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10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 7 August 2025

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 208 speeches· 68 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1755509552009433 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

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

  7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Land Issue in Humbuluwa Village, Alawwa, Dambadeni (Q.6/2025) 6 speeches
    • The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to clarify a land dispute in Humbuluwa village, Alawwa, including the status of the 1911 Village Plan No. 455, recognition of hereditary private lands, and registration details of grant No. 2621. He sought information on when Humbuluwa Temple came under Section 4(1) of the Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Act, No. 34 of 2013, and why villagers were allegedly deprived after 2017 of claims to traditionally held freehold lands without notice. He also asked whether this situation violated constitutional people’s sovereignty and what remedial measures the Ministry would take.

      Land & HousingReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Minister responded to a question on land ownership relating to Humbuluwa village and Humbuluwa Raja Maha Viharaya, stating that historical records, including an 18th-century sannasa registered in 1893, identify the village as temple property covering about 832 acres. He said legal proceedings are ongoing, including appeals against a judgment declaring certain lands as belonging to the temple, and that ownership disputes have arisen among villagers as a result. He added that a ministry-appointed committee inspected the copper sannasa and obtained an Archaeology Department report confirming its archaeological value, but further administrative action will await the establishment of rights by court.

      Land & HousingReligion & CultureJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ashoka Gunasena raised a supplementary question concerning sannasa-backed lands reportedly used by villagers for about 200 years. He noted a discrepancy between recent Plan No. 95204, which identifies the land as belonging to Katugampola Hathpattuwa, and the 1911 Plan No. 455, which identifies it as belonging to Dambadeniya Hathpattuwa, and requested the Minister’s urgent attention and clarification on further action.

      Land & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Minister said the Humbuluwa land dispute reflects wider issues in Ratnapura District requiring detailed study and policy decisions, while noting that related matters are before court. He outlined the complexity of the 832-acre dispute, citing long-term occupation, permanent buildings, cultivation, tax payments, Janma Bhoomi grants, National Housing Authority sales, private and public auctions, temple lands, and historical sannasas. He stated that both villagers’ grievances and temple claims contain evidence, and said the Ministry and Department of Buddhist Affairs seek a fair outcome through expedited court proceedings and mediation.

      Religion & CultureJustice & Human RightsLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ashoka Gunasena raised concerns that around 6,000 villagers have been unable to access services such as school admissions, business registration, bank loans, and house plan approvals following a 23 July 2024 letter from the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs to the Alawwa Divisional Secretary. He asked what urgent relief the Minister could provide, emphasizing that rights previously enjoyed by the villagers for generations had been disrupted.

      Justice & Human RightsLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB

      AI summary Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi acknowledged the land-related hardships arising from ancient sannasas and large extents of land, including the 832 acres referred to, noting similar issues elsewhere. He said amendments to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance and antiquities laws should be considered, alongside better coordination between parties and proper court action to expedite cases. He undertook to intervene and seek urgent Government attention for a policy decision covering Humbuluwa and comparable situations.

      Religion & CultureLand & Housing Full speech →