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10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Wednesday, 23 July 2025

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 262 speeches· 60 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1754386160089643 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Reservoirs and Tank Management (Q.3/2025 – 794/2025) 7 speeches
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for detailed data on Sri Lanka’s reservoirs, large tanks and small tanks, including district-level figures for Kurunegala and annual restoration numbers over the past ten years. He also sought information on the restoration projects used, with specific questions on the SARP irrigation project, including its implementation in Kurunegala, funding sources and allocations, works carried out on tanks, and whether the project is ongoing.

      InfrastructureAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister, the Deputy Minister provided detailed figures on reservoirs and tanks managed by the Irrigation Department, Department of Agrarian Development and Mahaweli Authority, including 5,733 minor tanks in the Kurunegala District. He outlined tank rehabilitation work in Kurunegala from 2021 to 2025, citing restorations under departmental allocations, the Irrigation Prosperity Programme, climate resilience projects and agrarian development schemes. He also stated that the IFAD-funded SARP project has operated since 2023, with Rs. 13,498 million allocated overall and Rs. 2,908 million for Kurunegala, where 14 tank projects have been completed and five more are underway.

      AgricultureInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB

      AI summary Asked whether the Ministry is aware of public complaints that an afforestation planting scheme linked to SARP tank restoration in the Galgamuwa electorate has failed and misled residents. He requested to know whether any financial audit or inquiry has been conducted into losses arising from the project.

      EnvironmentPublic FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB

      AI summary Foreign-assisted agriculture and irrigation projects, including tank restoration, are being reviewed following concerns from farmer organizations and the public about project selection and design components. A committee of engineers and subject experts appointed by the Minister is examining possible irregularities, inefficiencies, and management issues across 11 projects worth about US$1 billion. The Deputy Minister said action would be taken based on the committee’s recommendations and that the specific matter raised would be inquired into.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake raised a supplementary question on delays in tank deepening works in Kurunegala under the “Irrigation Heritage – Our Legacy” initiative, noting the district’s high dependence on tanks and shortage of technical officers. He asked the relevant authorities to state a realistic timeframe for resolving the technical-staff shortage and completing the ongoing works involving Agrarian Service Centres, the Kurunegala District Agrarian Services Office, and the Department of Irrigation, despite the President’s 30 September completion target.

      InfrastructureAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister acknowledged shortages of technical officers in the Department of Agrarian Development and the North Western Provincial Department of Irrigation, including in Kurunegala, and said these shortages have affected implementation. He stated that recruitment approvals have been granted under the Government’s broader plan to recruit 30,000 officers, with additional requests submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office review committee. He added that some foreign-funded projects are supporting technical staff recruitment, that redeployment is being used as an interim measure, and that the Ministry will examine the Kurunegala situation and report back.

      EmploymentInfrastructureAgriculture Full speech →