Sitting of Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1752482630017444 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
Order of business
Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.
- 1 Opening Opening and Message from the President 19 speeches
- 2 Papers Announcements and Papers 14 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented by Members 10 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Television Channels and Code of Ethics (Q. 496/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Disappearances in North-East after Civil War (Q. 516/2025) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Drinking Water Supply Projects and Deduru Oya Reservoir (Q. 793/2025) 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Registered Co-operative Societies and Banks in North-Central Province (Q. 845/2025) 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Common Lands Allotted in Private Land Sales in Minuwangoda (Q. 849/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Refuse Tea Production in Tea Factories 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Tea Replanting and Infilling (2014-2018) 6 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Urumaya Freehold Deeds in Manmunai North Division 3 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Community Water Projects - Costs and Progress 6 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question: Second Round (Q. 725/2025) 3 speeches
- 14 Procedural Leader of Opposition Question Period and Points of Order 19 speeches
- 15 Debate Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) 62 speeches
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Employment for Persons with Disabilities 14 speeches
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary The Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The Chair then proposed the question and called on Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva to speak for four minutes.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB
AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva moved an Adjournment Motion calling for immediate action to improve the economic participation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Citing the 2012 Census figure that 71 percent of Sri Lanka’s 1.6 million persons with disabilities are not economically active, he said existing measures such as the 1988 public service 3 percent recruitment quota, the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and UN commitments are not being properly implemented. He urged the Government to ensure recruitment procedures and official practice uphold the quota and enable persons with disabilities to contribute to national development.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe seconded the motion on employment for persons with disabilities, citing data indicating that a large majority remain unemployed despite having employable skills. He stated that the existing 3 percent public service employment quota for persons with disabilities is not being properly implemented and said the National People’s Power Government proposes increasing it to 5 percent. He also proposed better coordination among officials at Divisional Secretariats to identify and direct persons with disabilities into suitable employment.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper supported Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s motion and welcomed his appointment as a historic step for representation of persons with disabilities. He argued that the existing 3 percent public sector quota is inadequate and poorly implemented, particularly for blind and deaf persons, and said disability should not be treated as a single category but matched to specific capacities, education and skills. He urged the Government to strengthen specialized education, including Braille and tailored support, expand special schools and dedicated opportunities in regular schools, and build skills pipelines to prevent marginalization.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB
AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy supported Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s adjournment motion on persons with disabilities and called for Parliament to model inclusion. He urged respect, priority in employment, relief, housing, and educational support for persons with disabilities, particularly those affected by the war in the North and East, including Tamil, Sinhalese, and other communities. He said the Government should build a society where persons with disabilities can live on equal terms.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB
AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva objected to terminology used by Hon. Nizam Kariapper when referring to persons with disabilities, stating that it was inappropriate. He requested that the relevant words be expunged from the Hansard if possible.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary M. Nizam Kariapper apologized for remarks he had made, saying they were spoken out of ignorance. He formally withdrew the words with respect.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the motion on persons with disabilities and requested that the term “differently abled people” be used in Hansard. He highlighted the high prevalence of disability in the North and East due to the war, cited districts and institutions affected, and called for a strong policy and programme, including employment opportunities for unemployed youth and persons with disabilities. He also asked that the suffering of affected persons not be politicized, affirmed service within a united country, and corrected what he described as a media misrepresentation of his remarks on the Chemmani mass graves.
- The Hon. Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a motion on employment for persons with disabilities, stating that the Government’s policy is to build an inclusive society and strengthen protection of disability rights. He said the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996, the 2003 national disability policy, and related action plans are being updated, while Cabinet has approved preparation of legislation on sign language. He also outlined increases to disability-related allowances and grants, including higher monthly support, expanded beneficiaries, assistive device funding, education grants, self-employment support and housing grants, alongside efforts to facilitate self-employment and private sector placements.
- 17 Procedural Procedural Notice 1 speeches