Sitting of Tuesday, 22 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: Awareness Programme for Newly Elected Members 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports of Various Institutions (2023) 4 speeches ▸
3. 3 Committee report Committee Reports: Environment, Education, Infrastructure Bills 3 speeches ▸
4. 4 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented 3 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Sale of Petroleum (Q.2/2024) 5 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District 5 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media

     AI summary A Rajya Osusala branch is planned to open in Batticaloa town within two months, using a Batticaloa Cooperative Society building currently being refurbished for handover to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation. No separate Rajya Osusala building has been established at Kaluwanchikudy Base Hospital, and the Minister stated that commencement depends on the Cooperative Society handing over the premises.

     Healthcare Full speech →
   • The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK

     AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam welcomed the Minister’s response and noted that future ministerial visits to Batticaloa hospitals should include meetings with district MPs. He requested the establishment of Rajya Osusala branches in Batticaloa town, Valachchenai and Kaluwanchikudy, specifically asking whether an Osusala branch could be opened at Kaluwanchikudy Base Hospital where a building reportedly constructed for this purpose is available but unused.

     HealthcareInfrastructure Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media

     AI summary The Minister said future engagements with health officials in Batticaloa should include all relevant Members of Parliament. He stated that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation currently operates about 65 Osusala outlets, with four opened since the new Government took office, but expansion depends on whether operating costs can be recovered because there is no separate Treasury allocation. He said an outlet would first be opened in Batticaloa town, with further expansion considered step by step, giving attention to needs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces to improve access to lower-priced medicines.

     HealthcarePublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK

     AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about inadequate resources in hospitals in the Batticaloa District, noting that the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital has ADB-backed approvals for a cath lab, MRI machine and CT scanner. He referred to a 2021 incident in which cath lab equipment intended for Batticaloa was allegedly diverted to Kalutara, and asked for assurances that the currently allocated cath lab, MRI and CT scanner would be provided. He also asked whether the Central Government, including through the Line Ministry, could supply necessary resources to district hospitals despite limitations in the Provincial Council system.

     Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionHealthcarePublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media

     AI summary The Minister stated that Batticaloa Teaching Hospital is the only Central Government hospital in the district and the only teaching hospital in the Eastern Province, while other hospitals remain under the Provincial Council and would require provincial concurrence to be taken over by the Centre. He said procurement is underway to provide an MRI scanner by the end of the year, a CT scanner will also be provided, and steps are being discussed to expedite a cath lab. He added that, given constraints in specialist staffing for base hospitals, the immediate priority is to strengthen Batticaloa Teaching Hospital with the necessary specialists, staff, and equipment.

     HealthcareEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
7. 7 Procedural Procedural: Question No. 3 Deferred 1 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Active Accounts in Employees' Provident Fund (Q.4/2024) 5 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: National Minimum Wage and Plantation Workers Wages 15 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Construction of Milleniya Export Processing Zone (Q.5/2024) 9 speeches ▸
11. 11 Procedural Procedural: Speaker's Time Management Announcement 1 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Migrant Workers - Remittances (Q.6/2024) 10 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: Mosque at Mahara Prison Premises 7 speeches ▸
14. 14 Procedural Procedural: Leader's Time Management Notice 1 speeches ▸
15. 15 Oral question Oral Question: Post of Sub-Inspector of Police - Recruitments (Q.7/2024) 21 speeches ▸
16. 16 Oral question Oral Question: Airlines and Aviation Services (Q.8/2024) 7 speeches ▸
17. 17 Oral question Oral Question: Sugar Demand and Production (Q.10/2024) 5 speeches ▸
18. 18 Oral question SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict 21 speeches ▸
19. 19 Oral question SO 27(2) Question: Ferry Service Thalaimannar-Rameswaram 25 speeches ▸
20. 20 Procedural Questions of Privilege: Incidents at Airport and COPE Committee 15 speeches ▸
21. 21 Procedural Procedural: Sitting Hours Extension and Land Development Bill First Reading 3 speeches ▸
22. 22 Debate Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) 118 speeches ▸
23. 23 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry 20 speeches ▸