Sitting of Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1757672711095734 ·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 Opening and Parliamentary Announcements 11 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Tabled and Committee Reports 13 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 3 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Appointment of Directors to Road Development Authority (Q.?/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Disabled Military Personnel - Reliefs/Allowances Provided (Q.1118/2025) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Bungalow in Kalugalle Estate - False Ownership (Q.?/2025) 4 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Housing Schemes and NHDA Land Allocation (Q.?/2025) 8 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) 5 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) 5 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Lands in Anuradhapura District Leased Out for Development (Q.1241/2025) 4 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) 9 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Government Schools in Eastern Province - Teacher Vacancies (Q.1112/2025) 11 speeches
- 13 Procedural Procedural and Standing Order 27(2) Questions 18 speeches
- 14 Debate Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection 38 speeches
- 15 Debate Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (Continued) 26 speeches
- Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim said the Opposition supports the investment agreement with the United Arab Emirates, but focused his remarks on the situation in Gaza during the ongoing UNHRC session in Geneva. He argued that Sri Lanka should take a clearer humanitarian position against Israel’s actions, citing international statements and measures by other countries, and criticized what he described as silence or hesitation by the Government and some Muslim representatives. He also raised concerns about alleged uneven enforcement in Sri Lanka involving pro-Palestine expression and incidents with Israeli tourists, and urged the Government to link its stance on accountability at Geneva to broader questions of international accountability over Gaza.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe moved that Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasinghe take the Chair. The House agreed to the proposal, after which Hon. Chanaka Madugoda left the Chair and Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasinghe assumed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB
AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi supported the Agreement before Parliament, arguing that foreign investment and an enabling, reformed environment are necessary to strengthen the country’s future. He reaffirmed his side’s longstanding position on Palestinian rights and accused the Opposition of diverting the debate and using issues such as methamphetamine trafficking for political attacks. He said the Government’s responsibility is to rebuild the country following the political change of September 2024 and claimed that change prevented Sri Lanka from worsening into a major drug-affected state.
- Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB
AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi requested that the Government inform Parliament how the containers under discussion were distributed and investigate where the remaining 321 went, while also calling for an effective plan to address rising murders and drug trafficking. Referring to the recent Tangalle bus accident in Ella that killed 15 people, he thanked local residents, security forces, hospitals, officials, traders and political leaders who assisted in rescue, treatment and funeral support. He proposed tightening bus driver licensing by limiting it to married drivers aged 35 or above, and reconsidering stronger restrictions on tipper and container movement, such as a 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. ban, in response to recent fatal road accidents.
- Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB
AI summary Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy supported the Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, presenting it as a means to strengthen investor confidence and future economic cooperation. He argued that Sri Lanka had missed past foreign investment opportunities due to conflict and policy instability, citing Motorola’s decision to invest in Malaysia instead. He highlighted the UAE’s economic transformation, existing bilateral trade and labour ties, and urged Parliament to approve the Agreement to promote investment protection, technology transfer and shared prosperity.
- Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala raised a point of Order responding to Hon. Kabir Hashim’s claim about the Pottuvil incident, stating that the Government did not intervene because the matter was handled by the Police and the Courts. He said the woman involved was arrested on 28 August, produced before the Pottuvil Magistrate on 29 August under Section 314 of the Penal Code, and that a charge sheet was filed under a subsequent case number. He added that the parties reached a Rs. 70,000 settlement and the case had concluded, arguing that independent institutions had acted and that the House should not be misled.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned the circumstances under which individuals arrested after an incident involving police conduct were granted bail the following Saturday. He asked whether the Government intervened, noting that one woman involved was hospitalized and asserting that bail is normally not granted to hospitalized persons or on Saturdays.
- The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala responded to criticism regarding bail granted on a weekend, stating that Magistrates’ Courts can sit on Saturdays and that Magistrates may grant bail even on Saturdays or Sundays, including in cases involving a hospitalized person. He emphasized that bail is granted by the court, not by the Government or Members of Parliament, and urged Members to understand court procedure before raising such claims.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned whether a lack of police objection in the matter under discussion was the result of the addressee’s influence. The intervention sought clarification on possible external pressure affecting police conduct.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman stated that the claim being made was incorrect, asserting that the police had not raised any objection.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim states that if responsibility for a fault lies with the person or party being addressed, it should be acknowledged. His intervention is brief and framed as a call for accountability.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala rejected an implication that he or the Government was responsible for a grant of bail, stating that bail is a decision of the court. He emphasized that a Magistrate has authority to grant bail even on weekends and urged others to understand court procedure before making claims.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza as violating UN General Assembly Resolutions 242 and 338 and undermining the internationally supported two-state solution. He described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe involving attacks on hospitals, civilians and aid workers, and called for Sri Lanka to state its position clearly in defence of human rights. He proposed that the Government engage through the UN Human Rights Council to support the two-state solution, seek an immediate halt to the violence, and, where possible, play a mediating role.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister supported the Sri Lanka–United Arab Emirates investment protection agreement, noting Cabinet approval on 09 February 2025, Sri Lanka’s history of similar agreements, and the requirement for parliamentary approval by a two-thirds majority under Article 157 of the Constitution. He reiterated the Government’s stated position on Palestine and denied allegations that the Government sent a group of journalists to Israel, saying any such visits were arranged independently by media institutions. He also rejected Opposition claims circulated on social media regarding containers and narcotics, and stated that the Government would support CID and law-enforcement action against drug trafficking, smuggling and underworld networks without political protection.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary He used the debate on the Sri Lanka–United Arab Emirates agreement to argue that the Government should first address unresolved commitments to Tamil-speaking citizens, particularly on reconciliation, accountability, and political representation. On behalf of ITAK, he criticized the Government’s UNHRC position, citing the continued use of the PTA, failure to repeal the Online Safety Act, opposition to international accountability mechanisms, lack of international assistance on mass graves such as Chemmani, and delays to Provincial Council elections through the delimitation process. He welcomed India’s call for meaningful devolution and urged the Government to support his Private Member’s Bill to enable immediate Provincial Council elections.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB
AI summary The member argued that agreements with economies such as the UAE support the Government’s efforts to stabilize the country and rebuild the economy, while criticizing the Opposition for raising unrelated issues during the debate. He highlighted the impact of narcotics on youth and said recent major drug seizures and arrests were revealing alleged political links, calling for investigations to proceed without premature party action. He also reported progress on reopening Parliament Grounds and the Pahalawatta grounds for public and youth sports use, noting conditional approval by the Parliament Security Council and related UDA approvals.
- The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary Welcoming the Sri Lanka–UAE investment agreement, Dr. Hizbullah argued that Sri Lanka should improve investor facilitation, including considering 100 per cent foreign ownership in selected sectors such as tourism, agriculture and IT with appropriate safeguards, and pursue similar agreements with other Middle Eastern countries. He said UAE partnerships could benefit ports, aviation, investment and tourism. He also raised concerns about Israeli nationals’ conduct and enforcement issues in areas such as Pottuvil, including the reported opening of a Chabad House near a mosque, and urged Ministers supportive of Palestine to address local concerns for national safety. He welcomed the Cabinet-approved plan to build a Rs. 1,000 million jetty at Valaichchenai and thanked the Government on behalf of the Batticaloa fishing community.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Sri Lanka–UAE Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, stating that it would strengthen legal protections, dispute-resolution mechanisms and investor confidence while benefiting investors in both countries. He argued that economic and political stability had improved, citing the rise in the Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI and reported investment inflows, and compared Sri Lanka’s economic indicators with the UAE’s to underline the value of the partnership. He said long-term investment was necessary alongside IMF-supported stabilization, remittances and tourism, and urged Parliament to approve the agreement with the required two-thirds majority while rejecting diversions to unrelated issues.
- 16 Procedural Division Vote on UAE Agreement 7 speeches
- 17 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Tourism Promotion and Finance Company Interest Charges 19 speeches