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

Sitting of Friday, 6 March 2026

10th Parliament· 15 debates· 160 speeches· 55 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23376 ·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.

  5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Small and Medium-Scale Factories Started or Closed Down in 2025 (Q.1177/2025) 10 speeches
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri formally raised the listed question in Parliament. No further details or arguments were provided in the speech.

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

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Bimal Rathnayake requested a two-week extension to answer the Question. The Question was ordered to stand down.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara requested detailed information from the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development on small and medium-scale factories that were opened or closed in 2025. He sought figures by category, products manufactured, export or domestic market orientation, reasons for closures, and measures taken by the Government to promote SME factories in Sri Lanka.

      Public FinanceEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister provided statistics on factories opened and closed in 2025 in Ministry- and IDB-managed industrial estates, including sectoral details and whether they served export or domestic markets. He stated that 37 factories commenced operations while four closed, citing reduced demand, raw material shortages and financial distress as reasons for closures. He also outlined measures to promote SMEs and industry, including development and allocation of land in industrial estates such as Suriyawewa, Rambewa and Aluthepola.

      EmploymentInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked what immediate relief the Ministry can provide to SMEs facing rising overheads, including electricity tariffs and taxes, despite higher turnover and weak consumer demand. He questioned the operation of SMILE credit lines, asking whether loans require a Minister’s letter and what support is actually available, including for businesses affected by Cyclone Diththa that received limited compensation despite major losses.

      Public FinanceCost of LivingEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister said sector-specific industry concerns are handled through 26 advisory councils in coordination with bodies such as the Export Development Board and BOI. He explained that previous concessional loan schemes had limited uptake because banks preferred their own products, leading to the integration of these schemes with Ministry of Finance facilities under a Rs. 95 billion allocation for the year. He stated that monthly reviews with banks, the Central Bank and Finance Ministry officials are being held to improve disbursement, with a further committee meeting scheduled for 11 March, and asked Members to refer SME credit issues to the Ministry for coordination.

      InfrastructureEmploymentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB

      AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Minister to intervene regarding the closure of a tin fish canning factory in Bathigama, Dikwella, which had employed about 50 workers. He noted that the District Coordinating Committee had discussed the matter and that the Central Environmental Authority had been advised not to issue an Environmental Protection Licence, and requested urgent action to address environmental issues and enable the factory to reopen as a local alternative to imported tinned fish.

      InfrastructureEmploymentEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that factories are not closed arbitrarily and that any environmental concerns would be assessed with recommendations provided to achieve compliance. He requested the relevant details from the Member and undertook to examine the matter the same day.

      Public FinanceEnvironment Full speech →