Sitting of Thursday, 7 August 2025

Order of business

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1. 1 Opening Opening of Parliament and Chair Announcements 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Tabling of Reports and Petitions 13 speeches ▸
3. 3 Oral question Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) 6 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Projects Approved with Indian Government Assistance - Eastern Province (Q.3/2025) 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: E.L. Irfan and K.S. Nishfar - Compensation for Boat Accident (Q.4/2025) 6 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Regulation of Fertilizer Act - Maximum Penalty on Fake Fertilizer Manufacturers (Q.5/2025) 6 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Land Issue in Humbuluwa Village, Alawwa, Dambadeni (Q.6/2025) 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Combined Allowance for Public Health Midwives (Q.7/2025) 7 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Bachelor's Degree Requirement for NIE Recruitment (Q.8/2025) 6 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Land Granted to Private Plantation Companies from State-Owned Lands (Q.9/2025) 6 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Specialist Doctors' Services in Sri Lanka (Q.10/2025) 6 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Graduate Officers in Government Service (Q.11/2025) 2 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Taxes on Imported Electric Vehicles and Issues at Gampaha Wickramarachchi University 11 speeches ▸
14. 14 Procedural Ministry Statements: Gampaha Wickramarachchi University and Teacher Recruitment Procedures 14 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Ministry Statement: Release of Tamil Political Prisoners 4 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Personal Explanation by Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan 2 speeches ▸
17. 17 Procedural Points of Order - Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill 9 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a point of order concerning the scheduling of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, arguing that Article 78(1) of the Constitution and Standing Order 52(5) require seven full days after Gazette publication before a Bill is placed on the Order Paper. He contended that, if the Gazette was published on the 31st, the required period would only end at midnight on the 7th, so the Bill should be taken up at the next sitting. He stated that the objection was procedural rather than substantive and warned that proceeding immediately could invite a Supreme Court challenge.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Argued that the constitutional requirement under Article 78(1) had been satisfied for presenting the Bill. He stated that although the Gazette was printed on the 30th, it was published on the 31st, so the seven-day period began on the 31st and was completed on the 6th, leaving no procedural impediment to presenting it that day.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified the timing of a Bill’s presentation following a point raised by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, stating that the Gazette was printed before midnight on 30 July and therefore published from 31 July. He argued that the required seven-day period had elapsed by 6 August, making 7 August the eighth day and the Bill procedurally in order for presentation. He cited several past Bills as precedents for similar timing between gazetting and First Reading.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri cautioned that while the print date was not in dispute, stating “12:01 a.m. on the 31st” could create ambiguity over when the relevant period begins. He urged the House to avoid a procedural defect that could be challenged in court and to ensure the matter is handled lawfully.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB

      AI summary M. Nizam Kariapper raised a point of order citing Section 8 of the Interpretation Ordinance, which provides that when a short period of days is prescribed, the first day is excluded from the calculation. He argued that, on that basis, the 31st should not be counted.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the constitutional requirement under Article 78(1) had been met, as the relevant Bill was published at least seven days before being placed on the Order Paper. He argued that Parliament’s authority to proceed was therefore clear.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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18. 18 Procedural Bills Presented: Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill 1 speeches ▸
19. 19 Procedural Sittings of Parliament and Adjournment Resolution 2 speeches ▸
20. 20 Debate Bills of Exchange (Amendment) Bill - Passage 3 speeches ▸
21. 21 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country 91 speeches ▸