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 ▸
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 ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya tabled answers on the national poverty alleviation initiative, outlining an inter-agency “People’s Empowerment” framework involving new national bodies, reorganised district and divisional coordination structures, and Community Development Councils to prepare participatory Grama Niladhari Division development plans. She identified shortcomings in past approaches, including fragmented programmes, weak community participation, poor targeting, dependency, political influence, skills gaps and inadequate data. The new approach is presented as an empowerment- and livelihood-based model aligned across ministries, linked to the Government’s “Prosperous Country - Beautiful Life” policy and the Sustainable Development Goals, with a target to reduce poverty below 5 percent by 2030.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB

      AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on sugar industry sustainability, framing the Government’s approach within the National People’s Power manifesto and its policy of a participatory, productive economy with targeted State intervention. He said Sri Lanka currently produces only brown sugar, with 81,000 metric tonnes produced in 2024 against estimated demand of 120,000 metric tonnes, and that improving cane varieties, agronomic practices and factory upgrades could raise recovery rates above 8 per cent and enable output of about 124,000 metric tonnes. He outlined plans for value addition, partial substitution of brown sugar for white sugar in some uses, and promotion of brown sugar in State institutions, while noting that the country is not expected to meet total national demand for refined white sugar.

      Public FinanceAgricultureEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake welcomed the Minister’s stated facilitative approach to the sugar sector and urged the Government to focus on competitiveness, fair prices for farmers, efficient private-sector operation, and lower consumer prices. He suggested using a modest levy on imports to support farmers, considering private operation of Pelwatte, Hingurana and Sevanagala, and prioritizing domestic production over imports. He also called for reviving a natural disaster insurance mechanism to protect farmers from losses such as cane fires and said the Opposition would support reforms, including importing crystals if needed to improve efficiency.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake called for a competitive market environment to protect both consumers and farmers. He argued that relying solely on State control is not an adequate solution.

      AgricultureCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB

      AI summary Sunil Handunnetti stated that doubts among entrepreneurs about the Government’s economic policy and the balance between the State and private sector had been addressed. He said reforms of State-owned enterprises are being pursued without political interference, while acknowledging decision-making delays as an issue to be resolved to support investors. He added that the Government’s general SOE policy had been explained and that specific responses had been provided on the sugar sector.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
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 ▸