Sitting of Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22594 ·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 Announcements 9 speeches
- 2 Committee report Committee Reports 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 8 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders 29 speeches
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka raised concerns on behalf of Opposition MPs about reports of attempts to remove powers from, and transfer officers of, the independent National Police Commission. He requested clarification from the Speaker on whether the reports were true and what the Government’s position was before proceeding to Oral Answers.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that the National Police Commission, established under the 17th Amendment and relevant legislation and continued under the 19th Amendment, has authority over transfers of Officers-in-Charge of police stations. He questioned the transfer of two OICs and senior DIGs, alleging that they were carried out without valid reasons or proper procedure.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to the centralization of police transfer powers under the IGP, arguing that such powers should remain with the independent Police Commission under the Constitution and the 19th and 21st Amendments. He said the move undermines depoliticized, impartial police administration and requested the Speaker to take appropriate action, expressing opposition to making the Commission subordinate to the Government.
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a point of order under Standing Order 126, arguing that the House should not be misled by selective references to Standing Orders. He said Gayantha Karunathilleka had merely sought clarification on whether powers of the Police Commission were being transferred to the IGP, and accused the Government of distorting the role of the Constitutional Council without a public mandate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Raised a point of order under Standing Order 92(2)(a), questioning whether proper procedures were being followed in appointments to the Bribery Commission and the Police. He argued that the Government’s actions undermined the independence of institutions established for good governance and warned against using the Police, Forces, or independent commissions to retain power or suppress the public.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary The Minister rejected allegations that the Government was acting undemocratically, stating that unfounded fears were being created. He said transfers in police positions had been carried out by the Police Commission.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Police transfers were made by the Police Commission, not by another authority. The issue raised was that there is currently no appeal mechanism for individuals who may suffer an injustice as a result of a Commission decision.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that he would clarify Standing Order 91. No further substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara cautioned that the House should not be misled, indicating a concern about the accuracy or framing of information before Parliament. No further substantive argument, proposal, or question is available from the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that the Police Commission had not carried out any transfers and was only monitoring the process. He indicated that the transfers had been effected by others, distinguishing the Commission’s role from those decisions.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or question is recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB
AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that the Police Commission was established to protect police independence and should not have its powers undermined or delegated to the IGP. He alleged that recent police transfers had been carried out outside the Commission’s authority and requested that the matter be examined to ensure independent commissions retain their statutory powers.
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe rose on a point of order and referred the Chair to Standing Order 92, stating that its provisions were clear. No further substantive argument or proposal was presented in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe briefly noted Minister Nalinda Jayatissa’s statement that relevant decisions are made by the Police Commission. No further proposal, question, or argument was recorded in the excerpt.
Law & Order Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe requested one minute to speak under the Standing Orders.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe asked the Chair to allow him at least 40 seconds of his allotted one minute to speak. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe stated that the Minister had acknowledged the Commission’s existing powers, but said these powers were being removed through a Gazette. He objected that authority over transfers and related matters was to be vested in the Inspector General of Police.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa addressed concerns about appeal rights following decisions of a Commission. He stated that while Commission decisions themselves are not subject to appeal, grievances arising from powers delegated by the Commission to the IGP could be appealed back to the Commission, and therefore there was no cause for alarm.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Children of Incarcerated Mothers 18 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: UN Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka 8 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question No. 1 – 1180/2025: AWOL Service Members 11 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Questions Nos. 03, 04, 05: Prison Inmates, Mahiyangana Fair, GN Offices in Vavuniya 27 speeches
- 9 Oral question Second Round Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions 16 speeches
- 10 Procedural Ministry Statements: Brain Drain, Kankesanthurai Port, Government Translators Service 11 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: National Police Commission Powers 8 speeches
- 12 Debate Debate: Supplementary Sum - Head 117 - Programme 02 (Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation) 84 speeches
- 13 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Release of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Lands in Trincomalee District 16 speeches