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
- 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
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a point of order concerning parliamentary business. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand was stated in the provided text.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned why Ministerial Consultative Committees had not met on a monthly basis. He emphasized that answers to such matters should be provided within Parliament rather than outside it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that, under the Standing Orders, Ministers have the authority to convene Ministerial Consultative Committees. He requested that parliamentary business not be obstructed on this issue and noted that all such committees, including those convened by the President, are being held.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration for data on the current prison population and on inmates eligible for release after 20 years of detention, including whether they will be released and, if not, the reasons. He also requested information on prisoners serving long terms due to inability to pay fines, and whether the Government will adopt a fair, systematic procedure to address their cases.
- Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary As of 23 September 2025, prisons held 34,765 inmates, comprising 10,509 convicted prisoners and 24,256 remand prisoners. The Minister stated that there is no procedure to release prisoners solely after 20 years, as releases depend on court-imposed sentences and sentence calculation under Prison Rules, with remission not applicable to death or life sentences. He also reported that 2,122 prisoners were in custody as of 31 August 2025 due to inability to pay fines, and noted that such prisoners may be released only through normal sentence completion or Presidential pardons under Article 34 of the Constitution.
- Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake raised a supplementary question regarding a fundraising initiative by a group of women lawyers intended to pay fines and secure the release of indigent female prisoners. He asked whether the authorities were aware that the initiative had not been implemented, the prisoners remained incarcerated, and concerns had arisen about the handling of the funds raised.
- Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration said he did not have details of the specific case raised, but noted that charities sometimes pay bail or fines to secure inmate releases. He undertook to inquire into the matter, requested contact with the lawyers involved, and said he would intervene if necessary information showed that eligible inmates had not been released after fines were paid.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake raised concerns about threats to prisoners’ lives, inhuman treatment of new inmates, gang control, contraband trafficking, and alleged involvement of prison officers in illicit activities. He asked the Minister what measures have been taken to curb the prison “mafia,” ensure humane treatment and safety of prisoners, discipline corrupt officials, and address overcrowding in prisons.
- Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara acknowledged reports of extortion and ill-treatment within prisons and said officers had been transferred, removed, or recruited as part of efforts to address long-standing institutional corruption. He said prison overcrowding, particularly among remand prisoners, could not be solved by infrastructure alone, and outlined measures to expedite Government Analyst reports, facilitate quicker bail, and consider legal reforms enabling High Courts to grant bail more promptly. He added that 50 officers had been recruited to the Government Analyst’s Department, with the aim of strengthening human rights protections and reducing prolonged detention.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera rose only to offer a brief clarification. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB
AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government for details on the removal of the weekly fair under the Mahiyangana Pradeshiya Sabha and the construction of a shopping complex at that site. He requested the reasons for the project, the criteria for allocating stalls, the names of recipients with the number of stalls and monthly rent paid, and the date on which full ownership of the complex will vest in the Pradeshiya Sabha under the relevant agreements.
- Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister answered a question on the Mahiyangana fair redevelopment, stating that the Pradeshiya Sabha decided in 2012 to remove old stalls and build a shopping complex and central weekly fair area under a Public-Private Partnership to improve public facilities and revenue. He said stall allocations were made to persons nominated by the Traders’ Association, with details tabled in the Library, and noted that allegations that MPs received stalls were not supported by the list. He also identified a rent anomaly involving Hanco Investment (Pvt) Ltd receiving 15,780 square feet for Rs. 5,000 per month while 150-square-foot stalls pay the same amount, saying it requires rectification. Land ownership remains with the Pradeshiya Sabha, while stallholders have lease rights for 25 years or until breach of conditions.
- Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB
AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla rejected the Minister’s response regarding alleged irregularities in stall agreements and rent collections, citing contradictions between earlier reports and the current answer. He questioned discrepancies over the number of stalls, floor area, monthly rent, and advance deposits, arguing that the figures presented were inconsistent and misleading. He stated that two differing reports had been submitted and raised the matter as his first supplementary question.
- Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to issues raised regarding information from local government officials, stating that he relied on material received from the Senior Assistant Secretary (Local Government) and the Mahiyangana Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary. He said the Ministry would examine the matter and take appropriate action if the facts had been distorted.
Law & Order Full speech → - Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB
AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla disputed the characterization of the Mahiyangana weekly fair project as a PPP, arguing that no Provincial Council engineer or official supervised it from the outset and that government involvement occurred only later. He said the removal of the fair had forced the Sabha to pay Rs. 4,205,000 in rent for an alternative site, questioned whether a traders’ association was authorized to collect rent, and asked who would bear the resulting loss. He requested a structural investigation and raised allegations of irregular stall allocations and large payments, calling for fairness for stallholders and scrutiny of possible financial misconduct.
- Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that, in response to the matter raised by the Member, the Ministry would initiate a formal investigation. He acknowledged that an issue appeared to exist and said it would be inquired into.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government for details on administrative infrastructure in Vavuniya’s 102 Grama Niladhari Divisions. He sought figures on GN divisions without permanent offices or using temporary premises, offices needing refurbishment, and those lacking toilets, water or electricity, including disconnected power supplies. He also asked whether the Minister accepted that such deficiencies impede effective public service delivery, and if not, to state the reasons.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister provided figures on Grama Niladhari offices, stating that there are 50 permanent and 52 temporary offices. He reported that 55 require refurbishment, 48 lack toilets, 43 lack water, and 61 lack electricity, and acknowledged longstanding shortages in basic facilities. He said steps are being taken to provide the necessary facilities, while part (b) of the question was not applicable.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised concerns that about 52 Grama Niladhari divisions continue to operate from temporary offices, forcing some residents to travel up to 20 miles for services. He asked whether the forthcoming Budget would allocate funds to quickly provide basic facilities such as electricity, toilets, and water, noting that annual resettlement allocations have not effectively addressed these needs.
- Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that earlier initiatives such as “Uthuru Wasanthaya” had not fully delivered expected benefits to the North. He said the Government had allocated funds in the previous Budget and would make further allocations in 2026 to address pressing needs and provide required facilities.
- Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan noted that the NPP won both Northern Province districts at the last election and referred to 2025 Budget allocations made through the relevant Ministry. He urged that funding be ensured for continuous implementation of services accessed through Grama Niladhari offices, with completion targeted within the coming year.
- Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary Necessary measures have already been initiated to address the issues raised, though they cannot all be completed immediately. The Minister stated that the Government will intervene expeditiously to resolve them.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
- 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