Sitting of Thursday, 25 September 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1759483897051145 ·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 Speaker's Ruling on No-Confidence Motion 6 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented 16 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Answers to Questions 51 speeches
- 4 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Statement on Na Uyana Tragedy 13 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah raised a Private Notice Question on the requirement, linked to IMF conditions, for local authorities to meet increasing shares of employee salaries from their own revenues up to 100 per cent by 2028. He said many Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, particularly in the North and East and in areas affected by war or disasters, cannot meet even the initial 20 per cent while maintaining services such as waste removal, sanitation, drainage and street lighting. He requested time-bound relief and interest-free credit facilities to help local bodies establish revenue-generating activities such as markets or fuel stations, warning that salary pressures could disrupt essential services and discourage officials from serving in those areas.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question by outlining how local authorities are funded through own-source revenues, Finance Commission allocations, and Treasury salary-support frameworks, noting large disparities between high-revenue councils and financially weak Pradeshiya Sabhas. He said the Ministry has reviewed the budgets of all 341 local authorities, arranged low-interest concessional loans for revenue-generating projects, earmarked Rs. 3,475 million in performance-based funding over two years, and begun capacity-development programmes for officers. He rejected a broad claim about IMF-driven impacts as incomplete, stating the proposal concerned reducing government expenditure, and noted that North and East development funding had been channelled through earlier programmes while acknowledging concerns over irregular recruitments and expanded numbers of local representatives. He added that the Government is intervening to address operational difficulties, including procuring machinery such as backhoes and motor graders to strengthen revenue generation.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary M.L.A.M. Hizbullah thanked the Minister for his clarification and acknowledged that development projects may take time to generate revenue. He requested phased funding support for employee salaries during 2026–2028, proposing that 20 to 40 per cent of salary costs be covered during that period.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the proposal raised by the Member would be studied and that the relevant information would be submitted thereafter.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised questions under Standing Order 27(2) to the Prime Minister regarding proposed education curriculum reforms. He expressed concern that the reforms may increase students’ workload, create difficulties in Grade 6 timetabling and subject selection, and exclude Tamil histories, symbols and identities from religious subjects such as Hinduism. He asked when the new curriculum would be implemented, whether a White Paper would be published, and requested details on Tamil-speaking representation in the National Education Commission, National Institute of Education curriculum committees, and the Curriculum Reform Implementation Committee.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary Curriculum reforms are planned to begin in January 2026 for Grades 1 and 6 and then be introduced progressively to subsequent grades each year. The Prime Minister stated that the reform document will be submitted to Cabinet after review by the relevant Ministerial Consultative Committee and Subcommittee, and that the curriculum will emphasize inclusivity and social plurality. She confirmed that Tamil-speaking members are included in National Institute of Education committees and said the names of those involved, including Tamil-speaking participants, will be provided once collated.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns about inadequate Tamil-medium capacity in around 20 divisions of the Ministry of Education and the omission of Tamil histories and identities in subjects such as History and Art. He asked that decisions on religious subject content, including Hindu symbolic elements such as Nataraja, be made after consultation with relevant university lecturers, external organizations, religious institutions, and Tamil representatives.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister said any distortion or omission of relevant historical events or figures in educational content would be reviewed. She explained that religion modules, including Hinduism, are examined by subject-specific Advisory Committees before publication, and noted that recent concerns raised by a Member had been discussed with the Hindu Religious Advisory Committee, whose recommendations were forwarded to the National Institute of Education.
- The Hon. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister informed Parliament of a fatal accident at the Na Uyana Theravada Buddhist Monastery in Melsiripura, where seven monks died and six were injured, including two in intensive care. He conveyed condolences on behalf of the Government and Parliament, identified the deceased Sri Lankan and foreign monks, and outlined the immediate involvement of government, provincial health, and local officials. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is being consulted on permission to conduct funeral rites in Sri Lanka for the three foreign monks, and that a committee on funeral arrangements would meet that evening.
Religion & Culture Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa expressed condolences over the tragedy at the Na Uyana Forest Monastery and conveyed sorrow for the monks who died. He noted his involvement in alms and related religious activities, acknowledged the Government’s intervention, and stated that all possible assistance should be extended.
- 5 Debate Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports 65 speeches
- 6 Debate Debate Continuation: Vehicle Import Regulations 19 speeches
- 7 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Ceylon Electricity Board Financial Status and Tariff Reduction 14 speeches