Sitting of Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22931 ·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 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Ministerial Consultative Committee Report on Energy Regulations 1 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 3 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Incidents of Domestic Violence Against Women from 2015 (Q.1/2025) 7 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: (Q.3/2025) - Stood Over 3 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Land Donated to Reggie Ranatunga Educational Scholarship Fund (Q.5/2025) 6 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Rangiri Dambulla Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Limited Frauds (Q.5/2025 - Second Round) 3 speeches
- 8 Procedural Oral Question: Lands Owned by Land Reform Commission (Q.?) - Procedural Stand Over 2 speeches
- 9 Procedural Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management 29 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the question had reached the Ministry only at 4.00 p.m. the previous day, but an answer had nevertheless been prepared. He asked that the current time, 9.26 a.m., also be recorded.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake informed Parliament that a rock-blasting operation to stabilize an NBRO-identified unsafe slope between Idalgasinna and Ohiya on the Badulla railway line caused rocks to fall onto the track, suspending services on that section. He stated that the Army, Railways Department staff and the contractor had been mobilized, with the aim of restoring Badulla line operations by the following night, while trains were operating only up to Nanu Oya that day.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, sought the Speaker’s permission to briefly raise an important point. No substantive issue or proposal was stated in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka referred to the President’s Budget statement allocating funds for Provincial Council Elections and requesting Parliament to establish a mechanism, noting that the Leader of the House had indicated a ministerial update on forming a committee. He urged the Government to fulfil its promise to hold the elections within a year and said the Opposition would support a swift process under the previous mixed proportional system or any other speedy mechanism, without delays caused by delimitation or unnecessary committees.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government was prepared to make a statement on the Provincial Council electoral system, after which a proper procedure should be determined. He noted that the existing law provides for a mixed first-past-the-post and proportional representation system, with delimitation being the main technical obstacle. He stated that party and individual views would be sought following the statement, and said the process was intended to proceed democratically rather than delay elections.
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka urged the Leader of the House to use the previous mixed proportional electoral system, arguing that it would avoid delays and address the issue immediately. He called for the matter to be handled quickly without further time-wasting.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government was not responsible for delays, arguing that the real delay was the seven-year period without elections. He cautioned that hastily creating an electoral system could cause problems, citing local government experience, and said the process would proceed through dialogue without any intention to postpone elections.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri rose to a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri sought the Speaker’s leave under Standing Order 28(5), initially referring to Standing Order 92. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri raised a procedural point regarding a report presented by the Minister of Provincial Councils, citing Standing Orders 28(5), 52(6) and 92. He noted that the report refers to Hon. Rasamanickam’s Private Member’s Bill on Provincial Council Elections and states that elections could be held under the old system by amending the Elections (Special Provisions) law to provide the necessary schedules, forms and related instruments.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa briefly intervened to inform the Chair that a Member was seeking time to speak. No substantive policy argument, proposal, or question was raised in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri invoked the Standing Orders and requested permission to proceed accordingly. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the recorded remarks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri invoked Standing Orders 28(5) and 28(6) to move a motion before the scheduled Business of the House without prior written notice to the Speaker. He requested that the motion be read.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri referred to a ministerial statement under Standing Order 52 on Provincial Council Elections and the Attorney-General’s opinion, arguing that elections could therefore be held under the old system. He accused the Minister of delaying the elections because the Government could not face them, and called on the Minister to resign, citing criticism reportedly made by the President in the Budget Speech.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly made a request directed to the Chief Opposition Whip. No further details of the request or related policy matter were provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake appealed to the Chief Opposition Whip to assist in maintaining the proper conduct of parliamentary proceedings. He warned that, if cooperation was not provided, the House would have to record that lack of cooperation.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Opposing the matter under discussion, Chaminda Wijesiri called for clarification on an issue that had been raised earlier.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to disorderly conduct in the chamber and urged that unruly Members be restrained. He stated that such behaviour would not be allowed and questioned what was taking place in Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 10 Procedural Procedural: Ministerial Consultative Committees Motion 3 speeches
- 11 Debate Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) 160 speeches
- 12 Adjournment Adjournment: Dedicated Economic Centres 11 speeches
- 13 Papers Written Answers to Questions and Administrative Notices 12 speeches