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

Sitting of Wednesday, 4 March 2026

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 222 speeches· 65 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23360 ·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.

  8. 8 Oral question Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies 21 speeches
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan rose on a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is included in the provided speech excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan raised an urgent matter with the Minister of Health regarding an alleged sexual assault on the body of a 23-year-old woman in the mortuary of Glencairn Hospital. He requested immediate action to hand the three alleged perpetrators over to the Police and produce them before Court, questioning the safety and dignity afforded to women even after death.

      Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderHealthcare Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that he would urgently investigate the matter raised by Hon. Radhakrishnan and report back to Parliament.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara raised a Point of Order in Parliament. No further substantive issue, proposal, or argument was stated in the provided excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara briefly rose to seek or offer a clarification to the Speaker. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand was presented in the recorded intervention.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Rohana Bandara

      AI summary Rohana Bandara sought clarification on compensation related to the “8960” cyclone, noting that payments are now being made.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya replied to Question 1269/2025, stating that 356 partially constructed and abandoned buildings exist in government schools, with larger inventories identifying 468 projects under various categories. She attributed the delays to the closure of the “Nearest School – Best School” Project Management Unit in 2020, shortage of technical staff, COVID-19 disruptions, the economic crisis, contractor unwillingness to continue at old prices, and insufficient donor or private funding. She said the Government reviewed these projects in 2025 and 2026, allocated funds to complete viable buildings subject to contractual renegotiation, and would abandon unusable structures while instructing principals not to use unsafe buildings and to ensure student safety where limited use continues.

      InfrastructurePublic FinanceEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK

      AI summary Thurairasa Ravikaran raised concerns over accident risks from unfinished school constructions, citing a National Audit Office report, a Sunday Times report, and his own visit to a Mullaitivu school. He asked the Government to ensure proper barricading to prevent student and staff access to incomplete buildings and to state the Budget provision and priority order for completing such works.

      InfrastructureEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a project begun in 2016 and stopped in 2020 had led to contractual and cost-related complications, requiring a review of projects in 2025–2026 and renegotiations with contractors. She said budget allocations had been prioritized for completing incomplete infrastructure, while some unusable buildings would be abandoned and unsafe school buildings should not be used pending decisions. She requested details of any specific unsafe school so the matter could be investigated.

      EducationInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran raised safety concerns about Mulliyawalai Kalaimagal Vidyalayam in Mullaitivu, noting that he had inspected it and that there are no alternative buildings for students and staff. He also questioned the Government’s education reform commitments, asking whether schools in the Vanni District will receive sufficient computers and priority support in 2026 to address inadequate laboratory, IT and practical learning facilities.

      InfrastructureEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the 2026 education reform allocations aim to address resource gaps in secondary schools, including laboratories, IT connectivity, equipment, devices, and smart classrooms. She said facilities had been assessed and would be provided in phases, with all secondary schools targeted to receive at least one smart classroom and adequate connectivity by year-end through negotiations with internet service providers. She also noted that identified schools would receive special support and that provinces would receive funds in addition to Line Ministry allocations.

      Public FinanceEducationInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB

      AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka questioned whether the Government has a concrete plan beyond Paddy Marketing Board purchases to ensure a fair paddy price for farmers in the current season. He argued that PMB purchasing has been insufficient, noting that paddy prices had fallen from earlier levels of Rs. 120–130 per kilo to Rs. 75–80, and raised concerns about alleged market manipulation by large millers.

      Cost of LivingAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne — Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

      AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government had repaired and reopened Paddy Marketing Board stores that were closed or damaged, with Army assistance, to enable paddy purchasing. He stated that producer prices were increased based on official production costs, with Nadu bought at Rs. 120 per kilo, Samba at Rs. 130, and Keeri Samba at Rs. 140, and that over 13,000 MT had already been delivered to PMB stores. He added that while the PMB cannot legally buy wet paddy, drying facilities have been arranged, including dryers in Thalawa and Ampara, to support farmers.

      AgricultureCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB

      AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka questioned the Deputy Minister on the adequacy of Paddy Marketing Board purchases, noting they represented only 2.11 per cent of total production. He also raised concerns about delayed fertilizer subsidies and sought clarification on compensation for partial crop damage caused by the “8960” cyclone, asking whether payments would be made and whether subsidies would be delivered on time next season.

      Public FinanceAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne — Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

      AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne clarified that the previously cited 2.11 per cent PMB intake was not a purchase limit and said the Government would buy all paddy delivered by farmers, releasing additional funds if needed. He outlined increases in fertilizer support, including higher assistance for paddy and new support for intercropping, while attributing payment delays to staff shortages and cyclone-related disruptions. He also detailed expanded crop and livestock compensation schemes, higher payments for paddy and vegetable losses, and invited reports of any eligible farmers who had not yet received compensation.

      Agriculture Full speech →