Sitting of Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23112 ·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 Papers Papers Presented 7 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 3 Procedural Condolences and Privilege Matter 1 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions: Prime Minister 28 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Rohana Bandara raised a matter of privilege under Standing Order 28(5), referring to a letter he had sent the Speaker about death threats and his security. He stated that security agencies had confirmed, based on intelligence, a threat to his life and that the IGP had informed him in writing that security should be provided.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Rohana Bandara raised concern over a letter stating that recommended security measures would be “subject to Cabinet approval.” He questioned whether individuals facing confirmed intelligence threats, with the IGP’s concurrence, must arrange their own security until Cabinet approval is obtained, and requested urgent attention and a response from the Speaker.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB
AI summary Thilina Samarakoon asked the Prime Minister to provide figures on tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in 2025, including whether it was a record year, and the approximate revenue earned from tourism. He also requested the Government’s target for tourist arrivals in 2026 and the measures planned to achieve it.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism had requested more time to provide the requested information. She undertook to furnish a comprehensive answer once the information is received.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha JJB
AI summary Manoj Rajapaksha asked the Prime Minister whether reported incidents at local authority meetings involving obstruction, abuse, threats, or assaults against government officers had occurred. He sought details on the areas affected, action taken against those involved, and future measures to prevent similar incidents.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary Reported incidents concerning local authorities have occurred in the Galle Municipal Council, Godakawela Pradeshiya Sabha, Jaffna Municipal Council, Poonakary Pradeshiya Sabha, and Velanai South Pradeshiya Sabha. Inquiries have been initiated or planned by the relevant Commissioners of Local Government, with a police complaint lodged regarding the Galle Municipal Council incident. The Prime Minister stated that, because local government is a devolved subject under the Thirteenth Amendment and Provincial Councils are inactive, the respective Governors will decide on further action after the inquiries conclude.
- The Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha JJB
AI summary Manoj Rajapaksha thanked the Prime Minister for providing answers.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Prime Minister to state the Government’s response to the economic and social impact of Cyclone “Michaung”, particularly support for affected persons, SMEs and industries. He sought details on compensation, concessional loans at 3 percent interest, damage assessment and loan grace periods, treatment of enterprises under debt moratoria, concessions for those listed with the Credit Information Bureau, recovery programmes, and plans to reduce damage from future natural disasters.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister informed Parliament that the Presidential Secretariat had requested additional time to provide the necessary information. She stated that the answers would be presented to the House once the information is received.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hector Appuhamy raised a clarification on disaster relief in Puttalam, stating that part of Wanathavilluwa remains under 10–15 feet of water, with 24 houses still inundated and relocation needs disputed between 13 and 17 houses. He asked whether land and houses would be provided, noting that assistance in the district was not complete despite statements to Parliament. He also raised a privilege-related concern about severe congestion on the expressway due to a new system, asking that the traffic situation be examined.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary The Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House sought the Speaker’s permission for Minister Chandana Abeyaratne, in his capacity as Chair of the District Coordinating Committee, to respond to the matter raised by Hon. Hector Appuhamy.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) A.L.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government
AI summary The Minister stated that the District Disaster Management Committee had reviewed the relevant housing and land issues the previous week and decided to provide facilities to those in need. He said eligible persons in the area raised would receive houses, and land where necessary, while minor data issues had been identified and would be addressed through the Committee.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper asked the Prime Minister whether the Government accepts that children’s personal information, beyond basic identification and emergency contacts, should be treated as private and confidential under international child protection and data privacy standards. He further inquired whether the Grade Six English language module was prepared by qualified experts in child psychology and pedagogy, and whether any issue had arisen with the module due to failure to follow such standards.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Education Ministry limits collection of student data, keeps programme-related data confidential, and requires written parental consent before sharing student information, in line with the Personal Data Protection Act, No. 9 of 2022. She said those involved in the Grade Six English module had relevant academic and professional qualifications and were recruited under approved procedures. Addressing the contested activity, she said it did not require students to disclose personal information, but was deemed inappropriate in context; the module has been sealed, not distributed, and the relevant lesson approved for removal by the NIE Academic Advisory Board.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised a supplementary question regarding a school module that asks students to share personal details such as height and weight and to interact through the defunct platform eBuddy.com. He asked whether the Prime Minister would remove the full content encouraging such online interaction, rather than only the specific page in question.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister stated that a lesson identified as inappropriate, though presented as hypothetical, had been sealed and its distribution withheld after the Ministry was notified. She said the NIE Academic Advisory Board approved the Ministry’s recommendation to remove the lesson, and confirmed that it would be removed.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC, stated that the second Supplementary Question would be asked by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa criticized the education reform process, saying the error of embedding a website into a module could have been avoided through a formal Green Paper/White Paper process and public consultation rather than a limited presentation-based approach. He called for comprehensive, globally aligned reforms developed through structured dialogue with experts and stakeholders, while retaining compulsory History and preventing links to inappropriate websites. He asked the Prime Minister whether the Government would reorient the reform process through a formal White Paper and consultation mechanism.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister said the Education Ministry’s concept paper had been shared with Members and remained open for further discussion, stressing that it sets out a strategic framework and does not include lesson content. She stated that an inquiry had been initiated into how NIE procedures were breached in preparing a contentious module, with a retired Secretary appointed to conduct a preliminary inquiry, and noted that the book was sealed, not distributed, and the lesson approved for removal. She requested that the web link not be further publicized while corrective action is underway and invited constructive proposals to strengthen the process.
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Factories in Ekala Industrial Zone (Q.1564/2025) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Q.1576/2025 (Adjourned) 2 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Holiday Bungalows in Somawathiya National Park (Q.1631/2025) 2 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Establishment of National Cadet Corps (Q.1635/2025) 7 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Detention Orders (Q.1638/2025) 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Questions under Standing Order 27(2) 9 speeches
- 11 Procedural Ministerial Statement: Foreign Employment Issues 6 speeches
- 12 Procedural Points of Order and Privilege Questions 12 speeches
- 13 Procedural Ministerial Statements and Points of Order 11 speeches
- 14 Papers Presentation of Bills: Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill 4 speeches
- 15 Debate Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill 57 speeches
- 16 Adjournment Adjournment 13 speeches