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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Saturday, 8 November 2025

10th Parliament· 16 debates· 144 speeches· 54 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22727 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

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

  8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Financial Assistance Provided to Public During COVID Pandemic (Q.1492/2025) 7 speeches
    • The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri asked the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to provide details on financial assistance given to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. He requested the total amount distributed, whether funds from the Samurdhi Development Fund were used, the amount utilized, and whether those funds have been settled, or if not, the reasons for non-settlement.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB

      AI summary In response to a question on COVID-19 social benefit payments in 2020-2021, the Minister stated that complete Government-wide data were not available, but the Department of Samurdhi Development spent Rs. 58.76 billion on such payments. He clarified that no separate Samurdhi Development Fund existed and that the payments were financed through Treasury borrowings against Department fixed deposits at Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank, and funds obtained from the Department’s Microfinance Division. He said the bank borrowings had been repaid with interest in 2023, while the Microfinance Division funds were settled on 31 December 2024, with related interest still unpaid.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri stated that 335 Samurdhi Community-Based Bank Unions and 1,092 Samurdhi Community-Based Banks hold about LKR 400 billion, previously audited internally by the Department but now subject to National Audit Office audit following legal changes. He asked what action would be taken if poor depositors’ funds had been used for other purposes and interest due to them had not been paid, including recovery and crediting of the rightful interest.

      Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB

      AI summary Minister Upali Pannilage said the use of Microfinance Division funds followed a Cabinet Paper approved on 25 April 2021, which authorized interest only on borrowings from People’s Bank and Bank of Ceylon, not on the LKR 28,767 million drawn from Samurdhi beneficiaries’ savings. He stated that this omission has hindered recovery of interest and caused an estimated LKR 20 billion loss to the Microfinance Division since 2020, affecting about 1.6 million small savers. He said the Government has repeatedly sought Treasury authorization and will continue to pursue Cabinet approval to protect and compensate the beneficiaries.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri asked whether, after successive changes to poverty alleviation programmes from Janasaviya to Aswesuma, the Government intends to strengthen the Samurdhi Department. He specifically sought clarification on whether the Department would be developed for community empowerment and microfinance or allowed to decline.

      Public FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Government does not plan to discontinue ongoing programmes or reorganize institutions without purpose. He said Aswesuma benefits will continue through the Welfare Benefits Board, while the Samurdhi Development Department is being redirected toward community empowerment and developed into a microfinance institution for low-income communities. He added that related community empowerment programmes have already begun.

      Cost of LivingEmployment Full speech →
    • Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage outlined a five-pronged empowerment programme for low-income families, covering livelihood promotion, human capital development, psychosocial support, social protection, and skills guidance. He said families are identified through Samurdhi Development Officers, supported with business plans, Rs. 150,000 grants, credit facilitation, and assistance from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and Treasury allocations. He also noted the “Next Sri Lanka” programme aims to provide vocational training to 50,000 persons, while a contributory pension scheme is being introduced through the Social Security Board for informal-sector workers.

      EmploymentCost of LivingEducation Full speech →