Sitting of Thursday, 11 September 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1758278142029989 ·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 Speaker's Certificate 8 speeches
- 2 Procedural Procedural Matters and No-Confidence Motion Dispute 90 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) 145 speeches
- 4 Oral question Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Ministerial Statements 40 speeches
- 5 Procedural Ministerial Statements and Privilege Question 30 speeches
- 6 Debate National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate 179 speeches
- 7 Adjournment Adjournment Questions 19 speeches
- The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB
AI summary Raised concern that organized crime and drug trafficking have become a major matter of public discussion. The intervention signals the need for parliamentary attention to these issues, though no specific proposal or question was detailed in the provided excerpt.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB
AI summary Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha raised concerns about organized crime and drug rackets, arguing that current media coverage portrays them as new problems while the Government is in fact exposing and addressing long-standing criminal networks. He asked the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to state what measures and progress have been made in bringing gang leaders and members before the law, whether fugitives abroad and their host countries have been identified, and what action is being taken where political patronage is alleged. He requested that the Minister clarify these matters for Parliament and the public, while acknowledging the sensitivity of ongoing investigations.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister outlined measures against organized crime, including facial recognition at Bandaranaike International Airport, centralized criminal databases, monitoring of 556 remanded suspects, police communication networks, patrols, checkpoints, and intelligence operations. He reported that from 1 January to 10 September 2025, 105 organized crime incidents had led to 322 arrests, while 1,698 firearms and weapons were seized. He said Sri Lanka is pursuing suspects abroad through diplomatic channels and INTERPOL, with Red Notices issued for 72 persons and arrangements ongoing to repatriate suspects arrested in several countries. He added that investigations are continuing into alleged links between organized criminal groups and politicians, but details could not be disclosed due to ongoing court proceedings and inquiries.
- The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB
AI summary Requested a brief clarification from the Presiding Member without raising a substantive policy issue or proposal.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB
AI summary Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha thanked the Minister for providing a detailed answer within the limits of what could be disclosed. He sought permission to request a clarification concerning the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB
AI summary Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha questioned the need to establish a new Central Crime Investigation Unit despite the existing CID. He also asked the Minister to state, within permissible limits, what further action will be taken regarding alleged underworld figures such as “Kehelbaddara Padme” who were brought to Sri Lanka from abroad.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary Ananda Wijepala stated that a Central Crime Investigation Unit is being established at provincial level to reduce the caseload on the CID and improve investigative efficiency. He informed Parliament that information from organized criminals recently brought to Sri Lanka led to the arrest of a Sub-Inspector in Gampaha and a serving Army Lieutenant Colonel in Mallawi, Palinagar. He said investigations would continue thoroughly and that all persons who supported organized crime would be brought before the law without fear or favour.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the Government on its manifesto pledge to create 35,000 graduate job opportunities, including STEM and teacher appointments, asking how many have been provided and why delays continue. He cited protests by Development Officers and unfulfilled promises to groups including Dengue Prevention Assistants, railway gate watchers, Field Mosquito Control Assistants and Bachelor of Education graduates, particularly highlighting unemployment in the North and East. He also asked for vacancy figures in Provincial Council ministries and sought a definite timeline for Provincial Council elections, raising concern that delimitation may be used to delay the restoration of council powers and related recruitments.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government
AI summary The Minister responded to questions from Hon. Rasamanickam on public-sector graduate recruitment and Provincial Council vacancies. He said recruitment under the Government’s 35,000 graduate employment programme is being reviewed by a committee chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary, with appointments to island-wide, education, departmental, authority and Provincial Council posts to follow relevant procedures. He reported that about 1,000 recruitments have already been made under his Ministry, approval has been obtained for nearly another 1,000, and Provincial Councils had 61,835 vacancies out of an approved cadre of 463,369 as at 30 June 2025. He added that preliminary steps for Provincial Council recruitments have begun, the absence of elected Councils is not an impediment, and elections will be addressed in due course.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam briefly sought a clarification from the Chair. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question beyond the request for clarification was recorded.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Asked the subject Minister to clarify the Government’s position on Provincial Council elections, noting statements by Minister Wijitha Berugoda and party Secretary Tilvin Silva that elections would be held only after the delimitation process. Requested a clear answer on how and when the elections will be conducted.
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna said the Government cannot give a fixed date for Provincial Council elections because, under the current system, they cannot be held. He stated that the Government does not intend to keep Provincial Councils without elected representatives and is working to create the necessary legal framework. Once that legal space is in place, he said the elections will be held without postponement.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural