Sitting of Tuesday, 5 August 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1754902606038704 ·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 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Reports and Regulations 6 speeches
- 3 Committee report Committee Report: Public Finance Committee Report 1 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions 8 speeches
- 5 Procedural Point of Order: Mannar Wind Power Protest 3 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools 66 speeches
- 7 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Youth Services Council Circular 14 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural: Standing Order 31 Matter and Question 27(2) on Transport Committee 7 speeches
- 9 Debate Ministerial Statement: Lanka Sugar Company - Pelwatte and Sevanagala Sugarcane Farmers 3 speeches
- 10 Debate Ministerial Statements: Trade and Commerce Issues in Jaffna District 11 speeches
- 11 Debate Ministerial Statement: Medical Faculty Suspension at Kotelawala Defence University 10 speeches
- 12 Procedural Privilege Matter: Alleged Weapon Possession 15 speeches
- 13 Procedural Procedural: Motions and Standing Order 91(1) Discussion 12 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Sittings of Parliament Motion 2 speeches
- 15 Procedural Privilege Motion: Suspension of Live Telecast 2 speeches
- 16 Debate Debate: Resolution to Remove Inspector-General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon 100 speeches
- 17 Debate Debate: Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Regulations 21 speeches
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary Moved approval of regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, No. 2 of 2018, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2429/32, to operationalize investigations and procedures for anti-dumping, countervailing duties, and price undertakings following Cabinet approval. He said the measures are intended to protect domestic producers from dumped or subsidized imports while requiring assessment by the Department of Commerce, an Inter-Ministerial Committee, and the Treasury of industry harm, consumer interests, and wider market impacts. He noted the duties would be temporary safeguards to allow affected industries to adjust and compete, with complaints handled through the Department of Commerce in line with WTO-related fair trade principles.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA
AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan, speaking during the debate on regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, urged the Government to ensure that any new levies do not further burden small producers who already lack fair market access. He highlighted unfair pricing by intermediaries, inadequate rural market infrastructure, the impact of monkey and elephant damage on farming, rising fuel costs for fishers, and the need to support war-affected farmers, fishers, women-headed households, and palmyrah-based small industries in the North and Vanni. He requested local market facilities, measures to secure fair prices, export support for palmyrah handicrafts, and solutions to the Mannar wind power dispute through ongoing discussions with Ministers and local representatives.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Sagarika Athauda outlined the historical role of Justices of the Peace and argued that political influence and lack of clear appointment criteria had undermined the office’s public standing. She referred to the Minister’s regulatory powers under Section 45 of the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978, and cited Gazette Extraordinary No. 2439/34 of 04.06.2025 as introducing new standards on appointments, suspensions and cancellations. She said the regulations, including age limits, educational requirements, English certification criteria and medical fitness certification, are intended to restore integrity, efficiency and respect for the JP system, and expressed support for them.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna called for an international investigation into the Chemmani mass grave, citing the reported recovery of around 150 skeletal remains, and urged action on long-term detainees held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He criticized the Government’s approach to education reforms, arguing that major changes should be evidence-based and preceded by pilot studies, and asked that developments relating to Nallur temple land be brought before the District Coordinating Committee. He also said he was being targeted through CID inquiries and multiple legal cases, criticized what he described as political cycles of arrests after changes of government, and questioned Government positions on official privileges, pensions, and the dignity of public offices.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Urging the Government to fulfil its promises, the Member challenged others to acknowledge those who died for them as heroes and warned of public backlash. He also referred to documents alleging that a “thief” had been appointed in Jaffna, but said he would not elaborate due to time constraints.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister supported Regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, stating that they are needed to protect domestic industries such as tiles, sanitaryware, leather products and footwear from unfairly priced imports. He said the mechanism would allow producers to lodge complaints and enable verification of import prices through Sri Lanka Customs, helping ensure fair competition. He also noted that the Government is working on a National Tariff Policy with the Trade and Finance Ministries to provide a stable five-year framework for duties and investment planning. Linking the Regulations to broader economic policy, he cited export, tourism and stock market indicators and urged Parliament to approve the measures to support domestic producers.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj JJB
AI summary A motion was moved for Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne to take the Chair. The House agreed, after which the Deputy Speaker left the Chair and Hon. Ariyarathne presided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Thurairasa Ravikaran welcomed the debate on Regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act and commended the Government’s action, while invoking the remembrance of Pandara Vanniyan to highlight current concerns in the Vanni. He raised objections to Cabinet-approved wind power towers in Mannar, citing local protests at Thalladi, and urged authorities to remove the components opposed by residents. He also sought attention to the disappearance of fisherman Vincent Paul Arumai in Mullaitivu, noting damage and human blood found on his boat and suspicions of an attack linked to illegal sea activities.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Thurairasa Ravikaran raised concern over alleged illegal night fishing in the Mullaitivu sea area using powerful lights. He questioned why the Navy, Police and Department of Fisheries had not stopped these activities despite being responsible for enforcement.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a point of order asking the Chair to allow Opposition Members to speak without interruption. He cited Standing Order No. 91(a), which requires Members to address their observations to the Speaker, in support of his procedural objection.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna objected to being interrupted and responded to remarks directed at him. He questioned why a promised leather factory for the North and East had not been established despite land allocations, DCC meetings, and completed processes, noting that carcasses from the region continue to be transported to the South.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika raised a point of order.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika JJB
AI summary Under Standing Order 92(2)(a), Najith Indika raised a procedural concern about repeated disorder and interruptions in the House. He said Members were unable to continue their speeches, citing interruptions during a Tamil Member’s remarks, and urged the Chair to ensure order and proper management of proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that suspects with mental illness may be dealt with under Section 376 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, while briefly responding to remarks made by other Members. He then presented and sought approval for Rules under the Community Mediation Boards (Appointment, Suspension, Cancellation and Code of Conduct) Act, No. 3 of 2023, noting that the details had been tabled. The motion was put to the House and agreed to.
- 18 Procedural Procedural: Justice and National Integration Regulations 1 speeches
- 19 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa 21 speeches