Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Tuesday, 23 September 2025

10th Parliament· 19 debates· 193 speeches· 64 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1758876121024768 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  9. 9 Oral question Oral Question Q.5/2025: Cinnamon and Tea Fertilizer Subsidies 6 speeches
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB

      AI summary The Minister provided detailed information on Sri Lanka’s cinnamon sector, stating that about 90 per cent of cinnamon lands are located in Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Hambantota and Kalutara, with a total cultivated extent of about 37,500 hectares in 2024. He said the Department of Cinnamon Development is headquartered in Karandeniya, Galle, in a rented building, with operational units including a zonal office in Gampaha and a field cadre of 268 officers. He outlined departmental programmes on export market development, GI certification for Ceylon Cinnamon, new cultivation support, productivity improvement, quality certification, training, processing and value addition, with further details tabled.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB

      AI summary Ajantha Gammeddage highlighted the importance of the cinnamon sector, particularly in Galle and Matara, as a foreign exchange earner that has expanded countrywide. He asked whether the proposed Cinnamon Development Department, linked to the pending Cinnamon Development Act, would remain under the Minister’s Ministry or be reassigned to the Department of Export Agriculture, noting concerns among officials about such a move.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB

      AI summary Cinnamon was identified as a key plantation crop, with exports earning USD 262 million last year and a five-year strategy aiming to increase this to USD 500 million by 2030 through legal, infrastructure, and farmer support measures. The Member stated that the Government is reviewing about 100 state institutions, including the proposed Cinnamon Development Department, and that the final institutional arrangement will be decided after addressing overlaps with other minor export crop bodies.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB

      AI summary Asked whether fertilizer subsidies will be provided to improve yields among smallholder tea growers, framing the issue as falling within the relevant ministerial purview.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB

      AI summary Fertilizer policy disruptions were cited as a continuing cause of weakness in agriculture, including the tea sector, with past concerns over delays and supplier selection in tea fertilizer distribution. Cabinet approval has been obtained for a new mechanism, and for 2025 the Tea Board has allocated Rs. 2,000 million for fertilizer support, including Rs. 200 million for smallholder assistance delivered through a QR-code system. Registered suppliers, including the State Fertilizer Corporation and companies registered with the National Fertilizer Secretariat, will provide fertilizer, with issuance scheduled to begin on the 26th at Matugama, Kalutara, to support timely delivery for the season.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →