Sitting of Thursday, 19 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 1 speeches ▸
2. 2 Papers Papers and Petitions 5 speeches ▸
3. 3 Oral question Oral Question: Banana Cultivators in Ratnapura District: Issues (Q.1502/2025) 6 speeches ▸
4. 4 Oral question Oral Question: Proposed Vee-Oya Project: Details (Q.1544/2025) 5 speeches ▸
5. 5 Oral question Oral Question: Arabic Colleges: Upgrading (Q.1551/2025) 8 speeches ▸
6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Demarcation of Local Authority Areas and Wards: Trincomalee District (Q.1558/2025) 5 speeches ▸
7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Deferred Question (Q.1716/2025) 3 speeches ▸
8. 8 Oral question Oral Question: Housing Projects in Ihalagama, Kadiyangalla and Manewa GN Divisions (Q.1783/2025) 7 speeches ▸
9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Department of Motor Traffic: Registration of Vehicles (Q.1822/2026) 7 speeches ▸
10. 10 Oral question Oral Question: Schools in Monaragala District: Auditoriums (Q.1860/2026) 5 speeches ▸
11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Multi-Purpose Service Centres in Mannar District (Q.1455/2025) 4 speeches ▸
12. 12 Oral question Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Economic Challenges and Aviation Sector 13 speeches ▾
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised concerns about rising poverty and income inequality amid economic pressures and cost-of-living increases, including effects attributed to Middle East conflict-related fuel and price rises. He requested updated district-level poverty data, definitions and indicators used for the National Poverty Line and multidimensional poverty, and information on impacts on sectors such as manufacturing, self-employment, MSMEs, and the wider economy. He asked the Government to detail current social protection and income-support programmes, assess the adequacy of Aswesuma, and clarify whether a National Poverty Alleviation Policy exists with timelines and components. He also sought data and targeted measures for vulnerable groups, including children, mothers, persons with disabilities, the elderly and youth, and asked for short-, medium- and long-term policies to address multidimensional poverty, job losses and factory closures.

      Cost of LivingEmploymentPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB

      AI summary The Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment requested additional time to provide an answer.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a Standing Order 27(2) matter on the status of Sri Lanka’s aviation sector amid rising tourism, trade and travel demand. He asked the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation for detailed data on operating international airlines, passenger capacity, embarkation tax collection and arrears, arrivals and departures by airport from 2023 to 2025, and the levy due to Government. He also sought information on international and domestic airport capacities, utilization levels, planned infrastructure projects including Terminal 2 and regional upgrades, constraints on tourism growth, and the additional capacity expected from ongoing developments.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB

      AI summary The Minister answered a question on airline operations, passenger capacity and airport charges, stating that 29 scheduled airlines, including SriLankan Airlines and FitsAir, are approved for the winter 2025/2026 season with weekly one-way seat capacity of about 115,000 to 203,000. He said several Middle Eastern carriers and local airlines had reduced or cancelled frequencies due to the regional situation, while Aeroflot, Edelweiss and SalamAir had added flights, and tabled annexes with detailed seat, traffic, levy arrears and airport capacity data. He also set out current embarkation levy rates by airport, noting that the levy is included in ticket prices, collected by the Civil Aviation Authority from airlines and remitted to the Treasury twice weekly.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake welcomed the Minister’s answer but asked that the Hingurakgoda Airport, referenced by the President, be included in the Government’s airport development plans. He proposed converting one VIP terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport into an active passenger terminal to ease congestion, noting the airport is operating above capacity. He urged the Government to use Mattala Airport to attract Middle Eastern carriers affected by regional turmoil, including through incentives such as free handling, and to expand cargo capacity to prevent losses in fisheries exports and earn foreign exchange.

      Public FinanceInfrastructureForeign Affairs Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a procedural point requesting that the Opposition also be given adequate time to pursue matters arising from parliamentary questions, referring to the time allowed for Question No. 9. He acknowledged the Minister’s precise answer and sought permission to pose an additional question aimed at supporting the effective implementation of the Minister’s portfolio.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Government is reviewing the existing Master Plan for Bandaranaike International Airport with a view to increasing its capacity. He also said discussions have begun with several airlines to secure more scheduled flights to Sri Lanka, taking advantage of conditions in the Middle East.

      Infrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. T.B. Sarath JJB

      AI summary Hon. T.B. Sarath requested a brief opportunity to speak, without raising a substantive issue or making a specific proposal.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. T.B. Sarath JJB

      AI summary Hon. T.B. Sarath raised a concern that unregistered 48 CC-type motorcycles used widely by farmers are being denied fuel at filling stations. He requested that a mechanism be introduced to allow fuel to be issued to these motorcycles, particularly in agricultural districts.

      InfrastructureAgriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Proposed that a QR code could be created using the vehicle chassis number.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
13. 13 Procedural Procedural Motion: Time of Sitting 1 speeches ▸
14. 14 Debate Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act Regulations Approval 32 speeches ▸
15. 15 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Current Economic and Security Crisis 59 speeches ▸
16. 16 Procedural Written Answers to Questions 1 speeches ▸