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

Sitting of Friday, 12 September 2025

10th Parliament· 17 debates· 252 speeches· 46 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1758618446023035 ·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.

  7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) 47 speeches
    • Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development to clarify the respective roles of the Central and Provincial Departments of Co-operative Development in relation to Co-operative Rural Banks, including responsibility for audits. She requested annual figures from 2015 onward for CRBs audited by each level of department and asked whether the Minister was aware of alleged large-scale financial frauds by CRB boards linked to improper auditing. She also sought details of measures to ensure proper annual audits and prevent such frauds.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Full speech →
    • Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that Co-operative Rural Banks fall under Provincial Council responsibility under the 13th Amendment, with provincial co-operative authorities handling audits, inspections, investigations, corrective action, and supervision. He noted that a national regulatory committee was established by Cabinet in 2013 to guide provinces, and a 2025 Cabinet-appointed committee will recommend reforms to the co-operative network, including CRBs. He acknowledged audit delays and inadequacies had delayed fraud detection and contributed to financial misconduct in some cases, and said provinces have been instructed to update annual audits and strengthen supervision.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara requested one minute of speaking time from the Chair.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned whether, in light of the Speaker’s ruling the previous day, Parliament could accept an answer from a Deputy Minister. He requested that the relevant Minister be asked to provide the answer instead.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara referred to a ruling made the previous day that a Deputy Minister has no powers. He appeared to be raising or challenging the implications of that ruling, but the provided excerpt does not include the rest of his argument or any specific request.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara requested that the Minister, who was present in the House, be asked to provide an answer.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara requested a minute of speaking time from the Chair.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that he accepted the Speaker’s Ruling given the previous day and, on that basis, was raising a related matter with the Speaker.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to an answer being provided by a Deputy Minister, citing the Speaker’s statement that a Deputy Minister had no authority in the matter. He requested that the Minister, who was present in the House, be asked to respond instead.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella began to pose her first supplementary question, but no substantive question or argument is included in the provided excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika briefly rose to raise a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided speech text.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika invoked Standing Order 92(2)(b) to argue that Members were misusing points of order to introduce irrelevant matters during parliamentary business. He requested the Speaker to stop such interruptions and ensure proper procedure is followed.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara insists that the matter under discussion is for the Hon. Speaker to determine, not for others in the Chamber to decide. He emphasizes the Speaker’s authority to make the ruling.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Chamindranee Kiriella rose to ask a supplementary question, but the provided excerpt contains only the opening words and does not include the substance of the question or any policy issue raised.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Asked what measures the Government has taken to implement the National People’s Power policy commitment to provide financial facilities to small-scale entrepreneurs and investors through co-operative societies and rural banks.

      EmploymentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB

      AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana said co-operative powers are devolved to the Provinces under the Thirteenth Amendment, with rural banks operating through provincial co-operative societies under Provincial Co-operative Development Commissioners. He stated that the Central Government is examining the extent to which it can intervene in rural bank functions and may act on the proposal if such authority is confirmed. He added that the Central Department of Co-operative Development is working to strengthen production by establishing 1,000 production-oriented co-operative societies.

      AgricultureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Mrs. Chamindranee Kiriella stated that her first supplementary question had not been answered and sought specific details on what measures had been taken. She asked whether any relief had been provided or whether other measures were being implemented.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

      AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva noted that the Minister had left the Chamber.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara addressed a Minister directly, asking the Minister to remain in place. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in the excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was presented in the provided extract.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order under Standing Order 32(2), which requires the relevant Minister, or an authorized non-Cabinet Minister or Deputy Minister in the Minister’s absence, to be present to answer scheduled oral questions. He argued that the issue was not the constitutional status of Deputy Ministers, but whether a Deputy Minister may answer when the relevant Minister is present, noting that the Minister had subsequently left the Chamber.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara noted that the person being referred to had been present in the Chamber but had just left. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in this remark.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva states that the person referred to had been present in the Chamber but had since left.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB

      AI summary Mujibur Rahuman made a brief critical remark, stating that the matter under discussion reflects the manner in which the relevant parties carry out their actions. No specific proposal, question, or legislative issue was raised in the excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a procedural objection that a Deputy Minister answered while Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe was present in the House, arguing that this was not permitted under the Standing Orders. He requested adherence to parliamentary procedure in determining who may respond on behalf of a Ministry.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri questioned an apparent inconsistency in the Speaker’s rulings, noting that a Deputy Minister was deemed not subject to a no-confidence motion but was now allowed to answer parliamentary questions. He stated that he accepted the position that Deputy Ministers may answer questions, while seeking clarity on how both rulings could stand together.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the consistency of the Speaker’s rulings, arguing that a statement made that day appeared to contradict a ruling from the previous day that persons not gazetted had no connection to the constitutional framework. He suggested that the later statement effectively invalidated the earlier ruling.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella stated that her first supplementary question had not been answered, suggesting this may be because the relevant matter had not been gazetted. She requested the Deputy Minister to provide an answer to that question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB

      AI summary Measures regarding rural banks are constrained because responsibility falls under the Provincial List, limiting direct intervention by the Central Government or the National Co-operative Commissioner. The Government has begun amending the Co-operative Societies Law to provide a legal basis for coordination with rural banks and provincial authorities, with the intention of completing the amendment before the end of the year.

      Law & OrderPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella raised a supplementary question about the collapse of co-operative societies in the previous year, noting that senior citizens and other depositors had been unable to recover funds invested in related banks. She asked what measures the Government would take to address the losses and protect affected depositors.

      Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB

      AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana stated that significant frauds in rural banks, including amounts exceeding Rs. 500 million in the Western Province, had gone undetected due to delays and weaknesses in provincial-level audits. He said the Ministry, through the Commissioner, is intervening to strengthen audit processes, and that the Central Government will use alternative audits where Provincial Councils are unable to conduct them effectively.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Full speech →