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
- 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
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa — Leader of the Opposition
AI summary Raised concern that the disability allowance had again been delayed, noting that the previous month’s payment was made around the 26th rather than the usual 10th–15th and that the current month’s payment had not yet been made. Requested the relevant Minister to ensure timely payment to persons with disabilities, and acknowledged the Minister’s detailed reply while seeking further clarifications.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB
AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka briefly objected to a time-related constraint in the proceedings, indicating that more time was available. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to perceived unequal treatment of Members in the allocation of speaking time, arguing that giving the Government side more time than the Opposition would violate the Constitution and his fundamental rights. He requested the Speaker to allow him a detailed clarification in response to a detailed answer.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa thanked the Chair for allowing supplementary questions and stated that he would proceed to ask them. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in this brief intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition sought a procedural clarification on what is permitted during the exchange, specifically asking whether Members may raise supplementary questions or only seek clarification.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought clarification on the Government’s plan to recruit 10,000 police personnel against 35,116 vacancies and proposed increasing recruitment further in view of law and order, public security, justice, rule of law and national security concerns. He expressed support for community policing and action against criminals, but alleged that Public Security Committees were being appointed in a partisan manner and that their chairpersons were being used to provide recommendations for police reports and character certificates, which he said could obstruct effective crime prevention.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa said the Opposition supports pursuing and punishing criminals within the law, but objected to PSC Chairpersons and recipients of character certificates being summoned to the CID after he raised the issue in Parliament. He urged the Government to focus on arresting criminals and strengthening law and order, public safety, national security and the rule of law. He proposed a new community-centred security programme involving all communities beyond political, ethnic, religious, caste or class divisions to help prevent and uproot criminal activity.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa insisted that the relevant Minister should answer a question, noting that time had been allocated while the Speaker was in the Chair and the Leader of the House was being represented. He urged the Deputy Speaker to allow the Minister to respond, criticizing avoidance of answers in procedural terms.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa addresses the Deputy Speaker, but no substantive remarks, arguments, proposals, or questions are provided in the excerpt. No legislation, policy matter, or specific parliamentary issue is identified.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Chief Government Whip Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Minister of Public Security had sought time to present information related to criminal investigations. Responding to the Leader of the Opposition, he stated that no new information had been provided and invited him to take time to present any additional details if available.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - State Minister (Public Security) JJB
AI summary State Minister Ananda Wijepala said he could only provide information related to ongoing investigations and would not make irresponsible statements to Parliament. Responding to the Opposition’s offer to support efforts against underworld activity, he said the Opposition had avenues to assist and alleged that some of its local authority members were connected to such matters, indicating he would present examples.
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - State Minister (Public Security) [continued] JJB
AI summary Ananda Wijepala said investigations into recent killings linked to underworld and narcotics networks were ongoing, and urged political parties to remove members connected to such criminal elements while stressing that the Government is working to prevent further loss of life. Responding to questions on Police vacancies, he said approval had been granted to recruit 10,000 personnel, with 1,500 constables and about 200 Sub-Inspectors already selected, and further gazettes for Women Police and STF recruitment due shortly, though the full process takes several months due to interviews, checks, medicals and training. He clarified that Public Security Committees are non-political bodies intended to assist with drug prevention and crime control, not law enforcement, and said the Police are being depoliticized and strengthened to act more proactively.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sajith Premadasa, rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was included in the recorded excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa said he had specific information that the CID’s Special Investigation Unit 2 had summoned several individuals from Dhenagama to record statements on 20 February 2026, citing names, times and the issuing officer. He questioned why messages were being conveyed to him regarding alleged wrongdoing by two SJB politicians, stating that authorities should investigate and take action directly if crimes are suspected.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - State Minister (Public Security) JJB
AI summary The State Minister said authorities have analysed communications where politicians or close relatives are allegedly linked to criminal dealings, and that arrests will not be made without sufficient intelligence. He criticized the appointment of persons with direct links to criminals to political office and urged cross-party cooperation against organized crime and drugs. On a separate CID summons issue, he said the Senior DIG was not aware of any such summons, but he would re-check and report back while withholding details that could affect investigations.
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary No substantive speech content is provided beyond the address to the Deputy Speaker, so there are no arguments, proposals, questions, or policy references to summarize.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa rejected allegations that his party promotes or supports underworld activity, stating that it opposes murder, robbery and corruption. He asked that the Inspector General of Police be directed to investigate those involved in such activities and bring them before the law, pledging his party’s support for such action.
- The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, as Leader of the Opposition, requested a brief one-minute opportunity to speak or intervene during proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, made a brief procedural request asking the Deputy Speaker for one minute to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in the provided statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa urged that the Inspector General of Police be contacted to ensure those involved in crimes are investigated, arrested, and dealt with under the rule of law. He stated that the Opposition would fully support such enforcement action.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Under Standing Orders 29(1) and 29(2), the Member raised an urgent matter concerning delays at the Peliyagoda Exit when entering Colombo, stating that he was held up for over 30 minutes and that this affected his parliamentary privileges by making him late. He noted that he had raised similar issues previously and requested that the relevant Ministry be informed to take corrective action.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake thanked Minister Ananda Wijepala for his detailed response and objected to a suggested five-minute limit on answers to questions. He argued that senior Ministers cannot provide comprehensive answers within such a limit and said any rule on time limits should be applied consistently across Parliament rather than selectively.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
- 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