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

Sitting of Thursday, 9 October 2025

10th Parliament· 13 debates· 224 speeches· 61 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22973 ·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.

  2. 2 Oral question Oral Question 1: Oil Tanks and Pipeline in Kankesanthurai (Cement Corporation) 21 speeches
    • The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development for details on two oil tanks and a pipeline in Kankesanthurai owned by the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation. He sought confirmation of the assets, the government institution using them, the amount payable to the Corporation for their use, and the measures to recover any outstanding payments.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government is aware of the longstanding “past liabilities” owed in relation to fuel storage tanks and pipeline facilities at Kankesanthurai, with Rs. 244.45 million payable as at 31 July 2025. He stated that although six rounds of inter-ministerial and institutional discussions have been held since 2016, payment by CPSTL for the 2010-2015 period was withheld due to a land ownership issue over about six acres. He said the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation constructed the tanks and pipeline, CPSTL should pay for their use, and a meeting held on 24 September 2025 was aimed at determining a resolution pathway, with no intention to forgo recovery of the dues.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised concerns about unresolved inter-agency financial settlements, citing SriLankan Airlines’ dues to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as an example of broader weaknesses in inter-institutional transaction processes. He asked the Deputy Minister to provide a timeframe and outline the Government’s programme for settling such outstanding liabilities, warning that delays across successive terms would harm the country.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe said institutions under his Ministry have been asked to identify and prioritize unresolved issues, with newly appointed chairpersons made accountable through management agreements and KPIs. He cited progress on a long-pending Rs. 6 billion compensation matter involving BCC Lanka and the Legal Affairs Department, and said audit reports are guiding efforts to address legacy issues and clear institutional balance sheets. He noted that some matters require collective decisions with other ministries and the Treasury, and said those discussions are being pursued expeditiously.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB

      AI summary Asked about alleged theft and sale of iron from the closed Embilipitiya Paper Mill and urged action through bribery or corruption authorities, citing an existing police file. Also sought a clear assurance on the future of the Sevanagala Sugar Factory amid public concerns about possible privatization, delays or issues in cane supply allocations for farmers, and criticism of the Chairman’s conduct.

      AgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe JJB

      AI summary Allegations of irregularities should be referred for legal action where warranted, noting that anti-corruption authorities have a large backlog and that files are being compiled for investigation. On Sevanagala Sugar, the Government intends to retain it as a state enterprise while considering public-private partnerships for idle land and underutilized assets to strengthen the sugar business. Farmers’ and employees’ security and production capacity would be safeguarded as part of the Ministry’s broader plan to address operational constraints.

      AgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB

      AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara briefly rose in Parliament to pose a question. No substantive issue, proposal, or policy matter was stated in the provided excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media requested one week to provide an answer. The question was ordered to stand down.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sarath Kumara asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to clarify the legal status of public servants contesting and holding office in local authorities. He sought details on leave or resignation requirements, whether elected mayors or chairpersons may continue their government employment while in office, and the applicable legal provisions. He specifically questioned the cases of the Madulla and Siyambalanduwa Pradeshiya Sabha chairpersons elected in 2018, asking whether they lawfully received both their chairperson salaries and government salaries and what action was taken if such payments were improper.

      Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB

      AI summary The Minister answered that the relevant Establishments Code provisions and Public Administration Circulars No. 32/91(ii) and No. 12/2021 apply to public officers with political rights appointed as Mayors or Chairpersons of Local Authorities. He stated that such officers may receive seven days’ duty leave per month for local authority duties, or take no-pay leave for the full tenure, and that the two Samurdhi Chairpersons concerned were granted duty leave accordingly while continuing normal departmental duties on other working days. He further clarified that receiving both the government salary and the allowance for the Chairperson post is not prohibited under the cited circular.

      Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Sarath Kumara asked whether an investigation is being conducted into reports that two Local Authority Chairpersons continued to receive salaries from both their government posts and local authorities while allegedly not performing their official duties due to serving full-time as Chairpersons.

      Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB

      AI summary Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that he was not aware of any ongoing investigation and had only explained the applicable legal framework. He said the CID could investigate any evidence of dereliction of duty, while institutional action could also be taken if relevant details are provided.

      Justice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sarath Kumara asked whether, in light of past challenges to the rule of law by public representatives, there had been any abuse of the law in the specific instance under discussion.

      Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB

      AI summary Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that if officials have misused the law or failed in their duties, the matter can be referred to the CID and addressed through departmental inquiries. He requested that specific details be provided so that appropriate action can be taken.

      Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation to provide details on railway stations in the Kegalle District, including their number and names. He also requested information on development measures taken for those stations and whether landslide-prone areas along the district’s railway line have been identified, including any remedial actions provided.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways provided details on railway infrastructure in the relevant area, listing three stations—Rambukkana, Kadigamuwa and Ihala Kotte—and three halt stations—Thismalpola, Yatagama and Gangoda. He said Rambukkana is due for refurbishment under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, while Kadigamuwa is undergoing works including platform extension, an overbridge, staff quarters, drainage and access improvements through an NBRO-mediated landslide risk reduction contract. He further stated that landslide-prone sites near Kadigamuwa, Kansalagama and Thismalpola have been identified under the RLVMMP, with mitigation completed at the first two locations and planned for Thismalpola.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe stated that railways are important for both passengers and the economy, but modernization has fallen behind and affected service quality. He asked what measures are being taken under the new economic plan to increase the movement of freight by rail.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena stated that although railways were originally developed mainly for freight, rail now carries only about 2 per cent of national freight, or around 2 million metric tons annually. He said Budget 2025 proposed a logistics hub at Thambuttegama, with a Rs. 100 million feasibility study underway, and noted ongoing surveys to extend rail access to the Kankesanthurai fuel storage complex and KKS Port to improve petroleum and freight transport from the North.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB

      AI summary R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe asked how the railway sector is preparing to support the expanding tourism industry. He specifically sought information on plans to improve or adapt rail services for tourists as tourism grows.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena stated that increasing tourists’ length of stay and daily expenditure requires adding more activities, noting Sri Lanka’s current per-visit spending is below that of destinations such as the Maldives. He highlighted railway-based tourism initiatives, including the promotion of the Ella–Badulla sector, the Calypso Train, and expanded Ella Odyssey services, while saying action had been taken against a ticketing “mafia.” He added that tourist trains are being maintained and serviced after the season, with attention to comfort and cleanliness on key tourist routes.

      InfrastructureEmployment Full speech →