Sitting of Friday, 11 July 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1753082553092748 ·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 Establishment of Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Tabling of Annual Reports - Ministers 5 speeches
- 3 Petitions Presentation of Petitions 7 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions - First Round 18 speeches
- 5 Procedural Points of Order and Standing Order 27(2) Questions 9 speeches
- 6 Debate US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion 20 speeches
- 7 Procedural Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege 65 speeches
- 8 Papers Presentation of Mediation (Civil and Commercial Disputes) Bill 2 speeches
- 9 Procedural Points of Order - Broadcasting and Warrant Matter 26 speeches
- 10 Debate Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision 14 speeches
- 11 Debate Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement 18 speeches
- 12 Debate Private Members' Motion No. 4: Making Every Youth Gainfully Employed 22 speeches
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake moved a motion proposing that every citizen reaching 18 should have a right to gainful employment or financial assistance to become self-employed, arguing that youth unemployment and frustration require a shift from welfare dependency to entrepreneurship and work-oriented policies. He called for seed capital of about Rs. 500,000 per youth, Central Bank funding windows for youth, women and MSMEs, tax relief for young e-commerce earners, and reforms to credit, university access, skills training and overseas employment standards. He also urged a focus on AI, innovation, renewable energy and trained migration, citing Sri Lanka’s fiscal constraints, post-bankruptcy recovery, and past episodes of youth unrest as context for the proposal.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri seconded Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Private Member’s Motion, urging stronger alignment between education, vocational training and entrepreneurship. He called for skills and entrepreneurial mindsets to be developed from primary education, greater social recognition for skilled trades and agriculture, and policies to localize manufacturing through assembly and capability-building. He also asked the Government to present practical programmes addressing income pressures and the rising cost of living.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Thanura Dissanayake stated that the Government supports shifting the economy toward wider production and regional participation, arguing that youth employment and entrepreneurship require planned support for new products and markets. He said past production and trade had been concentrated among a limited group, leaving some provinces with weak GDP contributions, and called for expansion across all regions including the North, East, and Central highlands. He noted that a national entrepreneurship development policy is lacking and said the Government is preparing an integrated strategic framework this year, while also referring to trade diplomacy such as reduced US tariffs and UK tariff preferences as ways to expand opportunities.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Supported the motion in principle but argued that implementation depends on macroeconomic stability, structural reforms, and stronger growth, noting World Bank projections of about 3.1 percent growth in 2026. He raised concerns about limited university access, youth unemployment, competition in three-wheeler livelihoods, and brain drain, calling for reforms including constitutional change, devolution, and empowered local administrative units to attract investment. He also tabled a letter from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi to President Anura Kumara on truth-seeking, international collaboration, and justice in the Chemmani mass grave investigation, linking accountability to retaining Tamil youth and building trust.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the motion on youth self-employment while highlighting unemployment among graduates in the Northern Province and urging replies and action on pending appointments for indigenous medical graduates. He argued that the North and East could build economies through agriculture and marine resources, requested removal of large Indian fishing vessels from Mayiliddy harbour to create opportunities for local youth, and called for the release of Rs. 10 million in decentralized funds to Jaffna District MPs. He also referenced concerns over Thayiddi and Mayiliddy viharas and the Chemmani exhumations before being timed out.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB
AI summary Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage supported Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s motion, arguing that youth development should begin with cultivating civic responsibility, clear educational pathways, and productive attitudes rather than relying only on employment or entrepreneurship slogans. He called for restructuring school education and integrating vocational education into curricula, citing the “Sahodara Piyapath” programme with the University of Peradeniya as evidence that many students lack targets for A/Ls or further study. He also noted ongoing discussions under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to promote agricultural entrepreneurship through youth camps, the National Youth Services Council, State farms, and coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB
AI summary Lasith Bhashana Gamage briefly called for collective discussion on how to move the country forward. He made no specific proposals or policy demands before concluding his remarks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah supported the motion on ensuring livelihoods and stable incomes for youth over 18. He argued that limited university access and inadequate loan facilities require expansion of local non-State higher education capacity and better financing mechanisms. He proposed a dedicated scheme to provide young entrepreneurs with loans, technology support, digital skills, and start-up assistance through banks and other channels as part of broader youth-focused economic development.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah argued that youth support should focus on enabling self-employment rather than providing monthly stipends. He called for State action to equip young people in sectors such as agriculture and technology so they can generate income and contribute to national assets, and urged concrete implementation of the motion.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister supported the motion on financing and empowering entrepreneurship, arguing that economic stabilization, confidence, good governance, and industrial harmony are necessary for investment and growth. He said entrepreneurship should focus on productive value addition and integration into value chains, while labour laws should be consolidated into a modern framework to improve workplace relations. He outlined existing SME and concessional loan schemes, noted geographic disparities and misuse of some funds, and said the Government would use data, training, credit guarantees, ADB-supported credit lines, and ultimately a Development Bank and regional finance mechanisms to support viable businesses nationwide.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported proposals to build a production and knowledge-based economy, arguing that youth across all communities need access to capital rather than Government jobs. He called for the Central Bank to allocate at least 10 percent of its specific lending schemes to youth entrepreneurship and said its independence should not be used to obstruct national fiscal policy. He proposed redirecting funds currently used for entities such as SriLankan Airlines toward youth enterprises, including support for small rice mills, and claimed about Rs. 150 billion could help create one million youth entrepreneurs.
- 13 Adjournment Adjournment - Fishing Practices in Trincomalee and Parliamentary Decentralized Funds 12 speeches