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

Sitting of Saturday, 15 November 2025

10th Parliament· 10 debates· 178 speeches· 66 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22870 ·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.

  6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease 19 speeches
    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri sought permission to raise a further question relating to Question No. 562/2025 on lands belonging to Sri Lanka Railways. The question asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to provide details on the total extent of railway land, lands leased to private parties, lease income from 2020 onward, encroachments by unauthorized settlers, planned eviction measures, and steps to make productive use of railway lands under departmental control.

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

      AI summary The Minister answered a question on Sri Lanka Railways land, stating that the Department owns 5,739.85 hectares, with a district-wise schedule to be placed in the Library. He said about 520 acres, or around 10 per cent, is currently leased for up to five years, generating Rs. 882.56 million from 2020 to 30 June 2025. He added that a detailed plan is being prepared to identify unauthorized occupations, with action to be taken under State Lands recovery laws and through Fiscal’s Orders where necessary, while future leases will follow ministry circulars, valuation assessments and railway land disposal procedures.

      Land & HousingInfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara asked the Minister to repeat the answer to part (a)(i), stating that he had not heard the total land extent mentioned.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake provided a land extent figure in response to a query, stating that the total area is 5,739.85 hectares. He also gave the equivalent imperial measurement as 14,183 acres, 2 roods and 38.928 perches.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara asked the Minister to clarify whether 14,183 acres is the current official figure, noting that some references cite 16,000 acres. He sought confirmation of the present status of the acreage figure.

      Land & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the identified extent currently belongs to the Railway Department.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara acknowledged the Minister’s efforts to uplift the railway sector and drew attention to underutilized railway lands in towns such as Anuradhapura, Ratmalana and Mahawa. He said dilapidated railway quarters in Anuradhapura, located near the market and tourist access points, were being misused despite demand for holiday accommodation. He asked whether steps would be taken to develop these assets, either by the Department or through private sector involvement, to improve urban areas and generate benefits for the State and the Department.

      Land & HousingInfrastructureLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake acknowledged concerns about railway administration and land use in Anuradhapura, noting that the General Manager of Railways had been sent for special discussions after the District Coordinating Committee meeting. He said official quarters are needed but many are derelict, and referred to unverified reports of subletting during Poson and tourist seasons. He stated that the Department is trying to prioritize departmental and public needs, address administrative sluggishness, recruit more staff, and improve services in the coming months.

      InfrastructureLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara questioned the continued reliance on old ledgers to calculate railway land acreages and noted that technological modernization is needed across the railway system. He asked whether land records would be updated using modern technology to address the issues he raised.

      Land & HousingInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that although officers are well educated, technology adoption remains low, citing underuse of previously procured GPS equipment and continued manual record-keeping for minimal freight movement on a rail network originally designed for freight. He urged officers and professionals to support modernization and embrace change. The sitting then proceeded to a question on details of a concessional loan scheme for small and medium-scale rice mill owners, including its Cabinet approval date, objectives, loan criteria, beneficiaries, amounts, and monitoring method.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, stated that the list of mill owners requested under part (a)(iv) was still awaited from the finance division. He said the remaining information could be tabled immediately and the outstanding list submitted later.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Kins Nelson requested that the Minister table the relevant document or material before Parliament.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB

      AI summary The Hon. Namal Karunaratne provided details of Cabinet-approved concessional loan schemes for small and medium-scale rice millers across recent paddy seasons, including objectives to secure fair prices for farmers, provide low-interest financing, and strengthen the rice milling sector. He outlined eligibility criteria such as business registration, a 25 MT maximum daily milling capacity, a Rs. 50 million loan ceiling, a 180-day repayment period, and the requirement to purchase paddy at or above the Government-announced minimum price. He stated that banks would monitor stock-based lending and collateral, the Treasury would pay interest subsidies after certification, and the Department of Agrarian Development would monitor compliance during procurement, while further financial details and lists of mill owners would be provided once received.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns that small and medium rice millers, particularly in areas such as Polonnaruwa, have been unable to access bank credit after defaults linked to the Easter attacks, COVID-19, and the economic crisis, leading to CRIB listings and asset auctions under the parate law from 30 June 2025. He argued that lack of timely pre-harvest credit to these millers, while larger millers received facilities, is a key factor in rising rice prices. He asked whether the Ministry will ensure banks provide credit to small and medium millers before the Maha harvest, in line with the President’s stated commitment.

      AgricultureEmploymentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB

      AI summary Namal Karunaratne acknowledged concerns about paddy released to millers through Government Agents, noting current shortages of both stocks and cash and alleging fraud by some parties. He said the law should be applied equally amid investigations into irregular releases, while highlighting that small millers faced tougher and costlier access to credit compared with large millers. He stated that steps are being taken to address this imbalance and prevent market cornering by larger millers.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Asked whether the Government would provide relief from the application of parate law, noting its impact on small millers and sectors such as hotels. The question was directed in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Finance.

      EmploymentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB

      AI summary Namal Karunaratne requested that the Deputy Minister of Finance provide a response.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB

      AI summary Parate execution is supervised by the Central Bank, and although its suspension was extended several times, that suspension has now expired. The Minister stated that expiry does not mean banks will immediately seize assets, and affected parties should raise specific issues with the relevant bank, the Central Bank, or the appropriate authority.

      Public Finance Full speech →