Sitting of Friday, 20 March 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23396 ·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 Papers: Annual Reports Tabled 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presented 2 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) 34 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister answered a question on vehicle usage in the Presidential Secretariat, stating that the vehicle pool had reduced from 833 to 634 vehicles currently in use. She said 60 vehicles had been assigned to other State institutions, 8 had been returned and put back into use, and the remaining vehicles are used for official duties of the Presidential Secretariat. She stated that the reduction of about 200 vehicles reflects the Government’s promised decrease in vehicle usage.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri sought clarification from the Prime Minister on the number of vehicles in the Presidential Secretariat vehicle pool during the Eighth Executive President’s tenure and the number returned after the 2024 Presidential Election, suggesting it may have been eight. He questioned apparent inconsistencies between government statements that vehicles would be auctioned or taken out of use and the Prime Minister’s reply that most were in use, asking how such public claims would be corrected. He also requested clarification on whether the pool contained 800 vehicles or whether 200 were not in use, citing concern over contradictory figures.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the number of vehicles in use had been reduced from 833 to 634, a decrease of about 200, in line with an earlier commitment. She added that, of 60 vehicles assigned to other State institutions, 8 had been returned, further reducing usage.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera objected that a question he had raised the previous Tuesday had still not been answered, rejecting the explanation that it was being asked for the first time and criticizing Ministers’ failure to provide responses. He further raised points of order alleging that a Member had made an insulting gesture and demanded an apology, noting that other Members had witnessed it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration stated that the question was being raised for the first time and requested two weeks to provide a response. The question was ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the Question was being raised for the first time and therefore no point of order arose.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a point of order citing Standing Order 91(u), challenging the Chair’s position that remarks made without a microphone would not be recorded in Hansard. He argued that gestures do not require a microphone and stated that he had witnessed the gesture in question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the answer to the Question could not be provided unless Members remained silent. The intervention was procedural, seeking order in the House to allow the response to be given.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that 40 model villages with 885 houses had been initiated in the Manmunai West/Vavunativu Divisional Secretariat area, with 270 houses completed and the remainder to be finished as funds are allocated. He said two model villages are to be completed in 2026, six approved villages comprising 136 houses are expected to be completed this year, and Treasury funding has been requested to complete the balance in phases over about three years. He also noted that under the North and East resettlement housing scheme, funds have been allocated for 2,500 houses at Rs. 2 million per house, following a Presidential directive to increase the per-house grant.
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam said many National Housing Development Authority projects in Batticaloa and the North and East, initiated during the tenure of Hon. Sajith Premadasa, remained incomplete after being halted in 2020. He cited over 133 unfinished model village projects and more than 3,000 houses stalled at various construction stages, leaving beneficiaries in debt for years. He requested the Deputy Minister to provide a clear funding allocation, phased completion plan, and timetable to finish the houses, including attention to areas such as Vavunativu and Vakarai.
- The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK
AI summary Thurairasa Ravikaran raised the issue of NHDA houses started during the Good Governance period in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya that remain incomplete, leaving war-affected and indebted families in distress. He asked whether the Government would complete these housing projects and requested an assurance from the Deputy Minister.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister which varieties of rice are most prevalent, seeking clarification on rice production or availability.
Agriculture Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister sought clarification on which six rice categories the Member’s question referred to, noting that rice is classified into several types including white and red kakulu, samba, naadu and basmati. He stated that white naadu and red naadu are the most prevalent varieties and indicated that quantity figures are available if required.
Agriculture Full speech → - The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister provided a detailed statistical response on household and national consumption, production, imports, duties, prices, and cost factors for essential commodities including sugar, dhal, rice, wheat flour, milk powder, and coconut. He cited 2025 estimates and historical household consumption data from the Department of Census and Statistics and coconut data from the Coconut Development Authority, noting import values by HS code and domestic production figures. He stated that price and cost differences arise from input costs, exchange rates, weather impacts, logistics margins, and tariff or levy policies.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government on measures taken to protect consumers from rising prices, noting that 65% of essential goods are still imported and that insurance, freight, and exchange-rate pressures have increased costs. He asked what steps were being taken to ensure fair prices, while acknowledging earlier maximum retail price controls and the subsequent shift toward competition-based pricing. He also challenged the apparent discrepancy between the Central Bank’s claim that inflation has subsided and the continued high prices faced by consumers.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said price controls have been applied selectively where necessary to protect farmers and domestic producers, while imports remain restricted and rice imports have been suspended. He stated that Sri Lanka has a three-month surplus of the main rice varieties, contributing to lower market prices for Kekulu and Nadu rice below or near the maximum retail price. He also referred to a Lanka Sathosa campaign and noted that global shipping disruptions had affected supply conditions.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe indicated that he would respond to the question before the House. No substantive details or policy position were provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that he was responding to the Hon. Member’s supplementary question. He noted that the Member had raised several issues, which formed the matter under consideration.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary The Government stated that it has taken measures to address price and supply concerns by stocking essential goods through CWE, STC, and Lanka Sathosa for at least one month. It said goods are being procured in quantities above the requirement and sold through Sathosa below prevailing market prices to stabilize prices and ensure consumer access.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake commended Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe as practical and sought a clear response on an unspecified issue, noting Sri Lanka’s population of 22 million as the context for his question.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought the Chair’s permission to ask his question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that the matter under discussion was unclear and sought clarity from the Speaker.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned how Government price relief through approximately 500 Sathosa outlets could benefit the wider population, noting that only a small share of Sri Lankans can access those outlets. He cited official monthly living cost figures for Colombo and Monaragala and asked how households would cope amid declining purchasing power and rising freight and insurance costs. He challenged the Government on its election promise to reduce prices.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe objected that the other Member was reading a questionnaire rather than posing a specific question. He stated that he would respond if a proper question was asked.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Food Security Committee and Cabinet had taken short-term measures to curb food price increases by normalizing transport and supply chains. He said discussions were held with importers, producers, distributors, and the Pettah Traders’ Association to assess stocks and logistics, with fuel shortages and transport continuity identified as key constraints. He noted that the President had directed priority fuel allocation for health and essential goods transport, and cited current market prices for sugar, lentils, onions, and rice as evidence of easing prices.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that measures are being taken to ensure market stabilization in line with current conditions.
Public Finance Full speech →
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Defence Ministry Inquiry (Q.553/2025) 2 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Warehouse Receipts Financing Project 5 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Consumer Affairs Authority Rice Raids (Q.640/2025) 5 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lankan-Maldivian Tourism and Travel (Q.1311/2025) 3 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Migrant Workers Hardship Statistics (Q.24/2024) 7 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question (Private Notice): Official Passports Issued to Religious Leaders 4 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Accountability for Disappeared Persons and UNHRC Engagement 6 speeches
- 12 Procedural Procedural: Sitting Hours Amendment 2 speeches
- 13 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Effects of Current Global Situation on Our Economy 8 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural: Lunch Recess Suspension 1 speeches
- 15 Adjournment Adjournment Debate (Continuation): Effects of Current Global Situation on Our Economy 61 speeches