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

Sitting of Thursday, 19 February 2026

10th Parliament· 18 debates· 239 speeches· 68 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23328 ·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.

  7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Kaduruwela Market Complex (Q.) 13 speeches
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB

      AI summary The Minister clarified that the facility in question is not an abandoned complex but an incompletely constructed shopping complex. He stated that Rs. 70,470,668.21 has already been spent on construction, and that the newly constituted Polonnaruwa Municipal Council has approved Rs. 30 million in the 2026 Annual Budget to complete the remaining works.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson asked for a definite date to open the Kaduruwela market complex, noting that its foundation stone was laid in 2022, estimates had exceeded Rs. 65 million, and over Rs. 70 million had reportedly been spent while the facility remained closed. He also raised concerns about the implementation of decentralized funds, stating that a new amendment allowing projects of Rs. 200,000 and above was not known to District Secretaries. He proposed that District Secretaries and District Coordinating Committee Chairpersons be formally informed and assigned responsibility to implement the revised criteria correctly.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna

      AI summary The Minister said a firm completion date could not be given for the construction project due to uncertainties in construction work. He clarified that the original two-storey building was estimated at Rs. 37.188 million, later expanded to four storeys through variations, with costs rising to about Rs. 65 million due to COVID-19 and price increases, and around Rs. 70 million already spent. He stated that Rs. 30 million has now been allocated to complete the work, while noting procedural concerns over procurement approval for some additions.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB

      AI summary Kins Nelson asked the Minister to inform District Secretaries about the amended circular on decentralized funds, stating that they are currently unaware of it. He said decentralized funds are the main means for Opposition MPs to serve local communities and noted that such funds were not provided the previous year. He referred to changes allowing projects of Rs. 200,000 and allocations to temples, preschools and schools, and requested that District Secretaries be instructed to implement the new arrangements.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna

      AI summary Prof. A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that the President had already clarified the relevant provisions in Parliament. He added that if there was any communication issue, steps would be taken to inform the concerned parties.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the Minister on the decision to register National Agri Market Services Limited under the Companies Act to manage economic centres, noting that these centres had previously operated under the Ministry of Trade, Government Agents and Divisional Secretaries. He raised concerns about the appointment and backgrounds of the company’s directors and stated that traders in Thambuttegama, Keppetipola, Nuwara Eliya and Dambulla were opposing the move, including through legal action. He asked whether the Minister would proceed with the company despite this opposition.

      Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the National Agri Market Services Limited had been legally regularized through a fresh Cabinet Memorandum and is a fully state-owned company under the Secretary to the Treasury. He argued that its purpose is to manage 18 economic centres uniformly, citing alleged misuse of state-owned shop rooms, including subletting, sales, and use by a bank at Kurunduwatta. He stated that board appointments are finalized by the Treasury Secretary and that tender-related decisions are implemented through the Ministry Secretary.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that NAMSL is intended to provide orderly and uniform facilities for traders, farmers and consumers, and to ease business rather than obstruct it. He said existing shop operators would be allowed to continue under five-year lease renewals, with rent revisions every three years based on government valuations and agreed terms. He also noted that a management committee including local administrative officials, trade and farmer representatives, Police and a bank had been appointed to regularize operations, and rejected allegations that the institution would act against traders.

      AgricultureLaw & OrderPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the need for further intervention in economic centres, noting that they are already overseen by officials including the Ministry Secretary, Government Agent, Divisional Secretary and local ASP. He alleged that even traders in Thambuttegama oppose the proposed changes and claimed that three nominees appointed to the Board were personal associates of the Minister. He warned that the handling of economic centres, including the situation at Dambulla market, was creating an unnecessary political and administrative problem for the Government.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the need to appoint an additional board or form a new company when existing administrative authorities, including the Government Agent and Ministry Secretary, are already under the Government’s control. He argued that any issues should be addressed through the existing institutional structure rather than by creating new entities.

      Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB

      AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the issues concerning economic centre management fall under his Ministry and involve procurement and management decisions, including irregular construction practices, unaccounted payments, and audit queries linked to earlier work by officials who are no longer in post. He stated that the Ministry will provide written clarification on ongoing actions. He added that NAMSL has been legally established, with board appointments made under Cabinet approval and relevant criteria, to manage Sri Lanka’s economic centres properly.

      Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Full speech →