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
- 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
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara moved an Adjournment Motion on the crisis affecting sugarcane farmers and workers linked to the Pelwatte, Sevanagala, Ethimale and Gal Oya sugar factories in Monaragala and Ampara. He stated that unsold stocks of sugar and ethanol have led to salary arrears, restricted cane purchases and delayed payments to farmers, affecting about 50,000 farming families and 10,000 workers. He attributed the situation partly to permission granted for sugar and ethanol imports despite local production capacity, and called for urgent action to sell accumulated stocks, settle dues and restore normal factory operations.
- The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti moved that Hon. Aravinda Senarath take the Chair. The motion was put to the House and agreed to, after which the Speaker left the Chair and Hon. Aravinda Senarath assumed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara raised concerns over the crisis in the local sugar industry, stating that farmers, workers, tractor owners and service providers dependent on factories such as Pelwatte, Sevanagala, Ethimale and Gal Oya face unpaid dues and wage delays. He argued that local sugar is disadvantaged by VAT and levies while imported sugar is cheaper, leaving large stocks unsold and factories loss-making, with similar problems affecting ethanol sales due to reduced demand and imports. He requested removal of VAT on locally produced sugar, action to sell existing sugar and ethanol stocks, curbs on ethanol imports, and clarification on when farmers’ and service providers’ arrears will be paid.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB
AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena seconded the motion and emphasized the importance of the Pelwatte, Sevanagala, Ethimale and Gal Oya plants to the economy and livelihoods of Monaragala District since their establishment in the 1980s. He urged the Minister not to allow the Pelwatte and Sevanagala factories to collapse, noting that more than 5,000 workers and many farmers depend on them. He cited outstanding payments to farmers and suppliers, bank loans, EPF/ETF arrears, halted medical insurance, delayed salaries, and withheld bonuses, confirmations and promotions, and called for both plants, particularly profitable Sevanagala, to be protected.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister recounted the closure, privatization and subsequent revival of the Hingurana Sugar Factory as Gal Oya Plantations under a 51 per cent Government and 49 per cent private partnership, arguing that earlier privatization and mismanagement had damaged Ampara’s economy. He said current operations still disadvantage sugarcane farmers through low prices, unfair agreements, poor infrastructure, alleged intimidation of protests, unpaid dues to the Government and private control despite majority State ownership. He called for accountability for those responsible for the factory’s collapse and stated that the Government would take measures to ensure benefits reach farmers rather than only management.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister R.M. Jayawardhana rejected opposition claims that the collapse of Pelwatte and Sevanagala occurred under the current Government, stating that Lanka Sugar Company had recorded losses, irregularities, and alleged misuse amounting to Rs. 7.47 billion before the present Minister assumed office in December 2024. He cited audit findings on unauthorised payments, politically influenced recruitment and promotions, and a large wage burden, noting that the two plants currently employ 9,489 workers. He also reported outstanding dues as of mid-2025, including Rs. 3,740 million payable to suppliers and Rs. 2,034 million to farmers, and argued that prior mismanagement had damaged the institutions.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB
AI summary R.M. Jayawardhana cited audit findings on Lanka Sugar Company’s Sevanagala and Pelwatte operations, alleging large unauthorized write-offs, procurement losses, advance payments, incomplete projects, excess recruitment, and other financial irregularities under previous management. He said the Government has decided to revive the institution rather than privatize it, including a two-year halt on new recruitment and steps to protect employees and farmers. He also denied that the Ministry was using its licence to import brown sugar and rejected claims that the National People’s Power Government intended to privatize Lanka Sugar Company.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Rauff Hakeem raised concerns about Gal Oya Plantations in the Ampara District alongside issues affecting Lanka Sugar Company factories, noting that cane farmers had met the Minister and that the Minister agreed to attend the District Coordinating Committee meeting on the 31st. He cited an Auditor General’s report alleging inadequate Treasury oversight, non-payment of dividends to the Government, major liabilities, and operational inefficiencies, and questioned whether there were attempts to create a monopoly over sugar and ethanol operations. He alleged intimidation of farmers, police action against farmer leaders, arson, misuse of insurance, forced indebtedness, and unfair pricing, and requested ministerial intervention with Treasury participation to address farmers’ grievances and ensure proper oversight.
- The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara rose on a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was included in the provided speech extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara rejected State Minister R.M. Jayawardhana’s corruption allegations, stating that the acts cited did not occur during the Yahapalana/United National Party Government. He urged the Government, which had pledged to catch wrongdoers, to proceed against the actual offenders.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti said Lanka Sugar Company was inherited as a loss-making entity with large unsold stocks of ethanol and sugar, and argued that current sugar and ethanol price issues stem from decisions made under previous administrations, including VAT on sugar and ethanol import controls. He stated that the Government has paid cutting and transport charges, recently paid Rs. 460 million to farmers, and secured a further Rs. 1 billion Treasury allocation to settle remaining payments. He rejected allegations that state-produced ethanol contained urea or that the Government planned to import ethanol, tabling Excise Department and quality inspection documents, and said the state-linked sugar factories would not be sold, closed, or allowed to sell ethanol below Rs. 800 per litre.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural