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
- 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
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB
AI summary The Minister moved for parliamentary approval of a regulation made under Section 66 of the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act, No. 19 of 1954, dated 12 December 2025 and presented on 18 December 2025, noting that Cabinet approval had been notified. The motion was put to the House, after which the debate was opened and the Chair was transferred to the Deputy Speaker.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a point of Order. No further argument, proposal, or substantive issue was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake briefly raised a matter described as being of national importance. No specific issue, proposal, or request is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake indicated that he was raising a matter of national importance that had arisen. No further details or specific proposal were provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake requested a Government update on reports of an earthquake in Ududumbara the previous evening and the closure of schools in Badulla following a Meteorology Department warning. He asked for information on the risk of a cyclone affecting Batticaloa, Ampara, Badulla and Polonnaruwa, and whether the Government is prepared in light of events on 28 November.
Security & Defence Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera JJB
AI summary Forecasts indicate the weather system has not strengthened into a cyclone but is moving toward the Trincomalee area, with rainfall expected in the evening. Red alerts have been issued for vulnerable areas, and the Government, through the Disaster Management Centre, has taken special preparedness measures.
Security & Defence Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister moved an amendment to the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act regulations to include food and beverage stewardesses in residential hotels among categories of women over 18 permitted to work before 6.00 a.m. or after 6.00 p.m., with mandatory safeguards on transport, accommodation, health, safety and welfare. He said the measure supports women’s labour force participation and the expanding hospitality sector, and cited recent approvals and complaint-resolution figures relating to women’s night work. He also noted Sri Lanka’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment at work, recent wage increases, and the reconvening of the National Labour Advisory Council, before requesting approval of the regulation. In closing, he rejected allegations of media suppression, said the Government would challenge misinformation, and referred to past attacks on journalists and media institutions.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticized the Government over the Grade 6 English textbook controversy involving a QR link associated with an LGBTQ logo, questioning accountability for any public expenditure losses arising from it. He then alleged irregularities in a coal procurement tender for the Lakvijaya/Norochcholai power plant, claiming that substandard, lower-calorific coal would increase consumption and impose significant additional costs. He argued that the tender should be cancelled rather than managed through penalties, tabled a port status document, and demanded an immediate suspension of the tender and a shift to quality-assured procurement.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe supported the Regulation under the Shop and Office Employees Act to allow women to work night shifts in food and beverage service within tourism, subject to consent and provision of transport or accommodation between 6.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. He argued that the measure would help increase women’s participation in Sri Lanka’s tourism workforce, which he said remains far below regional levels, and would support rural youth employment alongside the Rs. 500 million “Hospitality Labour Corps” training initiative. He also cited record tourist arrivals in 2025 and praised coordinated disaster management during Cyclone Michaung, before requesting parliamentary support for the Regulation.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam supported the regulation permitting women over 18 to work extended hours in the food and beverage sector with safeguards, while affirming his party’s support for women’s employment and political rights. He said ITAK has serious concerns about proposed education reforms, including rural impacts and curriculum content, but condemned personal attacks on the Prime Minister, especially gendered attacks. He disputed claims about Karaitheevu lands in Batticaloa, argued they are historically Tamil lands, and urged proper local inquiry before proposing solutions. He also condemned the reduction of Batticaloa-Colombo train services, citing cancelled or curtailed services and inconvenience to passengers, and asked why existing public transport services were being cut.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne rejected claims of an internal NPP attempt to displace Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, stating that the party respects her role in women’s political advancement. She defended the Government’s education reforms as part of broader social transformation and said the Regulation under the Shop and Office Employees Act would strengthen women’s economic participation. She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment at work, noting its broad coverage and the need for workplace policies and complaint mechanisms. She added that the Government is preparing further legal reforms, including abolishing MPs’ pensions.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP
AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa said education reforms should be modernized to suit Sri Lanka’s culture and labour market needs, and argued that the Government and the Minister responsible must accept accountability for errors in related materials and policies. He questioned whether references to LGBTQ-related matters in tourism, disaster management regulations, and a Grade 6 textbook were accidental, and requested clarity on the Government’s position. He also demanded that the Select Committee on the release of 323 containers, including alleged narcotics-related containers, be convened immediately and that the proposed audit proceed. He further raised concerns about coal quality issues, alleged selective enforcement over illegal logging and wildlife offences, and requested inclusion of Opposition MPs in Galle District Development Committee work.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake addressed the Speaker’s Ruling on a proposed Special Select Committee concerning judicial affairs, arguing that constitutional separation of powers requires Parliament to avoid overreach into areas such as the Judicial Service Commission. He contrasted past Executive-Judiciary conflicts with what he described as an unusual Opposition attempt to scrutinize the Judiciary at a time when investigations into past political and financial crimes are advancing. He alleged that the move was intended to pressure judicial and investigative institutions and shield former officeholders facing scrutiny, while also defending the Government over the Auditor-General vacancy by noting that the Constitutional Council had rejected four presidential nominations.
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera raised a point of order under Standing Order 92, alleging that the Leader of the House had misrepresented the motion under discussion. He clarified that the motion concerned issues raised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka regarding the transfer of judges, rather than any attack on the Judiciary or attempt to change judges.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Mano Ganesan questioned whether plantation and hill-country communities are being included in the Government’s post-disaster housing and relief measures under the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme. While welcoming the President’s housing initiatives and announced relief payments, he said affected estate workers in districts such as Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle and Matale appear to have been sidelined. He demanded that the Government clearly state whether these communities will receive the promised land and housing assistance, including the Rs. 5 million allocations.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Mano Ganesan opposed proposals to build apartment blocks for hill country communities, arguing that they require stand-alone houses with access to land rather than urban-style apartments. He demanded that the same Rs. 5 million housing grant given to others be provided to these communities and warned that failure to do so would undermine confidence in the Government and lead to protests.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Mrs. Hiruni Wijesinghe said disaster relief measures announced by the President apply nationally and rejected claims of discriminatory treatment of Malaiyagam people, citing assistance and housing initiatives in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala. She criticized the Opposition for diverting debates from the Orders before Parliament, then supported amendments under the Shops and Office Employees Act allowing women in specified hotel and hospitality roles to work evening and night shifts with safeguards such as rest facilities, transport, and welfare measures. She said these changes, along with Sri Lanka’s ratification of ILO Convention C190 on violence and harassment at work, are intended to remove legal barriers, improve workplace dignity and safety, and increase women’s labour force participation.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a point of order. No substantive issue or argument is recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a procedural point regarding Standing Orders 92(1)(e) and 92(2)(b), arguing that a Member making a point of order may interrupt without needing the speaking Member to give way, except during a Division. He emphasized that points of order are limited to one minute and must not address the substantive question under consideration, and urged the Chair to apply this distinction correctly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Welcoming the new Order under the Shops and Office Employees Act, she said it would support women’s employment, particularly by allowing women in the hotel sector to work at night, and urged speedy accession to ILO Convention 190 to ensure protection from violence and harassment. She requested that suitable work-from-home arrangements be introduced for women in the public service where possible, to increase women’s economic participation. She also raised constituency issues in Kandy, calling for alternative trading spaces for displaced pavement vendors and asking the Government to review steep Kandy Municipal Council assessment rate increases, especially following cyclone-related hardship.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB
AI summary The Member supported the amendment to the Shops and Office Employees Act to permit women to work as food and beverage service attendants at night, subject to safeguards including accommodation, safe transport, and express consent for such assignments. He argued that the measure would support tourism growth, economic recovery, and higher female labour force participation. He also responded to Opposition criticism by asserting that the Government is addressing longstanding issues faced by the Malaiyagam community and implementing broader worker- and public service-related reforms, including salary increases, pension restoration, and loan benefits.
- The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB
AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha criticised the Government over several issues, including the proposed appointment of the Auditor General, alleging unsuitable names had been sent while senior audit officers were ignored and urging that a qualified nominee be submitted to the Constitutional Council. He called for a special parliamentary committee to examine judicial transfers, saying judges lacked an effective mechanism to challenge unfair transfers. He also alleged irregularities and major financial losses in a 550 MW wind and solar power allocation approved by Cabinet, comparing the proposed Rs. 18 per unit rate with lower recent tender prices. He further raised concerns about education materials, including references to obscene websites in a Grade 6 module and the use of an incorrect symbol resembling Ashoka’s wheel instead of the Dharmachakra, and referred to alleged political pressure on officials in a gravel enforcement case.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Thushari Jayasingha supported the Order under the Shops and Office Employees Act enabling women’s night work, linking it to ILO obligations, tourism growth, and women’s labour force participation. She emphasized that the regulations followed tripartite consultation and include safeguards such as written consent, Labour Commissioner authorization after 10.00 p.m., limits on night duties, overtime pay, welfare committees, meals, rest facilities, and transport-related protections. She also briefly addressed allegations about changes to the Dharmachakra in textbooks, stating that religious leaders had been consulted and the approved symbol was included.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Invoking Standing Order 11, Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a point of order requesting a quorum count, questioning whether at least 20 Members were present. He contrasted the daily cost of running Parliament with the lack of disaster relief payments, specifically referring to the non-payment of Rs. 25,000 to affected people.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB
AI summary Gamagedara Dissanayake accused Hon. Archchuna of deliberately creating a procedural difficulty in Parliament by allegedly having two Members leave the Chamber before raising a point of order. He described the action as unethical and a misuse of parliamentary procedure for political purposes.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK
AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran supported the regulations under the Shops and Office Employees Act, noting women’s economic contribution and calling for protection of their rights, safety and basic pay. He urged that education reforms preserve Tamil identity, arts, culture, traditions and history, following discussions with the Prime Minister. He also questioned the requirement for low-revenue local authorities to contribute 20 per cent of employees’ salaries, saying they first need income-generating plans, and called for basic wages and pension schemes for three-wheeler drivers, farmers, fishers and similar workers.
- The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB
AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi welcomed the Regulation under the Shops and Office Employees Act to facilitate women’s night employment in the tourism sector. She argued that despite women comprising a majority of the population, low female labour force participation and unemployment require legal measures to expand work opportunities, particularly amid increased tourist arrivals in 2025. She supported the Regulation’s provisions on accommodation, transport and safety, saying they would address parental concerns and enable more women, including those from the hill country, to work without fear.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara challenged the Speaker’s Ruling on parliamentary discussion of the Judicial Service Commission, arguing that the JSC is an administrative body funded and scrutinized by Parliament rather than a court, and that precedent and Erskine May had been misapplied. He called for transparent procedures for judicial transfers and promotions, alleging that senior judges had been bypassed in higher court appointments and that affected judges lacked an independent remedy. He also questioned reported instructions by the CIABOC Director-General to Magistrates on bail, raised concerns about proposed appointments of Tamil judges without stated necessity, and urged reforms consistent with international judicial conduct principles and Bar Association concerns.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB
AI summary The Minister explained that the Order under the Shops and Office Employees Act permits women to work at night as food and beverage attendants, particularly to support longer operating hours in the hospitality sector, with safeguards requiring suitable rest accommodation or secure transport after duty. He said the change was requested by employers, employer associations and trade unions, and discussed at the National Labour Advisory Council. He also outlined broader labour law reforms, including a consolidated bill, ratification of ILO Convention C190 on violence and harassment at work, improved industrial relations, and measures to increase women’s labour force participation through safer workplaces, care economy support, and protections against discrimination.
- 17 Debate Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations 40 speeches
- 18 Adjournment Adjournment Debate and Adjournment 8 speeches