Sitting of Thursday, 9 October 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22973 ·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 Announcements 8 speeches
- 2 Oral question Oral Question 1: Oil Tanks and Pipeline in Kankesanthurai (Cement Corporation) 21 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District 22 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question 3: Telecommunication Towers in Mahaweli System C 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question 4: Special Schools and Standing Order 27(2) Questions 9 speeches
- 6 Debate Ministry Statements and Clarifications on Independent Commissions and Provincial Council Elections 45 speeches
- 7 Procedural Procedural: Bills Presented and Privilege Matter Motion 4 speeches
- 8 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Implementation of Manifesto "A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life" - Opening Speeches 14 speeches
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Government and Opposition Speeches 22 speeches
- 10 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Multiple Speakers 25 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Continued Discussion 34 speeches
- 12 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Final Speeches 8 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB
AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath stated that the Government had overseen peaceful presidential, parliamentary, and local elections and that no ethnic or religious clashes had occurred during the past year. He rejected claims that Sri Lanka’s foreign relations would be limited to a few countries, citing engagement with major global partners and grants, investments, and agreements from Japan, China, and others, including discussions on direct flights from Belarus. He said the recent UNHRC resolution only extended the reporting period to September 2027 and maintained that Sri Lanka would address human rights and national harmony through domestic measures while acting on corruption.
- Mr. Presiding Member
AI summary A Government member stated that investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks are ongoing and that legal action will follow once results are available. He rejected media reports claiming that the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security had linked India to the attacks, said a CID complaint had been lodged over the alleged false disclosure from the Committee on High Posts, and warned that legal action would be taken against those who spread or supplied the claim. He also cited improvements in foreign reserves, exports, tourism arrivals and earnings, remittances, and investment climate, attributing these to political stability and government policy, and said further measures would be taken to sustain economic recovery.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha said the Government’s policy statement sets a long-term direction for achieving broad-based prosperity and a dignified standard of living, and argued that progress should be judged against stabilization and direction rather than a complete transformation within 100 days. He stated that the Government has stabilized the economy after crisis conditions, citing returning growth, low inflation within the flexible inflation-targeting framework, improved fiscal discipline, and strengthened revenues. He contrasted this with what he described as unfulfilled pledges, corruption, debt accumulation, and economic collapse under previous administrations. He also said stalled projects such as the Central Expressway are being restarted through renegotiation and loss minimization, while rejecting claims that the Government accepted higher-cost financing from China Exim Bank.
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran raised concerns over illegal sand mining, deforestation, land issues, and what he described as Sinhala-Buddhistization in Mullaitivu, while acknowledging recent and planned government infrastructure projects such as the Vettuvaykal and Kokkilai-Pulmoddai bridges. He argued that Mullaitivu remains underdeveloped despite its tourism potential, citing inadequate transport, amenities, promotion, investor confidence, and the continuing presence of explosive remnants, and urged expedited demining. Referring to regional disparities in the 2024 Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority data, he requested that the Government establish and support effective tourism facilities in Mullaitivu, while also addressing memorialization, land, worship, and disappeared persons’ issues affecting the district.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe said the Government is implementing the pledges in its “A Prosperous Country - A Beautiful Life” policy statement, including measures against corruption, crime, drugs, and public service weaknesses. He cited independent tracking by PAFFREL, the March 12 Movement, and Verité Research across 1,333 policy actions, and referred to progress on PAYE tax reform through the Inland Revenue Act No. 2 of 2025, social protection payments, senior citizens’ allowances, chronic illness assistance, plantation wages, and ministerial rationalization. He rejected Opposition allegations of broken promises as unsupported and said the Government would continue implementing the programme while engaging with independent scrutiny.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that the Government must hold long-delayed Provincial Council elections as a democratic requirement under the 13th Amendment, not as a test of party popularity, and urged adequate budgetary allocation to the Election Commission for that purpose. He rejected suggestions that elections could be deferred because other polls were held recently, noting prior government assurances to hold them. He also called for a legislative solution to the Norochcholai housing issue, proposing that houses be allocated to all tsunami-affected eligible communities in Ampara District, irrespective of ethnicity.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara said the Government had achieved economic stabilization and cited the IMF staff-level agreement on the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility, with expected access to about USD 347 million subject to Executive Board approval. He criticized the Opposition for using parliamentary privilege to make allegations rather than engaging substantively on legislation, while asserting that the Government was restoring the rule of law through investigations, judicial reforms, court digitization, and action on complaints of delay or misconduct. He outlined plans to operationalize additional special courts for bribery, corruption and fraud cases, stated that over 60 Bills were at committee stage, and said reforms including anti-terrorism and online safety laws were being aligned with international standards.
- 13 Oral question Questions on Advisers and Personal Staff of Ministers 6 speeches