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

Sitting of Tuesday, 9 September 2025

10th Parliament· 17 debates· 194 speeches· 63 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1757672711095734 ·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.

  12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Government Schools in Eastern Province - Teacher Vacancies (Q.1112/2025) 11 speeches
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer to a question on teacher vacancies in Government schools in the Eastern Province. She stated that National Schools do not have an acute overall shortage but face subject-specific vacancies in Mathematics, Geography, Civics and GCE A/L English, while Provincial Schools have significant vacancies as reported by the Provincial Director of Education. Subject- and district-wise details were provided in annexes for National and Provincial Schools.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned the Government’s decision, by Gazette of 25 August 2025, to raise the Special Commodity Levy on imported big onions and potatoes, arguing that it increases costs for consumers while its benefit to local farmers remains unclear. He asked for data on the number of onion and potato farmers, harvesting seasons, 2024 production volumes, and the share of domestic demand met locally. He also requested details of relief provided through the levy, whether it adequately protects farmers, and historical data since 2007 on imports, duties, Gazette notifications, and revenue, including figures for August 2025.

      AgricultureCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on potato and big onion cultivation, stating that domestic production in 2024 met about 20% of potato demand and 3% of big onion demand, while imports in January-August 2025 totalled 128,898 MT of potatoes and 217,736 MT of big onions. He said Special Commodity Levy adjustments during harvest periods are used to protect farm-gate prices from import surges and that detailed import, levy and revenue data will be tabled after obtaining information from Inland Revenue and Customs. He outlined the approval process under the National Tariff Policy and Cabinet decisions in August 2025, and said the Government intends to introduce seasonal taxation for selected food items to balance farmer protection with consumer prices during off-harvest periods.

      Cost of LivingAgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned why historical Special Commodity Levy data from 2007 onwards was not readily available for decisions on levy changes, while acknowledging post-sugar tax scandal reforms including the Food Policy and Security Committee and the Treasury’s National Tariff Policy Committee. He stressed the need for confidentiality in tariff decisions to prevent market manipulation, but raised concern over the removal of Trade and Investment Policy Director-General Pradeep Kumara, alleging it followed his refusal to impose levies without due procedure. He requested that Kumara be reinstated if proper process had been followed.

      Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition briefly noted that the matter under discussion was important. No specific proposal, question, or policy position was elaborated in the provided remarks.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, sought permission to intervene, stating that the matter was important. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was set out in the quoted speech.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa asked the Minister to reinstate the officer as Director General, arguing that the officer had issued the correct instructions. He noted that the Minister had now confirmed those instructions were followed.

      Justice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister said the current Special Commodity Levy decision was based on 2025 import volumes and domestic production, not on historical data from 2007 onward, which would require inputs from multiple ministries. He stated that the proposal was considered through the Food Policy and Security Committee, a subcommittee, the Tariff Policy Committee, and Cabinet before implementation, and that the Rs. 40 levy was intended to balance farmer protection, food security, and consumer interests. He also said there were no leaks before Cabinet approval, citing August import volumes as evidence that imports had not spiked to exploit the levy change.

      Cost of LivingAgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →