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
- 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
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC
AI summary Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah briefly rose to ask a question in Parliament. No substantive issue, policy position, or proposal was stated in the recorded remark.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni provided detailed figures on surgical waiting lists at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, reporting a total of 2,712 pending cases, with the largest numbers in cardiothoracic, general paediatric, ophthalmic, ENT and plastic surgeries. He also tabled annual surgery totals for 2020 to 2022 and cumulative figures, and outlined measures to reduce waiting times, including dedicated theatres, restarting day surgeries, expanding ICU capacity through the Little Hearts Complex, procuring equipment and linen facilities, increasing cadre, collaborating with local and foreign surgical teams, and introducing a theatre information system.
Healthcare Full speech → - Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised concerns about paediatric hospital congestion and rural shortages of paediatric specialists. She highlighted staffing shortages at Laggala Type A Hospital, where only three doctors remain despite a requirement of 10, and asked what action would be taken to fill vacancies and fulfil the pledge to upgrade it to a Type C Base Hospital, which would bring specialist appointments.
- Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB
AI summary Around 7,000 long-delayed doctor transfers are being implemented, which may cause temporary staffing shortages until replacements take up posts. The Minister stated that the process is expected to be completed by the end of May and that vacancies will be filled. He also assured Parliament that there is no intention to downgrade Laggala’s grade.
- Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna stated that the proposal was to upgrade the hospital to a base hospital, with five specialists to be assigned, but this had not been implemented. She also noted that a doctor nominated from Bakamuna Hospital to fill a vacancy had not reported for duty for over a month.
Healthcare Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that doctors assigned to specific duty stations have been instructed to report to work by the end of the month, failing which their salaries will be withheld. He added that the specific case raised would be examined and appropriate action taken.
- 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