Sitting of Friday, 25 July 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1754382585021621 ·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 Parliament Opening and Speaker's Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Tabling of Reports and Orders 5 speeches
- 3 Committee report Committee on Public Accounts: Second Report 2 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions Presented to Parliament 9 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Easter Sunday Attack - Officers Accused (Q.115/2024) 17 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai Road Reconstruction (Q.184/2024) 21 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala raised a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy matter was presented in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala briefly responded to clarify that his name had just been mentioned in reference to the position of Police Minister. The intervention was interrupted, and no substantive policy point or proposal was made.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala states that he has already provided a clarification to Parliament regarding the Easter Sunday attacks, in response to an interruption.
Security & Defence Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that investigations into the Easter attacks fall under the Ministry of Public Security, while the Prime Minister should answer only on matters within her responsibility. He noted that Standing Orders allow the relevant Minister to respond after the Prime Minister’s policy reply if necessary, and requested that the Minister of Public Security be permitted to speak without being disrupted by disorderly shouting.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a procedural concern that he could not hear the proceedings due to interruptions. The Chair indicated he had the microphone and asked the Minister of Public Security to allow proceedings to continue with Question No. 3.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation whether the unreconstructed Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai road in the Manmune South-West Divisional Secretary’s Division of Batticaloa District is known to the Ministry. He noted that authorities had already been informed but no action had been taken, and requested whether steps would be taken to reconstruct the road used by residents, schoolchildren and government employees.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister, answering on behalf of the relevant Minister, confirmed that the Myladithivu to Ambilanthurai section of the Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai road is being rehabilitated under the World Bank-funded ICDP. He stated that the 7.75 km project began on 27 August 2024, was about 70% complete as of 30 June 2025, with 7.3 km already carpeted, and is expected to be completed by 2 September 2025. He added that the works are intended to benefit schoolchildren, government employees, and the public.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam called for a review of the Oral Questions process, noting long delays before submitted questions appear on the Order Paper. He raised concerns about deteriorated roads in Batticaloa District, explaining that many are under provincial or local authority ownership while funding remains largely with the Central Government. He asked whether the Ministry or the Road Development Authority could allocate specific funds or make arrangements to improve provincial and local authority roads, citing Ambilanthurai–Kokkaddichcholai, Villukkulam–Manalputti junction, and Pakkiyella–Vellaveli as examples.
- Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena outlined plans under the “Path to Revival” rural road programme to support local authority roads that lack adequate funding or technical capacity for rehabilitation. He stated that eligible roads may be brought under RDA workstreams or supported through technical assistance and funding via District Secretaries, with Rs. 14,000 million allocated for 2025 and an expected Rs. 25,000 million for 2026.
- Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the justification for central agencies taking over provincial responsibilities, arguing that the main constraint in upgrading hospitals and roads is funding rather than local technical capacity. He cited the Health Minister’s statement on the Central Government taking over provincial hospitals, the RDA’s role in provincial and local roads, and Budget allocations including Rs. 14 billion and Rs. 1 billion for Northern Province roads, asking for a response on whether line Ministries would continue assuming provincial functions.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a procedural concern before posing a Supplementary Question, noting that if the Deputy Minister responded on behalf of the Minister, he might not have sufficient opportunity to reply. He indicated that he would take additional time to frame his question based on the Deputy Minister’s earlier answer.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a supplementary question to the Minister of Highways regarding the practice of the Road Development Authority taking over and constructing roads that fall under Provincial Council responsibility. He sought clarification in the context of the Minister’s explanation that such intervention occurs when Provincial Councils are unable to carry out the work.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena clarified that the matter under discussion referred to Local Authorities, not Provincial Councils.
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned why allocations for Bakkiella Road, Willukulam Road and Kiran Road could not be channelled through the Road Development Authority or Road Development Department without transferring Local Authority roads to the RDA. He argued that Local Authorities fall under Provincial Councils and asked that funding be provided without weakening or further reducing the powers of the Provincial Council system.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to concerns about Provincial Council funding, stating that capital allocations for road development, construction, and recruitment have been increased threefold despite the country’s financial difficulties. He clarified that although the Road Development Authority may construct roads belonging to Local Authorities or Provincial Councils, ownership and administrative responsibility remain with the relevant institution unless formally transferred. He rejected the claim that these arrangements weaken the Provincial Council system and said allocations would be increased further next year.
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Gulf of Mannar - Exploration of Gas and Oil (Q.199/2024) 15 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Employees' Provident Fund - Investments in Share Market (Q.217/2024) 25 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Drafting of a New Constitution (Q.225/2024) 10 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Import of Vehicles Under Duty-Free Permits (Q.508/2025) 18 speeches
- 11 Oral question Second Round Oral Questions and Procedural Matters 13 speeches
- 12 Oral question Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists 17 speeches
- 13 Oral question Standing Order 27(2): Central Bank Accountability and Medicine Procurement Delays 12 speeches
- 14 Procedural Committee on Ethics and Privileges - Referral Motion 2 speeches
- 15 Adjournment Vote of Condolence: Late Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan and Others 2 speeches
- 16 Debate Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) 41 speeches
- 17 Adjournment Adjournment Questions 7 speeches