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

Sitting of Friday, 20 March 2026

10th Parliament· 15 debates· 143 speeches· 55 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23396 ·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.

  11. 11 Oral question Oral Question: Accountability for Disappeared Persons and UNHRC Engagement 6 speeches
    • The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the Minister of Justice and National Integration on accountability for missing persons from the final stages of the 2009 conflict, citing the UNHRC Core Group statement and families’ rejection of domestic mechanisms. He sought detailed information on missing persons estimates, the absence of a consolidated database, Chemmani and other mass grave investigations, international forensic assistance, the use of Sri Lanka Accountability Project evidence, and the work of the Office on Missing Persons and Office for Reparations. He also asked whether the Government would commit to a time-bound accountability process with international involvement and raised concerns over the lack of forensic analysis at Chemmani and the non-release or non-recognition of political prisoners.

      Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB

      AI summary The Minister said the Government recognizes that many persons remain unaccounted for after the final stages of the conflict, but noted that figures vary due to differing records and methodologies, citing 2,764 based on records since 2009 while acknowledging it is debatable. He outlined steps by the Office on Missing Persons, with ICRC support, to consolidate records, develop a comprehensive database, strengthen data collection and coordination, and build forensic capacity for mass grave investigations. On the Chemmani mass grave and other sites, he said investigations are being conducted under judicial supervision with allocated funding, trained personnel, forensic procedures and international technical support. He rejected the UN’s SLAP initiative as an external mechanism not accepted by Sri Lanka, and said the Government is strengthening the OMP after a period of insufficient political support.

      Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations have been strengthened through new recruitment, budget allocations and Cabinet approval to extend the OMP mandate to cases beyond 2000 and newly reported complaints. He said Rs. 375 million has been allocated for a 75-member inquiry panel, with plans to complete 5,000 complaints this year and 6,000 next year, while referring identified perpetrators to relevant authorities. He outlined OMP work on mass grave cases, forensic training, database development, Certificates of Absence, regional outreach and family engagement. He also described the legal framework and activities of the Office for Reparations, including revival payments to 4,456 claimants by end-2025 and collective reparation initiatives in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

      Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam challenged the Government’s response on wartime disappearances, arguing that official figures are far below estimates cited by Tamil communities and international organizations, and questioned why internationally recognized DNA testing has not been permitted for remains from sites such as Chemmani. He said victims reject domestic mechanisms and criticized the Government’s emphasis on reparations, welfare, and the Office on Missing Persons without addressing justice, accountability, or a judicial process. He asked whether the Government is categorically opposed to any international accountability mechanism and, if it proceeds domestically, where alleged perpetrators would be tried.

      Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that the Government is committed to securing justice and closure for families of missing persons across all regions, while acknowledging the pain related to disappearances at the end of the war in 2009. He said concerns about appointments to the Office for Reparations would be raised in appropriate forums, and noted that the CTUR Act has been referred to the Law Commission because some provisions conflict with the Office for Reparations Act and the OMP Act. He affirmed that disappearances and killings would be addressed under local criminal law, with new laws if needed, and said the Government is seeking international expertise, assistance and training to support enforcement over the coming years.

      Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →