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

Sitting of Friday, 21 November 2025

10th Parliament· 12 debates· 166 speeches· 69 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22936 ·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.

  4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Vavuniya Dedicated Economic Centre (Question No. 1) 9 speeches
    • The Hon. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development about the long-delayed opening of the Vavuniya Economic Centre, noting that it was proposed in 2015, built in 2018 at Madaguwaiththakulam at a cost of Rs. 263 million, and remains unopened seven years later. He sought details on measures to operationalize it, the timeline for opening, the basis for allocating its 52 stalls, and whether existing wholesale vegetable traders would receive them.

      Public FinanceEmploymentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Vavuniya Dedicated Economic Centre was opened on 3 September 2025. He said 35 stalls had been allocated, under a 2021 Cabinet decision, to eligible wholesale traders from the Vavuniya wholesale market, with remaining stalls to be prioritized for local farmers’ organizations and district applicants, and two expected to be allocated to Lanka Sathosa for aggregation and sales.

      InfrastructureAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK

      AI summary Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam proposed establishing a cold-storage facility at the Economic Centre, noting that over 5,000 kg of vegetables arrive there daily and wastage occurs due to the lack of cold rooms, and asked whether this could be done under the current Budget allocations. He also supported retaining the Centre’s administration under the Government Agent. He further asked when persons undergoing drug rehabilitation at the Co-operative Training School in Poonthottam would be moved to a more suitable facility, suggesting the provincial rehabilitation centre at Poovarasankulam Hospital as an alternative.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB

      AI summary The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana stated that an Economic Centre, built but left unopened for about seven years, was opened in September and is now operational. He said the Government is considering adding cold-storage facilities, including a cold room, to reduce post-harvest losses, with Rs. 1,000 million allocated for the purpose this year. He also noted that an unused rehabilitation centre is to be taken over for the Co-operative Department, following intervention by the District Development Committee Chairman, to address the request regarding a Co-operative Training Centre.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK

      AI summary Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam thanked the Deputy Minister and informed the House that his second supplementary question would be asked by the Leader of the Opposition.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s support for farmers, arguing that assured prices have not been provided for crops including onions, potatoes, pumpkin and paddy despite references to cold storage and Economic Centres. He said fertilizer subsidy payments were delayed in the previous season and, with the Maha season underway, asked how the Government would ensure timely fertilizer support within the production cycle. He urged the Government to implement a more effective guaranteed price mechanism and provide a clear response to farmers.

      AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB

      AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana responded to Opposition criticism by arguing that previous governments failed to address long-standing farmer distress, citing protests by big onion and potato growers. He said the Government has procured paddy at around Rs. 120 per kilo, repaired Sathosa paddy stores, distributed stocks through Sathosa, and included cold-storage and warehousing measures in the Budget. He stated that from January purchases will begin at guaranteed prices for produce meeting required standards, noting big onions are being bought at Rs. 145 per kilo with a target of Rs. 150 next year.

      Agriculture Full speech →