Sitting of Tuesday, 6 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23111 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
Order of business
Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.
- 1 Opening Opening of Parliament and Official Business 15 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Presidential Message, Auditor-General Reports, and Annual Reports 11 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions and Procedural Matters 13 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Fishermen in Pottuvil DS Division - Provision of Facilities (Q.1397/2025) 11 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Balance Funds of Members of EPF - 30 Per Cent Withdrawal Permitted (Q.1436/2025) 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Import of Cut Flowers and Plants - Details (Q.1463/2025) 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Wildlife and Forest Conservation Lands in Polpithigama DS Division (Q. relating to Mrs. Geetha Herath) 8 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Sinharaja Forest World Heritage Site Protection (Q. relating to B. Ariyawansha and points of order) 32 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: OIC Official Residence and Land at Yatiyantota Police Station (Q. relating to Dr. Nandana Millagala) 7 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: CEB Transformer and Chartered Engineer Requirements for Electricity Supply (Q. relating to W.H.M. Dharmasena) 10 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Batticaloa Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service Operations (Q. relating to Kanthasamy Prabu) 8 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Co-operative Hospital Gampaha Administration and Irregularities (Q. relating to Lasith Bhashana Gamage) 4 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question: Passport Issuance Delays for Sri Lankans Living Abroad (Q. relating to Hon. Gayan Janaka) 3 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order on Auditor-General Appointment and Parliamentary Matters 20 speeches
- 15 Oral question Oral Question under Standing Order 27(2): National Electricity Policy (Hon. Sajith Premadasa) 7 speeches
- 16 Oral question Oral Question under Standing Order 27(2): Trade Negotiations between Sri Lanka and USA (Hon. Ravi Karunanayake) 6 speeches
- 17 Procedural Procedural: Motions at Commencement of Public Business 3 speeches
- 18 Debate Debate: Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and Fishermen's Pension Regulations 39 speeches
- 19 Debate Debate: Public Security Ordinance Resolution and Delimitation Motion 22 speeches
- 20 Adjournment Adjournment 1 speeches
- 21 Oral question Questions and Papers (Resumption after Adjournment) 22 speeches
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration whether Sri Lanka currently has sentencing policies and guidelines for judges in criminal cases and whether the report of the committee appointed to prepare such guidelines will be tabled in Parliament. He also sought information on future steps to formulate sentencing guidelines to support fair sentencing in the criminal justice system, and requested reasons if no such measures are planned.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration stated that no formal record was available on sentencing policy implementation, though the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute indicated that judges currently follow aspects of sentencing policy and guidelines reflected in Superior Court judgments. He said a 2023 committee chaired by a Supreme Court judge to formulate sentencing guidelines became inactive after the chair’s retirement and produced no report. The Ministry has decided to appoint a new committee, with former and/or new members, and nominations are being prepared.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration about the damaged, unused official residence of the Panadura District Judge on De Silva Road, including plans for restoration and details of a partially constructed abandoned building on the premises and expenditure incurred. He also sought information on measures to provide official residences for judicial officers in Panadura, the extent of related State lands near the Panadura seashore, and steps to utilize those lands effectively.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the former judges’ official residence in Panadura has been unused since around 2019 and is now unusable, and that action is under way to use it for establishing the Civil Appeal High Court in Panadura. He said a new official residence for two Magistrates is being constructed on the remaining land, with expenditure so far of Rs. 18,045,206.41, after the project was halted during the economic crisis and later recommenced. He explained that judges’ housing needs are met through government residences, leased private houses or residence allowances, and noted that Panadura judges currently receive allowances while the previous residence land has been transferred to the Urban Development Authority.
- The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Sujeewa Dissanayake asked the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply to provide details on official vehicles allocated to the Minister of Housing and Construction from September 2015 during the Eighth Parliament. He requested the number, registration numbers, vehicle types and models, allocation periods, monthly fuel entitlements, and actual monthly fuel use and expenditure for each vehicle, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply JJB
AI summary The Minister provided details on official vehicles and fuel allowances assigned to a former Minister between 30 September 2015 and 26 October 2018. He stated that three Ministry vehicles were used until 1 March 2016, after which fuel allowances were paid for three private vehicles, with entitlements based on President’s Circular No. CA/1/17/1 of 14 May 2010. He also gave the vehicle numbers, periods of use, monthly fuel entitlements and recorded expenditure, noting that payments ceased after the Cabinet was dissolved by Gazette Extraordinary No. 2094/43 dated 26 October 2018.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya requested one month’s time to provide replies to Question Nos. 04 (1588/2025) and 05 (1594/2025) raised by Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake on the day’s Order Paper.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to provide details on official vehicles allocated to the Minister of Housing and Social Welfare appointed from 9 November 2018 in the Eighth Parliament. He requested the number, registration details, vehicle types and models, allocation periods, monthly fuel entitlements, and actual monthly fuel consumption and expenditure for each vehicle, or reasons if the information cannot be provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary Provided details on the allocation of vehicle WP CAR-9294, a Mercedes Benz E300 Hybrid, to the former Minister of Housing and Social Welfare from 13 November 2018 to 2 January 2019. She stated that no fuel allowance was paid for the official vehicle during the relevant period, but 155 litres of Super Diesel worth Rs. 21,330 were issued through fuel vouchers, and noted that the applicable presidential circular allowed 500 litres of diesel monthly. She also requested one month’s time to answer a separate question raised by Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education for details on official vehicles allocated to the Minister of Industry and Commerce appointed from 9 November 2018 in the Eighth Parliament. He requested the number, registration details, types, models, and allocation periods of the vehicles, as well as their monthly fuel entitlements and actual monthly fuel consumption and expenditure. He also asked for reasons if the requested information could not be provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister provided details in response to a question on official vehicles used by the Minister of Industry and Commerce appointed in November 2018. She stated that three vehicles, including a security vehicle, were assigned from 9 November to 15 December 2018, with monthly diesel allocations of 600 litres each under the relevant Public Expenditure Management Circular. She also tabled the fuel expenditure for November and December 2018 and said the remaining part of the question was not applicable.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the functions of the former Ministry of Trade, Consumer Affairs, Co-operative Development and Christian Religious Affairs were transferred in 2018 to another ministry under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2103/33 of 28 December 2018. He informed Parliament that, as a result, the current Ministry has no document files relating to the requested period regarding official vehicles.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB
AI summary The Minister provided a tabular reply on the official vehicles assigned to the State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products appointed in August 2020. He stated that three Toyota diesel vehicles were used from 12 August 2020 to 3 April 2022, each with a monthly fuel entitlement of 600 litres for travel outside the province. He detailed the monthly fuel usage and payments for 2020 to 2022 and indicated that the relevant annexed information was placed in the Library.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister provided a written response on official vehicles assigned to the Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training appointed in November 2018. She stated that three vehicles—a Toyota Land Cruiser, an Audi Q7, and a Toyota Hilux—were used from 5 to 30 November 2018, with specified monthly fuel allocations and actual fuel consumption costs. She added that the final part of the question was not applicable.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB
AI summary The Minister provided details of the current SriLankan Airlines Board, including its eight directors, their other directorships, and directors’ fees paid between October 2024 and October 2025. He stated that Mr. Sarath Ganegoda is the present Chairman, that an annex with further details has been placed in the Library, and that the Chairman had no sponsored personal travel but undertook one duty visit to New Delhi to meet Airbus.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB
AI summary The Minister outlined Sri Lanka’s international climate commitments under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, including the preparation of successive Nationally Determined Contributions, with NDC 3.0 approved by Cabinet in September 2025 for 2026–2035 across mitigation and adaptation sectors. He stated that implementation will be coordinated through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change Secretariat and inter-agency mechanisms, with budgetary, technology, monitoring and capacity-building needs. He also described the development of a 2050 Carbon Net-Zero Roadmap, the updated National Adaptation Plan for 2026–2035 with province-based costed plans, and Sri Lanka’s engagement with international adaptation and loss-and-damage financing mechanisms such as the Adaptation Fund and the COP28 Loss and Damage Response Fund.
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Environment to inform Parliament of the arrangements being made to implement Sri Lanka’s Climate Prosperity Plan. He also requested details on the Government’s measures to ensure Sri Lanka’s access to the Carbon Market, and asked for reasons if such information could not be provided.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that Sri Lanka’s Climate Prosperity Plan aims to build climate resilience and move towards net-negative carbon emissions, including increasing renewable energy generation to 70% by 2030, advancing nature-based resilience measures, green financing, and green job creation. He said the updated draft Plan has been finalized, a validation workshop held, and Cabinet approval will be sought after concurrence from relevant ministries, with sectoral projects and potential funding sources already identified. He also outlined steps to enable carbon market access, including preparation of a national carbon trading policy, cooperation under Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism and with Singapore, Article 6.4 project approvals, and development of a national carbon registry with UNDP support.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB
AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi outlined Sri Lanka’s obligations and actions under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, including the preparation of successive Nationally Determined Contributions, with NDC 3.0 approved by Cabinet in September 2025 for implementation during 2026–2035. He described planned and ongoing measures such as the Carbon Net Zero Roadmap and Strategic Plan for 2050, expanded sectoral coverage under the updated National Adaptation Plan for 2026–2035, and the need for budgetary allocations, technical assessments, monitoring systems, and institutional capacity building. He also emphasized the role of financial mechanisms for adaptation and mitigation and the involvement of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change Secretariat, inter-agency task forces, and sectoral committees in implementation and reporting.
- Mr. Speaker procedural