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
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised unemployment, particularly among educated youth and graduates, as a national economic and social concern. He asked the Government to provide current unemployment figures disaggregated by education level, state whether it accepts the social risks of unemployment, and outline short-, medium- and long-term measures and unemployment targets for 2025-2027. He also sought a timeline for fulfilling the Government’s pledge to provide jobs to 35,000 unemployed graduates, including placements in teaching, STEM, and revenue-related services, noting reported vacancies in the IT sector and the potential absorption of development officers into the teaching cadre.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that the response should adhere to the text of the Question and informed the Deputy Speaker that the Prime Minister had indicated an answer would be provided later.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation on the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s vehicle emission testing system, citing concerns over discrepancies in emissions data and visible pollution from government vehicles. He requested data on vehicle testing numbers and revenue over five years, 2024 testing of private and government vehicles including military, police and public transport fleets, and any reviews or recommendations on the VET system. He also asked whether fee revisions are proposed and whether a stronger mechanism can be introduced to assess vehicle condition and roadworthiness amid increasing road accidents.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake provided data on vehicle emission testing, revenues, fees, and government tax receipts, noting that all vehicles requiring revenue licences must obtain emission certificates, while military vehicles are tested separately. He said Cabinet has approved reforms from 2028 to integrate annual roadworthiness testing with emissions testing, strengthen enforcement, update penalties and regulations, accredit garages, and consider scrappage of very old vehicles. He also outlined road safety measures including special permits for public transport drivers, expanded inspections of school and office transport, and upgrading the Road Safety Council. Referring to the Ella accident report, he said driver fatigue and brake defects were identified and sought Parliament’s support for roadworthiness checks before public transport vehicles enter service.
- The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary K. Kader Masthan urged the Government to strengthen road safety measures by improving vehicle testing beyond current emission checks. He proposed a centralized certification programme covering engines, brakes, signal lights, tyres and other safety components, arguing that proper standards for vehicles in transport would help reduce daily road accidents and improve transport services.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said current vehicle emission tests are conducted at idle speed and do not reflect real-world conditions, noting that moves are under way to introduce more realistic testing and that the VET Fund arose from a Supreme Court directive. Referring to the Ella bus accident, he cited vehicle repair costs and the driver’s apparent lack of rest, and said Rs. 1,000 million had been allocated to install guard mirrors on winding hill-country roads as part of broader accident-prevention efforts. He also stated that, following a court order on accessibility at railway stations, the Government had instructed the Railways Department to improve facilities for persons with disabilities and had informed Court of its policy to maximize accessibility in stations and public places.
- 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