Sitting of Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1753443916033328 ·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: Awareness Programme for Newly Elected Members 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports of Various Institutions (2023) 4 speeches
- 3 Committee report Committee Reports: Environment, Education, Infrastructure Bills 3 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented 3 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Sale of Petroleum (Q.2/2024) 5 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Establishment of Rajya Osusala - Batticaloa District 5 speeches
- 7 Procedural Procedural: Question No. 3 Deferred 1 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Active Accounts in Employees' Provident Fund (Q.4/2024) 5 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: National Minimum Wage and Plantation Workers Wages 15 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Construction of Milleniya Export Processing Zone (Q.5/2024) 9 speeches
- 11 Procedural Procedural: Speaker's Time Management Announcement 1 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Migrant Workers - Remittances (Q.6/2024) 10 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question: Mosque at Mahara Prison Premises 7 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Leader's Time Management Notice 1 speeches
- 15 Oral question Oral Question: Post of Sub-Inspector of Police - Recruitments (Q.7/2024) 21 speeches
- 16 Oral question Oral Question: Airlines and Aviation Services (Q.8/2024) 7 speeches
- 17 Oral question Oral Question: Sugar Demand and Production (Q.10/2024) 5 speeches
- 18 Oral question SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict 21 speeches
- 19 Oral question SO 27(2) Question: Ferry Service Thalaimannar-Rameswaram 25 speeches
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Ramanathan Archchuna rose on a point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA
AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism regarding the proposed resumption of the Thalaimannar–Rameswaram ferry service between Sri Lanka and India. He noted that the matter has been discussed repeatedly, including in Parliament, and asked what progress has been made, particularly in light of India’s reported readiness to assist.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the matter raised falls under the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. He indicated that the relevant Deputy Minister would provide the response.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku - Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB
AI summary Ferry operations began on 14 October 2023 and are continuing with two ferries, although services are temporarily suspended during rough sea conditions. The Deputy Minister said there are jetty-related issues and noted India’s willingness to assist, while acknowledging that no proper feasibility study had been conducted. He reported that around 17,000 passengers had used the service this year across 153 voyages, with generally two voyages per day except on Tuesdays.
Infrastructure Full speech → - The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA
AI summary Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan sought clarification from the Deputy Minister specifically regarding the Thalaimannar–Rameswaram service, indicating that his question concerned that route rather than a broader issue.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna raised a procedural concern under Standing Order No. 33(2), stating that the Chair may limit time for supplementary questions and answers but should apply such limits consistently. He argued that allowing one Member to continue while silencing another undermines parliamentary procedure, noting that some Members are given only 10 to 15 seconds.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, as Leader of the Opposition, rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition noted that time had elapsed after posing his question and suggested that the relevant Minister provide the answer on another day.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam briefly requested the Chair for one minute to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the provided extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged the Government to expedite the proposed Mannar–Rameswaram ferry service, noting that India was willing to assist. He argued that this shorter route would be more viable than the KKS–Karaikal service and, together with the rail link, would support economic development in the Northern Province.
- The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku JJB
AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku addressed the Deputy Speaker, but no substantive remarks, arguments, proposals, or questions are included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku JJB
AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku clarified that the wording of the Question, which referred broadly to services “between India and Sri Lanka,” led officials to address the overall ferry service rather than a narrower matter. He stated that this was the reason for the misunderstanding.
Foreign Affairs Full speech →
- 20 Procedural Questions of Privilege: Incidents at Airport and COPE Committee 15 speeches
- 21 Procedural Procedural: Sitting Hours Extension and Land Development Bill First Reading 3 speeches
- 22 Debate Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) 118 speeches
- 23 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry 20 speeches