Sitting of Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23279 ·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 Speaker's Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports 6 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Electricity Generated by Solar Panels (Q.2/2025) 15 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Stand Down (Q.3/2025) 2 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Stand Down (Q.4/2025) 3 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Stand Down (Q.6/2025) 3 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: McHeyzer Stadium, Trincomalee - Development (Q.7/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Improvement of Health Facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Q.8/2025) 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: Media Institutions and Support for Journalists (Q.9/2025) 5 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Maritime Security Operations (Q.10/2025) 5 speeches
- 12 Oral question Oral Question Second Round and Ministerial Response (Q.1184/2025, Security Incident) 9 speeches
- 13 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Question: Qur'an Madrasas Registration 5 speeches
- 14 Oral question Ministry Statement: Reforms of Ceylon Electricity Board 13 speeches
- 15 Procedural Privilege Matters and Points of Order 7 speeches
- 16 Papers Indira Cancer Charitable Trust (Incorporation) Bill - First Reading 2 speeches
- 17 Debate Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Debate 69 speeches
- 18 Procedural Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Division on Second Reading 4 speeches
- 19 Procedural Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Committee Stage 25 speeches
- 20 Procedural Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Third Reading 1 speeches
- 21 Procedural Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment 51 speeches
- 22 Adjournment Adjournment Motion 2 speeches
- 23 Adjournment Adjournment Questions 8 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Nanda Bandara JJB
AI summary Hon. Nanda Bandara raised an adjournment question to the Prime Minister on the President’s Fund, established under Act No. 7 of 1978, noting its public purpose, audit requirements, and alleged past misuse for political purposes. He asked for details on the current Board of Governors, any increases or changes in benefits and objectives under the present Government, measures to simplify access to services, and steps taken to ensure transparency in the provision of assistance.
- The Hon. Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister outlined the statutory composition and 2025 membership of the President’s Fund Board of Governors and stated that, following a Board decision on 10 February 2026, medical grant ceilings had been increased to cover approximately 25 per cent of surgery or treatment costs. She detailed service reforms effective from 7 February 2025, including decentralized applications through Divisional Secretariats, digitization, a simplified form, easier certification, representative filing, revised income assessment, and a public hotline. She also listed transparency measures such as online processing, Audit and Management Committee meetings, Auditor-General audits tabled in Parliament, website publication of tariffs and guidelines, RTI responses, and annual activity planning. Additionally, she announced that the deadline for graduate recruitment applications and the qualifying degree date had been extended to 5 March 2026 with Cabinet approval.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB
AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana raised concerns about health and environmental problems caused by the unsuitable waste management site for the Mathugama Pradeshiya Sabha at Athulathmudaligama. He asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to address foul odours, pests, roadside garbage, and the risk of contamination to a nearby community water scheme well. He requested an urgent site inspection and the allocation of suitable Land Reforms Commission land for a proper waste management facility, noting the site’s proximity to schools and the town.
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary Minister Abayarathna responded on waste management at the Athulathmudaligama/Barabinduwa site, stating it is used for composting, temporary waste storage, recycling transfer and disposal preparation, with odour and vector control measures in place. He said accumulated mixed waste near the entrance has been removed, supervision assigned, and drainage and water testing are being arranged in response to concerns about a nearby community well. He reported that the Mathugama Pradeshiya Sabha and Waste Management Committee are pursuing acquisition of about five acres from LRC land for improved waste management, supported by Rs. 13 million in Provincial Council funding for water supply, machinery, concreting, drainage, roofing and related works. He added that steps are also being taken to release Maddegodara LRC land and that the Provincial Council will assist the local authority despite the matter falling under the Pradeshiya Sabha.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural