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

Sitting of Tuesday, 8 July 2025

10th Parliament· 17 debates· 194 speeches· 66 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1752482630017444 ·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.

  14. 14 Procedural Leader of Opposition Question Period and Points of Order 19 speeches
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised concerns over a committee report on the release of 323 import containers without Customs inspection, arguing that its conclusions suggest the process may not have been conducted in good faith. He asked why the full report had not been officially made public, sought details on the containers’ origins, contents, importers, duties, and related releases of “red” and “yellow” containers, and questioned whether ministerial, governmental, or importer pressure was involved. He also requested clarification on actions taken following the committee’s 12 recommendations, the status of investigations and legal proceedings, the Government’s responsibility for possible illegal goods, and proposed policy or legal reforms to prevent recurrence.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister said officials were allowed to manage Customs container releases at the Port under existing procedures, including risk management, after the Government took office amid congestion. Responding to Opposition allegations of political interference in the release of 323 containers, including references to the Western Province Governor, he stated that a five-member committee appointed by the Finance Ministry Secretary had submitted its report to the Secretary and the President, and denied any political interference or politically motivated release. He said the Government was willing to table the report through proper procedure for Members to examine and discuss, while CID inquiries were also ongoing.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s refusal to officially table a report already presented by Hon. Mujibur Rahuman, stating that it contains several disclosures. He asked why the Minister was avoiding his nine questions and sought clarification on whether there was a “mastermind” or multiple masterminds behind the matter. He argued that, since the President appointed the committee, the Government had a responsibility to table its report in Parliament.

      Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Government has no objection to tabling the official report, but said Parliament should not debate a version circulated on social media due to questions about authenticity. He noted that the report includes summaries and details on the number of containers, their contents, and consignments, and said a debate could be held after the report is officially tabled if necessary.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa challenged the Minister’s claim that allegations originated from politicians, stating that Customs trade unions and officials first raised them. He said the Opposition had not named individuals and asked why the relevant report, which should identify those involved, had still not been tabled in Parliament.

      Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the relevant matter would be duly tabled in Parliament and there was no need for argument over the procedure. He said it should be studied and debated properly, emphasizing that the Government intended to proceed through due process.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a point of order regarding the planned imposition of an 18 per cent VAT on digital services from 1 October. He warned that the measure would affect millions of users and sought the Minister’s attention to the issue while present in the House.

      Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government on the Ceylon Electricity Board’s reduction of feed-in tariff rates for solar and wind projects, arguing that the changes undermine investor confidence, bank financing, and Sri Lanka’s stated target of 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. He asked whether the tariff changes and Electricity Act amendments are consistent with that policy, what reasons justified the reductions, and whether stakeholders were consulted on project viability, lending risks, energy security, climate goals, and fuel import costs. He also urged the Government to consider a transparent and stable pricing formula and to restore tax concessions for lithium-ion batteries and other storage technologies, stating that current costs make renewable projects non-viable at the CEB’s rate.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB

      AI summary The Minister rejected claims that daytime electricity is being generated from oil instead of solar, stating that oil generation is used at night and not during daytime since the Government assumed office. He said rooftop solar and renewable energy projects below 10 MW are subject to an annual tariff formula based on market and financial factors, with new tariffs applying only to new entrants and not existing PPAs. He noted that stakeholder consultations were held in January 2025, the tariffs were reviewed by a technical committee and a Cabinet-appointed subcommittee, and no reconsideration is required at present; related finance matters were referred to the Minister of Finance.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB

      AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that the Government has not introduced new taxes or removed concessions specifically for lithium-ion batteries, noting that general levies such as VAT, Customs Duty, PAL and SSCL apply, while existing exemptions remain for batteries used in grid-connected large-scale renewable energy storage. He said the 15 per cent duty waiver, non-application of CESS and PAL relief are available under existing schedules where eligible use is confirmed. He also said electricity costs are central to industrialisation and growth, and that tariff reviews for solar projects should address issues such as WACC and inflation while prioritising least-cost, reliable power and reducing tariffs over time.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that renewable energy tariffs, even with battery storage, are cheaper than oil-based power and LNG when capacity charges and fuel imports are considered. He criticized the discouragement of rooftop solar after the Panadura incident while emergency power purchase agreements continue, and said current tax relief for renewable investments is negligible against actual capital costs. He urged the Government to prioritize domestic renewable resources, provide adequate battery concessions, and explain why oil-based generation appears to be preferred over renewables.

      EnvironmentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB

      AI summary Kumara Jayakody argued that solar generation and oil-based generation should not be treated as directly comparable because they operate at different times of day. He stated that solar curtailment of up to about 1,500 MW on sunny days is not a system-wide problem and that existing calculations should reflect the approximately 1,300 MW of solar already absorbed during daytime.

      InfrastructureEnvironment Full speech →
    • Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB

      AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody said electricity curtailment of 100 to 150 megawatts on low-demand days and holidays is sometimes necessary to maintain grid stability for about 7 million consumers. He attributed the situation to previous governments adding around 600 megawatts of solar capacity despite a long-term plan allowing for 160 megawatts annually, without making the required infrastructure and system upgrades. He stated that the current government is now taking corrective measures and questioned why former ministers and MPs had not addressed the issue earlier.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake rose on a point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided speech excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a point of order, but the provided excerpt contains no substantive content beyond the opening phrase. No specific issue, proposal, question, or procedural objection is identifiable from the text supplied.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →