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

Sitting of Tuesday, 6 January 2026

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 256 speeches· 78 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23111 ·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.

  19. 19 Debate Debate: Public Security Ordinance Resolution and Delimitation Motion 22 speeches
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary Moved approval of the President’s Proclamation bringing Part II of the Public Security Ordinance into operation nationwide from 28 December 2025, seeking a one-month extension of emergency powers following Cyclone “Dicha.” She cited continuing displacement, damaged housing, landslide risks, the need for NBRO assessments before resettlement, uninterrupted essential services, and the continued operation of the Commissioner-General of Essential Services, while stating the powers would not be used for other purposes. She also addressed concerns over the Grade 6 English module, saying an investigation is under way through the NIE’s statutory procedures, the book has not been distributed, and disciplinary action will follow the findings.

      EnvironmentEducationLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition argued that the Government should have declared a disaster situation under the Disaster Management Act during “Dicha” and used its provisions for relief, rather than relying on emergency regulations under the Public Security Ordinance. He said the current regulations resemble those used for counter-terrorism or public disorder situations and are disproportionate to disaster-response needs, despite promised compensation and relief payments. He asked the Prime Minister to clarify the legal basis for extending the emergency after a notice stated that the declared disaster situation had ended on 15 December 2025, and called for properly tailored disaster-relief provisions to be operationalized.

      Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera sought parliamentary approval to extend the state of emergency declared after the Dicha cyclone, citing severe damage across 22 districts, major displacement, housing losses, and disruption to essential services. He said relief and service coordination are being handled through the Commissioner General of Essential Services, District and Divisional Secretaries, Grama Niladharis, the Tri-Forces and Police, with a committee overseeing foreign aid transparency. He outlined ongoing repairs to roads, bridges, railways, irrigation works and other infrastructure, and argued that continued emergency powers are needed to coordinate recovery, maintain public services, and support affected communities.

      Security & DefenceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala moved that Hon. Upul Kithsiri take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. Prof. Nalin Nanayakkara left the Chair and Hon. Upul Kithsiri assumed it.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC NDF

      AI summary Hon. Faiszer Musthapha argued that the emergency regulations issued under the Public Security Ordinance are framed like national security measures used after the Easter attacks and during the Aragalaya, rather than being tailored to disaster management. He urged the Government not to extend or approve them in their present form, citing provisions on requisitioning property and restrictions affecting freedom of expression as lacking a clear nexus to disaster relief. He proposed that Parliament instead develop targeted emergency regulations to strengthen disaster response and the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” mechanism, and tabled related Defence Ministry correspondence, prior emergency gazettes, and a Supreme Court judgment finding similar regulations ultra vires.

      Law & OrderParliamentary ProcedureSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala said the Dicha cyclone had ended, as stated by the Defence Secretary, but post-disaster operations were continuing. He argued that the current emergency regulations are proportionate to the disaster situation and asked the Opposition to identify any misuse of them, while distinguishing the present regulations from past abuses of emergency powers. Citing casualty and displacement figures as of 1 December 2025, he called for a short extension of the regulations and rejected claims that the Government was creating a police state or interfering with police operations.

      Corruption & Governance ReformSecurity & DefenceLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, speaking during the debate on a Resolution under the Public Security Ordinance, argued that emergency powers and security policies have historically enabled impunity for killings, disappearances, and unresolved cases involving journalists, Tamil politicians, and students. He alleged selective justice and discriminatory policing in relation to protests at Thayiddy, Jaffna, over private land declared a High Security Zone and the construction of Tissa Vihara, citing arrests of a Saiva priest, local representatives, landowners, and legal action against protesters including himself. He called for the release of occupied lands, removal of militarization in the North and East, accountability for past abuses, and a just political solution for Tamil people.

      Justice & Human RightsReligion & CultureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB

      AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara questioned the extension of emergency regulations after the Defence Secretary had stated that the disaster situation had ended, arguing that emergency powers were historically used for suppression and were unnecessary for ongoing relief work. He alleged the extension could be intended to curb protests over education reforms or media criticism, and raised concerns about disaster mismanagement, including ignored cyclone warnings, inadequate shelter for displaced people, limited compensation, and insufficient support for affected farmers. He urged the Government to withdraw the emergency and said the Opposition would support genuine relief measures for disaster-affected communities.

      AgricultureLaw & OrderSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra supported parliamentary approval of the emergency proclaimed on 28 December 2025 under the Public Security Ordinance, arguing it is needed to manage cyclone-related displacement, damaged housing, relief delivery and essential services. She said emergency powers have not been used against the Opposition or social media criticism, and that democratic activity has continued despite allegations of misuse. She stated that the appointment of the Commissioner General of Essential Services and related regulations require the emergency framework until permanent legislation or the immediate need is no longer present.

      Security & DefencePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB

      AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera argued that the emergency regulations tabled were overbroad and appeared to be copied from earlier crisis periods rather than tailored to the current situation. Citing a Supreme Court judgment on proportionality, he said emergency powers should be limited to actual necessity and noted that previous support for such regulations was based on an immediate crisis. He raised concerns about alleged selective law enforcement and political interference in policing, and called on the Government to narrow and amend the regulations to address only the present need.

      Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB

      AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera said the Opposition initially supported emergency regulations in good faith following a serious disaster, but argued that the current provisions include matters unrelated to disaster relief and could be misused. He urged the Government to limit or reframe the regulations strictly to what is necessary for disaster response, warning that Sri Lanka’s history of emergency misuse has created public suspicion.

      Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB

      AI summary The Minister supported the proclamation of emergency law following a recent national calamity, stating that the powers are intended for rapid recovery and public welfare, not for suppressing dissent. He contrasted this with past uses of emergency powers and the PTA, which he said were associated with killings, disappearances, abductions, and attacks on media. Responding to Tamil MPs, he rejected allegations of current police brutality against Tamils, said the Thayiddy–Tissa Vihara issue is being addressed fairly, and accused opposition figures in the North of raising such claims to divert attention from inquiries into alleged fraud, liquor permits, and sand mining. He assured that no Tamil citizen had been harmed under the current emergency and said the Government would protect people in the North and East.

      Security & DefenceCorruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB

      AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper questioned the scope of the emergency regulations gazetted under the Public Security Ordinance following the Dicha cyclone, arguing that provisions on taking possession of property and vehicles, entry, search, arrest, offences and penalties lacked a clear connection to disaster relief. He asked the Government to clarify whether it intended to use property and vehicle requisition powers and, if not, to remove those provisions. He suggested the Gazette appeared to have copied earlier public security regulations rather than being tailored to the cyclone response, urged the Government to correct it, and indicated that a vote would be called next time.

      Parliamentary ProcedureSecurity & DefenceLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir

      AI summary The member asked the Deputy Minister of Defence to investigate the impact of Air Force bombing exercises in Kalpitiya, citing alleged miscarriages, injuries, deaths, and damage to farming and fishing communities, and requested a safe operating framework. He also called for justice for residents of Ismail Puram and Vattakandal in the Vanathavilluwa Police Division who were arrested after a picket. He urged the Government to expedite pending post-cyclone assistance with clear timelines, noting hardship faced by daily wage earners repeatedly visiting local offices for aid.

      Justice & Human RightsAgricultureSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB

      AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said emergency regulations introduced after Cyclone Dicha were necessary to deliver urgent relief, support prompt decision-making, and restore essential services during the disaster response. He stated that the regulations, made under the Public Security Ordinance, now require parliamentary approval for extension, and indicated that concerns raised about them would be addressed.

      Security & DefenceParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala clarified that the Emergency Regulations were used only for disaster response, essential services, relief delivery, and public safety, not for political repression, media suppression, or governance by emergency powers. He stated that relief payments had largely been completed, including the Rs. 25,000 payment in full, 95 per cent of the Rs. 50,000 grant, and 65 per cent of crop-damage compensation at about Rs. 150,000 per hectare. He rejected allegations of a police state, said police had been allowed to act lawfully and without improper political orders, and affirmed that communal or religious extremism would not be permitted in relation to issues such as Tissa Vihara. He also explained that the Defence Secretary’s notice referred to the end of the active cyclone disaster phase, with the country now in the post-disaster recovery phase.

      Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & OrderReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

      AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa moved a motion, on behalf of the Leader of the House, to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to examine and report on the electoral system for conducting Provincial Council elections. The motion cited the incomplete delimitation process under the 2017 amendments, the absence of elected Provincial Council representatives, prior committee work, and ongoing disagreement over issues including mixed proportional representation, women’s and youth representation, campaign expenditure limits, pre-poll declarations, and voting rights for overseas Sri Lankans. The proposed committee is to have up to 12 members nominated by the Speaker, powers to call evidence and obtain expert assistance, and to report within three months of its first meeting; the motion was agreed to.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →