Sitting of Wednesday, 22 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 Parliament Opening and Stage Play Announcement 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Presentation of Reports and Petitions 7 speeches ▸
3. 3 Oral question Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Restructuring (Q.1/2025) 7 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Investigations into Assassinations, Abductions or Assaults of Journalists Since 2010 (Q.2/2025) 7 speeches ▾
   • Mr. Speaker procedural
     Full speech →
   • The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB

     AI summary Mujibur Rahuman asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to provide details on journalists assassinated, abducted or assaulted since 2010, including the number and names of those affected. He also requested an update on the progress of investigations aimed at ensuring justice, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.

     Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

     AI summary In response to a parliamentary question, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that no assassinations of journalists had been reported, while one abduction and eight assault incidents were recorded. He named Prageeth Bandara Ekneligoda as the abduction victim and listed the journalists involved in assault cases, providing the status of each related judicial or mediation process, including ongoing trials, charge sheet delays, court orders, withdrawn complaints, and concluded cases.

     Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →
   • The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB

     AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman raised a supplementary question about journalists, noting past incidents involving print media around 2010 and alleging that, over the past year, YouTube and social media journalists posting content on Palestine have been summoned and questioned for hours by the Terrorism Investigation Division. He asked whether the authorities are aware of this practice and what action they intend to take.

     Justice & Human RightsForeign Affairs Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

     AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said he could not confirm claims that many journalists were frequently being summoned by the Terrorism Investigation Division without specific names and dates. He stated that the Government had not directed action against journalists for reporting on Palestine or any particular issue, and undertook to consult the Ministry of Public Security and Police and report back if details were provided.

     Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Full speech →
   • The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB

     AI summary Mujibur Rahuman raised concern that the media head of the Palestine Embassy had allegedly been repeatedly summoned and questioned by local police over pro-Palestine social media content, and asked for an inquiry into why officials were exerting pressure on Palestine-related media activity. He also questioned the new requirement limiting post-Cabinet media briefing attendance to journalists holding Government Information Department identity cards, asking whether the rule could be relaxed to allow broader media access.

     Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

     AI summary No report on the alleged incident had reached the Ministry or the Government Information Department, and the Minister said any specific case would be checked with the Police. He justified requiring a Government Information Department press ID only for the Cabinet media briefing, citing security and verification concerns after an incident involving a person falsely presenting as media. He added that registration is being expedited and would help identify bona fide journalists for possible benefits such as equipment concessions, training, and scholarships, while journalists without the ID may attend other press conferences.

     Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Post of Public Health Midwife - Vacancies (Q.3/2025) 9 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Warehouses of Paddy Marketing Board in Ampara District (Q.8/2025) 8 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: 100,000 Kilometres Alternative Roads Programme in Kalutara District (Q.9/2025) 5 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Fish Death in Beira Lake (Q.10/2025) 2 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Oil Palm Cultivation and Imports (Q.11/2025) 2 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Q.7/2025 - Deferred Answer 3 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Mannar Water Supply Project (Standing Order 27(2)) 5 speeches ▸
12. 12 Papers Ministerial Statements: Poverty Alleviation and Industry Development 7 speeches ▸
13. 13 Debate Ministerial Statement and Debate: Power Generation Policy (Minister of Energy) 46 speeches ▸
14. 14 Papers Ministerial Statements: Flood Relief and Defence Updates 4 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Procedural Motions: Exemptions and Sitting Hours 2 speeches ▸
16. 16 Debate Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 1) 11 speeches ▸
17. 17 Debate Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) 64 speeches ▸
18. 18 Procedural Procedural Motion: Approval of Rules and Order 1 speeches ▸
19. 19 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Promote Early Detection of Breast Cancer 21 speeches ▸
20. 20 Procedural Parliament Adjourned 1 speeches ▸