Sitting of Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Order of business

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

1. 1 Opening Announcements: Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Presentation of Papers and Committee Reports 6 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions Presented to Parliament 7 speeches ▸
4. 4 Procedural Parliamentary Business and Disaster Management Discussion 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Procedural Point of Order on Foreign Affairs Statement 7 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question 2 (825/2025): Ministry of Health - Purchase of Medicines 6 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question 3 (859/2025): Agriculture - Stand Down 3 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices 20 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question 7: Safeguard of Interests of Farmers, Traders and Consumers 9 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question 8 (1313/2025): Stand Down 3 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question 9: First Prison in Sri Lanka and Prison Conditions 6 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question 10: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Land at Deniyaya 4 speeches ▸
14. 14 Oral question Oral Question 11: University Faculty Enrolment (Answer Tabled) 2 speeches ▸
15. 15 Oral question Oral Question 12: Religious Activities in Wildlife Conservation Areas (Answer Tabled) 2 speeches ▸
16. 16 Oral question Question by Private Notice (SO 27(2)): Health Services and Drug Shortages 8 speeches ▸
17. 17 Oral question Question by Private Notice (SO 27(2)): Department of Pensions Services 5 speeches ▸
18. 18 Opening Ministerial Statement: Teacher Vacancies and Development Officers 4 speeches ▸
19. 19 Opening Ministerial Statement: Fair Prices for Paddy 2 speeches ▸
20. 20 Opening Ministerial Statement: Tamil Translations of Holy Qur'an 8 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on the detention of imported Qur’an translations, explaining that post-2019 Defence Ministry guidelines require review by qualified Muslim scholars to ensure translations and Islamic books do not contain unclear or potentially harmful interpretations. He said 25,000 Arabic Qur’an copies from the relevant container were released, while 26,560 Tamil and Sinhala translations remain with Sri Lanka Customs because the Book Review Committee has not approved them under the required framework. He stated that the decision followed Security Council guidance requiring accurate source references and interpretations, and emphasized that the Government’s aim is to safeguard interfaith harmony while enabling properly clarified translations to reach the Muslim community.

      Security & DefenceJustice & Human RightsReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP

      AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised concerns over the detention at Customs of around 300,000 Tamil translations of the Holy Qur’an intended for use by Sri Lanka’s Muslim community. He questioned the legal status and authority of the Review Committee appointed to examine the copies, arguing that such a committee should not determine faith-related matters or block scriptures already in common use. He also noted that the same translations are widely accessible through digital platforms and asked the Minister to clarify the Committee’s legality.

      Religion & CultureSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP

      AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan requested permission to address an issue concerning a fundamental religious right and asked that he be allowed to clarify doubts without interruption.

      Religion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP

      AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan questioned the detention of copies of the Holy Qur’an, arguing that reading and understanding it in Arabic and Tamil without annotations is a fundamental right of Sri Lanka’s Muslim community. He asked that the detained copies be released and challenged the legality and authority of the Review Committee handling the matter. He further proposed that, if such a committee is required, it should include qualified university professors in the relevant field and sought clarification on its legal status.

      Justice & Human RightsReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Government accepts the need for the Holy Qur’an to be made available and has taken steps within the existing legal and administrative framework. He explained that the Review Committee was appointed by the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs as a voluntary advisory body, not by gazette, and invited written objections for formal review. He said discussions chaired by the President considered options for addressing issues with the Al-Madina-printed books, including clarifications or reprinting in Sri Lanka, while noting concerns about removable correction pages and future circulation of altered editions.

      Religion & CultureLaw & Order Full speech →
21. 21 Papers Presentation of Bills: Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill 6 speeches ▸
22. 22 Debate Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 67 speeches ▸
23. 23 Debate Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Committee Stage 4 speeches ▸
24. 24 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability 17 speeches ▸