Sitting of Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1754386160089643 ·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: Parliament Convened 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Performance Reports 6 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: Various Citizens' Petitions Presented 3 speeches
- 4 Papers Papers: Additional Reports Tabled 2 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Reservoirs and Tank Management (Q.3/2025 – 794/2025) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Security at Temple of the Tooth Relic and Road Closure 15 speeches
- 7 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Interjections on Historical Matters 9 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Export of Rock Phosphate (Q.5/2025 – 857/2025) 38 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Tourism Zones in Matara District (Q.6/2025 – 866/2025) 7 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Transfer of LRC Lands to Private Individuals (Q.7/2025 – 869/2025) 6 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) 6 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Grant of LRC Lands for Factory Establishment (Q.10/2025 – 997/2025) 6 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question: Second Round Questions (Q.1, 2, 3/2025 – Second Round) 7 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Questions – Sri Lanka Electricity Bill Scheduling 11 speeches
- 15 Procedural Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Simplified VAT (SVAT) Abolition 4 speeches
- 16 Procedural Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Kankesanthurai Port Renovation Delay 9 speeches
- 17 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Government Policies on Paddy Purchase and Rice Import 7 speeches
- 18 Procedural Procedural: Kodhagoda Gunarathana Nahimi Foundation Bill – First Reading 3 speeches
- 19 Debate Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading 94 speeches
- 20 Procedural Committee Stage: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Clauses and Amendments 6 speeches
- 21 Adjournment Adjournment: Questions at Time of Adjournment 15 speeches
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The Presiding Member put the adjournment question to the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised an adjournment question to the Prime Minister and Education Minister on salary anomalies affecting the Sri Lanka Teacher Educators’ Service following the Sobodhini Salary Schedule and related teacher/principal salary revisions. She asked whether the Government accepts the anomaly, how and when it will be resolved, whether an interim allowance will be granted, and why officials were absent during a protest at Isurupaya. She also questioned the longer promotion period for Teacher Educators compared with other executive grades, sought a date for admitting 2023-2024 Advanced Level qualified students to Faculties of Education, and asked what measures are being taken to address shortages of physical and technological resources in those institutions.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister explained that recruitment and salary placement in the Sri Lanka Teacher Educators’ Service are governed by the 2015 Service Minute and Establishments Code provisions, with limited-basis recruits placed according to their last drawn salary. He said any salary anomaly must be addressed through a broader policy decision covering all executive services, and noted that an Education Council and a Cabinet Memorandum are being used to pursue service-by-service solutions while a pending Fundamental Rights case, SC/FR/077/2025, may affect further action. He also stated that admissions to Faculties of Education, delayed by COVID-19 and national conditions, are being regularized by admitting the 2023 and 2024 A/L cohorts together from December 2025, with intake numbers determined by infrastructure, hostel capacity, and academic staffing constraints.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Mrs. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna sought a clarification from the Chair, specifying that she was not raising a question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna sought clarification on whether the Gazette would be issued in early August 2025 and whether it would apply to students from both 2023 and 2024.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Asked whether the proposed Cabinet Paper would provide the same 12-year pathway to Grade I promotions granted to other executive grades. She further sought clarification on whether such a measure would resolve the affected officers’ promotion issue.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB
AI summary Stated that the matter is still being drafted and that the House will be informed in due course.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB
AI summary Hon. Roshan Akmeemana asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development about the governance and operations of the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka under its enabling Act. He questioned why CRIB does not provide direct access to cooperative societies, Samurdhi Banks and rural banks, and what steps are being taken to correct inaccurate or outdated credit records, including cases involving inactive or cancelled finance companies. He also sought explanations on CRIB’s financial and institutional oversight, including the absence of regular Auditor General audits, its treatment as a private-like entity despite state oversight, and why it is not subject to COPE scrutiny.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister answered questions on the Credit Information Bureau, stating that only Central Bank-regulated banks and non-bank financial institutions may exchange credit information through CRIB, while cooperative societies, Samurdhi Banks and rural banks operate under separate laws. He requested more time to provide quantitative answers on two specific institutions, and reported that CRIB is to be treated as a state institution subject to the Financial Management Act, Treasury guidelines, audit oversight, and potential COPE scrutiny. He tabled a 2025 management audit report on CRIB’s financial administration, procurement and overall management, emphasizing the need to balance confidentiality of credit information with accountability and fiscal discipline.
- The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB
AI summary Roshan Akmeemana asked whether microfinance credit data are currently included in the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB). He further inquired whether there are plans to include microfinance records and alternative data such as telephone and utility bill payments in the future.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that microfinance covers a broad and varied range of activities, including by banks, non-bank financial institutions, and other entities whose classification may be unclear. He said the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance are working to introduce proper financial discipline and better management of lending and borrowing, with steps already underway to bring the sector into a more structured system.
Public Finance Full speech →