Sitting of Thursday, 21 August 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1757391500023637 ·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: Reports and Agreements Tabled 8 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 8 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) 8 speeches
- 5 Procedural Procedural: Parliamentary Business Committee Announcement 3 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Strengthening Power Supply Stability (Q.735/2025) 8 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Questions: Q.3-808/2025, Q.4-832/2025, Q.5-859/2025 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Vehicle Emission Testing Programme (Q.868/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Flyovers and Road Tunnels (Q.955/2025) 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Questions: Second Round (Q.971/2025 and others) 19 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Questions under Standing Order 27(2) 6 speeches
- 12 Debate Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations 24 speeches
- 13 Debate Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) 47 speeches
- 14 Papers Papers: Regulations under Finance Act Moved 3 speeches
- 15 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Government's Initiative towards an Inclusive Digital Economy 10 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga moved an Adjournment Motion on the Government’s initiative for an inclusive digital economy, presenting digital economy development as a key pillar of the Government’s development strategy. She called for stronger integration of public digital infrastructure and AI-related technologies into the national economy, with emphasis on youth and women, startups, innovation-led enterprises, foreign investment, and international engagement. She proposed a broad public awareness programme led by the Ministry of Digital Economy and outlined planned measures including digital state services, national ID and licensing systems, land registration, government networks and cloud services, rural inclusion, knowledge centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and smart-city infrastructure.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB
AI summary National digitalization policy mechanisms have been prepared, and youth, entrepreneurs, and citizens were invited to engage with and contribute to the platform.
Infrastructure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe seconded the Adjournment Motion on digitalization, arguing that Sri Lanka has lagged behind other countries in technology adoption while regional competitors advance. He emphasized the need to involve the State, private sector, education system, international experts, institutions and the diaspora, with early action in schools and universities to improve computer literacy. He noted ongoing Government initiatives such as digital ID and e-passports, stating that digitalizing public institutions would improve efficiency, ease transactions, support crime control and reduce corruption.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna argued that Sri Lanka’s digital economy ambitions require resolving basic access issues such as the ability to open and use PayPal, Payoneer, GPay, Etsy and eBay-linked payment accounts for online exports. He linked the discussion to fingerprint attendance systems, supporting consistent enforcement while noting practical concerns in the postal service and alleging widespread inflation of hospital overtime claims, calling for CCTV and records-based checks. He said low basic salaries contribute to overtime abuse and suggested increasing doctors’ basic pay while reducing improper OT, and concluded by urging respect for all who died in the war without reviving divisive narratives.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper supported the motion on digitalization and the digital economy, citing examples from airport procedures, COVID-era court operations, and current judicial digitization to argue that citizens and institutions can adapt when digital systems become necessary. He proposed prioritizing practical digitization in local authorities, courts, land registries, and Parliament, including wider use of GovPay for fines, stamp duties, and local authority payments, and better digital facilities for Members to participate in committee work. He also urged the revival and expansion of digital court proceedings and transport e-ticketing using existing resources, stressing that such measures would save time, money, fuel, and administrative effort.
- The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy JJB
AI summary Eranga Weeraratne outlined the Government’s ongoing digitalization programme, including digital IDs expected from around April, expansion of GovPay to nearly 100 institutions and over 1,200 services, and work on digital TV, driving licences, e-passports, agriculture support systems and justice-sector efficiency. He emphasized that implementation requires participation from the public sector, private sector, academia, schools and citizens, with awareness campaigns to increase usage. He announced that September will be designated “Digital Month” with a 100-day programme featuring events on investment, fintech, AI, cybersecurity and public experience centres, alongside plans for 5G, school digital upgrades and improved digital services in transport, health and education toward 2030 targets.
- 16 Procedural Parliament Adjourned 1 speeches