Sitting of Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23476 ·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 Opening: Parliament Session - Administrative Announcements and Personnel 29 speeches
- 2 Opening Opening: Speaker's Announcements - Message from the President and Constitution Petitions 2 speeches
- 3 Papers Papers: Auditor-General's Report and Ministry Annual Reports Tabling 10 speeches
- 4 Petitions Petitions: Citizens' Petitions Presentation 4 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Prices of Essential Goods and Economic Relief Package 4 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Fishermen in Puttalam District - Fuel Subsidy (Q.749/2025) 22 speeches
- Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources for details on the fuel subsidy for fishermen in the Puttalam District. He sought figures on the number of fishermen engaged in the industry, how many currently receive the subsidy, the funds allocated for it, and the measures taken to ensure timely distribution.
- Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that he would present the relevant answer despite the absence of the two Ministers responsible for the matter.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asks whether supplementary questions will also be answered, seeking clarification on the procedure for handling follow-up questions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, answering on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, provided details on the fuel subsidy for the Puttalam Fisheries District, stating that there are 13,130 active marine fishermen, 14,903 boats recommended for the subsidy, and Rs. 148,714,450 allocated or paid. He explained that subsidies are paid to boat owners rather than individual fishermen, through a computerized registration and verification process using district fisheries data, fuel bills, certified vessel lists, and direct bank transfers. He also noted that delays could occur due to incorrect or inactive bank accounts, and said supplementary questions would be referred to the relevant Ministry for answers.
Agriculture Full speech → - Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy said fishermen previously relied on direct fuel delivery, sometimes on credit, making bill submission difficult, and noted that a past six-month subsidy had not been extended. He highlighted rising fuel and fishing gear costs and broader livelihood pressures, including the need for pensions and support. He asked whether the Government plans a new relief scheme for fishermen and how it would be implemented.
- Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the President would provide details on measures responding to the sudden fuel price increase, including additional fuel subsidies for fishermen and a special April allowance for fishermen who are Samurdhi beneficiaries. He noted that subsidies would distinguish between large and small boats and be linked to travel distance using navigation tracking, bills, and a proposed QR code system for 32,000–38,000 registered small boats. He said these safeguards are intended to ensure accountability in the use of public funds and encourage savings and integration with the formal financial system.
- Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB
AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy raised concerns about unresolved issues affecting small boat owners and workers, contrasting them with better-regulated large fishing vessels. He alleged unequal treatment of fishermen, claiming banned fishing methods are tolerated in the Minister’s area while fishermen in Kalpitiya are targeted more harshly. He urged the Government to bring forward the long-pending Fisheries Bill, under preparation since 2018–2019 and covering matters such as madal, trawling and NARA findings, and asked when it would be introduced to protect fishermen’s livelihoods.
- Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the Ministry would inform the Member of the date for presenting the relevant Bill and rejected an allegation of regional favoritism by the Fisheries Minister. He stated that enforcement against Indian poaching vessels and banned fishing methods was being carried out uniformly under fisheries laws and regulations, including in Mullaitivu, where officials accused of facilitating illegal methods had been transferred.
- Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera raised concern that the Special Audit Report on the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant, tabled in Parliament, had not been provided to all 225 MPs despite containing serious findings. He requested that copies be made available, noting its relevance to an upcoming no-confidence motion against the minister concerned.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera raised a procedural concern that a document tabled in Parliament that day should already have been distributed to Members’ desks, noting that such material is usually provided simultaneously with tabling.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised a point of Order. No further substantive issue, proposal, or argument is recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar informed the House that, although the Leader of the House had tabled the Special Audit Report, Members had not yet received copies. He raised this as a procedural concern regarding access to the document.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar requested additional time to review a Special Audit Report ahead of a Committee meeting scheduled for the following day. He asked that at least a limited number of brief summaries of the report be provided to assist members’ preparation.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked when printed copies would be provided, noting that he had been given an opportunity to speak after a long interval.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government would not interfere in matters relating to tabling or printing parliamentary documents. He said responsibility for such procedures lies with the Secretary-General’s Department and the parliamentary Secretariat.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Construction of Waste-to-Energy Power Plant in Karadiyana (Q.842/2025) 8 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children - Waiting Lists (Q.1030/2025) 9 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Aswesuma Programme - Appeals and Objections 22 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question: School Safety - Abuse and Violence in Educational Institutions 11 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines - A330-200 Aircraft Acquisition and Fertilizer Distribution 21 speeches
- 12 Opening Ministry Statement: Direct Ferry Service between Mannar and India 8 speeches
- 13 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order on Coal Audit Report Distribution 4 speeches
- 14 Debate Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading and Related Orders (Chair Change - Introduction) 12 speeches
- 15 Procedural Procedural: Adjournment for Lunch Interval 1 speeches
- 16 Debate Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) 59 speeches
- 17 Debate Debate: Amendment of Standing Orders 119(4) and 120(4) and Committee Stage 27 speeches
- 18 Papers Papers: Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Annual Report 2 speeches
- 19 Procedural Written Answers to Questions 9 speeches