Sitting of Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22635 ·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 Announcements: Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Presentation of Papers and Committee Reports 6 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented to Parliament 7 speeches
- 4 Procedural Parliamentary Business and Disaster Management Discussion 6 speeches
- 5 Procedural Point of Order on Foreign Affairs Statement 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question 2 (825/2025): Ministry of Health - Purchase of Medicines 6 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question 3 (859/2025): Agriculture - Stand Down 3 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices 20 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question 7: Safeguard of Interests of Farmers, Traders and Consumers 9 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question 8 (1313/2025): Stand Down 3 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question 9: First Prison in Sri Lanka and Prison Conditions 6 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question 10: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Land at Deniyaya 4 speeches
- 14 Oral question Oral Question 11: University Faculty Enrolment (Answer Tabled) 2 speeches
- 15 Oral question Oral Question 12: Religious Activities in Wildlife Conservation Areas (Answer Tabled) 2 speeches
- 16 Oral question Question by Private Notice (SO 27(2)): Health Services and Drug Shortages 8 speeches
- 17 Oral question Question by Private Notice (SO 27(2)): Department of Pensions Services 5 speeches
- 18 Opening Ministerial Statement: Teacher Vacancies and Development Officers 4 speeches
- 19 Opening Ministerial Statement: Fair Prices for Paddy 2 speeches
- 20 Opening Ministerial Statement: Tamil Translations of Holy Qur'an 8 speeches
- 21 Papers Presentation of Bills: Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill 6 speeches
- 22 Debate Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 67 speeches
- 23 Debate Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Committee Stage 4 speeches
- 24 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability 17 speeches
- Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Deputy Chairperson of Committees then proposed the question for adjournment.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy moved an Adjournment Motion urging approval and implementation of Sri Lanka’s updated Climate Prosperity Plan under the Climate Vulnerable Forum framework. He argued that the Plan is necessary for sustainable, low-carbon development, climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy expansion, job creation and access to international climate finance. He proposed establishing a CVF office in Sri Lanka, creating a development bank to mobilize climate-risk funds, preparing carbon market guidelines, and using funding channels such as the Green Climate Fund, GEF, Adaptation Fund, World Bank, ADB, EIB, green bonds and PPPs.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera supported the Adjournment Motion ahead of the upcoming COP meeting in Brazil, linking it to Sri Lanka’s sustainable development commitments. He urged greater development of renewable energy, particularly Northern wind resources and year-round solar potential, and called for electrification of transport including cars, buses and rail. He also said Sri Lanka should move beyond discussions on carbon trading and secure value for its existing emissions reductions from hydropower and wind energy.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera said Sri Lanka’s wind and solar generation, including over 2,000 MW of solar capacity added since the launch of “Soorya Bala Sangramaya” in 2016, has reduced carbon emissions and could generate value through carbon trading. He argued that polluting countries or entities should compensate countries contributing to climate mitigation, and urged the subject Minister to explain the current status of carbon trading and how it will be used for national development.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB
AI summary Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala supported the motion on climate change, noting that Sri Lanka faces severe droughts, floods, food and water shortages, and energy disruptions despite contributing relatively little to global emissions. He referred to Sri Lanka’s role in the Climate Vulnerable Forum and its 2026-2035 commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11,675,800 metric tons. He welcomed the Ministry of Environment’s renewed work on climate planning, including the Climate Prosperity Plan, and called for cross-party and public cooperation to meet these obligations.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam supported the Adjournment Motion and urged the Government to act on flood preparedness in Batticaloa and the wider Eastern Province, including proposed Disaster Safety Centres at four identified locations, citing the start of the monsoon and tabling correspondence from the District Government Agent. He also raised concerns over coastal degradation and mineral extraction activities in Kuchchaveli and other Eastern Province areas, questioning the role of GSMB-linked officials and the private company “James Global”. He asked the Government to clarify who authorized the relevant exploration licence, whether it permits ilmenite removal, and whether this reflects Government policy.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB
AI summary Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana supported the motion on climate change and vulnerable states, stressing Sri Lanka’s exposure to floods, landslides and other disasters and citing 2021 disaster impacts including deaths, injuries and housing damage. He referenced Sri Lanka’s obligations under the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, noted the cancellation of the Kelani River flood mitigation component of the Climate Resilience Improvement Program in 2018, and called for clearer national decisions on emerging carbon market opportunities. He said consultations are under way to submit a national plan to Cabinet and that the Government is preparing a structured mechanism, led by the Prime Minister, to mitigate Kelani River flooding affecting Colombo District.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment JJB
AI summary Hon. Anton Jayakody supported Hon. Hector Appuhamy’s motion on climate change, outlining its links to greenhouse gas emissions, hydrological disruption, reduced hydropower, agricultural losses, deforestation, human-elephant conflict, and pressures on fisheries and tourism. He stated that Sri Lanka is pursuing Paris-aligned goals including 32% forest cover, 70% renewable energy, cleaner production, and earlier net-zero ambitions, with plans to reduce 116 million metric tons of CO2 from 2026 to 2035. He highlighted measures such as declaring 30 new reserves, conserving aquifers and montane forests, removing invasive species, finalizing the Climate Prosperity Plan, and seeking increased grant funding. On carbon markets and a proposed climate finance bank, he said national policy must be carefully designed and that, for now, climate finance could be channelled through the Treasury unless sufficient grant funding supports a dedicated institution.
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hector Appuhamy thanked the Deputy Minister and members from both Government and Opposition for supporting his Adjournment Motion. He said the motion highlighted the need for a dedicated financial institution to support climate change-related action, noting that such institutions are used globally to assist countries in this area.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural