Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 23 October 2025

10th Parliament· 23 debates· 182 speeches· 59 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22641 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

Order of business

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

  6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Train Services to North and East (Q.3/2025) 9 speeches
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development for detailed information on Sri Lanka Railways’ revenue and staffing in the Northern and Eastern Provinces from 2012 to 2019. He requested annual income figures for the Railways overall and separately for the Northern and Eastern Provinces, language-wise staffing details at northern railway stations, the number and classification of railway stations in both provinces, station counts on the Vavuniya–Kankesanthurai and Medawachchiya–Talaimannar lines, and an explanation for the absence of first-class sleeping compartments on Jaffna-bound trains.

      InfrastructureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development JJB

      AI summary The Acting Minister provided a written response on Sri Lanka Railways revenue, staffing, station numbers and services in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He stated that, based on 2014–2019 data, about 8 per cent of Sri Lanka Railways income came from those provinces, and supplied annual revenue figures from 2012 to 2019 along with staffing numbers in the Northern Province. He also reported that there are 55 railway stations in the two provinces and that no trains currently operate with sleeping compartments, as old sleeper coaches have been withdrawn and replaced on Jaffna night services with air-conditioned first-class seated coaches of higher capacity.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan asked the Acting Minister whether first-class sleeping facilities would be provided in the future and whether there was any possibility of introducing them.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development JJB

      AI summary The Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development stated that the Government does not currently plan to import sleeping coaches because they carry fewer passengers, around 12 per coach, compared with about 48 in air-conditioned premium seated coaches. He said the ministry has deployed and will continue deploying air-conditioned first-class coaches with adjustable seats as the preferred option.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Asked whether new railway level crossings can be established on the Vavuniya–Kilinochchi–Jaffna–Kankesanthurai line, noting that the existing crossings date from 1958 and that applications for additional crossings have not been acted upon. He specifically sought clarification on whether implementation could be done through a Gazette notification.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, requested that the parliamentary Question be repeated.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan asked when the Government will issue a new Gazette to establish additional railway level crossings between Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Kankesanthurai, noting that existing approved crossings date from the 1958 Gazette. He said expanded settlements and increased usage now require updated approvals for new crossings.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development JJB

      AI summary The Acting Minister stated that plans are in place regarding the matter raised by the Hon. Member and that they will be implemented in due course.

      Infrastructure Full speech →