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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Wednesday, 8 October 2025

10th Parliament· 13 debates· 247 speeches· 70 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22594 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

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

  5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Children of Incarcerated Mothers 18 speeches
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary The member raised a question to the Prime Minister concerning media reports that 47 young children were incarcerated with their imprisoned mothers in the early months of 2025. She sought details on the number of women imprisoned during that period, how many were detained with children, and what measures the Government has taken or plans to take regarding the children’s safety, nutrition, education, welfare, and future.

      Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary From January to August 2025, 425 women were serving prison sentences and 4,686 women were on remand, with 38 children living with incarcerated mothers. The Prime Minister stated that separate child-care centres operate in women’s prison sections for children under five, with arrangements for food, early childhood education, welfare support, and donations. She said Government measures include funding development work at the Welikada women’s section child-care centre, providing trained early childhood advisers, amending Prison Regulations to ensure nutritious food, renovating existing centres, and following up on the education and health of children transferred to guardians after age five.

      EducationWomen & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage asked for assurance that future progressive reforms will protect the rights of all children, regardless of their place of birth or upbringing. She linked the question to the Government’s first Budget, which she said aimed to prevent exclusion or stigmatization and to ensure children’s access to rights such as education and health.

      Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Minister of Justice and the Ministry are reviewing prison reforms concerning female inmates and children under five, with attention to safety, development and welfare. The speech emphasized that reforms should focus on preventing children from remaining in prison, particularly by expediting judicial processes, since most affected women are remand detainees rather than convicted prisoners.

      Justice & Human RightsWomen & Children Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe asked the Prime Minister for details on National Colleges of Education as a pathway for teacher recruitment, including the number of colleges, their names, and the courses offered. He also sought clarification on the G.C.E. (A/L) year used for the most recent intake, whether recruitment based on the 2023 A/L results has been delayed, and, if so, when it will take place.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya provided answers on the status of National Colleges of Education, stating that there are 20 NCoEs and tabling an annex listing their courses and revised programme titles. She explained that COVID-19 closures, use of NCoEs as treatment and quarantine centres, and resulting damage and delays led to overlapping cohorts and insufficient physical resources for a 2025 intake. She said admissions for the 2023 and 2024 A/L cohorts are expected in January/February 2026 after Gazette amendments and IT system updates align selections with curriculum reforms.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe raised a supplementary question on the National Colleges of Education system, arguing that its existing rules and traditions are outdated and restrictive for students after A/Ls. He asked whether the Ministry would create a freer, more modern academic environment within NCoEs to support the development of suitable future teachers.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that both curricula and institutional procedures in teacher education require updating. She said curricula have been reviewed to align with current education reforms, and that NCoE lecturers and administrations are being engaged to implement further reforms this year and next.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB

      AI summary Darmapriya Wijesinghe raised a follow-up question on the recent teachers’ struggle and the demand for improved salary scales, noting the Government’s policy commitment to place the teaching service among the top 10 service grades. He asked whether National Colleges of Education would be upgraded to award degrees, so that diploma-holding teachers would have the qualifications needed for promotion to higher grades.

      EmploymentEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government’s policy is to gradually ensure all teachers are graduates by making National Colleges of Education degree-awarding institutions. She noted that Kuliyapitiya NCoE is already the first to confer degrees and that the remaining 19 institutions will be progressively upgraded with improved facilities and staff. She emphasized that degree awarding requires quality assurance and careful planning, given the role of teacher training in shaping future generations.

      Education Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana questioned whether the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is promoting LGBTQ tourism in Sri Lanka, in the context of the country’s cultural, religious and tourism policies. He asked what Penal Code provisions apply to homosexuality and sought clarification on what action the Ministry would take following objections reportedly raised by religious leaders, including Chief Prelates and His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

      Foreign AffairsReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya responded that the Government’s tourism promotion policy was set out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism at the World Tourism Day event on 02.10.2025. She stated that Section 365A of the Penal Code, as amended by Act No. 22 of 1995, addresses the relevant legal matter and tabled its text. She added that the Government’s position had been communicated by the President to the Chief Prelates and through the Minister’s speech, and that tourism policy does not promote any special group and will be conducted so as not to harm any person.

      Foreign AffairsReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana questioned the Prime Minister about a 9 September 2025 letter from the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau that appeared to authorize engagement with tourism stakeholders to promote LGBTQ tourism. He asked whether the Government had rescinded the letter or taken action against the Chairperson, arguing that if such activity is unlawful under Section 365A, officials should not issue letters facilitating it.

      Law & OrderReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that a letter issued by a Chairperson had not been discussed with the political authority beforehand, and that the relevant Minister had since provided guidance reflecting the Government’s position. She emphasized that the matter should not be politicized, particularly where sensitive community issues are involved, and said the Government is guided by constitutional principles of dignity and equality. She clarified that no special privileges or promotions are being granted to any particular group.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Asked whether the tourism authorities are pursuing Government policy in relation to promoting LGBTQ tourism, arguing that Sri Lanka should instead emphasize existing attractions such as wildlife, flora, history and heritage. He also questioned whether the politically appointed Chairperson was implementing the Government’s policy framework and, if not, whether any legal action had been taken, raising concerns about unequal enforcement of the law.

      Religion & CultureForeign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that any alleged legal violation by the chairman should be addressed through the courts and established legal procedures, rather than political intervention. She rejected the relevance of linking the issue to the LGBTQ community and biodiversity, and noted that the Government’s policy had already been stated by the President and the relevant Minister.

      Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →