Sitting of Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23200 ·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 Opening - Parliament Met at 9:30 a.m. 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Tabled - Annual Reports 3 speeches
- 3 Committee report Committee Report - Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Scheme 1 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions 2 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Norochcholai Coal Power Plant Environmental Impact (Q.7/2026) 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service Officers (Q.13/2026) 8 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Dumbara Prison Overcrowding (Q.21/2026) 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: State Lands on Lease in Anuradhapura District (Q.27/2026) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Land-Related Actions in Manmunai Pattu and Vakarai Divisions (Q.36/2026) 5 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Vehicle Imports and Revenue Collection (Q.38/2026) 11 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Export Crops and Coconut Production Targets (Q.49/2026) 6 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question: Land Reform Commission Lands in Puttalam District (Q.55/2026) 6 speeches
- 13 Oral question Oral Question: Non-Government Schools in Elpitiya Education Zone (Q.61/2026) 6 speeches
- 14 Oral question Oral Question: Pension Entitlements and Samurdhi Banks Computerization (Q.67/2026) 6 speeches
- 15 Procedural Procedural - No-Confidence Motion Discussion 8 speeches
- 16 Oral question Question under Standing Order 27(2): Coal Supply Tender Process 20 speeches
- 17 Oral question Question under Standing Order 27(2): Tourism Performance and Deferral of Ravi Karunanayake Question 7 speeches
- 18 Procedural Procedural - No-Confidence Motion and Business Scheduling Discussion 11 speeches
- 19 Procedural Personal Explanation - Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Procedural Interruptions 13 speeches
- 20 Procedural Presentation of Bills 3 speeches
- 21 Debate Debate - Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme 76 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary Moved approval of the amended Gazette for the Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme under the Welfare Benefits Act, No. 24 of 2002, noting Cabinet approval and its role as the main welfare programme for low-income and vulnerable groups. He explained that benefits are allocated under the Poor, Extremely Poor, Vulnerable and Transitional categories using Welfare Benefits Board criteria based on the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, and addressed concerns over beneficiary selection. The amendment extends payments for groups otherwise due to end in December 2025 until June 2026, citing the impact of the November cyclonic disaster, and also covers assistance for persons with disabilities, renal disease patients and elderly recipients.
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage outlined revisions to Aswesuma and related social protection benefits, stating that disability allowances are being raised to Rs. 10,000 for 200,000 persons and chronic kidney disease beneficiaries increased from 50,000 to 70,000. He said around 1.92 million people in four welfare categories are receiving support, with benefit increases to Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 17,500, and that the programme is intended to continue until June 2027. He also described government empowerment measures, including grants, financial literacy training, concessional Samurdhi loans at 4 per cent, and allocations of Rs. 60 billion in 2026 to support micro and small enterprises. He rejected Opposition criticism of education reforms and said the reforms are structured around five pillars, including curriculum, human resources, facilities, and assessment changes.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva supported extending Aswesuma payments but argued that the programme, originally introduced as a temporary crisis-response measure, should not continue without correcting serious targeting errors identified in research tabled in Parliament. He urged the Government to revise and properly weight eligibility indicators, pilot the revised system with at least 3,000 households before a national rollout, and conduct an independent evaluation of the Samurdhi Development Department’s spending and value for money. He also called for the immediate appointment of an Auditor-General, raised concerns about the proposed “Praja Shakthi” structure, and linked poverty policy to broader needs in education reform, teacher training, technology investment, and preparing for AI-related labour market changes.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva argued that limited public funds should be directed toward priorities such as English education, teacher training, and technology. He urged that the private sector not be displaced in areas where it can provide services, and that public spending focus on public goods.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage clarified that his earlier reference to the Samurdhi Development Department concerned funds mobilized through Samurdhi institutions, not solely Treasury allocations. He stated that Rs. 60 billion this year is being deployed through Samurdhi Department funds, including Samurdhi-affiliated banks and dedicated funds, alongside about Rs. 2 billion from the ADB and World Bank.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that bank funds belong to the people rather than the Government. He noted that the Government had spent Rs. 27 billion on the relevant Department, with Rs. 22 billion allocated to salaries.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake discussed amendments to the Aswesuma social protection payment scheme under the Welfare Benefits Act, noting extensions of benefits for vulnerable households to June 2026 and for poor and extreme poor households to June 2027, while disability, kidney patient, and elderly benefits continue. He outlined the scheme’s categories and payment levels, and linked the changes to continuing hardship after Cyclone “Didva.” He acknowledged concerns about targeting errors, including exclusion of eligible poor households and inclusion of ineligible households, and said a Technical Committee is revising indicators and weights, after which field verification and an updated poverty registry will be used to improve benefit delivery.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP
AI summary D.V. Chanaka called on the Minister in charge of Police to expedite investigations and take legal action over an alleged assault at the “Charter’s Edge” hotel on 12 September, noting that no arrests had been made. He then challenged the Minister of Power over the coal procurement process, disputing official answers given to questions raised under Standing Order 27(2) and arguing that low-quality coal could damage boilers, reduce efficiency, increase pollution, and harm public health around Norochcholai. He alleged irregularities in the tender timeline, vessel allocations, and handling of the company Potentia, and invited the Minister to a public debate to substantiate claims of corruption in the coal tender.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Thilanka U. Gamage JJB
AI summary Hon. Thilanka U. Gamage supported amendments extending Aswesuma benefits, citing the impact of the “Didva” cyclone and continuing hardship, with poor and extreme poor categories extended to June 2027 and vulnerable beneficiaries to June 2026. He said the scheme remains temporary but should not end abruptly, and called for linking beneficiaries to production, credit, small industries, and poverty-eradication programmes while continuing support for schoolchildren, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. He also defended education reforms as central to reducing poverty, invited the Opposition to debate them, and referred to the Praja Shakthi National Programme as part of a five-year plan to build capacity and reduce rural poverty.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran welcomed the continuation of the Aswesuma welfare scheme but urged improvements in targeting, appeals, monitoring, periodic enumeration, and refinement of poverty indicators, particularly to reflect conflict-affected conditions in the North and East such as landlessness, school closures, livelihood loss, and families of the disappeared or detained. He called for an independent investigation into the death of 12-year-old Kuganesan Dinojo in Mullaitivu and linked “true solace” to justice, return of lands, livelihood restoration, and release of detained relatives. He also raised concerns on rising human-elephant conflict in the Vanni, delayed paddy procurement after flood-affected harvesting, and illegal fishing practices, requesting urgent ministerial action and stronger enforcement.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Biyanwila JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Biyanwila supported amendments to the Aswesuma payment scheme, arguing that expanded social assistance was necessary after the economic crisis, fertilizer policy failures, and hardship faced by low-income groups. He said the Government had increased elderly, kidney patient, schoolchild, and disaster-related assistance while seeking to reduce unnecessary expenditure and redirect resources to vulnerable people. He emphasized that relief should not be permanent and linked the policy to rebuilding a productive economy through agriculture, tourism, new industries, and measures such as a Cinnamon Development Department.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF
AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana said he would support the Aswesuma payment scheme if it is properly delivered and expanded to eligible poor families, but questioned claims that poverty could be eliminated within five years amid high living costs. He urged the Government to fulfil election promises by reducing fuel prices, commodity prices and electricity tariffs, citing higher-than-expected revenue from vehicle imports as a source for relief. He also called for action against wastage and delays in the Central Expressway project, protection for officials handling disaster compensation, and safeguards for livelihoods such as traditional stake-net fisheries alongside welfare payments.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer rejected Opposition claims that officials were responsible for delays to the Central Expressway, arguing that contractor non-payment arose from the previous Government’s bankruptcy and mismanagement. He defended the Government’s poverty relief efforts, particularly Aswesuma, and said adjustments would be made to reflect disaster impacts while ensuring responsible use of public funds. He also linked poverty alleviation to education reform, criticizing opposition to reforms by politically motivated actors and stressing the need for education to help break the cycle of poverty.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB
AI summary The Minister said benefits for the “At-risk” category under the Welfare Benefits Act and Aswesuma programme have been extended to June 2026, while allowances for poor and extremely poor categories will continue until June 2027, covering 1.92 million families and additional elderly, kidney disease, and disability beneficiaries. He argued that welfare support should be temporary and linked to socioeconomic empowerment, citing the Praja Shakthi programme and livelihood initiatives. He also defended proposed education curriculum reforms as part of addressing multidimensional poverty, welcomed constructive criticism, and challenged the Opposition to promptly table and debate its proposed no-confidence motion over the reform process.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that the Aswesuma payment scheme is not a poverty-eradication programme unless linked to a broader strategy covering production, investment, consumption, savings and exports. He rejected claims that the Opposition opposed education reforms, stating that the Grade 6 reform was deferred by the President due to content, teacher training and technical issues, including an obscene link in an English module. He questioned whether parents were being required to fund TVs and smart boards despite assurances that the State would provide such equipment, and tabled related school letters and the disputed module. He said the Opposition supports genuine reforms, including languages and STEAM education, but demanded proper implementation and accountability.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB
AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said discrepancies in the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Payment Scheme, including exclusion of eligible plantation communities and inclusion of ineligible recipients, are being corrected by the Government. She noted increases in elderly, disability and CKD payments, support for children from low-income families, and argued that welfare should help families recover from poverty rather than create dependency. She also linked poverty reduction to education reform, defending the Government’s reform programme against calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation and stating that promised measures, including a Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers from the 10th of the next month, would be implemented.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB
AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera argued that education reforms are necessary but risk undermining free education unless implemented through a structured pilot programme. He criticised the current Grade 1 reforms, citing the abolition of copybooks, lack of printed teacher guides, reliance on QR codes and digital equipment, and requests for schools to procure TVs and sound systems, and said children were being used as test subjects. He also raised concerns about delays in school uniforms and urged the President to retract a statement made in Jaffna if it had caused ethnic or religious tension. He referred to the remand of Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero and alleged vilification of the Sangha, while calling for protection of all religious and ethnic communities.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB
AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi supported approval of the Aswesuma payment scheme under the Welfare Benefits Act, arguing it should continue while beneficiaries are helped move from dependency to productive economic participation. He linked poverty, ignorance, drug abuse and weak development outcomes to the need for education reform, and stated that copybooks are not banned under the reforms but remain available for children who need support with letter formation. He also criticized Opposition Members for, in his view, commenting on reforms without seeking briefings or engaging sufficiently in committee work.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera paid tribute to the late Nandana Gunathilaka, recalling his political career and public service in Kalutara and Panadura. He said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya supports education reform but argued the Government failed to conduct proper consultation through a White Paper and treated the process as a limited syllabus change rather than a wider institutional, assessment and teacher-training reform. Referring to the President’s 13 January pause of Grade 6 reforms, he said delays in modules, teacher training, textbooks and devices were the Government’s responsibility, and urged it to accept responsibility, correct the shortcomings and implement reforms with certainty for students and parents.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. K. Ilankumaran JJB
AI summary Hon. K. Ilankumaran outlined the Government’s continuation and expansion of Aswesuma welfare payments, including support for poor and very poor families, vulnerable households, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, CKD patients, and students in Jaffna. He said “at-risk” payments would continue until June 2026 and core benefits until 2027, while the Government’s longer-term aim was to reduce dependency through employment and economic growth. He also referred to recovery from bankruptcy, improving state enterprises, and plans for Northern Province development, including restarting the Paranthan Chemical Factory and promoting equitable development across communities.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC
AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir argued that the Aswesuma welfare scheme continues to exclude many eligible households due to flawed criteria, while rising costs make current cash benefits inadequate. He called for reduced prices of essentials and utilities, revised eligibility rules for migrant families, fisherfolk, small self-employed persons and poor households with certain assets, and consideration of in-kind support through cooperatives. He also urged the return of seized agricultural lands in the North and East, better use of local resources to create employment, and urgent action to address disrupted public health services in the East. He supported education reform but demanded the removal of religiously objectionable sexually explicit content from proposed materials.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister sought approval to extend the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Payment Scheme for six months for around 500,000 beneficiaries, while outlining related housing and community development initiatives, including a target of 16,000 houses and wider inter-ministerial plans for 50,000 houses. He highlighted government interventions to reduce prices of essential goods, citing reductions in onions, potatoes, sugar, milk powder, wheat flour and rice prices, alongside social protection measures. He defended ongoing education reforms based on curriculum, infrastructure, human resources, monitoring and evaluation, and public awareness, rejecting Opposition criticism over disputed content in a Grade 6 English module and calling for any no-confidence motion to be formally tabled. He said the reforms would proceed from Grade 1 with identified lapses corrected and public communication strengthened.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the President had not spoken against any religion, but had warned against using religion to incite racism, and noted reports that complaints may be made to the CID over the matter. He linked this to the Amendment and education reforms before Parliament, saying the Government would continue providing relief and facilities to those in need under the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe said the Aswesuma welfare programme has benefited many poor people, but alleged that last year’s data collection process excluded many eligible poor households while including affluent persons, particularly in the Eastern Province and Ampara. He urged that beneficiary selection be revised through a committee involving District and Divisional Secretaries and local representatives. He also criticized the “Praja Shakthi” movement as a partisan and non-transparent village-level initiative, and tabled an urgent circular issued by the Welfare Benefits Board.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe referred to the first phase of the Aswesuma programme, which began on 10 November 2025, and raised concerns about alleged party bias in beneficiary selection in Ampara. He requested that, if “Praja Shakthi” committee leaders and secretaries are appointed as observers to review beneficiary data, representatives of all parties should also be included, or alternatively a neutral independent mechanism should be established to ensure fair selection.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna criticized the President’s visit to the North, arguing that Tamil communities sought justice rather than symbolic gestures, and demanded land releases around Palaly, action against Indian trawlers, housing for displaced persons, and attention to missing or detained persons. He raised concerns about alleged unequal law enforcement involving an NPP Member and highlighted disruptions in Eastern Province hospitals over fingerprint attendance requirements for doctors. He also alleged serious service failures and corruption at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, including non-functioning CT scanners, and said he would raise the matter at the Sectoral Oversight Committee. He urged the Government to address unresolved political issues, including implementation of the 13th Amendment and equality for Tamils within a united Sri Lanka.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister supported extending and amending the Aswesuma welfare benefit scheme, noting that 3.7 million applications indicate continuing demand despite the programme originally being designed to end by 2026. He said current eligibility criteria have excluded some needy households while benefiting others less in need, and proposed revised criteria, increased payments, a six-month extension, and stronger review committees to better target assistance by mid-year. He also linked the need for welfare support to poverty, rural educational disadvantage, and the aftermath of the economic crisis, while citing lower inflation and growth in 2025 as part of the Government’s stabilization context.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology JJB
AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena moved that Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. Imran Maharoof left the Chair and Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake assumed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB
AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the Aswesuma amendment, stating that the Government is extending benefits by six months and increasing assistance as part of a welfare-oriented programme to improve living standards. He said welfare should be timely and targeted, citing the increase in the chronic kidney disease allowance from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 10,000, while also emphasizing that beneficiaries should be empowered rather than made dependent. He also referred to a proposed post-cyclone “Diththa” reconstruction package intended to rebuild homes to better standards, and criticized identity-based and protest-driven politics.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB
AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad argued that welfare and social protection are necessary but must be financed sustainably through revenue, productive investment and systemic reform rather than continued borrowing. He proposed reviving a national disaster insurance scheme, creating contributory or dedicated funds for elderly pensions, and changing laws to reduce long-term Treasury dependence. He also urged integrating low-income and disabled beneficiaries into productive community roles and expanding technical and vocational training to help move households from welfare dependence to higher incomes.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe supported extending components of the Aswesuma welfare payment scheme, stating that it was designed as a time-bound programme requiring annual reviews and corrections unlike Janasaviya and Samurdhi. He said reviews were not conducted in 2023 or 2024, and that planned 2025 fieldwork was delayed by the “Diththa” cyclone, necessitating a six-month extension of benefits due to end on 31 December 2025 to complete data collection and corrections. He also criticized the Opposition for focusing on attacks over education reforms and challenged them to formally submit any proposed no-confidence motion.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB
AI summary A procedural motion was moved proposing that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The motion was seconded, agreed to, and Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake vacated the Chair accordingly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara JJB
AI summary Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara defended the Government’s Aswesuma welfare programme, arguing that prices have fallen, lawful industries are developing, taxes are being collected from evaders, and public servants have received significant salary relief. He said poverty stems from long-standing failures in state intervention, protection for the elderly and disabled, education, health, housing, and security, and cited measures such as increasing the elderly allowance to Rs. 5,000 and allocating major funding for health. He also stated that the 2026 Budget supports rural roads, housing, self-employment, and industries, and argued that education reforms are necessary to reduce poverty.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth urged the Government to expedite review and payment issues under the Aswesuma welfare programme in the Pottuvil DS Division, including about 5,000 pending applications and 19 delayed payments, and requested revisions to the points-based selection criteria to better cover poor families. He also called for graduates employed in lower public service posts to be regularized onto appropriate MN salary scales and assigned work relevant to their qualifications. He requested that Eastern Province volunteer teachers appointed under Cabinet Decision No. 19/0314/127/009 have their 2005–2019 volunteer service counted for pension purposes, and asked authorities to upgrade lower-tier Muslim religious education institutions so their qualifications are recognized.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth thanked individuals who supported the construction of the Pottuvil Grand Jummah Mosque. He requested UDA intervention to build a modern public market with parking and a comfort centre in Arugambay and transfer it to the Pradeshiya Sabha as a revenue source. He also asked that the incomplete Maruthamunai Children’s Park be completed under the UDA and called for rehabilitation or completion of key roads in Bandiruppu-Maruthamunai-Neelavanai and Tsunami Relocate-Islam Nagar-Cemetery areas.
Infrastructure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe defended the Aswesuma welfare payment scheme, linking it to the Government’s wider plan to eradicate rural poverty by 2030 and criticizing the Opposition’s record on poverty. He said Budget 2026 allocates Rs. 240 billion for Aswesuma, supporting 1.9 million poor people and 1.27 million elderly persons, disabled persons and CKD patients, while also funding school supplies, shoe vouchers and meals for low-income students. He stated that the programme would extend across about 14,000 GN divisions and be paired with measures to build a production economy, rural housing and infrastructure, MSME support after the “Diththa” cyclone, wage increases and rural livelihood development.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake criticized the Government’s welfare, foreign employment, and public sector management policies, arguing that earlier opponents of welfare now accept its necessity while youths seeking jobs in Israel face unfair selection processes and possible exploitation by agencies. He raised allegations of mismanagement and losses at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, concerns over removal of senior citizens’ preferential deposit interest, irregular Police transfers, education standards, displacement at Ridigama Tank, CEB promotions, and transfers affecting military intelligence personnel. He also questioned the functioning of the State Plantation Corporation and urged the Government and President to treat communities in the North, East and South equally while respecting war heroes and avoiding communal tensions.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera outlined the Aswesuma welfare payment categories under the Welfare Benefits Act, noting recent increases for poor and severely poor beneficiaries and continued support for elderly persons, persons with disabilities and CKD patients. He said the immediate proposal is to extend for six months the Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance for the vulnerable group, which ended on 31 December 2025, in view of the impacts of Cyclone “Diththa.” He stated that the Government aims to reduce dependency by empowering beneficiaries through economic activity, supported by annual re-registration and an electronic data system to identify eligible recipients and ensure timely payments. He also briefly defended the Government’s education reforms against Opposition criticism.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary The Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment moved the adjournment motion, proposing that Parliament do now adjourn. The motion was then put before the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 22 Adjournment Adjournment Debate - "8960" Cyclone Relief Measures and Constitutional Point of Order 7 speeches
- 23 Papers Document Tabled - State Lands for Disaster Resettlement 1 speeches