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

Sitting of Monday, 24 November 2025

10th Parliament· 19 debates· 213 speeches· 72 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23008 ·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.

  13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: India Trade Relations - Standing Order 27(2) Response 14 speeches
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB

      AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to a question raised by Ravi Karunanayake under Standing Order 27(2) on 8 November 2025. He noted that the written answer was seven pages long and asked whether he should read it out in Parliament or table it.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe indicated he would begin reading a document and table the remaining portion instead of reading it in full. He sought the Chair or relevant Member’s consent for that procedure.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake requested that the relevant material be tabled due to time constraints, while asking that key answers be read out if possible.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe responded that Sri Lanka’s trade deficit with India in 2024 should not be attributed to the Indo–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, arguing that the agreement has provided significant preferential access for Sri Lankan exports. He stated that USD 493.22 million of exports to India used ISFTA concessions, compared with only USD 324.78 million of imports from India under such concessions, indicating greater relative benefit to Sri Lankan exporters. He said India remains a natural trading partner for Sri Lanka and that the policy focus should be on improving export competitiveness and diversification rather than questioning the agreement itself.

      Foreign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake requested the Minister to also read the answers to Questions 2 and 3 during the proceedings.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary The Minister outlined the Government’s approach to advancing ETCA with India, stating that a Cabinet-appointed high-level committee is reviewing existing FTAs, including the ISFTA, to guide future negotiations with data, clear objectives and parliamentary disclosure. He said engagement with India would be strategically sequenced to benefit from India’s economic growth while protecting domestic industries, services, regulatory standards and national development priorities. He noted that cooperation may expand in areas such as tourism, ports, finance, renewable energy, digital technology, maritime services and higher education, with safeguards, trade remedies and a proposed bilateral investment treaty to precede ETCA commitments.

      Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake noted uncertainty over US tariff preferences for the apparel sector and identified India as an important alternative market if the proposed ETCA is expedited. He stated support for ETCA in principle and asked the Minister when negotiations would begin and how soon the agreement could be made operational.

      Foreign Affairs Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that, in addition to ETCA, previously signed agreements with Singapore and Thailand had been halted, with litigation on the Singapore FTA now understood to have concluded. He said a Cabinet-appointed high-level expert committee is reviewing these agreements to identify gaps and priorities, with recommendations expected by January on the President’s instructions. He indicated that, subject to the committee’s guidance, the Government aims to begin negotiations in the first quarter of the following year.

      Foreign Affairs 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 requested that the guidelines prepared by the Secretary-General’s office on questions raised under Standing Order 27(2), already presented at the Party Leaders’ meeting, be circulated to Ministers as well.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB

      AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka requested that the Order Paper specify which Minister will respond to each Standing Order 27(2) question, as previously practiced. He noted that this had been raised and agreed at the Parliamentary Business Committee, and asked that it be implemented for the benefit of all Members.

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

      AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified that the matter raised by the Chief Opposition Whip cannot be included in the formal Order Paper, but may appear in the Order of Business circulated to Members. He urged adherence to the procedure already adopted by Parliament.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that the matter had been discussed at the Parliamentary Business Committee, where it was agreed to review past practices and make a decision at the next meeting. He said the minutes would be circulated and action taken accordingly.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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