Sitting of Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1756378373069107 ·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 Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Tabled: Annual Reports and Performance Reports 3 speeches
- 3 Petitions Citizens' Petitions 6 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: NMRA Data Deletion Incident (Q.1/2025) 11 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: National Gem and Jewellery Authority Property (Q.4/2024) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Staffing at Gallassa Maternity and Children's Hospital (Q.5/2025) 7 speeches
- 7 Procedural Procedural Item: Speaker Directions and Questions Stood Down 9 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Questions (Second Round): Various Ministries 9 speeches
- 9 Oral question Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Tamil Qur'an Translations 4 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) regarding Tamil translations of the Holy Qur’an detained by Sri Lanka Customs since 16 May 2024. He asked for details on the number of copies imported, released and still held, and the reasons for the reported National Security Council decision to return them to the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex for amendments with explanatory footnotes. He also requested information on any government committee reviewing the texts or Islamic publications, including its membership, legal basis, payments, recommendations, and whether similar review processes apply to other religions’ holy texts. He urged the Government to take urgent steps to release the detained copies.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a question raised by Hon. K. Kader Masthan under Standing Order 27(2), requesting two weeks to provide an answer. He stated that the Ministry had been addressing the matter and that delays were due to language clearance processes, and undertook to submit a firm written response within two weeks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary K. Kader Masthan urged the Minister to ensure the prompt release of Qur’an copies that had been detained in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks. He said the Muslim community, also affected by those attacks, expects a transparent and fair approach, setting aside past pretexts used to withhold the copies.
- 10 Oral question Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Jaffna International Airport Phase II 5 speeches
- 11 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Temporary Driving Licences for Foreign Tourists 2 speeches
- 12 Debate Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules 79 speeches
- 13 Procedural Second Reading Passed: Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill and Sports Regulations 2 speeches
- 14 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: NMRA Medicine Supply and State Land Leasing 13 speeches