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 ▸
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 ▾
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Kins Nelson asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation to provide details on airlines operating services to Sri Lanka, including their number and names. He also requested separate figures for any outstanding amounts owed by each airline to Airports and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, and the measures planned to recover those dues.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku - Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku tabled details of embarkation tax and related aviation-sector arrears on behalf of the Minister, stating that CAASL was owed Rs. 27.66 billion as at 31 May 2025, mainly by SriLankan Airlines, along with a further USD 1.52 million in CAASL dues. He also provided AASL receivables as at 30 June 2025, including USD 7.42 million and Rs. 13.54 million from international airlines, with SriLankan Airlines accounting for 93 per cent of the USD amount, plus smaller sums from ground handlers and domestic operators. On recovery action, he said CAASL had pursued payments through correspondence, meetings, Finance Ministry notification, encashment of bank guarantees, and final reminders, but the Attorney-General had advised that the Civil Aviation Act lacks provisions to recover such levies following changes made in 2003.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Kins Nelson asked the Deputy Minister what steps are being taken to recover approximately Rs. 22 billion in embarkation levy owed by SriLankan Airlines to the Civil Aviation Authority. He noted that the levy is paid by passengers and constitutes government revenue rather than airline income.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku JJB

      AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku provided details of unpaid embarkation levies owed by airlines, stating that the total due was Rs. 27,659 million, with SriLankan Airlines owing the largest share at Rs. 24,655 million, and Aeroflot Russia additionally owing USD 1.5 million. He said CAASL had repeatedly notified the relevant parties and liquidated some bank guarantees, but recovery was constrained because the Civil Aviation Act and Finance Act lacked provisions for legal action. He stated that a Cabinet Paper had been prepared to establish the necessary legal framework for recovery.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson questioned the Government on the funding timeline for upgrading Hingurakgoda (Minneriya) Airport to international status, noting the estimated Rs. 17 billion cost and the Rs. 2 billion allocated in 2024 for runway work. He asked whether annual capital allocations would remain at Rs. 2 billion, which would delay completion for about ten years, and requested details on the allocation in the current Budget and a firm completion date.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku JJB

      AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku stated that the airport project had been initiated without a proper feasibility study or business plan. He said funds are being allocated only to complete essential remaining work on the partly built runway, with any further decisions to be made next year after a proper feasibility study.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
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 ▸