Sitting of Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23387 ·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 Papers Tabling of Reports and Papers 6 speeches
- 3 Committee report Committee Reports and Petitions 12 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1 to Q.7 and Standing Order 27(2) questions) 66 speeches
- 5 Oral question Clarification on Country's Energy Security under Standing Order 27(2) 20 speeches
- 6 Procedural Bills Presented and Points of Order 4 speeches
- 7 Debate Debate: Approval of Remuneration and Service Conditions of CIABOC Officers and Employees 56 speeches
- 8 Debate Continuation of Debate: CIABOC Remuneration and Service Conditions 15 speeches
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved, with leave of the House and in line with the Business Committee’s notification, that Parliament adjourn at the end of the day’s sitting until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 19 March 2026. The motion was put to the House and agreed to, after which proceedings moved to the next speaker.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath said the Government is strengthening CIABOC by improving officers’ salaries, allowances and facilities to ensure independent action against bribery and corruption. He argued that the economic collapse resulted from past corruption and misuse of public funds, and rejected Opposition criticism that the Government had failed to manage recent crises, citing the response to the Ditcha cyclone and current global fuel pressures. He said measures had been taken to address farmers’ fuel needs and prevent fertilizer profiteering, including agreed urea prices of Rs. 9,500 per 50 kg bag through private firms and Rs. 9,000 through the State fertilizer company.
- The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK
AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan supported the resolution on salaries and service conditions for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, arguing that it is necessary to implement the autonomous staffing model established by the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023. He outlined the Commission’s expanded mandate, new operational structure, enlarged multidisciplinary cadre, and proposed pay and allowance scheme intended to retain specialized staff and reduce vulnerability to corruption. He also raised concerns about vacancies, limited case filings, and alleged constraints on financial autonomy under the Public Finance Management Act, and proposed legal clarification, direct use of a Commission Fund, a hybrid staffing model, and safeguards against politically motivated transfers.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake said CIABOC had strengthened Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption standing and that the proposed remuneration and service-condition measures would give it greater recruitment capacity and operational independence, including plans for district-level offices. He defended the Government’s QR fuel measures as a response to war-related global disruption rather than bankruptcy, contrasting it with the previous crisis and stating that fuel supply, harvesting activities, and electricity generation were being managed without a need for power cuts. He also referred to the Government’s handling of an incident involving Iranian vessels, saying Sri Lanka acted in line with international law and humanitarian obligations while avoiding alignment with parties to the conflict.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna rejected claims that his concerns about fuel shortages were personal, stating that he was raising the difficulties faced by tourist vehicle operators, three-wheeler drivers, and farmers, particularly in the North, who cannot manage travel or agricultural work with limited monthly fuel allocations. He questioned how farmers could function with 40 litres a month and urged the Government to address the practical impact of fuel distribution. He also asked what action had been taken on six corruption complaints he had filed, including allegations involving Rs. 30 million at Tellippalai Hospital and Rs. 17 million at Chavakachcheri Hospital, and called for investigations rather than only parliamentary discussion.
- The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB
AI summary Hon. M.K.M. Aslam supported the resolution to strengthen the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, arguing that corruption and fraud were central causes of Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy and that the Commission needs adequate staffing and facilities, including 971 officers and salary provisions. He said the NPP Government is fulfilling its pledges, including the eradication of corruption, while managing economic recovery, natural disasters, refugee-related issues, and international humanitarian obligations. He also criticized the Opposition for alleged inconsistencies on issues such as the rescue of Iranian sailors and for lacking credibility on anti-corruption matters.
- The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB
AI summary Mujibur Rahuman clarified that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Leader of the Opposition had condemned the war and related attacks, citing deaths of children in Iran and the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader. He questioned why the Government and Foreign Ministry had not issued a condemnation and called on the Member to ask the President to state the Government’s position.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary The Member supported increasing remuneration and pension benefits for CIABOC officers, including higher salaries for senior officials, but questioned whether the Commission was acting independently or being used to target the Opposition while ignoring allegations against the Government. He raised specific concerns about the handling of complaints relating to “Container 323,” Parliament officials, and energy procurement, including coal quality issues at Norochcholai, alleged tender irregularities, increased diesel use, and possible health impacts. He urged CIABOC to investigate these matters promptly and impartially, and also objected to Parliament being adjourned during a fuel crisis while district development meetings were scheduled on sitting days.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister supported avoiding Pradeshiya and District Development Committee meetings on parliamentary sitting days except in emergencies with Members’ consent. He said the Government was strengthening CIABOC under the Anti-Corruption Act by addressing staff, premises, court capacity and risk allowance needs, and noted that older corruption complaints were now progressing. He also justified the temporary holiday and suspension of one sitting day as fuel-conservation measures amid the Iran conflict and possible disruption to global oil supplies, stating that urgent procurement of fuel, gas and coal had been authorized with Procurement Commission approval. He said the Government would prioritize fuel for agriculture, essential services and food production during the external shock.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government is prioritizing fuel and energy allocation for essential sectors including agriculture, transport, industry, tourism and fisheries, with specific quotas for paddy harvesting, ploughing and threshing. He said supply-chain disruptions caused by external geopolitical pressures, rather than lack of Treasury funds, are the main challenge, and noted measures such as fuel support for distribution networks and a QR-linked app to assist tourist transport without queuing. He also stated that LPG demand had risen due to precautionary refilling, and outlined current and scheduled Litro imports intended to meet monthly requirements and secure future supply.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised concerns over a remuneration anomaly under the Anti-Corruption Act, arguing that the CIABOC Director General’s salary being made comparable to the President of the Court of Appeal could create inappropriate parity with senior judicial officeholders and asking that the matter be reviewed with the Management Services Department. He then referred to the Iran-Israel conflict, thanked a Minister for attributing its escalation to a US–Mossad strike, and criticized the President, Foreign Minister and Muslim MPs for not condemning it or expressing condolences. He called on Muslim MPs to boycott the President’s Iftar in protest and urged prayers for the war to end.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB
AI summary The Minister supported the proposal to determine improved remuneration and service conditions for CIABOC officers, arguing that stronger staffing, resources, and legal capacity are necessary to combat technologically complex corruption and wider corruption networks. He said the Government proposes revised pay scales for senior CIABOC positions and an enhanced “anti-corruption risk allowance,” developed with the Management Services Department and Ministry of Finance to attract and retain specialized forensic, investigative, and prosecutorial personnel. He also noted that current fuel supply constraints were due to external logistics rather than domestic fiscal issues, and requested prudent public consumption while the Government manages stocks.
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Status of Development Officers and Parliament Adjournment 12 speeches
- 10 Procedural Written Answers to Questions 1 speeches