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 ▸
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 ▾
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB

      AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana questioned the Minister of Health on measures to ensure the supply of quality-assured medicines, the establishment of an international-standard pharmaceutical testing laboratory, and steps to prevent shortages in State hospitals. He raised concerns over NMRA-registered medicines causing adverse outcomes, unregistered hand-carried medicines being sold to patients, and alleged defects in diagnostic tests such as Troponin-I at the National Hospital. He also called for support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, price regulation, standardisation of diagnostic testing, and better oversight of essential equipment and supplies in both State and private hospitals.

      Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni outlined the NMRA process for registering medicines, including site inspections, dossier review, pre-shipment sampling and laboratory testing, and said registration delays had been reduced from 400–500 days to around 300 working days. He stated that the Government is strengthening post-marketing surveillance, upgrading the understaffed NMRA laboratory to international standards, and considering an independent national laboratory for pharmaceuticals and food testing. He also noted that the 2026 Budget allocates Rs. 185 billion for medicine procurement, with efforts to expand local sourcing, address supply gaps and monopolies, and advance price regulation. On the Troponin-I reagent issue, he said procurement disputes are before court and will be resolved judicially.

      Public FinanceHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana clarified the distinction between “sex,” which he described as referring to male and female, and “sexuality,” which he said is broader and more diverse.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni briefly referred Members to a document, stating that reading it would provide a clear understanding and asking that it be shared with others. The sitting then concluded, with Parliament adjourned at 5.34 p.m. until 9.30 a.m. on 20 January 2026.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →