Sitting of Friday, 22 August 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1756894696039492 ·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 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented 6 speeches
- 3 Committee report Committee Report: Draft Budgetary Estimates for the National Audit Office 1 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions 7 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) 35 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri briefly indicated that he would ask the relevant question in the House. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or argument was raised in the statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development, Bimal Rathnayake requested two weeks’ time to respond to the question. The question was ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama asked the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs for details on the halted and unused SAARC Cultural Centre in Navimana, Matara. He requested the total construction expenditure, the institutions that funded it, the annual maintenance and security costs, and any current plan for utilizing the building complex.
- Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister said construction of the Cultural Centre had stopped by the end of 2019 after Rs. 1,432.26 million had been spent through the Ministry responsible for Cultural Affairs. He provided annual water and electricity maintenance costs from 2020 to July 2025 and stated that security is handled by the Ministry of Defence through a six-soldier team. He said Cabinet had approved in principle a proposal to transfer the buildings and land to the University of Ruhuna, but the process is stalled pending the University Council’s formal letter of consent.
- Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama raised concern that a project on which about Rs. 1,432 million had been spent was abandoned after 2019 and is now deteriorating and exposed to damage. He noted that previous efforts to hand the premises over to the University had not progressed and asked whether the Ministry would intervene to restart the process and bring the asset into use.
- Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake stated that, despite in-principle agreement with the Vice-Chancellor, further action cannot proceed without a formal University Council decision. He noted concerns about the University’s potential maintenance burden and said discussions would be reopened once the University conveys a clear position, with the Member’s assistance requested in securing that decision.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama stated that a site about 7 km from Matara is facing investor reluctance due to poor and narrow access roads. He requested the Ministry to coordinate improvements and widening of access infrastructure, preferably completing the work within 2025 to help attract partners.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Acknowledging the validity of the concern raised, Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake stated that some projects had been started without proper feasibility assessments on suitability or accessibility. He noted that the SAARC Cultural Centre received no contributions from SAARC countries despite its name, with Rs. 1,432 million spent from Sri Lankan funds, and said efforts would be made to find a productive use for the asset.
- Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB
AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka answered Question No. 1073/2025 on UDA projects in Matara, stating that 18 projects are being implemented in the district and tabling annexes with project details, expenditures, status, and administrative responsibilities. He said key projects include developments related to the Matara bus stand and Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium, Matara Beach Park, Kotuwegoda Public Market, commercial complexes, parking facilities, and the Nilwala Riverbank Park. Regarding Matara Gangabada Udyana, he said it was intended for recreation and tourism, was not accepted for maintenance by the Matara Municipal Council, was assigned to a private operator, and is now closed under a court order after safety clearance issues; reopening is expected subject to court permission.
- Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB
AI summary Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage asked whether the Urban Development Authority could return the Gangabada Udyana land to the Matara Municipal Council following an inquiry. He said the original understanding was that the land would revert to the Council after UDA development, but it had instead been given to a private entity that briefly opened it while commercializing public access and needs.
- Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary The matter concerns returning an asset or service to the Municipal Council, but the previous MMC administration reportedly declined to accept it, leading to private operation. With court proceedings still ongoing, the new MMC administration has indicated willingness to take it over for public use, and action is to be taken after the legal process concludes.
- Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB
AI summary Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage asked whether due diligence had been carried out on the capacity and financing of Markop River Restaurant (Pvt) Ltd. before awarding the relevant project. He further asked whether the Urban Development Authority would investigate the matter.
- Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary The site was allocated to Markop River Restaurant (Pvt) Ltd., whose directors were identified as Mr. Chaminda Prasanga Gunasekara and Ms. Kalpani Bhagya Kumarasiri. The Minister stated that authorities are examining the company’s registration and capacity to carry out the project, and that further action will depend on the outcome of an ongoing inquiry.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media about the delay in recruiting 454 Healthcare Assistants selected in 2019 for permanent Grade III posts in the Northern Province, reportedly due to lack of Finance Ministry approval. He highlighted that 643 vacancies are affecting health services in the Province and sought details on any administrative or legal constraints despite appointment letters being issued, as well as whether expedited recruitment steps will be taken.
- Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB
AI summary Approval had been granted in 2019 to fill health assistant vacancies in the Northern Province, but appointments issued to 454 candidates were suspended after a Presidential Secretariat directive halting recruitments following the 2019 Presidential Election. Subsequent efforts to obtain approval were affected by DMS Circular No. 02/2020 assigning primary grade recruitment to the Multi-Purpose Development Task Force, and the matter is also before the Provincial High Court in Jaffna. The Deputy Minister said staff shortages affect services but patient care continues uninterrupted, and recruitment will be expedited if the Department of Management Services and Ministry of Finance grant approval.
- Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran said applicants who passed two rounds of interviews have waited more than six years for appointments despite over 600 vacancies, blaming the delay on government departmental failings. He noted that many had served for long periods as volunteers and were formally assessed, and asked the Deputy Minister to ensure a pathway for their appointment.
- Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that appointments issued before the 2019 Presidential Election were later cancelled by circular by the subsequent government, and said there was no proper basis for that cancellation. He affirmed agreement with the member’s position and said the policy position being pursued is that the affected persons should be appointed.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka raised concern over a newspaper report claiming that an essential vaccine was unavailable in hospitals, creating a risk that bypass surgeries could stop. He requested verification of the report’s accuracy, citing concern expressed by specialist doctors.
Healthcare Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake asks for the name of the newspaper being referred to, seeking clarification during the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka clarified that his concern was not directed at the newspaper “Aruna” itself, but at the public impact of the matter being discussed. He requested that the relevant facts be ascertained.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Minister of Health would respond when present, clarifying that this was not due to the significance of the newspaper reference.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam stated that he would ask the question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the question had been directed to the wrong Ministry and did not fall within his Ministry’s purview. He said the Cabinet of Ministers’ Secretariat had been informed and requested that the matter be referred to the relevant Ministry.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani JJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Resources, Lands and Irrigation for details on the Irrigation Department project to construct a canal from Kuda Oya to the Debara Ara reservoir in the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat Division. She sought information on the commencement date, allocation, funding sources, procurement process, technical supervision, contractor, disposal of excavated material, and whether the project’s intended objectives had been achieved, with a request to table relevant documentation.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister answered questions on the Debara Ara feeder canal, stating that construction began in 2008 with an initial estimate of Rs. 67.58 million under the Lower Uva Medium and Minor Scale Irrigation Development Project, with procurement procedures followed. He named the four contractors and said the Department of Irrigation supervised the staged works, with excavated rock and soil reused for related irrigation and service-road purposes. He stated that although water had been delivered to the Debara Ara reservoir, the 6.5 km deep canal has silted due to rainfall, reduced demand and non-use of the upstream reach, requiring a special allocation for maintenance. He added that water is currently supplied to nearby fields, two minor tanks and about 200 acres of highlands, and that plans are in place to desilt the canal before the next rainy season.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani JJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani questioned the failure of a canal project that began about 15 years ago, noting that over 5 km of the canal remains dry despite substantial excavation and reported expenditure of Rs. 67.58 million. She said farmers have not received the intended water benefits or associated infrastructure such as roads along the banks, and asked whether a formal investigation would be initiated into the project.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that no investigation has yet been initiated into the canal constructed under the “Lower Uva Medium and Minor Scale Development Project,” which began in 2008 and concluded in 2023. He noted that the 6.5 km canal had been stopped and restarted intermittently, and that the Department of Irrigation acknowledges siltation is obstructing water conveyance. He said the Ministry will discuss the matter with the Department to determine whether the canal has failed or whether defects in construction caused the problem.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani JJB
AI summary Asked whether, with the recommencement of the Lower Basin Development of the Uma Oya project, funds would be allocated from that project to restart the relevant canal work. She also sought clarification on the future measures planned for the canal project.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Lower Basin Development component of the Uma Oya project had stalled after about 85 per cent completion, with several canal sections halted, abandoned, or damaged. He stated that Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated this year and 68 work items have begun through the Irrigation Department’s direct labour. He said the Government aims to complete most works by the end of the year, with any remaining work to be finished by May next year.
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions (Second Round and Standing Order 27(2) Questions) 15 speeches
- 7 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Reviewal of Policies in the Leasing Sector 4 speeches
- 8 Procedural Procedural Matters and Sittings of Parliament 8 speeches
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country 81 speeches