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

Sitting of Tuesday, 3 March 2026

10th Parliament· 17 debates· 185 speeches· 58 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23335 ·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: Agricultural Research and Production Assistants (Q.913/2025) 12 speeches
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for details on Agricultural Research and Production Assistants appointed at Grama Niladhari Division level, including their district-wise numbers, departmental affiliation, supervision, duties, duty lists, and current research work. She also sought information on whether their performance is reviewed, what progress their services have contributed to agriculture, and whether steps will be taken to use them for regular field inspections to address sectoral issues.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister answered on behalf of the Minister regarding Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, stating that ARPA ranges have been established across one or more Grama Niladhari Divisions, with staffing in all provinces except where cadre limits affect the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He said ARPAs serve under the Department of Agrarian Development, report to the Agrarian Development Officer, and perform duties assigned under the 2013 recruitment procedure and the Agrarian Development Act No. 46 of 2000, though they have not been assigned research activities so far. He further stated that district offices have been instructed on performance evaluation procedures, ARPAs collect field-level data and coordinate projects, and detailed annexes on staffing, duties, and appraisal formats have been tabled in the Library.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised concerns that Agricultural Research and Production Assistants have an excessive workload, including data entry for fertilizer subsidy processing. She said delays in data entry due to insufficient officers have prevented many farmers from receiving subsidies, and noted that field information collection was also hampered during Cyclone “Mitra”.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised concerns about the workload and responsibilities of Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, including financial duties, invasive plant removal, fertilizer subsidy distribution, loan recoveries, and land-related levies. She questioned the Ministry on the lack of budgetary allocations, vacancies, unpaid allowances, and reported plans to remove ARPAs from supervisory duties, warning that any resulting industrial action would affect farmers. She also referred to unresolved issues such as the spread of invasive plants and limited implementation of wild boar control measures.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB

      AI summary Funds for fertilizer were provided in two tranches before cultivation, but some farmers have not received the second payment due to administrative delays, including a shortage of about 4,000 officers, which the government intends to address through recruitment. He said compensation following the “8941” cyclone was expanded beyond six crops to all affected crops and livestock, increasing the workload on officials and causing delays now being rectified. He also stated that rehabilitation of tanks, anicuts, and canals has begun after the “8960” cyclone, with funds allocated and inter-departmental issues being addressed.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Asked the State Minister to clarify whether the relevant officers would be paid the supervisory allowances, noting that her previous question had not been answered.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB

      AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that a problem had arisen regarding the supervision allowance and that discussions had begun to resolve it. He said a response would be provided in due course to the ARPAs on the matter.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna criticized the Government for referring to past administrations, stating that after one year and four months in office it had sufficient time to appoint the 4,000 persons in question if it intended to do so. She then yielded her second supplementary question to Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi.

      EmploymentParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi questioned the Minister of Fisheries about the ban imposed since December on “mada del” stake/shore seine fishing operations. He said a Presidential committee had considered the issue, but argued that delaying implementation of its decision by two months would unfairly affect fishing communities in Puttalam and Negombo because their season ends by April. He asked how affected fishers were expected to sustain themselves during the ban period.

      AgricultureEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

      AI summary The Chair noted that responding in this manner is not the usual practice of Parliament. He stated that the Minister of Fisheries would provide a response as an exception, while emphasizing that it should not be treated as a precedent.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar responded to concerns about the stake-net fishing industry, stating that operations have resumed but that the use of winches and tractors has been stopped due to safety and environmental concerns. He said previous approvals were granted without adequate study, environmental reporting, or proper mapping, and that net lengths had expanded far beyond the permitted 1.5 km, endangering over 5,000 small boats. He noted that affected parties had been informed six months earlier and that discussions, including with the President, were ongoing to consider limits, alternatives, or procedures to continue the traditional industry appropriately.

      EnvironmentAgriculture Full speech →