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10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Tuesday, 3 March 2026

10th Parliament· 17 debates· 185 speeches· 58 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23335 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Generators Facilitating Cooling at Norochcholai Power Plant (Q.68/2025) 12 speeches
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Minister of Energy for details on a generator reportedly brought to the Norochcholai Thermal Power Plant to support cooling needed to control generator heat. He sought the date of its procurement, the amount spent, whether the Minister was aware it had not yet been used, and what action would be taken regarding the matter.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB

      AI summary No generator was purchased for Norochcholai’s cooling system; two generator units donated by China in 2015 were handed to the Ceylon Electricity Board and allocated to the Lakvijaya Power Plant. The Minister stated that the plant normally uses auxiliary power from its own units or the national grid, and that engineers, the construction company and the design institute are testing whether the donated generators can supply the cooling system during a total blackout, after which required modifications and deployment will be undertaken.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hector Appuhamy questioned the Minister responsible for coal about reported imports of substandard coal that have reduced Norochcholai Power Plant output from 900 MW to about 600 MW, limiting electricity supply. He warned that reliance on costly generator-based power amid global oil supply disruptions and limited local fuel stocks could create a severe domestic crisis, and asked what steps the Government would take to prevent such a situation.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB

      AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government is ensuring uninterrupted coal-based power generation and that petroleum supplies are not facing disruption. He said existing Ceylon Petroleum Corporation storage tanks are being used at maximum capacity and that construction has begun on nine new tanks. He emphasized the Government’s commitment to maintaining energy security despite external risks such as global conflict.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy criticized the Minister’s response on fuel storage, referring to earlier claims about managing supplies through the Trincomalee oil tanks and stating that the lack of tanks was not an adequate answer. He also raised concerns about environmental harm to residents near Norochcholai from the burning of substandard coal and requested that the Minister inform Parliament of the steps to address it.

      EnvironmentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB

      AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that the Trincomalee oil tanks require rehabilitation before they can be used, noting that 24 tanks remain with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation while others had previously been transferred to India. He said rehabilitation has begun on four of the 24 tanks, with two completed and pipeline installation underway, and emphasized that storage can only begin after this work is finished. On Norochcholai coal plant environmental concerns, he said relevant agencies would report any damage and the Government would take appropriate action.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana asked the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources to state the number of persons currently engaged in Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. He also asked whether the Government accepts the need for an insurance scheme for fishermen’s protection and what steps will be taken to introduce a pension scheme for them.

      EmploymentAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB

      AI summary The Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources reported that Sri Lanka’s fishing industry includes marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture, with about 320,470 active fishers in 2024. He stated that, due to the hazardous nature of the sector, two personal insurance schemes are being implemented through the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and the Social Security Board, including accident, disability, death, hospitalization and other benefits. He also noted that a new contributory Fisher Pension and Social Security Benefits Scheme was launched on 21 November 2025, offering lifetime pensions from age 60 and lump-sum benefits for disability or death, with amendments proposed to extend future pension benefits to spouses.

      AgriculturePublic FinanceEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana asked what mechanism the Government will use to ensure uninterrupted diesel and kerosene supplies for fishers amid panic buying and restrictions on issuing fuel into cans and barrels. He noted that fishers depend on fuel from harbours and portable containers, and sought clarification on arrangements for both the current stock period and after new consignments arrive, recalling the severe impact of past fuel shortages during the economic crisis.

      AgricultureCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar said the original question concerned insurance, while the supplementary related to kerosene for fishers. He stated that the Government reinstated the kerosene subsidy after taking office, enabling small fishing boats that had been pulled ashore due to high fuel costs to resume operations. He added that the current fuel issue linked to the war was expected to ease within one or two weeks, and that further measures would be considered if fishers continued to face difficulties.

      EmploymentCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB

      AI summary Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana asked about Government support for fishers, noting that the kerosene subsidy had been provided only once in the past one and a half years. He also sought an update on the outcome of discussions following protests by fishers outside the Presidential Secretariat over permission to continue beach-seine operations using winches.

      AgricultureCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar said the supplementary question was unrelated to the main question and could be answered if raised separately. He stated that traditional beach-seine fishing had not been obstructed, but concerns had been raised by environmental reports, including from NARA, about coastal damage caused by the use of winches and tractors. He said operators were given six months’ notice to stop such practices, discussions were held after their protest, and further consultations with stakeholders and experts would determine, within about two months, how the fishery could continue without environmental harm.

      EnvironmentEmployment Full speech →