Sitting of Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1759815459006615 ·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 Chair Change 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented: University Reports and Government Documents 4 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented 3 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question 10 (125/2025): Sri Lanka Tea Board Investments 15 speeches
- Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga JJB
AI summary Hon. Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga formally posed a question to the House through the Deputy Speaker. No substantive issue, proposal, or policy matter was stated in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media, Acting Minister of Justice and National Integration, and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Defence, Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa requested two weeks’ time to respond to the question raised. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi) SJB
AI summary Asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure to provide details of Sri Lanka Tea Board funds placed in long-term and short-term investments from 2020 to date. He further questioned whether the Minister was aware of allegations that proper approvals had not been obtained for those investments and, if so, what action would be taken.
- Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB
AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer detailing Sri Lanka Tea Board-related investments, including Promotion and Marketing Levy funds, Tea Board Fund investments, and investments under the MoU with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, with year-wise short-term, long-term, and total amounts up to 2025. He stated that investments were made in fixed deposits in state banks and Treasury bills in line with applicable circulars and manuals, with procedures strengthened from 2022 through Investment Committee review and from 2024 through Departmental Procurement Committee approval and procurement guidelines.
Public Finance Full speech → - Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri) SJB
AI summary Asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide details on official residences for Members of Parliament. The question sought the current number of available residences, how many MPs have and have not obtained them, and the names of MPs in each category, with reasons requested if the information is not provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media, Acting Minister of Justice and National Integration, and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Minister tabled a response stating that 111 official residences are available at the Madiwela MPs’ Official Housing Complex. As at 1 September 2025, all 111 residences had been allocated to Members of Parliament, while 112 MPs had not obtained residences; the relevant name lists were tabled, and the remaining part of the question was deemed not applicable.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of Hon. Rohana Bandara) SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, on behalf of Hon. Rohana Bandara, asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to provide details on the current quantity of government-held seed paddy and the annual national requirement for seed paddy from 2020 onward. He also sought information on measures taken to maintain adequate seed paddy stocks in response to increased demand caused by weather and climate changes, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.
Agriculture Full speech → - Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister tabled a written answer on national seed paddy stocks and requirements, stating that the Government currently holds 147,932 bushels and providing annual requirement figures for 2020 to 2024. He outlined measures for seed production and supply, including breeder seed production by Department of Agriculture research institutes, production of certified seed categories in government seed farms, support for private and society-based certified seed production, and contract production through the Department’s Seed and Planting Material Division.
Agriculture Full speech → - Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam) SJB
AI summary Asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation whether 478 small tanks in the Batticaloa District fall under the Department of Agriculture, with fewer than 200 properly maintained. He questioned whether restoring and maintaining the neglected tanks would empower local farmers and requested details on any steps to ensure their proper maintenance, or reasons if no action is planned.
Agriculture Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe corrected the premise of the question before Parliament, stating that there are no tanks under the Department of Agriculture. The response was made in the context of a question listed under “Illegal Foreign Immigrants: Details,” though his answer addressed the institutional responsibility for tanks.
- Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of Hon. Kins Nelson) SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, on behalf of Hon. Kins Nelson, asked the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs whether the Government is aware of a detention centre in Mirihana for illegal foreign immigrants. He requested details on the number of detainees by country and the measures planned to control illegal immigration into Sri Lanka.
- Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer stating that a detention place had been declared by a Special Gazette of the Ministry of State for Defence on 19 July 1988, but that no detainees are currently held there and maintenance work is underway. He outlined measures by the Department of Immigration and Emigration to control illegal migration, including adverse records and INTERPOL database integration, a trained Border Surveillance Unit, participation in the Bali Process Regional Support Office, and risk assessment through the ETA system, which is to become mandatory for all countries from 1 October 2025.
- 5 Oral question Oral Questions 6, and continuing questions on Seeds, Tanks, and Immigration 8 speeches
- 6 Oral question Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Executive Presidency and SVAT 29 speeches
- 7 Procedural Privilege Question and Matter of Privilege 13 speeches
- 8 Debate Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading 168 speeches
- 9 Procedural Resolution on Declaration and Adjournment Motion 2 speeches
- 10 Adjournment Adjournment Questions and Adjournment 7 speeches
- 11 Oral question Questions on Defence Advisers, Migrant Workers, and Employment 6 speeches