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

Sitting of Friday, 20 March 2026

10th Parliament· 15 debates· 143 speeches· 55 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23396 ·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.

  6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Warehouse Receipts Financing Project 5 speeches
    • The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Deputy Minister stated that the Warehouse Receipts Financing Project aims to provide quality storage for farmers and enable bank pledge loans using stored grain as collateral. He said three centres were built in 2015 with World Bank support and three more in 2018 with domestic funds, while the Embilipitiya centre was later transferred to the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, leaving five centres currently operating. He reported that 4,187 farmers are registered, with additional unregistered daily users, and that the centres are managed by the Regional Development Bank under District Secretary supervision with district-level advisory committees.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara raised concerns about farmers being forced into distress sales during harvest, noting that a World Bank-supported warehouse and pledge-lending initiative has helped in areas such as Embilipitiya. He said fuel shortages are limiting farmers’ ability to transport produce to warehouses, but argued the scheme could reduce losses by enabling up to 70 per cent pledge lending against produce. He asked whether the Ministry of Finance would continue supporting and expanding the programme and what further steps are planned.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB

      AI summary Nishantha Jayaweera stated that the Ministry of Finance is addressing support for farmers and noted that the 2026 Budget allocated funds for threshing and related equipment. He said the Government would continue to support such measures.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara questioned delays in implementing Budget allocations for agricultural driers and noted that existing warehouse development has stalled, arguing that identified farmer problems are not being followed by continuous action. He asked the Ministry for the status of the second-phase fertilizer subsidy, measures to protect farmers from high and uncertain urea prices, and practical support for harvest marketing, inputs, and fuel access for smallholder crop processing.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB

      AI summary The Minister said the Government recognizes farmers’ difficulties and will intervene to support them. He stated that the Ministry of Finance has already begun procurement for driers, though delivery will take time, and that steps are being taken to ensure adequate fertilizer and fuel for production and harvesting.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →