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
- 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
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), the Leader of the Opposition questioned the Government on constitutional and institutional reforms, citing the need to protect popular sovereignty and the independence of the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. He asked whether the Government will introduce constitutional reforms, its position and timeline on abolishing the Executive Presidency, and when Parliament will be involved. He also sought clarification on the timing and electoral system for Provincial Council elections and asked about the proposed Provincial Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Government’s view on reported judicial transfers, interdictions and promotions in high-profile cases.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary The member informed the House that the Hon. Prime Minister would answer the question in due course.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned why the Government was seeking additional time to respond on major political commitments, including abolishing the Executive Presidency, fulfilling pledges made to the public, and holding Provincial Council Elections. He said that while requests for time are traditionally allowed, the Government should be ready to state its position on these issues rather than delay.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Prime Minister would respond, while noting that the Government had been in office for only one year. He contrasted this with the previous inability to hold Provincial Council elections for nearly three years and argued that the question raised matters including courts, judicial transfers, the Provincial Council system, and the Executive Presidency. He requested clarification to the Leader of the Opposition on the intended scope of Standing Order 27(2).
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa noted that approximately an hour and a half of time remained in the sitting. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand was raised in this brief intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s stance on issues it had presented to the public, including abolition of the Executive Presidency, holding Provincial Council elections, and implementing constitutional reforms. He argued that these matters are of national importance and should not be dismissed when raised in Parliament.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa responded to the Leader of the Opposition, stating that the Government has a position on the Executive Presidency and would announce it. He asked the Opposition Leader not to become agitated and to sit down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara’s recorded contribution consists only of the salutation to the Deputy Speaker and contains no substantive remarks, proposals, questions, or arguments to summarize.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara argued that Standing Order 27(2) does not restrict the scope of questions, including matters such as judges’ transfers. He requested that the Government provide an answer without attempting to limit the Opposition’s questions, stating that they would decide on further action if dissatisfied with the response.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary There is none.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake requested that the House allocate the full available time to discuss the impact of abolishing the Simplified Value Added Tax scheme on the export sector. He framed the issue as requiring dedicated parliamentary consideration due to its significance for exporters.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns under Standing Order 27(2) over the abolition of the Simplified VAT system from 1 October 2025, arguing that it would create serious cash-flow, refund delay, and competitiveness problems for exporters, SMEs, deemed exporters, and related sectors such as apparel, tea, rubber, logistics and shipping. Citing warnings from export industry representatives, he said the change would replace immediate VAT relief with refunds delayed by 105–180 days and effectively require exporters to finance the Treasury interest-free. He asked the Minister of Finance what measures, safeguards, interim digital mechanisms, and transitional support would prevent insolvency and protect the Government’s stated target of increasing exports to US$36 billion by 2030. He also sought the projected fiscal benefit to the Treasury and clarification to ensure entrepôt trading and related transport sectors are not adversely brought within SVAT-related changes.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development requested a two-week period to provide the answer to the matter raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake urged the Minister to provide an immediate response on the abolition of SVAT, noting that only one week remained before it took effect. He said exporters needed clarity urgently and requested an answer the same day or the next day to support export activity.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question, stating that the projected US$7.2 billion in gross official reserves by end-2025 is an IMF projection, not a binding performance criterion under the IMF Extended Fund Facility; the relevant monitored target is Net International Reserves. He said Sri Lanka had met the end-2024 NIR target and was on track for the June and December 2025 targets, supported by Central Bank foreign exchange purchases exceeding US$1.2 billion by end-August 2025. He added that there was no plan to restrict imports, monetary policy decisions remain with the Monetary Policy Board, reserve and debt service data are published regularly, and the Government and Central Bank would continue measures to build reserves and strengthen investor confidence.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the consistency of Central Bank reserve figures, arguing that reported foreign exchange purchases should have raised Net Reserves beyond the latest stated level. He warned that failure to build reserves under the IMF debt sustainability framework could affect the rupee and external creditor confidence, and called for more candid reporting and policy focused on export growth and reserve accumulation. He also criticized the independent Central Bank’s role in past economic management and its internal spending priorities.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha clarified that the IMF-linked requirement concerns Net International Reserves rather than Gross Reserves, and said the Central Bank’s US$1.2 billion foreign exchange purchase was part of managing that position. He noted strong export earnings, remittances, and tourism income, and argued that the Central Bank should be allowed to act independently in maintaining required reserve levels and meeting future targets.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned how the Government intends to bridge the gap between projected reserves of about US$6.7 billion, including expected IMF and ADB inflows, and the US$7.2 billion target. He warned that uncertainty could affect macro-linked bondholder decisions and pressure the rupee, noting the fiscal impact of exchange rate depreciation and interest rate changes. He urged action to prevent bureaucratic delays from constraining the economy.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake clarified that he was not engaging in debate, but seeking to ensure a point concerning Sri Lanka before being interrupted. The speech fragment contains no specific proposal, question, or policy demand.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha responded that the Central Bank would consider the points raised and manage the existing swap arrangement with the People’s Bank of China as part of efforts to build net international reserves. He stated that the exchange rate had remained stable without unnecessary volatility and that the Central Bank would take necessary measures as required.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved that the business under Item No. 2 of the Main Business on the Order Paper be exempted from Standing Order 27. The motion was put to the House and agreed to.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 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