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 ▸
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 ▾
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development JJB

     AI summary Under the programme to develop 100,000 kilometres of alternative roads, 405 roads were proposed in the Kalutara District, with 399 included after six cancellations; 201 have been completed and 198 remain incomplete. The Acting Minister stated that works were halted due to the COVID-19 period, shortages of materials and fuel, the economic crisis, and Finance Ministry expenditure-control circulars. He said the Government will assess additional funding needs and seek supplementary allocations from 2026 onwards, while maintenance responsibilities will rest with the RDA for RDA projects and with relevant local or provincial authorities for other roads.

     Infrastructure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB

     AI summary Hon. Danushka Ranganath questioned the reported number of incomplete roads in Kalutara District under the 100,000 km Alternative Roads Programme, noting a discrepancy between the Minister’s figure of 198 and the RDA’s figure of 203. He provided a divisional breakdown, highlighting 94 incomplete roads in Agalawatta, and asked whether halted and impassable village roads could be prioritised for resumption under the “Path to Revival” rural roads programme.

     Infrastructure Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB

     AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena said the earlier 100,000 km roads programme was a politically driven target that largely failed, leaving many projects incomplete and rural roads underdeveloped. He stated that the Government has launched the “Path to Revival” programme to address this, with work begun on 159 roads costing under Rs. 50 million each and contracts for another 262 roads expected within two months. He said halted and rural road projects would be completed gradually, as the scale of work cannot be finished within one year.

     Infrastructure Full speech →
   • The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB

     AI summary Asked whether the loans obtained to initiate the projects in question are currently being serviced.

     Public Finance Full speech →
   • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB

     AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena stated that while loans must be repaid, the Budget provides for road development through programmes for widening and improvement, weak bridge construction, and rapid overlay surfacing. He reported progress on contract awards and procurement, saying additional contracts would be awarded within one to two months and that the Rs. 18.5 billion rapid overlay programme covering 225 kilometres would be completed within two months. He added that bids are coming in 24 to 30 percent below engineer estimates, creating savings that could be directed to rural roads next year.

     InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
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 ▸