Sitting of Thursday, 8 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23118 ·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 Parliament Opening 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented 7 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented 3 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural Matters and Points of Order 31 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.117/2024-(2) through Q.1715/2025) 55 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a point of order, indicating an objection or procedural concern. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy matter was stated in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a point of order under Standing Order 92(2), urging adherence to parliamentary procedure. He stated that the Opposition’s right to raise questions on behalf of its Members rests with the Leader of the Opposition and requested that the Leader be given the opportunity to do so.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri urged the Chair to allow the Leader of the Opposition to speak on behalf of Opposition Members, noting that individual Members could not each raise questions separately. He requested that the Leader of the Opposition be given the opportunity to present their concerns.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa requested two weeks’ time to provide an answer to the question raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Rohana Bandara’s recorded intervention consists only of “Mr. Speaker,” followed by an interruption. No substantive argument, proposal, question, or policy position is presented in the extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary The Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Rohana Bandara stated that he had informed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police about a matter involving a threat to someone’s life, but noted that a copy of the communication had not been sent to Parliament. He raised concern over the procedural handling of such threats and implied that Parliament should be formally informed.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Rohana Bandara objected that a statement attributed to him had not been made the previous day. He questioned whether he had been told or had said that matter earlier.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Rohana Bandara
AI summary Rohana Bandara questioned the appropriateness of requiring Cabinet approval in matters involving an individual’s personal security. His remark was made as a procedural objection during an interrupted exchange.
Security & Defence Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected that the Speaker allowed the Leader of the House to clarify an incident from the previous day while refusing his request to raise a matter concerning the life and safety of a Member of Parliament. He framed the issue as one of parliamentary procedure and urgent personal security.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought the Chair’s permission for a brief moment to proceed. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural objection, asserting his right to speak on a matter concerning the life of a Member of Parliament. The intervention sought recognition from the Chair to address what he framed as an urgent and serious issue.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa referred to a Threat Assessment Report by the State Intelligence Service, Police Special Branch, and North Central Province Senior DIG concerning alleged threats to MP Rohana Bandara Wijesundara, stating that it recommended deploying security officers for him. He laid the relevant letter before the House and questioned why Cabinet approval was required to implement the recommendation, citing the provision of security to MP Jagath Withana following a similar assessment as precedent for equal action.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary The Hon. Sajith Premadasa stated that no further inquiry was needed, referring to the matter as already being covered by a Police report.
Law & Order Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that the matter had already been sent forward after an inquiry. No further details, proposals, or demands were included in the recorded statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government provides security to any MP, from either side, when a life threat is reported through the proper procedure and assessed by intelligence authorities. He cited action taken in response to MP Jagath Withana’s case and urged the Opposition Leader to ensure Members notify the Speaker formally rather than raising such matters only in Parliament or the media.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of Order, but the record contains no substantive statement or issue raised beyond an interruption.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Security concerns raised by any Member of Parliament should be reported through the proper procedure, and the Government will take action accordingly.
Security & Defence Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa’s contribution was interrupted and contains no substantive remarks, proposals, questions, or policy arguments in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri stated that the safety of all 225 Members of Parliament rests with the Speaker. His brief remark was interrupted before further details or demands were made.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri stated that he was raising for the second time the issue of Members of Parliament who do not draw parliamentary salaries. He complained that no answer had been provided to his question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, a two-week deferral was requested to answer the question. The House ordered the question to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri objected to the repeated deferral of his question under Standing Order 32(2) seeking details of current MPs, their salaries and allowances, and MPs who do not draw such payments. He argued that the information, particularly regarding how many NPP MPs do not take salaries, should be readily available and asked whether the delay was fair.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government had abolished the MP pension and said there was no issue in responding to the matter raised. He informed the House that an answer would be provided within two weeks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna rose on a point of Order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna cited Standing Order 118(2) to argue that complaints concerning breaches of the Code of Conduct or parliamentary privileges must be examined by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. He maintained that the Speaker should not decide whether a matter constitutes a privilege issue and requested that the Secretariat be informed of this procedural position.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law NDF
AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media whether the Ministry has implemented a programme for early identification of children with conditions such as autism and provision of therapeutic treatment, and when it began. He requested details on hospitals with paediatric specialists, which of them operate autism-related care clinics, and whether funding has been allocated for necessary infrastructure and facilities.
Healthcare Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa responded to a question on autism services for children, stating that the “Inclusive Early Childhood Development” programme received Cabinet and National Planning Department approval in 2025 after beginning as a pilot in July 2020. He said it is being implemented in six districts, with 55 hospitals across the provinces having paediatric specialists and 20 hospitals operating clinics for conditions including autism. He added that Rs. 200 million was allocated in the 2025 Budget and Rs. 100 million in the 2026 Budget for the programme.
- The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law NDF
AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne asked whether the Government has a structured pathway for children identified with autism and other disabilities from diagnosis through to social integration, including standardized management protocols where paediatric specialists are available. He also raised the issue of transport barriers preventing regular hospital visits and proposed that the Ministry introduce a programme to facilitate transport to relevant centres.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government is addressing neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, through treatment protocols in 20 hospitals and by identifying the need for coordinated caregiving support beyond the health sector. He said inter-ministerial action is required, particularly involving social security, rural development, and women and child affairs authorities. He noted Budget allocations to improve treatment centres and protective care centres, groundwork for a dedicated centre at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, and plans to establish a dedicated autism-related unit under the Family Health Bureau.
- The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law NDF
AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne yielded his second supplementary question to the Leader of the Opposition.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about delays in procuring a pancreatic enzyme medicine needed by children with chronic lung disease, food malabsorption and cystic fibrosis. He said the drug is not produced by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, private procurement costs about Rs. 178,000, and around 35 children have been unable to obtain it. He urged expedited procurement of quality medicines and asked that the reasons for the Corporation’s non-production of the drug be examined.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa clarified the roles of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation, stating that SPC imports medicines while SPMC manufactures them. He said SPC imports 464 medical items through the Medical Supplies Division, including the medicine in question from a manufacturer in Himachal Pradesh, India. He acknowledged there had been a shortage but stated that the medicine is currently available in the market.
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) 27 speeches
- 7 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements 27 speeches
- 8 Debate Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate 66 speeches
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes 10 speeches