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

Order of business

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

  1. 15 Procedural Ministry Statement: Release of Tamil Political Prisoners 4 speeches
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
    • The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law — Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB

      AI summary In response to a Standing Order 27(2) question by Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, the Minister provided figures on Tamil suspects and prisoners connected to LTTE activities held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, including 4 suspects and 88 prisoners with various sentence statuses. He identified the prisons where they are detained and noted that transfers may occur for court or security reasons. He outlined the legal avenues for release, including completion of sentence, bail, acquittal or discharge by court, appeal outcomes, and presidential pardon or remission under Article 34 of the Constitution.

      Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Welcomed the Minister’s remarks on considering a general amnesty for political prisoners and appealed for the release of named detainees who have been imprisoned for 14 to 30 years. He urged the President and Minister to take humanitarian grounds into account, highlighting the family circumstances of Sachchithanantham Ananthasuthakar, whose children have lost both their mother and grandmother caregivers.

      Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara stated that pardons for prisoners convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act fall under the President’s constitutional powers under Article 34, not the Minister of Justice. He said families of around 11 to 15 imprisoned individuals had submitted names for consideration, and while he is studying the matter, any decision or application for pardon must be directed to the President.

      Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →