Sitting of Friday, 9 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23149 ·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 Procedural Speaker's Ruling on Motion Inclusion in Order Book 46 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented and Committee Reports 9 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Question: Agricultural Support (Q.1/206/2024) 4 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Policy Implementation and Case Re-filing (Q.2/219/2024) 10 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Department of Government Information (Q.3) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Bridge Reconstruction in Batticaloa (Q.5) 14 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Mahapola Scholarship Trust Fund (Q.6/472/2025) 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Disaster Relief and Compensation (Q.7/726/2025) 20 speeches
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson asked the Minister of Defence to provide year-by-year data from 2015 to the present on disaster incidents in Sri Lanka, affected persons, compensation paid, and total expenditure on disaster management. He also sought confirmation of the Government’s awareness of international attention to disaster management and requested details of measures taken by Sri Lanka in this area.
Security & Defence Full speech → - The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence said the question had been submitted before Cyclone “Michaung” and that relevant figures had since changed, so he tabled a detailed written answer. The tabled response provided disaster incident, affected-person and compensation data from 2015 to 2025, expenditure details for the Department of Meteorology, Disaster Management Centre, Disaster Relief Services Centre and NBRO, and outlined disaster management measures under the Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005. It also listed preparedness, early warning, risk reduction, resettlement, compensation and infrastructure initiatives, including increased death compensation, landslide-risk housing, building-code measures, district and divisional plans, and emergency response systems.
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Kins Nelson raised concerns about paddy farmers affected by the 28 November cyclone, citing 106,080 farmers and 56,116 hectares of damaged land, with some fields expected to remain uncultivable for two to three seasons. He asked whether, beyond the announced Rs. 150,000 per hectare compensation, a special programme with monthly livelihood assistance would be provided, noting that many farmers had not yet received payments and that the compensation was insufficient for re-cultivation. He also highlighted the loss of schoolchildren’s books and uniforms in the disaster.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Kins Nelson stated that the issue under discussion affects a single family unit in practical terms: farmers and their children. He framed the matter as directly concerning farming households and their dependants.
Agriculture Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Kins Nelson briefly referred to a recurring household-level issue affecting farmers’ children. No specific proposal, question, or policy demand was stated in the excerpt.
Agriculture Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson objected to being interrupted or constrained by time and requested to be allowed to conclude his remarks quickly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Kins Nelson queried the assistance being provided to families, specifically asking about support for children. He referred to payments of Rs. 150,000 for farmers and Rs. 20,000 for affected children, seeking clarification on those relief measures.
- The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence stated that the President and relevant teams had held discussions with the concerned ministries regarding land-related issues, noting that similar matters exist beyond Polonnaruwa and that evaluations are being expedited where immediate resolution is not possible. He also said assistance for schoolchildren had largely been paid in accordance with the relevant circular, with remaining disbursements being made promptly and properly.
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson used his second supplementary opportunity to yield the floor to the Leader of the Opposition.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa called for a fundamental restructuring of disaster management in response to increasing climate variability, including consolidating relevant agencies under a dedicated Ministry for Disaster Management, strengthening resources, and introducing a new Disaster Management Act. He proposed training unemployed graduates to form a climate and disaster management task force, citing India’s model. Referring to studies by Monash University and the British Medical Journal on post-cyclone mortality, he asked whether the Government would review the findings and develop a new disaster management work plan.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition indicated that he was proceeding to ask his question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Asked the Government to study the referenced research and implement a new approach to disaster management. The intervention was framed as a request for policy action based on available evidence.
Security & Defence Full speech → - The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB
AI summary Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera stated that the Government had paid particular attention to those affected by Cyclone “Michaung.” He said the recent National Disaster Management Council discussed reforms, including appointing a committee to review the relevant Act, restructure institutions, and re-establish a national disaster management plan. He added that proposals raised, as well as Monash University findings, would be considered for future work.
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Gas Imports and Emergency Procurement (Q.9) 11 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Water Supply in Bandarawela (Q.10) 6 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Questions: Paddy Field Damage and Potato Imports (Q.11, Q.12) 4 speeches
- 12 Oral question Questions by Private Notice under Standing Order 27(2) 7 speeches
- 13 Debate Ministerial Statement: Education Reform Issues 9 speeches
- 14 Oral question Answers to Questions under Standing Order 27(2) 22 speeches
- 15 Procedural Business of the Parliament Motion 2 speeches
- 16 Debate Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment 49 speeches
- 17 Debate Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations 40 speeches
- 18 Adjournment Adjournment Debate and Adjournment 8 speeches