Sitting of Tuesday, 19 August 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1755860432040633 ·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 Certificate 1 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions under Article 121(1) - Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill 1 speeches
- 3 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Sectoral Committee Reports 7 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions Presented by Members (Citizens' Petitions) 10 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Drainage Infrastructure - Batticaloa (Q.3/185/2024) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Petroleum Corporations and Companies (Q.5/623/2025) 6 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: SLTB Bus Journey Cancellations (Q.6/1075/2025) 4 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Park Properties Fraud Investigation (Q.7/1081/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Q.10/1102/2025 (Deferred) 3 speeches
- 11 Oral question Second Round Questions: Tea Production/Export and M-Class Locomotives (Tabled and Deferred) 9 speeches
- 12 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Tellippallai Base Hospital Financial Irregularities 5 speeches
- 13 Opening Ministerial Announcement: National Youth Conference Statement 2 speeches
- 14 Papers Bills Presented: National Building Research Institute Bill 1 speeches
- 15 Debate Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations 90 speeches
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals 10 speeches
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion was proposed by the Chair.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB
AI summary Danushka Ranganath moved an Adjournment Motion on ensuring youth engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals, following International Youth Day on 12 August 2025. He argued that youth must be integrated into the economy, protected from exploitation and discrimination, and given access to vocational education, guidance, and opportunities. He criticised previous administrations for neglecting youth aspirations, unemployment, poverty, and emigration, and stated that the current Government has introduced a comprehensive programme to restore hope and empower young people.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Arkam Ilyas JJB
AI summary Seconding the Motion, the Hon. Arkam Ilyas highlighted high youth unemployment, outward labour migration, and resulting shortages of skilled workers for major development projects. He referred to two Cabinet-approved measures: low-interest loans at 4 per cent for 50,000 young people in agriculture, and housing grants of up to Rs. 1 million for eligible youth leaving institutions. He urged youth participation in national development under the Government’s programme to address unemployment and strengthen the rule of law.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna supported the Motion on youth but said decades of conflict had damaged the prospects of Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim youth. He opposed moves to revert or remove Development Officers who had been converted to teacher appointments after years of service, citing earlier assurances that youth livelihoods and teacher shortages would be addressed. He called for any biometric attendance system to be applied uniformly across public institutions, including Parliament and the health sector, and urged legislation if necessary. He also demanded action to enable reliable online payment systems such as PayPal and Payoneer for Sri Lankan youth engaged in exports, while cautioning against politically motivated protests and urging the Government not to break promises made to voters.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised concerns about alleged discrimination and neglect affecting Tamil-speaking and minority youth, particularly in the North, East, and up-country Tamil communities, in youth programmes, appointments, promotions, and training opportunities. He questioned participation of Tamil-speaking youth in a recent Maharagama youth event and asked what plans exist for unemployed youth in the North and East, citing high youth unemployment and NEET figures alongside World Bank funding for job creation. He said India-supported projects and Budget commitments for 2024–2025 had not been implemented and urged the Government to inspect and remedy deficiencies at the dilapidated Sainthamaruthu Youth Centre.
- The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara defended the Government’s youth initiatives as inclusive of all ethnic and religious communities, rejecting claims of bias and linking some criticisms to electoral motives. He said over 300,000 youth are involved through structures from Grama Niladhari level to the National Council, and that a national youth action plan is being developed with the UN to implement the NPP Youth Charter from the following year. He outlined plans to connect youth representatives to local and district development processes and to establish a modernized Youth Parliament covering all 25 districts and linked to the 24 ministries. He also said the Government is reviewing issues relating to Development Officers and teacher appointments following court developments, with the aim of resolving them systematically.