Sitting of Friday, 6 February 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23270 ·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 of Parliament 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Orders 3 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 1 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Norochcholai Coal Power Plant Ash Sales (Q.68/2025) 14 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) 35 speeches
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to provide details on schools within the Colombo Municipal Council area, distinguishing between those administered by the Central Government and the Provincial Council. He requested the names of these schools, current teacher and non-academic staff vacancies by educational zone, and information on measures taken to develop them.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister provided figures on schools in the Colombo Educational Zone, stating that it has 21 national schools and 101 provincial schools, with their names tabled in annexes. He reported vacancies of 665 teachers and 164 total non-academic posts in national schools, and 513 vacancies in provincial schools. He also stated that Rs. 490 million has been allocated for national school equipment, inputs, and building works in the Colombo Municipal Council area, while Rs. 443 million was used in 2025 for provincial school building repairs, with further provisions allocated for 2026.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman questioned how Grade 1 students in low-income Provincial schools within and around the Colombo Municipal Council area will access the new education reform materials, including QR-code-based modules requiring Internet access, before promised devices are provided from March. He argued that National schools and better-funded schools can rely on parental support for smart boards and connectivity, while poorer schools face an immediate inequity, and asked the Deputy Minister to state the interim arrangements.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB
AI summary Grade 1 instruction under the new curriculum does not require digital boards or devices, while Grade 6 continues under the previous curriculum. The Minister said complaints had been received that some schools were collecting funds for smart boards and devices, and noted that the Prime Minister had clarified that collecting money from Grade 1 students for such equipment was unnecessary.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that a programme is being implemented with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Digital Economy, and Chinese assistance to provide digital devices to all provincial and national schools. He said this is intended to enable schools to shift to digital methods in the future without placing a burden on schools or parents, but added that digital devices are not required at present and that a digital operating system is being prepared for all schools.
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman argued that smart boards and similar devices are already being used in better-resourced national schools through parental funding, creating educational inequality if the Government does not provide comparable infrastructure to other schools. He asked the Deputy Minister to address the long-standing space shortage at Milad Vidyalaya, the only Tamil-medium Muslim school in the area, noting an earlier verbal promise to provide land or another school had not been fulfilled. He further questioned why approval had not been granted to temporarily use a nearby school, whose priest had consented in writing, while a permanent solution is sought.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister briefly indicated that he would respond to the matter before the House. His remarks were interrupted before any substantive response or policy position was recorded.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman briefly sought one minute to address the House, but the intervention was interrupted. No substantive issue, proposal, or question was recorded in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman objected to the allocation of speaking time, stating that the Government side had been given only one minute. His intervention was a procedural complaint regarding time management during the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a point of order during the sitting. His remarks were interrupted, and no substantive issue or proposal was recorded in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Raised a brief point stating that his question was asked in the interest of education, amid an interruption.
Education Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the matter raised had already been subject to interventions over a period of time. No further details or specific measures were provided in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a point of order during the sitting. No substantive issue or argument is recorded in the excerpt beyond the interruption.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri invoked Standing Order 139, but the speech was interrupted before he could make any substantive point or proposal. No further argument, question, or demand is recorded in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman briefly objected to interruptions during proceedings and urged others not to disrupt the work of the House. No substantive policy issue, legislative proposal, or specific demand was raised beyond maintaining order during the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri invoked Standing Order 139 concerning the impartial authority of the Speaker. He appeared to raise a procedural matter relating to the Speaker’s neutrality and the application of parliamentary rules.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman began to raise an important question, but the excerpt is cut off by an interruption and contains no substantive details about the issue being addressed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri urged the presiding officer to conduct Parliament impartially and with dignity, citing the requirements of the Standing Orders.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna noted that the issue under discussion had been recurring for several months. His brief intervention was interrupted before any further details or proposals were stated.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri intervened to request an opportunity to speak during the proceedings. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in this brief remark.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathna briefly began to refer to a matter being considered at the District Coordinating Committee. His remarks were interrupted before any substantive point, proposal, or request was stated.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised concern over a political slogan or public statement claiming “We are in power; our work,” questioning whether it was an official position of the Government and whether public administration was being politicized. He sought clarification from the relevant Ministers on the meaning and authority behind the statement, emphasizing the need to distinguish between government functions and party interests.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the District Coordinating Committee had decided to identify a school. His remarks were interrupted before further details or proposals were provided.
Education Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna said a building had initially been identified under the coordinating committee’s charter, but its allocation was opposed by a political group, creating the need to find an alternative. He stated that although another building was identified, it had not yet been secured, and said the Government would consider the specific building raised in the discussion and make a decision on it.
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Various (Q.3, Q.5, Q.6) 29 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Divisional Secretariats Vehicle Requirement (Q.1571/2025) 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Questions: Various (Q.8, Q.9) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Financial Cybercrimes (Q.1012/2025) – Second Round 2 speeches
- 10 Oral question Private Notice Questions: MSMEs and Kalmunai Massacre Site 10 speeches
- 11 Procedural Ministerial Statement: UK Travel Bans 8 speeches
- 12 Procedural Procedural Motions: Hours of Sitting, Privilege Matter, Government Precedence 3 speeches
- 13 Debate Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) 76 speeches
- 14 Procedural Division: Resolution under Public Security Ordinance 11 speeches
- 15 Oral question Questions: Official Vehicles Allocated to Ministers (2015-2018) 8 speeches
- 16 Procedural Procedural: Request for Extended Time to Reply 1 speeches