Sitting of Tuesday, 20 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 Opening Opening - Parliament Met at 9:30 a.m. 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers Tabled - Annual Reports 3 speeches ▸
3. 3 Committee report Committee Report - Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Scheme 1 speeches ▸
4. 4 Petitions Petitions 2 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Norochcholai Coal Power Plant Environmental Impact (Q.7/2026) 6 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service Officers (Q.13/2026) 8 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Dumbara Prison Overcrowding (Q.21/2026) 6 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: State Lands on Lease in Anuradhapura District (Q.27/2026) 6 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Land-Related Actions in Manmunai Pattu and Vakarai Divisions (Q.36/2026) 5 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Vehicle Imports and Revenue Collection (Q.38/2026) 11 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Export Crops and Coconut Production Targets (Q.49/2026) 6 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Oral Question: Land Reform Commission Lands in Puttalam District (Q.55/2026) 6 speeches ▸
13. 13 Oral question Oral Question: Non-Government Schools in Elpitiya Education Zone (Q.61/2026) 6 speeches ▸
14. 14 Oral question Oral Question: Pension Entitlements and Samurdhi Banks Computerization (Q.67/2026) 6 speeches ▸
15. 15 Procedural Procedural - No-Confidence Motion Discussion 8 speeches ▸
16. 16 Oral question Question under Standing Order 27(2): Coal Supply Tender Process 20 speeches ▸
17. 17 Oral question Question under Standing Order 27(2): Tourism Performance and Deferral of Ravi Karunanayake Question 7 speeches ▸
18. 18 Procedural Procedural - No-Confidence Motion and Business Scheduling Discussion 11 speeches ▸
19. 19 Procedural Personal Explanation - Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Procedural Interruptions 13 speeches ▸
20. 20 Procedural Presentation of Bills 3 speeches ▸
21. 21 Debate Debate - Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme 76 speeches ▸
22. 22 Adjournment Adjournment Debate - "8960" Cyclone Relief Measures and Constitutional Point of Order 7 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. R. G. Wijerathna JJB

      AI summary R. G. Wijerathna raised an Adjournment question on post-cyclone relief following the “896” cyclone, asking what arrangements will be made for compensation for partially and totally damaged houses, relief for affected businesses and its timeline, and attention to insurance compensation and loan relief for damaged property. He defended the Government’s initial disaster response and contrasted it with delays in past landslide resettlement cases in Nuwara Eliya, while criticizing Opposition allegations. He cited National Audit Office findings on the Disaster Management Centre, including unutilized funds, incomplete legal transfer of its headquarters, inactive early warning towers, delayed amendments to the Disaster Management Act, and incomplete multi-hazard profiling, arguing these showed longstanding administrative weaknesses in disaster management.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister said relief measures following the recent cyclone are being implemented under Disaster Management Centre procedures, with compensation for fully and partially damaged houses governed by Budget Circular No. 08/2025 and Defence Ministry guidelines issued in January 2025. He stated that funds have been released to District Secretaries for rental support and reconstruction assistance, with land identification, valuation, agreements, and NBRO technical oversight forming part of the process. He also outlined a Rs. 10,000 million working capital loan scheme at 3 percent interest through State banks for affected MSMEs and larger enterprises, subject to local administrative certification, and noted Central Bank-directed loan moratoria of three to six months for affected borrowers.

      EnvironmentPublic FinanceLand & Housing Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB

      AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised a Point of Order concerning the appointment of three civil society members to the Constitutional Council under Article 41A(1)(e)(iii) of the Constitution. He argued that, as the previous members’ terms expired that day, the Speaker had a constitutional duty to announce nominations agreed by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, and requested an explanation and a ruling or statement from the Speaker as soon as possible, preferably the next morning.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
      Full speech →
23. 23 Papers Document Tabled - State Lands for Disaster Resettlement 1 speeches ▸