Sitting of Tuesday, 3 March 2026

Order of business

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

1. 1 Opening Parliament Opening and Message from President 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers: Regulations, Reports and Orders Tabled 7 speeches ▸
3. 3 Petitions Petitions Presented 4 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Generators Facilitating Cooling at Norochcholai Power Plant (Q.68/2025) 12 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Question No. 3 (Q.840/2025) - Deferred 3 speeches ▸
6. 6 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Opposition Walk-out 10 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Agricultural Research and Production Assistants (Q.913/2025) 12 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Police Stations and Officers (Q.?/2025) with Supplementaries 10 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Nursing Service (Q.7/2025) 5 speeches ▸
10. 10 Procedural Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Question and Points of Order 9 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question by Private Notice: Reactivation of Deregistered Islamic Charitable Organizations (Q.27(2)) 14 speeches ▸
12. 12 Procedural Privilege Question and Procedural Discussion on Coal Supply 23 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a Question of Privilege, stating that he was denied permission to ask a Standing Order 27(2) question on alleged substandard coal supplies for the Norochcholai power plant. He said his proposed questions sought detailed information on coal specifications, shipment quality, generation shortfalls, financial losses, emergency procurement, and contingency measures, and argued that a postponement debate did not replace the Government’s obligation to provide specific answers. He requested an inquiry into the denial, action to protect his parliamentary privileges and freedom of speech under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, and permission to raise the question within the week.

      Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

      AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa said any alleged breach of the Leader of the Opposition’s privilege was a matter for the Speaker to inquire into. He noted that a full-day debate on coal supply had already been held on 20 February and said the Government was prepared to answer further questions, including under Standing Order 27(2), through the relevant line Ministries. He added that the only outstanding matter was the name and account number of a Homagama People’s Bank account referred to by Hon. Marrikkar, which had not yet been provided.

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    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa challenged the Chief Government Whip’s position on coal imports, stating that 25 coal ships had been ordered and imports continued despite a postponement debate. He alleged ongoing quality problems with recent coal cargoes, arguing that their calorific value, ash content, and other parameters were below standard and insufficient to generate 300 MW, unlike 11 Russian shipments which he said met specifications.

      InfrastructureEnvironment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa said that 10 of the 25 ordered coal shipments had arrived and claimed all were substandard. He asked that the responsible Minister respond to his question on the coal issue that day, clarifying that he had not raised a matter concerning a Homagama bank account.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

      AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government had already answered questions regarding coal supplies from Russia, South Africa and Indonesia, and that local agents did not need to be present in Parliament for such matters. He said the coal shipment schedule had been clarified up to mid-April, including the expected arrival of the 25th ship, and that the Government was prepared to respond to queries on each shipment.

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    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri rose on a point of order. No substantive issue or argument is recorded in the provided excerpt.

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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt.

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    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was stated in the provided excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB

      AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s position on coal supplies, asking why nine additional coal ships were being urgently purchased if there was no problem with coal. The intervention sought clarification on the need and urgency of the procurement.

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    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a procedural point under Standing Orders 27(3) and 11(g), stating that any decision to rule a question out of order must be made by the Speaker. He requested that, if the Opposition Leader’s question is considered out of order, the Speaker should clearly state the basis for that ruling.

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    • The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB

      AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri argued under Standing Order 27(3) that a Question may be rejected only if it is ruled out of order. He requested that, if the Leader of the Opposition’s Question was rejected, the specific procedural grounds for doing so should be stated.

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    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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13. 13 Debate Main Business: Order under Foreign Exchange Act - Motion Introduction 2 speeches ▸
14. 14 Debate President's Address on Middle East War Impact and Opposition Response 5 speeches ▸
15. 15 Debate Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 55 speeches ▸
16. 16 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Civil Defence Personnel Secondment 7 speeches ▸
17. 17 Procedural Deferred Questions and Parliament Adjournment 6 speeches ▸