Sitting of Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1758876121024768 ·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 Parliament Opening and President's Message on Navy Act 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports 5 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented by Members 6 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural: No-Confidence Motion and Speaker's Rulings 28 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question Q.1/2025: Natural Streams and Stream Reservations Protection 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question Q.2/2025: Divisional Hospitals in Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts 5 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question Q.3/2025: Fishermen Compensation 8 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question Q.4/2025: Ratalankawa Land - Land Reform Commission 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question Q.5/2025: Cinnamon and Tea Fertilizer Subsidies 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question Q.6/2025: Principals' Recruitment and Confirmation 8 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question Q.7/2025: Maize Production and Pricing 7 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question Q.8/2025: Mullaitivu District General Hospital 8 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question Q.9/2025: Sri Lanka Telecom Employment 6 speeches
- 14 Oral question Oral Question Q.10/2025: Alawwa Water Scheme 6 speeches
- 15 Oral question Oral Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Unemployment and Vehicle Emission Testing 8 speeches
- 16 Procedural Procedural: Transition to Public Business 5 speeches
- 17 Debate Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill 57 speeches
- 18 Debate Third Reading: National Building Research Institute Bill 1 speeches
- 19 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Law College Special Entrance Examination 15 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip
AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Deputy Chairperson of Committees then put the question to the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Moved an Adjournment Motion concerning alleged irregularities in the Sri Lanka Law College Special Entrance Examination held on 17 May 2025, particularly the Law of Contract paper, where some candidates with high marks in other papers received 35–39 and became ineligible. He stated that the Law College and Department of Examinations each denied responsibility for re-scrutiny, leaving candidates without recourse despite anomalous results and only about 140 of 201 places being filled. He requested re-scrutiny by the responsible institution, admission of remaining candidates to fill vacancies including those affected by the Contract paper, or alternatively reduction of the paper-wise cut-off from 40 to 35, urging the Minister of Justice to intervene.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Chithral Fernando seconded a Motion concerning the Special Entrance Exam required for private university LLB graduates to enter Law College. He questioned the results, noting that all candidates failed last year and that this year some candidates reported unusually low marks in one paper despite higher marks in the other two, while no re-scrutiny appears to be available. He urged consideration of the unfilled vacancies, stating that only about 140 of 217 candidates reached the cut-off despite 201 places being available, to prevent affected students losing another year.
- The Hon. Susanta Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Susanta Dodawatta argued that the Motion contained factual and legal inaccuracies regarding the Law College entrance examination. He stated that no formal defect had been notified in the Law of Contract paper, that there is no legal provision for re-scrutiny in this type of competitive examination, and that the Gazette does not require admission of exactly 201 candidates. He further noted that candidates from foreign or non-UGC-recognized LLB programmes can attend lectures, receive model papers, and re-sit without limitation, and said the available results did not demonstrate unfairness.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna said concerns over law students’ examinations warrant serious attention, while also questioning the consistency of those now seeking fairness in Parliament. He linked the issue to wider concerns in the justice sector, including judicial transfers, interventions in legal education, narcotics-related enforcement, and uneven accountability. He urged that fairness be ensured in legal education and related systems, indicating support for Minister Nalinda Jayatissa and the incoming President in addressing these matters.
- The Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama outlined the existing pathways to enter the legal profession, including Law College, state university law faculties and recognized private LLB programmes, noting that admissions and standards fall under the Supreme Court and the Incorporated Council for Legal Education. He argued that the current requirement of at least 40 marks in key subjects for candidates progressing to final examinations should be maintained, and cautioned that lowering pass marks or relaxing criteria would undermine professional standards. He emphasized that Law College admissions must remain merit-based and compliant with established legal education standards.
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns on behalf of Law College candidates about confusion over responsibility for re-scrutinization, with the Law College and the Department allegedly referring candidates to each other. He requested a timely resolution to avoid candidates losing another year, noting that seats remain vacant. He clarified that the Motion addresses inconsistencies in examination administration and does not challenge the admission authority of the Chief Justice and the Council.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper explained that admissions through the Special Law Entrance Examination are governed by Rule 12(c) of Gazette No. 2332/02, with the Incorporated Council for Legal Education determining cut-off marks and admissions based on merit and vacancies. He stated that candidates alleging issues with the Contract paper should petition the Council, which may obtain a report from the Department of Examinations and consider relief, including a revised cut-off if justified. He emphasized that neither Parliament nor the Minister of Justice controls Law College admissions, citing a past misconception during Hon. Rauff Hakeem’s tenure as Minister.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said professional bodies such as the Council of Legal Education and the Sri Lanka Medical Council must retain authority to set standards, and ministerial intervention could undermine professional quality. Referring to the 2023 Extraordinary Gazette and the special examination for foreign law graduates, he noted that 140 of 225 candidates passed in 2025, making it difficult to argue that the examination itself was inherently flawed. He said the concerns of about 20 students who failed the Law of Contracts paper should be considered by the Council of Legal Education, chaired by the Chief Justice, rather than by ministries or the Department of Examinations, so that any relief is granted without setting an improper precedent.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC, raised a point concerning the possible role of the Department of Examinations. The extract is incomplete, so the specific proposal, question, or context of the intervention cannot be determined from the provided text.
Education Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa noted that while no students passed the relevant examination the previous year, the latest results showed 140 out of 225 candidates passing, around 63 percent, which did not indicate the same level of concern. He stated that the Ministry would refer the matter to the Council of Legal Education and allow it to decide on any further action.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural