Sitting of Saturday, 8 November 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22727 ·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 Papers Auditor-General's Report: Parts XVIII, XX, XXI, XXII 2 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Committee Reports 4 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented 4 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Grant by Asian Development Bank to Colombo Municipal Council (Q.739/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Mob Violence Incidents Since 2020 (Q.1010/2025) 5 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Construction of Bridges Across Bryanthurai Kandam River and Heda Oya in Ampara (Q.1212/2025) 5 speeches
- 7 Procedural Question No. 1467/2025 (1) - Text not received 1 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Financial Assistance Provided to Public During COVID Pandemic (Q.1492/2025) 7 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Increase of Production of Grains and Yams - Allocations from Budget 2025 (Q.1467/2025) 3 speeches
- 10 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Benefits of Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and Negotiations on ETCA 3 speeches
- 11 Procedural Privilege Question: Breach of Privilege raised by Hon. Chamara Sampath Dassanayake on 23.10.2025 3 speeches
- 12 Procedural Privilege Motions 1 speeches
- 13 Debate Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 79 speeches
- 14 Debate Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 (continued) 3 speeches
- 15 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Suspension of Development Projects Approved by Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha 16 speeches
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, as Leader of the House, formally moved the motion to adjourn Parliament. The question on adjournment was then proposed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim raised an adjournment motion asking the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to intervene after the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Commissioner, acting on the Governor’s directive, suspended Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha-approved projects worth Rs. 19 million for 47 rural roads and other local development works. He argued that the suspension of funds raised through local taxes undermines the Pradeshiya Sabha’s legal authority and causes injustice to taxpayers. He also sought approval for the recruitment of 10 health workers, saying delays have affected the management of about 10 metric tons of daily garbage despite the council’s stated financial capacity.
- The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB
AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala seconded Hon. Kabir Hashim’s motion, arguing that Provincial Commissioners or Governors should not obstruct local authorities from using their own unanimously approved funds for road development. He alleged that, after the local government elections, bodies not controlled by the Government had faced restrictions, including in funding, appointments of Chairmen, and implementation of members’ proposals. He called on the Minister to intervene, questioned the legal authority for such obstruction absent corruption, and warned that affected local bodies may seek court action if it continues.
- The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe responded to an adjournment motion by Hon. Kabir Hashim, rejecting allegations that the Sabaragamuwa Governor improperly obstructed 41 development proposals approved by the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha. He argued that objections had been raised within the Sabha and through a petition, and that the Provincial Commissioner’s report found some proposals fell outside the Sabha’s subject scope, including roads under other authorities or subject to litigation. He defended the Governor’s actions as based on official review and accused the local administration of attempting to shift responsibility for governance and waste management issues onto the Governor.
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim rose on a point of order. No substantive issue or proposal was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim objected to comments made by Hon. Samantha Ranasinghe, stating that the matter concerned the proper use of public funds rather than personal or political considerations. He argued that if an inquiry had been requested and a report existed, any alleged errors should be specifically identified under the applicable law, rather than dismissed with a general assertion that there were issues.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the adjournment motion concerning the Sabaragamuwa Governor and raised allegations of misconduct and corruption involving the Northern Province Governor, including a claimed Rs. 40 million fraud linked to Point Pedro Base Hospital during his tenure as Jaffna GA. He said reports and related documents had been submitted to the relevant Committee Chairman and to Minister Chandrasekar, and urged that the matter be formally investigated. He also questioned the suitability of certain officials chairing District Coordinating Committee meetings in the Northern Province, arguing that alleged corruption undermines governance there.
- The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar raised a point of Order objecting to insulting or unfounded allegations being made in Parliament against officials who were not present to respond. He urged that any such information be reported to the Police or CID for appropriate action rather than raised in that manner in the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna alleged that Northern Governor Vethanayagan and GA Pradeepan are corrupt and claimed he had tabled reports in Parliament with evidence, including allegations of money changing hands. He questioned how development in the North could proceed if such officials preside over District Coordinating Committee meetings, and warned that protecting them would damage President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s standing in the North.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB
AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi responded to an adjournment motion by Hon. Kabir Hashim, rejecting allegations that the Governor had improperly suspended 47 rural roads and other projects in Mawanella. He said a committee had been appointed to inquire into the projects and that activities were only temporarily held pending its report, including proposals he claimed may have served private interests. He accused Hashim of undermining the local mandate in Mawanella and urged him not to interfere with governance or mislead Parliament. He also listed ongoing government initiatives in Mawanella, including the bus stand expansion, hospital doctors’ quarters, depot development, stone bridge conservation, drainage improvements, and tourism plans.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that the suspension by the Governor of a Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha proposal to use members’ funds was politically motivated, linked to the Government’s failure to control that local authority. Citing the 2026 Budget Speech on a proposed new mechanism for Treasury contributions to local authorities, he said such funding powers could be applied arbitrarily through Governors and should instead rest with elected provincial leadership. He called for any mechanism for local authority funding to be applied equally and not used for partisan purposes.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to the adjournment motion regarding the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha’s allocation of Rs. 19 million for 41 development projects, stating that implementation was temporarily suspended after a complaint raised concerns about jurisdiction, road ownership, and pending court matters. He said the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Commissioner of Local Government acted under Section 196 of the Pradeshiya Sabha Act to appoint two officers to inquire and report, with recommendations due to be submitted to the Governor by 21 November 2025. On the proposed recruitment of 10 waste management workers, he said deficiencies in the submission had been addressed and the proposal forwarded for the Governor’s approval. He added that the Government intends to provide equipment and facilities to local authorities without discrimination, while ensuring lawful use of public funds and proper deployment of staff.
- The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB
AI summary Kabir Hashim thanked the Minister for a clear answer and acknowledged the assurance that appropriate action would be taken regardless of political affiliation. The sitting then concluded, with Parliament adjourned at 6.35 p.m. until 9.30 a.m. on 10 November 2025, pursuant to the resolution of 23 October 2025.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 16 Oral question Oral Question: Kalutara District Sports Complex - Maintenance 2 speeches