governors and local authority chairpersons. He also alleged past misuse of DCC and Divisional Coordinating Committee chairmanships by successive governments to influence or attract MPs, and urged caution before strengthening the mechanism.

      Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna – Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government

      AI summary The Minister said District and Divisional Coordinating Committees currently operate under Circular 02/2021 and are intended to oversee budgetary allocations and improve public service delivery, not to provide political advantage to the Government. He rejected claims that they violate the 13th Amendment, stating that Government and Opposition Members and local authority heads can participate and raise proposals or criticisms. He said his Ministry and the Presidential Secretariat are revising the circular, with Cabinet policy approval, to address concerns raised in the debate and strengthen the legal framework where necessary.

      Corruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionPublic Finance Full speech →