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

Sitting of Monday, 10 November 2025

10th Parliament· 7 debates· 180 speeches· 44 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22753 ·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.

  3. 3 Oral question Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) 6 speeches
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development whether the Vavuniya–Kilinochchi section of the Northern Railway Line has severely dilapidated and unsafe railway crossings, with particular concern about the Puliyankulam area in Vavuniya. He sought confirmation of the Ministry’s responsibility to ensure public safety at these crossings and requested details of proposed remedial measures, or reasons if the concerns are not accepted.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB

      AI summary Certain crossings between Vavuniya and Puliyankulam are unauthorized and unsafe, and the Railway Department does not maintain or accept responsibility for them. Of 14 crossings in the section, 12 are unauthorized and are to be removed, while only two are police-controlled level crossings. Under the Mahawa–Omanthai railway rehabilitation project, trains are expected to run at 80–100 km/h, so unsafe crossings must be eliminated, with possible alternatives including parallel access roads subject to approvals and conditions, or footbridges in coordination with relevant authorities.

      InfrastructureParliamentary ProcedureLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns that, during post-war reconstruction of the Northern Line, traditional railway crossings in areas not yet resettled were closed, including a long-used pathway near Omanthai station. He asked whether the Ministry, with local authorities and the Railway Department, would consult the public to identify and provide necessary crossings within the year, and welcomed the proposal for parallel roads along the railway line to address residents’ access issues promptly.

      InfrastructureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said level-crossing problems occur across several railway lines and are partly the result of informal access routes, especially in areas affected by the war. He argued that frequent crossings undermine efficient rail operations and faster services, and identified parallel access roads as the practical solution. He said local authorities should request the necessary land or wayleaves from the Railway Department, including for the Omanthai area, while noting the Department is not obliged to construct such roads.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam emphasized the need for community consultation in developing fast train services. He welcomed the Budget proposal doubling temporary railway gatekeepers’ pay from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000, but noted their longstanding difficulties under the Police Department and asked whether the remaining gatekeepers and other temporary or volunteer railway workers could be brought under the Railways Ministry and regularized.

      Public FinanceEmploymentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary The Minister said the Budget has increased gatekeepers’ monthly allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000, while noting that unsafe crossings require a longer-term programme beyond allowances. He stated that the Government plans to regularize about 9,800 to 10,000 non-permanent or irregular public-sector employees, but not through blanket absorption. He explained that minimum educational qualifications will apply, citing RDA workers and gatekeepers as examples, and said some pending workers may become eligible after sitting the next G.C.E. O/L examination.

      Public FinanceEmployment Full speech →