Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
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

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

Order of business

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

  9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Tourism Zones in Matara District (Q.6/2025 – 866/2025) 7 speeches
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism for details on tourism zones in Sri Lanka and recognised tourist attractions in the Matara District, including which have been gazetted as tourist destinations. He specifically sought information on attractions in the Kotapola and Pitabeddara Divisional Secretaries’ Divisions and asked whether the Government intends to designate a tourist zone covering those areas, what steps have been taken, and, if not, the reasons.

      Foreign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Deputy Minister stated that 24 Tourism Development Areas have been gazetted nationally, including approximately 1,040.75 hectares in the Matara District. He outlined key tourist attractions in and around Matara, Weligama, Mirissa, Gandara, Kottegoda and Dikwella, and acknowledged tourism potential in the Kotapola and Pitabeddara Divisional Secretaries’ Divisions. He said any declaration of Kotapola and Pitabeddara as a Tourism Development Area must follow the standard process of identifying need, attractions and boundaries, consulting stakeholders, and issuing public notification, with a decision needed on whether to add them to the existing Matara City area or a proposed future Deniyaya area.

      Foreign AffairsInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath welcomed the Deputy Minister’s attention to a long-standing tourist area that had not previously been formally designated as a tourism zone. He asked whether the Ministry would coordinate with officials and use the District Coordinating Committee to establish a proper mechanism for its development and recognition.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary A Southern Tourism Agency has been established to coordinate tourism activities in the Southern Province, and related projects are being carried out with its involvement. The member proposed consulting the agency and other stakeholders on whether the area should be included in the Deniyaya Tourism Zone gazette or brought under an expanded Matara tourism zone.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath informed the House that Hon. T.K. Jayasundara would ask the second supplementary question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB

      AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara asked about designating the broader southern wet zone ecosystem, including areas in Galle and Matara such as Kanneliya, Sinharaja, and Hiniduma, as one tourism zone under a single administrative framework. He requested clarification from the Tourism Ministry on the process for gazetting the entire cross-district area as a tourism zone.

      EnvironmentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary Plans for tourism development will involve the Ruhunu Tourism Agency and aim to cover attractive tourist areas across Sri Lanka. District Coordinating Committees, particularly tourism subcommittees, are being used to review proposals, with two days to be allocated in the Southern Province for discussion and decision-making.

      Foreign Affairs Full speech →