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
- 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
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns under Standing Order 27(2) about the rollout of new subject-module reforms, particularly the Grade 6 English module, arguing that problems may affect children’s educational rights and calling for education, health, and related areas to be recognized as fundamental rights. He questioned the Government on the studies, standards, and procedures used to develop the syllabus and select website references, including whether any procurement process or financial benefit to private entities was involved. He also sought details on teacher training, ICT facilities, school infrastructure readiness, funding for future terms, and transparency over the framework for including or changing module content.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education requested time until the next sitting day to provide a clear and precise response to the matter raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera raised a Point of Order regarding the Special Select Committee appointed to examine the issue of 323 containers, noting that no meeting had been convened despite November and December having passed. He requested that the Minister of Justice, as Chair of the Committee, either proceed with the Committee’s work or clarify otherwise, and provide a schedule of meeting dates so Members could plan accordingly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration responded to a matter raised by Hon. Ajith P. Perera, explaining that a previously scheduled sitting could not proceed because many Members were unable to attend due to short notice. He stated that it has been rescheduled for the current Session and that the House will be informed of the plan and timetable.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question raised on 24 October 2025 regarding the 2025 Budget and capital expenditure. He stated that there are 54 Budget expenditure proposals for 2025, with allocations and progress reported through annexes, and that monitoring responsibility rests with relevant Chief Accounting Officers across ministries and other public bodies. He reported that, as of December, expenditure stood at Rs. 956 billion, with around Rs. 10 billion more expected through external-project adjustments.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB
AI summary Asked the Minister to state the relevant percentage, seeking a specific clarification during the exchange.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary The Minister provided expenditure and progress updates for 2025, stating that Rs. 1,315 billion had been allocated, with about 70 per cent disbursed so far and over 90 per cent expected after year-end revisions. He reported that Rs. 215,650 million had been provided for 54 proposals, with detailed financial progress, current account figures, and foreign-loan-funded project progress tabled in annexes, and said further percentage aggregates could be submitted. He also stated that FDI inflows reached USD 827 million by end-September 2025 and that a 2026 investment attraction programme under the BOI and relevant agencies would target multiple sectors.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned how positive macroeconomic indicators translate into benefits for individuals, households, entrepreneurs and firms. He raised concerns that cyclone “Ditta” assistance was being funded by repurposing existing project allocations rather than through additional resources, and urged the Government to seek new partner funding. He also asked for clarification on measures to provide micro-level relief to stressed MSMEs facing litigation from banks and finance companies.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Government is targeting sustained economic growth, noting recent quarter-on-quarter growth above 8 per cent and an increase in GDP per capita from about USD 3,000 to around USD 4,500. He said poverty and inequality remain concerns, citing a Gini coefficient above 0.45, and highlighted the Rs. 25 billion Prajashakthi Programme in 2026 for village development and empowerment. He clarified that the Rs. 500 billion supplementary allocation for cyclone “Ditta” is separate from the Rs. 1,480 billion foreign-funded capital expenditure programme, which he said has not been stopped, diverted, or reduced.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB
AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question by explaining that the 5 per cent inflation target was chosen to suit Sri Lanka’s status as a small open developing economy exposed to external shocks, supply disruptions and exchange rate volatility. He stated that historical inflation trends and quantitative analysis support a target around 5 per cent, while a lower target such as 2 per cent could require tight monetary conditions, reduce investment, slow recovery and increase unemployment. He added that, under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 and the Flexible Inflation Targeting framework, monetary policy is guided by domestic price stability and wider macroeconomic conditions, with the exchange rate largely market-determined.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the review process for the inflation target for the next three years will commence soon, referring to the response given to Question No. 7. He noted that parts of the lengthy answer had been omitted orally and tabled the full answer in Parliament.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned alleged inconsistencies in the Government’s economic responses, particularly on GDP per capita, exchange-rate movements, and the rise in public debt from Rs. 27.9 trillion to Rs. 31 trillion. He asked whether the Minister accepted the Central Bank’s position given the rupee’s depreciation, and challenged the policy of targeting 5 per cent inflation by asking whether salaries would be increased accordingly. He also referred to apparent contradictions between answers given in Parliament and the President’s remarks at the Finance Ministry Advisory Council on converting the EPF into a pension, urging clearer and consistent explanations on economic policy.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the government on how it intends to strengthen the rupee, attract dollar inflows, and meet its stated targets. He also noted an inconsistency between the response given to him and the response provided to the Leader of the Opposition on the same matter.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha rejected claims of a contradiction in prior answers and said the matter was unrelated to the EPF. He clarified that the 5 per cent inflation figure is a flexible three-year target, not a fixed rate, and said it can be reviewed at the next scheduled review if global conditions warrant. He also stated that the Government is operating within the inflation framework and disputed debt figures presented by others, arguing that foreign currency debt has remained broadly stable and that the presentation was misleading.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB
AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question, stating that Sri Lanka has 18,982 preschools and that no eligible preschool teacher has been excluded from the stipend scheme, which was increased by Rs. 6,000 from June. She said preschools are a Provincial subject under the 13th Amendment, but the Government is working towards a national preschool programme through a National Policy and National Statute, including common standards for teacher diplomas, registration, curriculum implementation and teacher training. She outlined plans for infrastructure support through grants, loans and local authorities, and said a contributory pension scheme for preschool teachers is being proposed in line with the 2025-2029 Early Childhood Care and Development action plan.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition urged the Government to develop a national policy for preschool education, citing long-standing informality, commercialization, unregulated fees, and inadequate pay and job security for teachers and caretakers. He argued that early childhood education should receive centralized national intervention rather than fragmented provincial approaches, given the importance of brain development before age five. He also proposed free and equitable preschool education and a national preschool nutrition programme in coordination with health authorities to address malnutrition.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister said preschool teachers are in a privately run sector under State regulation and therefore cannot be paid as members of a closed public service, but noted that their stipend has been increased to Rs. 6,000. She outlined plans, in discussion with the Ministry of Education, to professionalize the sector through NVQ certification, higher diploma and possible degree pathways, and a closed service framework. She also said preschools are monitored through MOHs, nutrition support has been increased by raising the breakfast allowance from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 for undernourished children, and relevant institutions are coordinating to improve teacher quality and preschool nutrition.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake rose on a Point of Order. No substantive issue, proposal, or question is included in the provided text.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a matter under Standing Order 38 concerning the 17th anniversary of Lasantha Wickrematunge’s assassination. He questioned why his request for an answer from the Prime Minister was refused on the basis that the matter is sub judice, while answers are provided in Parliament on other matters before courts, such as the Easter attacks, the “X-Press Pearl” incident and substandard medicines. He expressed concern over what he described as inconsistent treatment of parliamentary questions.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government is making maximum efforts to investigate the 2009 assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge and attacks on media institutions, including the “Sirasa” institution. He noted that previous Governments and Ministers had failed over 17 years to identify and prosecute those responsible, and said the current Government would take necessary action to find the perpetrators and deliver justice.
- 8 Debate Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate 66 speeches
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes 10 speeches