Sitting of Friday, 26 September 2025

Order of business

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

1. 1 Opening Parliament Opening 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Auditor-General's Report and Annual Report of Bank of Ceylon 3 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Citizens' Petitions 6 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) 14 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Air Quality in Kandy City (Q.2/2025) 6 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Land and Irrigation (Q.5/2025, 880/2025) 3 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Misinformation and Hate Speeches on Social Media (Q.6 & Q.7/2025) 10 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Shabbat House and Religious Institutions (Q.8/2025) 7 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Questions: Department of Irrigation and Community Infrastructure (Q.9/2025) and Education (Q.10/2025) 6 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Questions: Energy (Adani Power Plant) and Agriculture (Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority) 4 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Sugar Industry 7 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government’s policy direction on the sugar industry, citing a perceived shift from earlier claims that Sri Lanka could achieve self-sufficiency and export sugar to the position that the State should not run businesses. He highlighted 2024 figures showing domestic production of about 81,000 metric tons against demand of 664,000 metric tons, with imports costing around USD 290–300 million, and argued that farmers face arrears, low prices, high input costs and policy disadvantages. He asked the Minister to clarify whether the new approach is official Government policy, provide data supporting earlier export claims, outline plans for sugar mills, ensure fair prices and timely payments to cane farmers, review tax treatment of imports and domestic production, and present a white paper on the industry’s future.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the ten questions submitted by the Member were received only the previous evening and were extensive in scope. He requested one week to provide comprehensive answers due to the policy detail and volume of information required.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake said the Government should address problems faced by sugar industry farmers while ensuring fair prices for consumers. He argued that policy decisions must consider the cost difference between importing sugar at about USD 490 million and producing it domestically at about USD 575 million plus VAT, given the impact on affected farmers.

      AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake indicated that he was adding an additional portion to make the reply complete. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was presented in the excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
12. 12 Oral question Question under Standing Order 27(2): Palaly Airport Allocations 5 speeches ▸
13. 13 Debate Ministerial Statement: Central Expressway Project 3 speeches ▸
14. 14 Debate Ministerial Statement: Tissa Rajamaha Viharaya Construction 2 speeches ▸
15. 15 Papers Appropriation Bill 2026 Presentation 1 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Standing Orders Amendment (Standing Order 120) 5 speeches ▸
17. 17 Procedural Reference to Committee on Standing Orders 1 speeches ▸
18. 18 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) 81 speeches ▸