Sitting of Friday, 23 January 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23290 ·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 Parliament Opening and Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented and Committee Reports 5 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 4 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives 41 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question No. 8 (Deferred) and Question Stand Down 9 speeches
- 6 Procedural Procedural Matters and Points of Order 18 speeches
- 7 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Questions: Attorney-General Independence, Gold Jewellery Return 25 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, by a Question by Private Notice, asked the Government to clarify whether the Attorney-General’s office is constitutionally independent, including the role of the Constitutional Council under Article 41A in approving appointments. He sought assurances that the Attorney-General can perform prosecutorial, advisory and legislative-assistance functions free from political interference, and asked what safeguards exist under the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, against baseless allegations targeting the Attorney-General and the IGP. He further asked whether the Government recognizes an organized campaign against the Attorney-General’s official functions and what measures it will take to stop such campaigns and protect the office’s independence.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney‑at‑Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister replied to questions under Standing Order 27(2) on the appointment and independence of the Attorney-General, stating that the President appoints the Attorney-General only with Constitutional Council approval under Articles 41A(1) and 61E, a mechanism restored by the 21st Amendment. He said the Government acts within existing constitutional and statutory safeguards, including the removal procedures in Act No. 5 of 2002, to prevent arbitrary removal and ensure due process. He added that criticisms of the Attorney-General and other public bodies are recognized as expressions of opinion, but the Government would take lawful measures if such opinions affect the Attorney-General’s independence.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa thanked the Minister for his answer and acknowledged his stated support for the independence of the Attorney General’s decision-making. He said the Minister had been attacked online over that stance, including allegations of protecting an associate, and urged him to examine the political affiliations of the websites involved. He emphasized the importance of the rule of law and basic legal principles such as hearing both sides and avoiding conflicts of interest, arguing that these underpin Sri Lanka’s legal and democratic institutions.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa indicated he would conclude his remarks and begin setting out a proposal. The provided excerpt does not include the substance of the proposal or any specific policy, legislative, or procedural demand.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, briefly indicated his intention to proceed with asking a question. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand was stated in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe indicated that he was raising a question. No substantive details, policy issue, or proposal are provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa clarified that his remarks were not directed at Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa and stated that the Minister was not involved in the matter under discussion. He emphasized that he had not mentioned the Minister’s name and that the issue did not concern the Minister’s website.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that the person referred to was not involved in the matter under discussion. He added that Minister Wijitha Herath, who was present in the House, was also not involved.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to remarks implying a personal association between the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice in the context of discussing the Attorney General’s independence and decision-making. He sought an opportunity to respond and challenged the propriety of such a characterization during the debate.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa condemned personal insults alleging misconduct, saying that if such claims are false they should be clearly denied. He stressed that the Attorney General’s independence, freedom, and impartial decision-making are essential to the democratic framework, and thanked the Minister of Justice for defending that principle.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested an additional 15 seconds to conclude his remarks. No substantive policy point, proposal, or question was included in this excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa proposed that all 225 Members of Parliament stand in support of the independence of the Attorney General. The remark framed the issue as a matter of institutional independence requiring collective parliamentary affirmation.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB
AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the Government, including the President and its Members, is committed to protecting the independence of the Attorney General’s Department and all institutions while upholding the rule of law. Responding to concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition and commentary on social media, he said he is accountable to the President for his ministerial responsibilities and would not act on unverified allegations, but assured that action would be taken against offences regardless of position or status.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the President and relevant Ministers regarding gold jewellery pawned by Tamil people at the LTTE-run Tamil Eelam Bank during the war, which owners were unable to recover amid displacement and the final stages of the conflict. He cited wartime economic restrictions, continuing hardship and malnutrition in the North and East, and asked for data on the quantity of jewellery and number of affected persons. He requested details on any government programme or timeline for restitution, noting that the return of these items had been presented as an election pledge in 2024.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Requested one week to provide a reply to the question raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 8 Papers Ministerial Statement: Vehicles for Welfare Centres 2 speeches
- 9 Debate Debate: Universities (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading 75 speeches
- 10 Procedural Business of Parliament: Constitutional Council Appointments Resolution 8 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Stock Exchange Activity and Ministerial Response 17 speeches