PARLIAMENT

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,—To ask the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education,— (1)

(a) Will she inform this House of the—

(i) n...

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,—To ask the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education,— (1)

(a) Will she inform this House of the—

(i) number of  government owned universities  in Sri Lanka;

(ii) number of faculties in each university and the number of students in each faculty separately;

(iii) annual average cost for a government university student and the total cost to complete a degree categorized by discipline separately;

(iv) number of  private universities in Sri Lanka;

(v) number of students registered in each private university separately; and

(vi) total cost for a private university student and the total cost to complete a degree categorized by discipline separately?

(b) Will she also inform this House separately of the —

(i) number of professors in each government university and total number of professors;

(ii) total cost of running each government university;

(iii) total cost for a student in each of the above universities;

(iv) total value of the assets of each government university; and

(v) world ranking of each of the above universities?

(c) If not, why?

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) total value of the GDP of Sri...

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) total value of the GDP of Sri Lanka in Sri Lankan Rupees (SLR) and United States Dollars (USD) along with the growth rate for the past 20 years, separately;

(ii) expected GDP growth and the growth rate projection for the next 5 years, separately;

(iii) total value of exports in SLR and USD along with its percentage of GDP for the past 20 years, separately;

(iv) top twenty export commodities of Sri Lanka;

(v) total earnings from services in USD for the past 10 years, separately; and

(vi) top ten service sectors generated USD for Sri Lanka?

(b) Will he also inform this House of the —

(i) amount of the USD earned are kept overseas;

(ii) official period for which USD can be retained overseas; and

(iii) action initiated against individuals or entities retaining money overseas violating of exchange control regulations?

(c) If not, why?

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) date on which the Paddy Mark...

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) date on which the Paddy Marketing Board was established;

(ii) quantity and the value of paddy purchased by the Board over past 3 years per district, separately;

(iii) number of centers established for purchasing paddy per District, separately;

(iv) number of paddy storage facilities per district, separately; and

(v) percentage of paddy purchased by the government annually out of the total paddy harvest per district, separately?

(b) Will he also inform  this House, separately —

(i) of the amount of money provided by state banks to small and large scale paddy mill owners over past 3 years;

(ii) of the quantity of paddy purchased by those mill owners during that period;

(iii) of the names of the mill owners, along with the quantity and value of paddy they purchased during the above period; and

(iv) whether a system will be established to convert paddy into rice and  distribute it at district level?

(c) If not, why?

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the number of Sri Lankans employed overseas, separately as of 31....

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake,— To ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the number of Sri Lankans employed overseas, separately as of 31.12.2024 and at present?

(b) Will he also inform this House separately from 2015 to date of the —

(i) total foreign remittances received through foreign employment in US Dollars and Sri Lankan Rupees;

(ii) countries from which these remittances originated;

(iii) number of migrant workers deported due to default working contracts;

(iv) steps taken regarding these workers;

(v) revenue earned from the insurance scheme for Sri Lankans leaving for overseas employments; and

(vi) amount of money spent from this scheme on Sri Lankan migrant workers?

(c) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in ...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Ratnapura District due to the rainy weather conditions prevailing since January 2024;

(ii) places where settlements and public properties are located out of them;

(iii) vulnerable houses and immovable properties already occupied by the people according to each of the Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division, separately; and

(iv) alternative measures that will be taken concerning the residents of the houses mentioned above?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in th...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Kegalle District due to the rainy weather conditions prevailing since January 2024;

(ii) places where settlements and public properties are located out of them;

(iii) vulnerable houses and immovable properties already occupied by the people according to each of the Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division, separately; and

(iv) alternative measures that will be taken concerning the residents of the houses mentioned above?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in th...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Badulla District due to the rainy weather conditions prevailing since January 2024;

(ii) places where settlements and public properties are located out of them;

(iii) vulnerable houses and immovable properties already occupied by the people according to each of the Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division, separately; and

(iv) alternative measures that will be taken concerning the residents of the houses mentioned above?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in th...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Matale District due to the rainy weather conditions prevailing since January 2024;  

(ii) places where settlements and public properties are located out of them;

(iii) vulnerable houses and immovable properties already occupied by the people according to each of the Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division, separately; and

(iv) alternative measures that will be taken concerning the residents of the houses mentioned above?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in th...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of the —

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Kandy District due to the rainy weather conditions prevailing since January 2024;

(ii) places where settlements and public properties are located out of them;

(iii) vulnerable houses and immovable properties already occupied by the people according to each of the Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division, separately; and

(iv) alternative measures that will be taken concerning the residents of the houses mentioned above?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of—

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Nuw...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House of—

(i) identified areas/ places at risk of landslides in the Nuwara – Eliya  District due to the rainy weather conditions prevailing since January 2024;

(ii) places where settlements and public properties are located out of them;

(iii) vulnerable houses and immovable properties already occupied by the people according to each of the Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division, separately; and

(iv) alternative  measures that will be taken concerning the residents of the houses mentioned above?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Health and Mass Media,—(1)

(a) Will he inform this House,—

(i) whether he is aware that due to local and inte...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Health and Mass Media,—(1)

(a) Will he inform this House,—

(i) whether he is aware that due to local and international protests against the cremation of the bodies of those who died of COVID-19, the bodies were buried in a plot of land in the “Majma Nagar” area of ​​Batticaloa;

(ii) of the name, address, religion and gender of each person who died and was buried in this manner, the number under which his or her remains were registered, the date of burial, the number of persons permitted to attend the burial for each deceased person, and the names and addresses of those persons who attended separately;

(iii) whether attendees at the burial of each deceased person were charged any fee;

(iv) if so, what amount was so charged; and

(v) of the institutions/individuals that were authorized to collect the money?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,—(1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that the remains of the persons w...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,— To ask the Minister of Defence,—(1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that the remains of the persons who died of COVID-19 Pandemic were buried in “Majma Nagar” area in Batticaloa on a policy decision of the government and the assistance and contribution of the three forces were obtained for this purpose;

(ii) of the number of staff officers and other ranks included in the subdivision detailed for such burial activities, separately;

(iii) of the amounts paid as allowances to those officers in addition to the basic salary;

(iv) of the number of vehicles of the three forces and the number of vehicles obtained on rent basis for the use in burial activities

(v) of the amount of money borne as expenditure for fuel for each such vehicle;

(vi) whether the relatives of the deceased person were charged fees for burial activities; and

(vii) if so, of the amount so charged separately?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) of t...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) of the name of the local government institution to which the “Majma Nagar” Cemetery in Batticaloa, which was identified as a suitable place for the burial of the dead bodies of the “Covid 19” victims, belongs in terms of the Cemeteries and Burial Grounds Ordinance;

(ii) of the extent of the said cemetery;

(iii) whether the said land is a state-owned land;

(iv) if so, whether the Gazette notification by which the said land was acquired legally, be presented; and

(v) whether compensation has been paid for the acquired land?

(b) Will he also inform this House of the —

(i) amount of money allocated by the government for the development of the aforesaid cemetery and the amount received as donations from private parties, separately?

(ii) machinery and other assets provided by private parties for the said development activities?

(c) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Health and Mass    Media,— (1)

(a) Does he accept that the —

(i) premises of the Puttalm Hospit...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Health and Mass    Media,— (1)

(a) Does he accept that the —

(i) premises of the Puttalm Hospital including its residential wards, OPDs and clinics, were inundated due to the heavy floods caused by the heavy rain that fell in November 2024 in Sri Lanka;

(ii) hospital lacks a proper drainage system to dispose of the hospital’s waste water and  to channel the rain water;

(iii) hospital premises where patients receive treatment must be kept safer?

(b) If so, will he inform this House of the steps that will be taken to keep the aforementioned hospital premises safer;

(c) If not, why?

293/2024

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Health and Mass   Media,— (1)

(a) Will he admit that the —

(i) premises...

293/2024

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Health and Mass   Media,— (1)

(a) Will he admit that the —

(i) premises of the Ashroff Memorial Hospital in Kalmunai including its surgical wards, intensive care units, general wards, outpatient departments, clinics, and pharmaceutical warehouses were inundated due to the heavy floods caused by heavy rainfall which occurred in November 2024 in Sri Lanka;

(ii) hospital became defunct because of that; and

(iii) hospital premises where patients receive treatment must be safeguarded?

(b) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether the losses caused to the hospital by the floods have been assessed;

(ii) if so, of the damage concerned above;

(iii) of the steps taken to restore the damages; and

(iv) of the steps that will be taken to prevent such occurrences in the future and safeguard the hospital premises more?

(c) If not, why?

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House—

(i) of the rivers and streams...

Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law,—To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House—

(i) of the rivers and streams that poses the constant threat of flooding;

(ii) of the local and foreign projects that have been implemented so far to control flooding of those water bodies;

(iii) separately, of the amount of local funds and foreign funds utilized for the said projects;

(iv) of the institutions that have provided funds for the projects concerned;

(v) whether there are any projects among these projects that have failed due to various obstacles; and

(vi) if so, of the names of those projects?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether the extents of lands belonging t...

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether the extents of lands belonging to the Urban Development Authority from within the city of Colombo has been identified, separately in respect of each land;

(ii) of the lands expected to be used for investment projects out of the lands concerned ; and

(iii) of the investment projects expected to be conducted in each of the lands, separately?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether a programme has  been pro...

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether a programme has  been proposed for the development of the road (old road) from Ambatale to Grandpass;

(ii) if so, of the timeframe during which the said programme is expected to be implemented; and

(iii) of the manner in which the funds required for the development of the said road would be provided?

(b) If not, why?

275/2024

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House—

(i) whether a ...

275/2024

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House—

(i) whether a course of action has been proposed for the development of the road running from the IDH to the Kolonnawa Junction;

(ii) if so, of the expected timeframe for the implementation of the course of action concerned; and

(iii) of the method in which the necessary provisions will be secured for the development of the above-mentioned road?

(b) If not, why?

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Labour,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that the number of files that are newly opened for employ...

Hon. S.M. Marikkar,—To ask the Minister of Labour,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that the number of files that are newly opened for employees under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and the Employees' Trust Fund (ETF) can be used as an indicator for assessing the economic development;

(ii) of the number of files that were newly opened under the Employees’ Provident Fund and the Employees' Trust Fund in November 2024, separately;

(iii) whether action will be taken to present the number of files that are newly opened under the Employees’ Provident Fund and the Employees' Provident Fund every month commencing from December 2024 to Parliament; and

(iv) if so, of the date of the month on which the aforesaid information will be presented to Parliament?

(b) If not, why?