Sitting of Tuesday, 8 July 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 Opening and Message from the President 19 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Announcements and Papers 14 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions Presented by Members 10 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Television Channels and Code of Ethics (Q. 496/2025) 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Disappearances in North-East after Civil War (Q. 516/2025) 6 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Drinking Water Supply Projects and Deduru Oya Reservoir (Q. 793/2025) 7 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Registered Co-operative Societies and Banks in North-Central Province (Q. 845/2025) 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Common Lands Allotted in Private Land Sales in Minuwangoda (Q. 849/2025) 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Refuse Tea Production in Tea Factories 6 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Tea Replanting and Infilling (2014-2018) 6 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB

      AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure to provide year-by-year data for 2014 to 2018 on the targeted and actual extent of tea land re-cultivated. He also requested details on whether subsidies were paid for such re-cultivation in first, second, and third instalments, and the manner of those payments, or reasons if they were not paid.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB

      AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna provided a written response on tea replanting targets and achievements from 2014 to 2018 under the Smallholder Tea Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tea Board. He stated that payments had been made, with per-hectare assistance of Rs. 500,000 by the Tea Board and Rs. 630,000 by the STDA, disbursed in five instalments linked to stages of land preparation, soil rehabilitation, planting, and maintenance. He clarified that the queried remaining part was not applicable.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB

      AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera welcomed the Minister’s reply and noted new allocations for tea replanting, infilling, and new planting. He emphasized the importance of Ceylon Tea as a key foreign exchange earner and questioned the Ministry on action taken to address past failures, citing an earlier project begun around 2014 and 2018 where significant investment, including about Rs. 5.1 billion for 163 hectares, had not yielded results or been recovered.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB

      AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, funded by a World Bank loan of about USD 48.6 million from 2017 to 2024, required further study before a detailed answer could be given. He reported alleged irregularities, fraud and misuse of funds for projects linked to former Ministers, noting that some beneficiaries are now in loan default lists. He said about USD 5 million had effectively been wasted due to unsuccessful implementation, and that legal action and a Cabinet memorandum for further action were being prepared.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB

      AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera questioned the failure of 207 out of 781 tea nurseries established under a 25 million plants project by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the STDA, noting that nursery failure undermines tea cultivation. He alleged that past allocations were made for political favour, causing financial losses, and asked what action would be taken regarding the failed nurseries and how future nursery allocations would be directed to suitable recipients.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB

      AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the matter required further study and that the necessary details were not currently available. He informed the House that a response would be provided to the Member in due course.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Urumaya Freehold Deeds in Manmunai North Division 3 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Community Water Projects - Costs and Progress 6 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: Second Round (Q. 725/2025) 3 speeches ▸
14. 14 Procedural Leader of Opposition Question Period and Points of Order 19 speeches ▸
15. 15 Debate Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) 62 speeches ▸
16. 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Employment for Persons with Disabilities 14 speeches ▸
17. 17 Procedural Procedural Notice 1 speeches ▸