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
- 8 Procedural Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order clarification 36 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka requested the Speaker to allow the Leader of the Opposition to address the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa requested that the television screen in the Chamber be switched on.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition called the Speaker’s attention to the Standing Orders governing parliamentary conduct. He emphasized that imputing motives or improperly insulting another Member is addressed by those rules and should be acted upon accordingly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested permission from the Speaker to be allowed to speak during the proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought the Speaker’s permission to respond, noting that the Speaker had listened to the Chief Government Whip. The intervention was procedural and did not raise a substantive policy issue or proposal.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, made a brief procedural request, stating that he was speaking in accordance with the Standing Orders. No substantive policy issue or specific proposal was raised in the extract.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa requested the Secretary-General to clarify a matter for the Speaker. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislation was discussed in the recorded statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka objected to restrictions on parliamentary speaking time, arguing that if even the Leader of the Opposition is unable to speak, it raises concern about the ability of other Members to participate. He implied a procedural issue regarding freedom of debate and the opposition’s right to be heard.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a point of order, stating that under the Standing Orders a Member may not improperly impute motives or intentions to other Members when presenting views in Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to a remark by the Chief Government Whip about Opposition Members’ education levels. He argued that, irrespective of such comments, the Government must be held accountable for issues relating to Grade Six modules.
Education Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana) SJB
AI summary On behalf of Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka requested that the House be quieter so proceedings could continue.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer on cooperative rural banking in the Western Province, stating that while no separate cooperative rural bank branches are registered, 505 rural banks operate within 38 MPCSs and one banking society. He provided district-wise figures and said no branches are non-operational, though branches of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia and Maharagama MPCSs have faced deposit repayment difficulties. He stated that repayments are being made through recovery of overdue loans and asset disposal, and that inquiries under provincial cooperative regulations and CID investigations are ongoing where responsibility for financial crises is alleged.
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam) SJB
AI summary Asked whether the Government is aware that people in the Vanni, whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and animal husbandry, are shifting toward livestock due to difficulties in farming, while facing increased livestock thefts and inadequate police remedies. He sought details from the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation on proposed solutions and the timeframe for addressing these economic challenges, including thefts highlighted at the Vavuniya-North Regional Development Committee.
- The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister tabled data on livestock theft complaints in the Vavuniya Division for 2024 and 2025, including numbers recorded, solved, and prosecuted. The answer outlined police instructions and community policing measures to prevent livestock theft, including patrols, roadblocks, expedited investigations, and guidance to owners on securing animals. It also detailed agriculture and livestock development programmes for 2026, including Dairy Hub initiatives to reach 75 per cent milk self-sufficiency by 2030, breeding and fodder support, emergency assistance, climate resilience projects, crop data systems, wildlife damage control measures, and concessional credit programmes.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka informed the House that he would ask the question on behalf of Hon. Chanaka Madugoda. No substantive issue or policy matter was raised in the statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Madhura Senevirathna requested two weeks to provide an answer. The question was ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama JJB
AI summary Asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to provide details on the “Nearest School—the Best School” infrastructure projects in the Matara District, including total expenditure and the numbers completed and incomplete. He also sought information on why two teacher quarters at Urubokka National School cannot be used and what steps will be taken to make them usable.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the answer stated that Rs. 1,757.38 million had been spent on “Nearest School—the Best School” projects in the Matara District, with 365 projects completed and 8 ongoing, expected to finish in the first quarter of 2026. It also explained that delays relating to official quarters were due to an FR 104 inquiry into stolen items, and that recoveries from the contractor’s retention and rectification of defects would be carried out in line with the inquiry recommendations, with the buildings planned for use in 2026.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a Point of Order objecting that Tamil minority Members allocated eight minutes are often left with only two or three minutes when called late in proceedings. He asked the Chair to address the loss of speaking time and cited Hon. Risvy Sally’s previous handling of sittings as an example of allowing both sides to speak properly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration about colonial-era Gazette notifications that declared local leaders “traitors” and confiscated their rights and property. He noted that previous Gazettes in 2016 and 2017 exonerated and honoured several freedom fighters, but seven Muslim leaders from present-day Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee remain on the list. He requested that these seven individuals be officially cleared and declared “National Heroes” and “Patriots” by Gazette.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa requested time from the Chair to provide an answer.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Minister of Health on alleged administrative irregularities and trade union action affecting Akkaraipattu, Tellippalai and Jaffna hospitals. He sought details on the legality of the Akkaraipattu Medical Superintendent’s appointment, complaints and inquiries, and the GMOA’s strike demands, and asked whether ministerial action had been taken. He also questioned disciplinary proceedings and alleged financial irregularities at Tellippalai Base Hospital, including a claimed Rs. 38 million diversion through a private bank account linked to the oncology unit. He further asked about the failure of CT scanners at Jaffna Teaching Hospital and whether patients were being referred to a private hospital at public expense.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question covering Akkaraipattu Base Hospital, Tellippalai Base Hospital and Jaffna Teaching Hospital, while cautioning that such broad questions could create time-management difficulties. He stated that the Akkaraipattu Medical Superintendent, Dr. I.M. Jawahir, was appointed with Public Service Commission approval and that several complaints against him have led to cautions, concluded files, and ongoing preliminary inquiries into alleged financial irregularities, treatment delays and an unauthorized media briefing. He said the GMOA demand for the MS’s removal could not be acted on before inquiries are completed, as pre-judgment may expose officials to litigation, and described the strike as unjustified due to its impact on the public. On Tellippalai Base Hospital, he said complaints are under disciplinary review, with a Governor-appointed fact-finding committee and a Ministry Rapid Response Unit preliminary inquiry proceeding.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Urged that health service disputes be handled humanely and procedurally, noting that strikes in the Eastern Province worsen the impact of severe staffing shortages and leave the public with no alternative to government hospitals. Regarding trade union action over the removal of a government medical officer, called for complaints to be investigated properly and for any Ministry decision to be based on inquiry reports rather than pressure. Requested the parties not to pre-judge the matter and said the inquiries would be completed as quickly as possible.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 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