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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 21 August 2025

10th Parliament· 16 debates· 164 speeches· 75 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1757391500023637 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

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

  4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) 8 speeches
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation whether the Government recognizes the importance of Technical Officers in Sri Lanka Railways. He requested details on the current number of Technical Officers, existing vacancies, and the measures planned to fill those vacancies.

      EmploymentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation JJB

      AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that Sri Lanka Railways currently has 24 Sri Lanka Technological Service officers and 4,425 departmental technical officers, with 35 vacancies in the former and 3,644 in the latter. He outlined recruitment measures, including examinations and applications for technical and operational posts such as train controllers, locomotive drivers, station masters, supervisory managers, technical management assistants and basic technical officers, with several appointments targeted for September 2025. He also noted constraints in filling some Special Grade posts due to a lack of qualified officers and said further vacancies had been referred to the Cabinet-appointed Officials’ Committee on public service recruitment and human resource management.

      InfrastructureEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Minister what steps are being taken to fill existing vacancies. The intervention sought clarification on the government’s measures to address staffing gaps.

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

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that measures are in progress to address staffing needs, including the Committee’s approval of 106 Station Master posts. He noted that recruitment processes and examinations for the relevant categories are currently underway.

      Employment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy raised concerns about vacancies in the railway service and public dissatisfaction with its quality, including basic issues such as sanitation on trains. He asked the Minister what systematic plan is in place to develop the service, manage new recruitments, and improve public satisfaction.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary The Minister acknowledged major inefficiencies in the railway system while noting the dedication of many staff. He said the Government has taken a Cabinet policy decision to fill technical vacancies, though implementation was delayed by some departmental heads, and is now working with the new General Manager, State Minister, volunteer engineers, and trade unions. He stated that reforms would be systematic and projected about a 50 percent improvement in rail services within a year.

      EmploymentInfrastructureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Asked for the Government’s structured plan for railway service improvements, specifically noting poor services beyond Negombo in the Puttalam District. He proposed upgrading services from Chilaw outward for both freight and passenger use, and requested consideration of a Negombo–Colombo city service, potentially with partner support, to reduce congestion even if it affects expressway usage.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said railway improvements are being pursued under the Budget framework, acknowledging weak service beyond Chilaw on the Puttalam line. He stated that unprotected locations in the district would be secured, flood risks addressed, and several Puttalam District stations modernized, with further service improvements expected as more locomotives become available. He added that major upgrades depend on strengthening railway management and the Ratmalana Workshops first.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →