Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
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

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

Order of business

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

  10. 10 Oral question Oral Questions: Second Round (Q.971/2025 and others) 19 speeches
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a procedural concern that the question before the House exceeded the 150-word limit, containing 171 words. He asked the Speaker to ensure compliance with the word limit, noting that this had happened previously.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question by clarifying the legal and institutional framework for Indigenous Medicine education and practice. He stated that there are no “Ayurveda medical colleges” under that name, only four university faculties of Indigenous Medicine, and that the Jaffna Shastri college registered under the Ayurveda Act was among 20 such colleges suspended from end-2017, with only the final 2017 intake being allowed to complete examinations. He said the Ayurveda Education and Hospitals Board has no legal authority to approve new indigenous medical colleges or award degrees, while practitioner registration documents are handled by the Ayurvedic Medical Council. He further stated that no new institution or salary scheme for traditional physicians is envisaged, support is provided through existing bodies, and registered practitioners must renew registration every five years on payment of the approved Rs. 6,000 fee.

      HealthcareEducation Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB

      AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy asked whether the Government would support and develop traditional medical institutions such as the century-old Sri Lanka Ayurveda Siddha College and its practitioners. He argued that prioritizing indigenous medicine, local herbs, and traditional formulations could reduce imported drug costs, meet domestic demand, preserve traditional systems, and promote medical tourism.

      HealthcareEducationForeign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Government supports promoting Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and traditional medicine in connection with tourism. He noted that this area is a concurrent subject involving Provincial Councils and said opportunities would be pursued in regions such as Jaffna and other areas.

      HealthcareReligion & CultureForeign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB

      AI summary Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy informed the Chair that Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran would ask the second supplementary question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB

      AI summary Raised concerns that interviews held on 16 May to recruit degree-holding Ayurveda graduates on a contract basis for Mullaitivu Ayurveda Hospital have not yet resulted in appointments. Asked where the delay or administrative bottleneck lies, noting continuing complaints about the matter.

      EmploymentHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary The Minister stated that the hospital referred to is under the Northern Provincial Council and said he would draw the Council’s attention to the matter and respond to the Member. The sitting then moved to Question No. 977/2025, in which Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe asked about the number, service duration, and possible appointment of 3,081 registered substitute workers in the Department of Posts, as well as measures to fill related vacancies.

      Employment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary 1,848 substitute postal employees are currently registered from intakes in 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021. Approval has been granted to regularize 1,000 of them against Postmen/Postal Assistant vacancies, following a Department of Management Services recommendation and review by the relevant public service recruitment committee. Appointments will be made according to seniority, and the absorption process is expected to take about one month.

      Public FinanceEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC

      AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe raised concerns about the impact of the postal strike, noting that the public has shifted to courier services where charges have reportedly doubled. He cited examples of courier fees rising from Rs. 450 to Rs. 900 and compared this with lower registered post charges, asking whether the strike can be resolved quickly to ease the burden on the public.

      Public FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary The Minister said the postal strike was causing temporary public inconvenience and opportunities for private couriers to raise prices, but that reforms at the Central Mail Exchange should continue. He outlined Government measures including regularizing 1,000 substitutes, recruiting another 1,000 staff, purchasing 250 vehicles, constructing and renovating post offices, and modernizing the postal service. He stated that the main union objections concerned overtime rates and fingerprint attendance verification, arguing that overtime had already been significantly increased and that accountability was necessary given Treasury support of Rs. 4 billion and rising fiscal pressures.

      EmploymentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC

      AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe raised concern over reports that senior postal officials had issued red notices directing striking postal workers to return to work immediately. He asked whether the Minister would facilitate dialogue to resolve the dispute amicably, citing the Minister’s stated commitment to workers’ welfare.

      Law & OrderEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media

      AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that discussions with the Postmaster General and Ministry Secretary had addressed 17 of 19 demands raised by postal workers, including recruitment, vehicles, modernization, service rules, and work studies. He said the unresolved issues were overtime levels and fingerprint attendance, on which the Government would not compromise regarding accountability. He called on unions, particularly Central Mail Exchange staff, to accept fingerprinting and revised overtime arrangements so that remaining issues and service delays could be resolved.

      Law & OrderEmployment Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media (for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism)

      AI summary The Minister, responding on behalf of the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister, said the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment regulates foreign employment and prohibits sending persons under 18 abroad for work. He reported that a female who travelled to Oman in 2022 without SLBFE registration and under another passport identity was later identified as a minor, and the matter has been referred to the CID’s Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Maritime Crimes Division. He added that SLBFE applies minimum age limits for registration and has instructed airport officers to conduct strict scrutiny to prevent minors being deployed for foreign employment.

      Foreign AffairsLand & HousingJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe – for the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe stated that residents occupying State lands in Manmunai North without grants or permits may be considered for long-term leases under Land Commissioner General’s Circular No. 2008/04. He tabled annexures listing relevant GN divisions, case details, legal actions under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act, and evictions carried out by court order. He further said 41 persons not yet removed through fiscal process had been reported to the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court Registrar, with Gramasevaka officers instructed to report on the remaining cases.

      Land & Housing Full speech →