Sitting of Friday, 21 November 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22936 ·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 Parliament Opening and Speaker's Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Tabling of Papers: Regulations and Annual Reports 4 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented to Parliament 1 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Vavuniya Dedicated Economic Centre (Question No. 1) 9 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Medical Centres Providing Siddha Medicine in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya Districts (Question No. 4) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Provision of Jobs for Unemployed Graduates (Question No. 5) 3 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Questions: Second Round – Unemployed Graduates and Bovine Semen 5 speeches
- 8 Procedural Points of Order and Procedural Matters 3 speeches
- 9 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Vacancies and Cadre Revision of Base Hospital, Puttalam 14 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary The Member thanked the Speaker for permitting a Question by Private Notice under Standing Order 27(2) to be directed to the Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayatissa. No substantive question or policy issue was stated in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna asked the Minister of Health for detailed information on the status and staffing of Puttalam Base Hospital, including its classification, any upgrade to Type A, administrative and accounting appointments, doctor shortages, and the last cadre revision. He sought clarification on the President’s stated promise to convert it into a District General Hospital, asking what additional staff would be required, how vacancies would be filled amid medical migration, and when any proper cadre revision and conversion would be implemented.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Responding to a Standing Order 27(2) question on Puttalam Hospital, the Minister said Puttalam is a Type A Base Hospital, upgraded under a 2005 circular, and that the district has one Type B and three Type A base hospitals. He outlined current administrative and accounting arrangements, noted 83 doctors against an approved cadre of 95 with 12 vacancies, and said cadre reviews are ongoing under relevant Health Ministry circulars. He stated that vacancies are being addressed through recruitment, training, extending doctors’ retirement age to 63, and temporary specialist placements, and that any future upgrade of Puttalam Hospital would depend on meeting required services, facilities, and staffing criteria.
Healthcare Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna stated that the applicable cadre norms were known and clarified that his question sought the number of personnel required according to those norms.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary The Minister said the Government is addressing medical staff shortages through recruitment, training, extended retirement for doctors up to age 63, and deploying specialists returning from overseas training where necessary. He stated that hospital upgrades would follow the criteria in the relevant circular and would not be limited to changing nameboards. Regarding Puttalam “A” grade Base Hospital, he said an upgrade would be considered once required services, facilities, and staffing are completed.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Puttalam Base Hospital, currently an “A” grade base hospital, is recognized as having a case for upgrade to a District General Hospital, noting that Puttalam is the only district where the principal town lacks one. The Minister said upgrades will be considered under the forthcoming National Health Policy and Strategic Master Plan, but only after providing required infrastructure and human resources rather than merely changing hospital classification. He noted that Rs. 31 billion has been allocated next year for developing base hospitals and that staffing and construction issues will be addressed in phases under the Ministry’s ten-year plan.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna briefly sought the Speaker’s permission to make a clarification. No substantive issue, proposal, or question was stated in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna urged the Minister to address administrative vacancies at Puttalam Hospital by appointing a permanent Medical Superintendent and a permanent Accountant, noting that upgrading it to a District General Hospital would be difficult while an acting officer remains in charge. He asked whether any project funding had been allocated for the hospital in 2026, stated that he had found none, and requested that contingency funds be redirected or that a substantial allocation be made in 2027.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary The Minister clarified that the listed projects refer to line Ministry hospitals and special projects, including 13 Chinese-funded regional hospitals under provincial councils, with Kalpitiya and Mirigama nearing opening. He said Rs. 31,000 million has been allocated in the first year of a five-year programme to develop base hospitals, with provincial and hospital-wise allocations being finalized through the Provincial Councils Ministry and the Finance Commission. Funds will be allocated next year, prioritizing base hospitals targeted for upgrading.
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Kins Nelson briefly requested permission to seek a clarification from the Minister on the matter under discussion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns about health services in Polonnaruwa, noting that while Medirigiriya, Hingurakgoda, and Aralaganwila are designated as base hospitals, only Medirigiriya has the necessary facilities. He asked the Minister to give special attention to providing facilities and doctors to Hingurakgoda and Aralaganwila.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that past hospital upgrades were often not based on scientific criteria and said future upgrades would be guided by the national plan. He emphasized that classifications such as “B,” “A,” or District General Hospital must depend on the availability of specialist services, facilities, population distribution, geographic need, and actual demand. He added that required facilities would be provided to base hospitals in stages.
- 10 Debate Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day 112 speeches
- 11 Procedural Committee Stage Report – Heads Passed 1 speeches
- 12 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Improvement of Facilities for Salt Production in Kinniya DS Division 6 speeches