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
- 7 Procedural Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute 67 speeches
- The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB
AI summary Suranga Rathnayaka requested permission from the Speaker to make a clarification arising from the Minister’s reply. No substantive policy issue or proposal was stated in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB
AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was presented in the recorded speech.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB
AI summary Raised a matter under Standing Order 33(1).
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman briefly raised a procedural point, indicating that a request could still be made under Standing Order 33(1). No substantive policy issue or detailed proposal was presented in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a procedural point, asking the Speaker to read the relevant Standing Order and insisting that an answer be given in accordance with it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a point of order and requested the Speaker’s permission to address the House. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for district-wise details on the programme to convert land permits into title deeds in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. He requested the number of permits collected, title deeds already issued, title deeds still pending, and the measures the Ministry will take to expedite the remaining issuances.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister provided district-wise figures for land permits and title deeds in Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, stating that 8,268 permits had been obtained and 3,681 title deeds issued across the three districts. He said 5,417 title deeds remain to be issued and that instructions have been issued through the Commissioner General of Lands’ Circular No. 2025/02 to Divisional Secretariats and relevant institutions to expedite the process.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe asked whether the Government would resume and complete the suspended “Urumaya” land title deed programme initiated under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He raised concern that landowners who submitted original land documents to Divisional Secretariats are facing difficulty recovering them and asked what action the Ministry will take to address this.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe requested additional time to speak on matters relating to lands. The intervention was procedural and did not include substantive policy details or specific proposals.
Land & Housing Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe asked the Deputy Minister what action would be taken for people who had previously received permits but now possessed neither those permits nor “Urumaya” deeds. The question sought clarification on resolving gaps in land documentation under the relevant land titling process.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB
AI summary The Hon. Aravinda Senarath said the previous Government’s “Urumaya” programme to issue 2 million land deeds before the Presidential Election was launched without adequate assessment and had processed only a limited number of cases. He stated that the new Government halted and regularized the process, gathered district-level data, and is proceeding through the “Himikama” ownership programme, with plans to issue about 65,000 deeds by May. He added that outstanding applications and documents collected through Divisional Secretariats are being incorporated into a proper Ministry system under a lawful procedure.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe requested urgent action to issue Title Deeds to residents of the Eastern Province. He raised the case of war-displaced Muslim families resettled in the Punani Anicut and Pothanai areas of Batticaloa District, alleging that land documents were issued in 2014 to Tamil residents by the Eravur Pattu Divisional Secretariat while Muslim applicants in nearby areas were refused permits on the grounds that the lands were State or Mahaweli lands. He asked why these resettled Muslim families had been excluded and what measures would be taken to ensure fair issuance of land permits or deeds.
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe briefly requested two minutes to address the House. No substantive policy position, question, or proposal was presented in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC
AI summary Asked whether action would be taken to issue land permits for resettled people in Punanai Anicut and Pothanai in the Mahaweli “B” Zone. He noted that inquiries to the Welikanda Divisional Secretariat had resulted in the response that Batticaloa District had not been legally incorporated into that administrative division.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB
AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath rejected the suggestion that land permits are being withheld on ethnic or religious grounds, stating that the Government acts without distinction among Sinhala, Tamil, or Muslim citizens. He said the Government would inquire into alienated lands, Mahaweli lands, and other State lands in the relevant area and, where appropriate, take steps to issue permits. He requested that relevant information be submitted so the responsible institutions can be notified and the process regularized.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Thurairasa Ravikaran stated that he would pose the question before the House. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or argument was raised in this brief intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe rose on a Point of Order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was stated in the provided text.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe cited Standing Order 33(1) in response to a clarification raised by Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka. He emphasized that Members may ask up to two supplementary questions on an answer given under Standing Order 32, but such questions must not introduce matters outside the scope of the original question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe requested the opportunity to clarify or explain a matter before the House. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was set out in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe sought the Speaker’s permission to provide an explanation. No substantive policy point, proposal, or question was presented in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera rose on a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe objected to being dismissed or interrupted and indicated his intention to continue by reading from material. The intervention appears procedural and does not set out a substantive policy argument or proposal.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education begins by referring to the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, but the provided excerpt does not include the substance of the speech. No specific policy position, proposal, question, or legislative issue can be identified from the available text.
Education Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri asserted that the matter contained in the relevant book or record should guide action, emphasizing that Members have a right to act accordingly. His brief intervention occurred amid interruptions and did not set out a detailed proposal or policy position.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Education and Vocational Education, Chaminda Wijesiri requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was then ordered to stand down amid interruptions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a Point of Order, but his intervention was interrupted. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka reminded the House that, under the Standing Orders, supplementary questions must be limited to seeking further clarification arising from the oral answer given.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri invoked Standing Order 28(6) and objected to remarks made from the Chair or another speaker, asking that Members not be lectured or addressed disparagingly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka requested a brief opportunity to raise a matter arising from a supplementary question. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand was stated in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri urged that the matter under discussion not be used to criticize or blame his side. He objected to the tone or framing of the debate and called for the issue to be handled without politicized attacks.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri addressed the Chair, stating that Members would accept the Speaker speaking in his capacity as Speaker. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri requested that Standing Order 33(1) be read, invoking parliamentary procedure during the proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake requested that the Chief Opposition Organizer read in full the portion following Standing Order 33(1).
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera briefly stated that the point in question had already been made. No substantive new argument, proposal, or demand was presented in this intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly intervened to challenge Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, asserting that he had not read a referenced item and asking him to read it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Supplementary questions, in the speaker’s view, should be limited to clarifying issues arising directly from an oral answer. He emphasized this as a procedural point during parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake read Standing Order 33(1) on supplementary questions, emphasizing that such questions must remain within the scope of the original question and may be disallowed by the Speaker if they breach the rules. He urged the Chair to enforce these procedural limits and criticized the Opposition’s conduct in raising supplementary questions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that opposition to introducing certain sixth-grade modules was based on concerns that students had not yet mastered fifth-grade-level writing skills. He argued that curriculum changes should take account of students’ existing competencies before advancing to higher-level content.
Education Full speech →
- 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