Sitting of Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23242 ·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 and Speaker's Certificate 5 speeches
- 2 Procedural Oral Answers to Questions - Procedural matter 1 speeches
- 3 Procedural Point of Order - Question allocation fairness (Standing Order 32) 11 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question No. 2 (812/2025) - Prison overcrowding 7 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question No. 3 (1009/2025) - Government reparations and compensation 7 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question No. 6 (1222/2025) - Aswesuma welfare benefits 10 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB
AI summary Sunil Rathnasiri indicated that he would ask the question before the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB
AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for details on the current number of “Aswesuma” beneficiaries and whether all eligible persons are receiving the benefit. He further sought clarification on steps to include eligible persons not yet receiving the benefit, including the date from which payments would be provided, or reasons if such action is not being taken.
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister, stated that there are 1,657,621 current “Aswesuma” beneficiaries and that all approved eligible beneficiaries will continue to be paid. He said additional applicants are still being processed, including cases pending Divisional Secretariat verification, Welfare Benefits Board approval, bank account opening, and final decisions on appeals and objections. Payments to eligible persons in these categories are expected to begin from 28 January 2026 once approvals are completed and bank details are available.
- The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB
AI summary Asked whether the Aswesuma benefits for recipients enrolled in 2022 under the three-year transitional category, which ended in December, would be extended. He also sought clarification on whether the Government had selected any new beneficiaries since taking office and, if so, how many.
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB
AI summary Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera stated that payments for “transitional” welfare beneficiaries, which were due to end on 31 December 2025, have been extended to 30 June 2026 through a proposal under the Welfare Benefits Act approved by Parliament. He said fresh applications were invited after the Government took office, with over 800,000 applicants and about 287,000 selected in the second round, while further beneficiaries will be added after bank account openings and the consideration of appeals and objections.
- The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB
AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka asked whether the Samurdhi and Aswesuma welfare schemes are being converted into a Community Empowerment programme. He sought clarification on the formation and functions of proposed Grama Niladhari-level committees of about 25 members, including four officials, and whether Samurdhi Banks would be renamed as Community Empowerment Banks.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB
AI summary Community Empowerment Councils were defended as non-political bodies whose names are not being changed for political purposes. The councils are described as involving local officials such as the Grama Niladhari, Development Officer, Samurdhi Officer, and Agriculture Research and Production Assistant, with collective decision-making aimed at identifying village development priorities and supporting beneficiaries through a structured process.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 7 Procedural Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute 67 speeches
- 8 Procedural Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order clarification 36 speeches
- 9 Procedural Motion to amend sitting hours and Select Committee appointment 4 speeches
- 10 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 1) 23 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 2) 57 speeches