Sitting of Friday, 9 January 2026

Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

1. 1 Procedural Speaker's Ruling on Motion Inclusion in Order Book 46 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers Presented and Committee Reports 9 speeches ▸
3. 3 Oral question Oral Question: Agricultural Support (Q.1/206/2024) 4 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Policy Implementation and Case Re-filing (Q.2/219/2024) 10 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Department of Government Information (Q.3) 6 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Bridge Reconstruction in Batticaloa (Q.5) 14 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Mahapola Scholarship Trust Fund (Q.6/472/2025) 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Disaster Relief and Compensation (Q.7/726/2025) 20 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Gas Imports and Emergency Procurement (Q.9) 11 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Water Supply in Bandarawela (Q.10) 6 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Questions: Paddy Field Damage and Potato Imports (Q.11, Q.12) 4 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Questions by Private Notice under Standing Order 27(2) 7 speeches ▸
13. 13 Debate Ministerial Statement: Education Reform Issues 9 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary The Prime Minister said there is no suspension of the 2026 education reforms and that 106 trilingual Grade 1 and Grade 6 modules have been prepared, with an inappropriate web reference removed from an English module. She stated the reforms are part of a long-delayed system-wide transformation based on earlier policy and curriculum work, supported by pilots, reviews, teacher training, and new guidance to discontinue embedded web links in future modules. She added that modules will be distributed by 21 January 2026, Grade 6 will begin on 21 January and Grade 1 on 29 January, while pending teacher training, digital equipment distribution, and internet connectivity expansion are being completed to support implementation.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s handling of irregularities in education module preparation, arguing that accountability should extend beyond the NIE Director-General to other officials involved in preparing and overseeing the material. He highlighted continuing errors in the modules, including the use of the Ashoka Chakra instead of the Dharma Chakra in a Buddhism-related module, and asked whether any religious advisory body had approved it. He called for structured consultation on education reforms, correction of the identified mistakes, and opposed removing History from the optional subjects framework while supporting necessary modernization.

      Corruption & Governance ReformEducationReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that, as the National Institute of Education is a statutory body governed by its Council, any disciplinary action against officials must be decided by the Council, following a primary inquiry led by former Secretary Ranjith Ariyaratne. She also clarified that the Dharma Chakra/Ashoka Chakra symbol used in the book was the officially approved emblem of the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs, endorsed by its Advisory Council on Buddhism and affirmed by the Mahanayake Theros of Asgiriya and Malwathu.

      EducationReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that when shortcomings are raised in Parliament, Members should be given adequate opportunity to present them and seek responses. He emphasized the importance of allowing parliamentary scrutiny and discussion of issues brought before the House.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa began raising a matter concerning the Buddha Dhamma, but the provided excerpt contains no substantive details, proposal, question, or argument beyond the introductory reference.

      Religion & Culture Full speech →
14. 14 Oral question Answers to Questions under Standing Order 27(2) 22 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Business of the Parliament Motion 2 speeches ▸
16. 16 Debate Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment 49 speeches ▸
17. 17 Debate Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations 40 speeches ▸
18. 18 Adjournment Adjournment Debate and Adjournment 8 speeches ▸