Sitting of Friday, 24 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 Opening of Parliament and Privilege Matter 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Tabling of Reports: Monetary Policy Deviation, Public Accounts Report, Public Finance Committee Report 4 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions: W.P. Erandi Lanka Weerasinghe 1 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Mines and Minerals Regulation (Q.2/2025) 6 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: (Q.3/2025) - Question stood down 3 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: (Q.4/2025) - Question stood down 3 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: International and School Cricket Stadiums (Q.5/2025) 5 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Palmyrah as a Crop of Significant Value (Q.6/2025) 5 speeches ▾
   • Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB

     AI summary Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Government is recognizing palmyrah as an economically significant crop and strengthening the Palmyrah Development Board to support technology, production, value addition and sustainable management. He stated that tree felling is restricted under the Felling of Trees (Control) Act, but stronger legal provisions are being pursued, while a 2025 programme will plant 120,000 seeds in the Northern and Eastern Provinces with Rs. 10 million allocated and Rs. 15 million proposed for 2026. He also outlined support for rural women and youth, exporter coordination, and efforts to expand palmyrah products in global markets, noting export earnings of Rs. 57.83 million in 2023, Rs. 228.6 million in 2024, and Rs. 203.19 million in the first four months of 2025.

     InfrastructureAgricultureEmployment Full speech →
   • Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB

     AI summary Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran welcomed the Minister’s response on marketing measures for palmyrah and emphasized its economic, cultural, and environmental importance to Tamil communities, including groundwater retention. He asked whether promotional programmes exist for palmyrah products and whether sales could be expanded to other provinces through partnerships with government and private entities.

     Agriculture Full speech →
   • Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB

     AI summary Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna reported growth in the palmyrah industry, noting exports increased from Rs. 57.83 million in 2023 to Rs. 203.19 million in the first four months of 2025. He said cultivation and value addition are expanding beyond traditional regions into districts such as Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Ampara and Hambantota, and outlined plans to link palmyrah products with tourism promotion. He also cited training in Ella for low-income households to establish micro-enterprises and said the Ministry intends to further popularize palmyrah products islandwide.

     InfrastructureAgricultureEmployment Full speech →
   • Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB

     AI summary Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran asked whether programmes exist to support palmyrah product producers through credit facilities and technical training. He specifically highlighted the need for advice on preservation technologies to extend shelf life and on improved packaging to promote the products.

     Agriculture Full speech →
   • Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB

     AI summary The Minister said the Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries, is supporting SMEs and palmyrah producers through schemes and credit programmes. He invited local and overseas Sri Lankan investors to invest in palmyrah value addition, noting that Sri Lanka has about 11.1 million dispersed palmyrah trees and that discussions are under way to legally allocate clustered access for investment. He said the Government is ready to facilitate such partnerships.

     EmploymentAgriculture Full speech →
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Long-Distance Bus Services (Q.7/2025) 5 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: SLTB Bus Depot in Pottuvil DS Division (Q.8-9/2025) 6 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers 9 speeches ▸
12. 12 Papers Tabling of Answers: Lakhanda Radio Service and Vocational Training Centres 2 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Private Notice Question: Appropriation Bill 2025 Budget Execution 6 speeches ▸
14. 14 Procedural Point of Order and Procedural Matters - Budget-related Discussion 17 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Amendments to Appropriation Bill 2026 and Ministerial Reshuffle 12 speeches ▸
16. 16 Oral question Oral Answer: Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka and Reparations (Q. raised 08.10.2025) 10 speeches ▸
17. 17 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Export of Rough Gems and Foreign Currency 9 speeches ▸
18. 18 Procedural Procedural Matters: Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Security Concerns 13 speeches ▸
19. 19 Procedural Personal Explanation and Privilege Matter: Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe 19 speeches ▸
20. 20 Procedural Security Concerns Raised by Opposition Members - Jagath Vithana Death Threat 21 speeches ▸
21. 21 Procedural Notice of Motion: Adjournment of Parliament 2 speeches ▸
22. 22 Adjournment Votes of Condolence: Opening and Lunch Suspension 3 speeches ▸
23. 23 Adjournment Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament 29 speeches ▸
24. 24 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Voting Rights for Female Divisional Secretaries at Diyawadana Nilame Election 13 speeches ▸