Sitting of Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Order of business

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

1. 1 Opening Parliament Opening and Announcements 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers Tabled: Annual Reports and Performance Reports 3 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Citizens' Petitions 6 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: NMRA Data Deletion Incident (Q.1/2025) 11 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: National Gem and Jewellery Authority Property (Q.4/2024) 7 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Staffing at Gallassa Maternity and Children's Hospital (Q.5/2025) 7 speeches ▸
7. 7 Procedural Procedural Item: Speaker Directions and Questions Stood Down 9 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Questions (Second Round): Various Ministries 9 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Tamil Qur'an Translations 4 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Jaffna International Airport Phase II 5 speeches ▸
11. 11 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Temporary Driving Licences for Foreign Tourists 2 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake outlined the legal and administrative history of converting foreign driving licences and issuing temporary permits to visitors, noting that the Department of Motor Traffic continues to handle these functions and that a one-month temporary licence currently costs Rs. 2,000 under the 2022 Gazette. He clarified that establishing a counter at Bandaranaike International Airport is intended to streamline access and reduce broker exploitation, not to create a new legal category. He further stated that temporary licences for tourists are limited to private light-vehicle use, excluding three-wheelers and any public or commercial transport operations. The Minister said a revised fee structure would be proposed to Cabinet and gazetted if approved, following concerns from tourism stakeholders that the current fee is too low.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
12. 12 Debate Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules 79 speeches ▸
13. 13 Procedural Second Reading Passed: Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill and Sports Regulations 2 speeches ▸
14. 14 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: NMRA Medicine Supply and State Land Leasing 13 speeches ▸