Sitting of Thursday, 24 July 2025

Order of business

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

1. 1 Opening Opening: Parliament met and Privilege notice 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports 9 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' petitions presented 5 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) 6 speeches ▾
   • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

     AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to provide details on the current number of patients receiving treatment at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, and the balance in its donation account at the start of 2025. She further requested a year-by-year breakdown from 2020 of donation funds used and unused, and information on measures taken to ensure those donations are utilized productively.

     Healthcare Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB

     AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Apeksha Hospital, stating that 6,700 new patients were registered from January to 30 June 2025, 36,000 patients were on clinic rolls, and 950 to 1,000 patients attended clinics daily. He said the hospital accepts only in-kind donations directly, while monetary donations are held through the National Health Development Fund, with the balance increasing to about Rs. 478 million by May 2025. He stated that no funds had yet been utilized from the donation account, but procurement was underway for a new CT scanner, after which remaining funds would be used for essential medical equipment.

     HealthcarePublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

     AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella raised concern over an island-wide shortage of medicines in hospitals, specifically highlighting a serious shortage of paediatric oncology medicines at Apeksha Hospital. Referring to the President’s discussion on 22 July about urgent resolution of the issue, she asked the Deputy Minister to state the expected timeframe for addressing the shortages.

     Healthcare Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB

     AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that discussions with the President involved Health Ministry officials and Ministers, not the Government Medical Officers’ Association, and focused on improving the medicine supply chain, procurement processes, and use of State Pharmaceutical Corporation funds. He said there was no major overall medicine shortage at Maharagama, noting that temporary gaps are being addressed through local purchases authorized to the hospital Director and through the Named Patient approval process for high-cost medicines.

     HealthcarePublic Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

     AI summary The member questioned the Government’s commitment to prioritizing local manufacturers, noting that 60–70 per cent of required medicines are still imported. She asked what steps would be taken to address delays in NMRA registrations affecting local pharmaceutical manufacturers, including delays that hinder export registration.

     EmploymentHealthcare Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB

     AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that the NMRA’s pending files had been reduced from over 2,400 in June to around 200. He said local manufacturers’ applications receive priority processing, but noted that applications still require assessment time, with the NMRA’s 300-day timeframe aligning with international practice. He added that efforts are underway to reduce this period further and that there is no significant overdue backlog for local manufacturers beyond the stated timeframe.

     Employment Full speech →
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Fisheries Matter (Q.2) and Procedural Remarks 11 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Mount Lavinia Coastal Belt Project (Q.3) 6 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Environmental Matter (Q.4) - Stand down 3 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Kumbukkan Oya Project (Q.5) 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Government Analyst's Department Vacancies and Case Backlogs (Q.6) 8 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Foreign Graduate Appointments (Q.7) 8 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Education Zones for Uhana and Pottuvil (Q.8) 6 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Petroleum Storage Tanks in Cities (Q.9) 11 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: Agricultural Matter (Q.10) - Stand down 2 speeches ▸
14. 14 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Land Issues in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya (Q. Private Notice 1) 6 speeches ▸
15. 15 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Rajya Osusala Outlet in Mannar Town (Q. Private Notice 2) 3 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Procedural: Member's personal statement and Privilege matter 4 speeches ▸
17. 17 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms 16 speeches ▸
18. 18 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) 90 speeches ▸