Sitting of Friday, 24 October 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22644 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
Order of business
Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.
- 1 Opening Opening of Parliament and Privilege Matter 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Tabling of Reports: Monetary Policy Deviation, Public Accounts Report, Public Finance Committee Report 4 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: W.P. Erandi Lanka Weerasinghe 1 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Mines and Minerals Regulation (Q.2/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: (Q.3/2025) - Question stood down 3 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: (Q.4/2025) - Question stood down 3 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: International and School Cricket Stadiums (Q.5/2025) 5 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Palmyrah as a Crop of Significant Value (Q.6/2025) 5 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Long-Distance Bus Services (Q.7/2025) 5 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: SLTB Bus Depot in Pottuvil DS Division (Q.8-9/2025) 6 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers 9 speeches
- 12 Papers Tabling of Answers: Lakhanda Radio Service and Vocational Training Centres 2 speeches
- 13 Oral question Private Notice Question: Appropriation Bill 2025 Budget Execution 6 speeches
- 14 Procedural Point of Order and Procedural Matters - Budget-related Discussion 17 speeches
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, rose on a Point of Order. No substantive issue, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that the Opposition has not obstructed requests for time made under Standing Order 27(2). His remarks appear to respond to a procedural matter concerning the use of that Standing Order in Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested permission to speak briefly for one minute.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake criticized the Government’s handling of Opposition questions, suggesting that replies on fiscal and monetary matters were being deferred until after the Budget. He argued that this appeared to be a pattern intended to limit the Opposition’s ability to scrutinize the Government.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake appealed to the Speaker to ensure equal protection for both Government and Opposition Members in the House. The intervention was a procedural request concerning the Speaker’s responsibility to maintain fairness in parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that the matter under discussion did not appear to be the fault of Ministers, but rather an issue connected to the Central Bank. His intervention was brief and did not include specific proposals or further details.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government’s and Central Bank’s decision to maintain a 5 per cent inflation target, arguing that it weakens real incomes, savings, competitiveness, and investor confidence. He proposed shifting to a 2–3 per cent target alongside supply-side reforms, and asked whether higher interest rates and rupee depreciation impose major fiscal costs of about Rs. 160 billion per percentage point and Rs. 45 billion per rupee respectively. He also sought clarification on whether the Ministry of Finance has assessed the impact on public savings and whether the current target undermines long-term investment, export, and FDI goals.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha – Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
AI summary The Minister said the question involves technical issues linked to financial stability and requires information from institutions including the Central Bank, with a detailed answer to follow. He stated that the Government is operating under a flexible inflation-targeting framework agreed between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank, with the current 5 per cent inflation target to be assessed at the next review concluding in March 2026. He noted that inflation has been contained but has not yet fully reached the target, and warned that allowing inflation to rise unnecessarily could hinder economic recovery.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a Point of Order concerning questions under Standing Order 27(2), stating that such questions are used to place known facts before the House and the public when the Prime Minister and Cabinet are present. He argued that the newly elected Government appears to be continuing previous policies rather than ending what he described as a “76-year curse,” and specifically questioned the continued presence of a former Central Bank official.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 15 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Amendments to Appropriation Bill 2026 and Ministerial Reshuffle 12 speeches
- 16 Oral question Oral Answer: Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka and Reparations (Q. raised 08.10.2025) 10 speeches
- 17 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Export of Rough Gems and Foreign Currency 9 speeches
- 18 Procedural Procedural Matters: Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Security Concerns 13 speeches
- 19 Procedural Personal Explanation and Privilege Matter: Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe 19 speeches
- 20 Procedural Security Concerns Raised by Opposition Members - Jagath Vithana Death Threat 21 speeches
- 21 Procedural Notice of Motion: Adjournment of Parliament 2 speeches
- 22 Adjournment Votes of Condolence: Opening and Lunch Suspension 3 speeches
- 23 Adjournment Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament 29 speeches
- 24 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Voting Rights for Female Divisional Secretaries at Diyawadana Nilame Election 13 speeches