Sitting of Friday, 20 February 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23331 ·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 Certificate 1 speeches
- 2 Committee report Sectoral Oversight Committee Reports 3 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 4 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Three-Judge Anti-Corruption Permanent High Court (Q.1/1206/2024) 13 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration for details on the legal basis, commencement date, case backlog, concluded cases, and annual filings of the three-Judge Anti-Corruption Permanent High Court in Colombo. He also sought clarification on whether the court’s anti-corruption proceedings had become defunct and what steps were being taken to expedite bribery, financial crime, and corruption cases.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister answered a question on the Permanent High Court-at-Bar, citing Section 127C(1)(a) of the Judicature (Amendment) Act, No. 9 of 2018 and stating it commenced on 4 July 2018. He provided case statistics for the two courts, including pending and concluded matters, and listed currently active cases with next hearing dates. He said the Government expects to re-establish the FCID and anticipates more bribery and corruption cases, while seven additional High Courts are planned, including five at Hulftsdorp, to function as trial-at-bar or single-judge courts to expedite proceedings.
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera referred to the 2018 Judicature Amendment and the establishment of Permanent High Courts-at-Bar for day-to-day trials in serious cases, stating that such references are made on the gravity of offences with the Chief Justice’s approval. He questioned why the part-heard case against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over alleged use of public funds for his parents’ memorial, withdrawn during his presidency due to immunity, has not been recommenced after that immunity ended. He asked whether the Government has discussed the matter with the Attorney-General and what steps will be taken to re-file and proceed with the case.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that Permanent High Courts-at-Bar remain operational, with case assignments handled by the Judicial Service Commission and the Chief Justice, and trial-at-bar references decided by the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice. He said the Ministry of Justice is responsible for infrastructure, including seven additional High Courts, and assured that recruitment of stenographers and support staff would enable more expeditious hearings by mid-year.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera stated that his first supplementary question had not been answered and specifically asked whether the case involving Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be recommenced.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration declined to answer a supplementary question on the grounds that it did not arise from the principal question. He stated that supplementary questions must be related to the original question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera raised the issue of case selection, indicating concern about how cases are chosen or prioritized. No further details, proposals, or questions were provided in the excerpt.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked why approximately 42 corruption-related cases, allegedly withdrawn against powerful individuals including former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had not been refiled despite a presidential election promise. He questioned whether the delay was due to fear, political arrangements, or other obstacles.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that he would respond only to supplementary questions arising from the main question and limited his answer to the requested statistics rather than individual cases. He declined to address individual matters and added a political remark referring to conduct during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency.
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Mahapola Trust Fund (Q.472/2025) 5 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Deferred and Stand Down (Q.4, Q.5, Q.6) 8 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Drug Raids and Asset Seizures (Q.1649/2025) 12 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Questions on Tourism, Agriculture and Deferred Question (Q.883/2025) 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Investments Received (Finance Ministry); Point of Order on Question Scheduling 8 speeches
- 10 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Current Status of SriLankan Airlines Restructure 10 speeches
- 11 Debate Ministerial Statements: Credit Expansion and State Security Mechanism 6 speeches
- 12 Procedural Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege 38 speeches
- 13 Procedural Motion on Parliamentary Sitting Hours 2 speeches
- 14 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Issues Relating to the Power Sector (Coal Procurement for Norochcholai) 97 speeches