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
- 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
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Written Answers to Questions
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, requested three weeks’ time to provide written answers to Questions Nos. 1566/2025 and 1567/2025 raised by Ajith P. Perera on the Order Paper.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera questioned the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development on alleged irregularities involving Asha Minerals, including a 30-year agreement with the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation at Aruwakkalu, alleged mining without a valid licence, and a police raid. He also asked about a salvage contract with Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd., possession of ilmenite cargo reportedly worth Rs. 300 million despite Attorney-General objections, and alleged diversion of mineral assets. He sought details on measures to protect State resources, ensure accountability, and restore the rights of legitimate licence holders.
- The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation had leased land at the Aruwakkalu Limestone Deposit to Asha Minerals without approval from the Ministry or the Attorney-General’s Department, and that related legal proceedings are ongoing. He also explained the background to the 2005 agreement concerning the salvaging of the “M.V. Cordiality” and the handover of recovered ilmenite to Asha Lanka Enterprises following Attorney-General’s advice and a committee recommendation. He rejected the suggestion that the Ministry had failed to protect mineral resources, noting that a review of the Mineral Resources Policy is underway to revoke irregular licences, monitor valid licences, and ensure transparent, competitive issuance of new licences, with Cabinet submission planned before year-end.
- The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to provide details on official vehicles allocated to the Minister of Public Enterprise Development appointed from September 2015, including the number, registration numbers, types, models, and periods of allocation. He also requested information on the monthly fuel allocations, actual monthly fuel issued, and related expenditure for each vehicle during that ministerial tenure, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary Sunil Handunnetti provided details on three official vehicles attached from 4 September 2015 to 28 February 2018, including their registration numbers, types, models, and periods of use. He stated that fuel allocations were made under Public Expenditure Management Circular No. CA/1/17/1, with monthly limits of 600 litres for diesel vehicles and 750 litres for petrol vehicles for travel outside the province. He reported total fuel expenditure of Rs. 6,121,250 for the period and said another question raised by Sujeewa Dissanayake would be answered after two weeks.
Public Finance Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake - President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Digital Economy
AI summary The President, as Minister of Finance, provided written answers on official vehicles assigned to the Minister of Finance appointed in September 2015, stating that three vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz jeep, Nissan Teana car, and Nissan cab for security—were provided under the relevant Presidential Secretariat and public expenditure circulars, with temporary replacements used during repairs. He said fuel allowances were granted in accordance with those circulars, amounting to 600 litres monthly for petrol vehicles and 500 litres for diesel vehicles, calculated at prevailing fuel prices. On the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs appointed in September 2015, he stated that the ministry was abolished after 2019 and available files did not contain verifiable information on vehicles provided, as some residual records had been disposed of under formal procedures.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a question on official vehicles assigned to the Minister of Public Administration and Management appointed in September 2015. He stated that three vehicles were assigned at a time under the relevant Presidential Secretariat circular, listed the vehicle registrations, models and attachment periods, and provided the applicable monthly fuel quotas of 750 litres for petrol vehicles and 600 litres for diesel vehicles. He further stated that fuel allowances were calculated according to the 2015 circular and that detailed fuel expense records and information for the 2018 interim period were placed in the Library.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister provided details in response to a question on official vehicles assigned to the State Minister of Industries appointed in November 2019. He stated that three vehicles were allocated from 27 November 2019 to 2 March 2020, with monthly fuel limits set under the relevant Public Expenditure Management Circular, and listed the fuel allocations and payments made for December 2019 and January-February 2020. He added that no fuel payment was made for March and that the remaining part of the question did not arise.
Public Finance Full speech → - Note to Members
AI summary Members are informed that any corrections to the Final Print must be clearly marked and sent to the Editor of HANSARD within two weeks of receiving the uncorrected copy. The note also records the procedural stages relating to the contents of proceedings, receipt of final manuscripts from Parliament, and dispatch of printed copies.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Government Publications Bureau
AI summary Hansard reports are available for purchase from the Government Publications Bureau at the Department of Government Information in Colombo. The report may also be downloaded from the Parliament website and was printed by the Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →