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
- 16 Procedural Division Vote on UAE Agreement 7 speeches
- 17 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Tourism Promotion and Finance Company Interest Charges 19 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Moved that Parliament be adjourned. The motion was put to the House for consideration.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa moved that Hon. Aravinda Senarath take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which the Speaker left the Chair and Hon. Aravinda Senarath assumed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB
AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Deputy Minister for details on Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, noting its contribution to GDP and the President’s appointment of a Presidential Task Force on tourism promotion. He requested figures on annual tourism revenue and its share of GDP, tourist arrivals up to 31 August 2025 with year-on-year comparison, and the objectives and membership of the Task Force.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister reported that tourism earned USD 3.17 billion in 2024 and USD 1.7 billion in the first half of 2025, with a 2025 target of USD 5 billion and a projected GDP contribution of about 4.5%. He said arrivals up to 31 August 2025 reached 1,566,523, a 16% year-on-year increase, and noted the recent fatal incident in Ella while acknowledging local and emergency responders. He outlined the Presidential Task Force on Tourism’s role in policy planning, monitoring, decentralised implementation, infrastructure development, sustainable community participation, and international promotion, and stated that its Gazette and membership would be tabled in Parliament.
- Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe said a national branding campaign and tourism marketing programme are being developed systematically, with the Presidential Task Force established to coordinate existing tourism institutions and improve decision-making. He tabled Extraordinary Gazette No. 2450/27 of 20 August 2025 on the establishment of the Task Force for implementing the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Programme. He also outlined its 28-member composition, including ministers, ministry secretaries, heads of tourism and related public agencies, law enforcement and immigration officials, and private sector tourism experts.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim questioned the Minister of Finance on reports that finance companies charged penal interest and fees during the COVID-19 loan moratorium period in violation of Central Bank Circular No. 9 of 2021. Citing the complaint of Mr. Aslam Marikkar of Kandy and concerns about inadequate action by the Central Bank’s Financial Consumer Relations Department, he asked whether a formal inquiry and relief would be provided, whether the matter would be referred to the Committee on Public Finance for oversight, and what measures would be taken to prevent and expedite action against such financial exploitation.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary Based on information from the Central Bank, the Minister said the Financial Consumer Relations Department had investigated Mr. Aslam Marikkar’s complaint over a 2019 lease and secured a waiver and reductions of penal charges. He stated that after payments and negotiations, the outstanding amount was reduced from about Rs. 397,423 to Rs. 197,000 as a final settlement, but the complainant had not settled it and had altered his complaint. The Minister tabled the Central Bank’s correspondence and said further action would be considered, including in light of the matter being before the Committee on Public Finance.
- Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim thanked the Minister for the response and outlined a complaint concerning penal interest on arrears, noting that no arrears existed before COVID-19 and disputing the imposition of penal interest for the pandemic period. He requested that both the complainant and the relevant financial institution’s officials be summoned before the Committee on Public Finance to clarify the matter and reach agreement.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development questioned whether the matter had reached an agreement before being brought to the Committee on Public Finance. He indicated uncertainty about the final outcome.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim stated that neither the relevant party nor officials from the concerned financial institution had been brought before the forum. He implied that their presence was necessary for the matter under discussion to be properly addressed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister said the matter would be examined further, noting that the Central Bank had indicated a final amount of Rs. 197,000. He stated that if the relevant party disagrees, the facts would be studied and presented to the Central Bank to consider possible further action.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary No substantive speech content is provided beyond the salutation to the Presiding Member. There are no arguments, proposals, questions, or references to legislation, events, or policies to summarize.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC sought permission to briefly raise a matter in Parliament. No substantive issue or proposal was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary M. Nizam Kariapper asked the Minister to clarify whether banks, particularly state banks such as the Bank of Ceylon, have discretion to refuse the borrower relief referred to in the Central Bank media release of 20 December 2024. He said certain wording in the release is being used to deny consumers the 35% interest relief when they seek to settle loans, and requested the Government’s policy position on whether such refusals are permitted.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development stated that the points raised would be taken into consideration. The sitting was then adjourned by the Presiding Member, with Parliament scheduled to meet again at 9.30 a.m. on 10 September 2025.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →