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

Sitting of Friday, 10 October 2025

10th Parliament· 11 debates· 177 speeches· 58 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22640 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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

  7. 7 Debate Private Members' Motion P.42/2025: Sinharaja Tourism Zone 12 speeches
    • The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB

      AI summary T.K. Jayasundara moved a motion urging the Government to designate and develop the ecosystem spanning Pitigala, Udugama, Neluwa, Deniyaya and Ratnapura as a tourist zone. He argued that tourism is important for increasing domestic income and highlighted the Sinharaja World Heritage Forest, Kanneliya forest, and Hiniduma Kanda as internationally significant wet-zone natural assets with high biodiversity and tourism potential.

      AgricultureInfrastructureEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB

      AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara proposed developing the Sinharaja–Kanneliya–Deniyaya “mist triangle” as a sustainable tourism zone, citing its accessible location, misty rainforest ecology, freshwater resources, temperate climate, biodiversity, and cultural diversity. He argued that the area could diversify Sri Lanka’s tourism beyond beaches and traditional hill destinations, especially given concerns over coastal water quality, and attract wellness, nature, birding, adventure, and cultural tourists. He also said such development could generate national income and support local industries linked to tea, spices, gems, cinnamon, kithul products, handicrafts, and village-based tourism.

      InfrastructureEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Seconding Hon. T.K. Jayasundara’s Motion on tourism, Hon. Lal Premanath highlighted the tourism potential of Deniyaya, Kotapola, and Pitabeddara in Matara District as a cool rural zone suited to ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure travel, and agro-based tourism. He cited Sinharaja Rainforest access via Lankagama, Getabaru Rajamaha Viharaya, Patna Sliding Rock, waterfalls, tea factories, spice gardens, viewpoints, and hiking trails as key attractions. He urged focused development and further identification of tourism assets in the area to strengthen it as a pillar of the tourism industry.

      InfrastructureAgricultureEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri supported the Private Members’ Motion to designate the Pitigala, Udugama, Neluwa and Deniyaya area around Sinharaja as a tourism zone. He highlighted Sinharaja’s UNESCO World Heritage status, biodiversity and access routes, noting recent and ongoing road improvements that could support tourism. He proposed promoting the area domestically and internationally online while ensuring protection of the ecosystem.

      EnvironmentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB

      AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka supported Hon. T.K. Jayasundara’s proposal to develop inland tourism zones in Galle District, highlighting areas such as Neluwa, Pitigala, Niyagama, Nagoda, Udugama and Thawalama for their biodiversity, waterfalls, villages, religious sites and rural character. He emphasized the tourism and educational value of Sinharaja and nearby attractions, while noting the need to connect coastal tourism in Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Ahangama with inland natural destinations. He also referred to the Dedduwa Tourism Project in Bentota and urged bipartisan support to operationalize such initiatives to strengthen Sri Lanka’s competitiveness as a regional tourism destination.

      EnvironmentAgricultureInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister said Sri Lanka must diversify tourism beyond traditional attractions such as beaches, Yala and Sigiriya by developing experience-based products linked to nature, culture, heritage and local communities. He cited ongoing and proposed initiatives including the Pekoe Trail, Cinnamon Trail, Red Rice Trail, wreck diving and a possible Dedduwa project, while noting the need to regularize encroached lands. Regarding the Motion to develop a tourism zone around Pitigala, Udugama, Neluwa and Deniyaya, he said SLTDA has already identified Deniyaya for future declaration as a tourism zone and will follow the procedure under Section 26(2) of the Tourism Act, No. 38 of 2005, including boundary identification, stakeholder consultations, public notice and Gazette notification.

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    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB

      AI summary T.K. Jayasundara moved to designate the Hiniduma-Kanneliya-Sinharaja “Southern Mist Triangle” as a tourism zone, supporting a proposal to Gazette the area and create administrative structures under the Tourism Ministry. He called for conservation-led development, including premium long-stay wellness residences, model tourism villages, homestays, adventure and wellness facilities, and value-added local products such as tea, kithul, cinnamon and spices. He also proposed training for local service providers and a unified administrative framework across provincial boundaries to ensure benefits reach surrounding communities.

      InfrastructureEmploymentEnvironment Full speech →