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
- 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
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The presiding member then put the adjournment question to the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake alleged that the ongoing islandwide reorganization of Youth Society Councils under the National Youth Services Council is being politicized through the involvement of National People’s Power representatives and the Socialist Students’ Union in appointing office-bearers. He asked the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports whether the Socialist Youth Union emblem is being used, whether Youth Services Officers are acting politically, and whether regional council formation should be impartial and free from political influence. He urged the Minister and the NYSC Chairman to ensure youth councils are established independently, without improper political intervention.
- The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to questions on youth organizations under the National Youth Services Council, citing the National Youth Services Act No. 69 of 1979 as the basis for establishing and reorganizing youth societies. He said the “Connect 2025 Youth Clubs” programme is a rebranding effort to attract youth and denied using political symbols or exerting political influence. He stated that officers involved are carrying out official duties, not political work, and that the Government aims to establish youth clubs in all 14,022 Grama Niladhari Divisions, with about 11,000 already formed on a non-party, non-ethnic and non-religious basis.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB
AI summary Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera asked the Minister of Finance about additional charges imposed by merchants on consumers using credit cards, debit cards or QR payments. He sought clarification on whether such charges are permitted, what remedies consumers have, and what barriers are limiting wider digital and QR-based transactions in Sri Lanka. He also asked whether the Government is considering reimbursing a flat per-transaction fee to promote digital payments and what progress has been made on that proposal.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister outlined the rules governing fees on card and QR payments, stating that merchants generally cannot pass Merchant Discount Rate charges to consumers except for limited fees on fuel purchases and certain government services. He said consumers can complain through their issuing financial institution or QR account bank if unlawful surcharges are imposed, and noted that the Central Bank has issued notices and guidance on the matter. He also said digital payment adoption is growing but is constrained by low public awareness, uneven internet and digital infrastructure, and a continued preference for cash, while the Central Bank is studying possible fee reductions and other measures to promote digital payments.