Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Tuesday, 7 April 2026

10th Parliament· 19 debates· 264 speeches· 84 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23476 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

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: SriLankan Airlines - A330-200 Aircraft Acquisition and Fertilizer Distribution 21 speeches
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath posed a question to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on the Aswesuma welfare programme, seeking figures on appeals and objections, their resolution, reinstated benefits, and the expected completion timeline. He asked whether a scientific data system would be introduced to select beneficiaries, what new data would be verified, and whether false claims had been identified, with recovery of funds and legal action. He also requested information on proposed cost-of-living-based benefit adjustments, empowerment programmes for beneficiary families, and related local or foreign funding allocations.

      Cost of LivingParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Aswesuma appeals and objections, stating that 57,770 reviewed cases had been sent for Welfare Benefits Board approval and that payments would begin once beneficiaries opened bank accounts. He said a scientific selection method and integrated digital welfare management system were in use, legal action had been initiated over relevant irregularities, and recovered amounts could not yet be stated because proceedings were ongoing. He added that no further allowance increase was currently proposed, but empowerment programmes were being implemented through Samurdhi, with specified domestic and foreign allocations for 2026.

      Public FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Lal Premanath raised concerns about continuing implementation issues with the Aswesuma welfare programme at ground level. He asked what steps the Ministry has taken to support poor households awaiting relief, particularly in light of the current global conflict situation.

      Public FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB

      AI summary Nishantha Jayaweera stated that no weighting system was used in assigning points for welfare benefit selection. He said the Committee on Standing Orders and Rules recommended revising the process, and the Welfare Benefits Board has since received general recommendations from an expert panel to refine eligibility criteria, include deserving beneficiaries, and remove ineligible recipients.

      Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath asked whether the Ministry has taken steps to assist beneficiaries who are digitally and educationally disadvantaged and face difficulties accessing information and dealing with officials. He sought clarification on the measures or solutions being implemented to address these barriers.

      Public FinanceEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB

      AI summary Nishantha Jayaweera stated that, following expert committee recommendations, the system would be simplified and made more user-friendly. He said people without access to technology could obtain assistance at Divisional Secretariats, where officers have been instructed to help with data submission and participation.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe (on behalf of the Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy) JJB

      AI summary Darmapriya Wijesinghe, on behalf of Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, asked the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs for annual data from 2020 onward on cybercrime complaints involving offences against women, both island-wide and in the Northern Province. He sought district-wise figures for Northern Province complaints received through official Government reporting portals or police cyber units, and details of measures to improve reporting access and victim support services for rural women, particularly in the Northern Province.

      Women & ChildrenLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Minister tabled data on cybercrime complaints handled by the Computer Crimes Investigation Division since its establishment on 24 March 2021, stating that 12,993 complaints were reported island-wide up to 10 March 2026, including 62 from the Northern Province. He detailed the Northern Province distribution by police division, with most complaints from Vavuniya, and outlined measures including provincial investigation sub-units, awareness programmes, Tamil-language outreach, hotlines and online reporting channels, counselling referrals, and deployment of women police officers to expedite investigations.

      Women & ChildrenSecurity & DefenceLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary In the context of global conflict and potential fuel supply disruptions, Sajith Premadasa sought detailed information from the Minister of Energy on Sri Lanka’s fuel costs, taxes, pricing formula, consumption, imports, storage, refinery output, and procurement premiums. He requested that the Government table reports covering per-litre costs from import to retail, shipment-wise import data for January to March 2026, the Sapugaskanda refinery’s capacity and utilization, and current fuel orders and premiums. He also questioned why the Government had not implemented its earlier commitment to pass port-landing prices to consumers and asked whether Treasury balances could be used to reduce fuel prices for the public, particularly low- and middle-income groups.

      Cost of LivingInfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB

      AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody provided detailed figures on fuel costs, taxes, operating charges, CPC volumes, imports, refinery output, and current procurement orders in response to a question on fuel pricing and supply. He stated that pricing is based on cost and tax components, with no tax on kerosene, and noted that at the March price revision the Government absorbed about Rs. 100 per litre on diesel and Rs. 20 per litre on Octane 92 as relief. He also explained that Sapugaskanda refinery utilization is below design capacity because it now uses Murban crude instead of Iranian Light crude due to sanctions, reduced high-sulphur fuel oil demand, and sulphur reduction requirements for the West Coast Power Plant.

      Public FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised concerns over recent increases in fuel and LPG prices, citing rises of around 24–30 per cent for petrol, diesel and kerosene and about 19–23 per cent for domestic gas. He argued that consumers had not been given relief despite relief measures in other countries, and asked when the Government would fulfil its promise to sell fuel to consumers at port-landing price.

      Public FinanceCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake questioned whether the preceding remarks were made by “AI Sajith Premadasa” or the real Sajith Premadasa, using a brief interjection to challenge or mock the authenticity of the statement.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Asked when the Government would implement its election promise to provide fuel at the port-landing price, referencing commitments made during the presidential and general election campaigns.

      Cost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB

      AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody stated that the March fuel price revision was driven by global war-related market conditions and that the Government absorbed about Rs. 100 per litre on diesel and Rs. 20 per litre on Octane 92 as relief. He said the Government would continue providing relief while maintaining uninterrupted supply, noting constraints including the CPC’s inherited Rs. 884 billion debt, its 57 per cent market share, and pricing demands from private operators.

      Cost of LivingPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, raising a matter under Standing Order 27(2), asked the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment about the future of the National Institute of Social Development, tracing its development from the Ceylon Institute of Social Work to a degree-awarding institution. He noted student protests and long-standing requests for affiliation with a national university, and referred to a technical committee proposal prepared following a 2025 Cabinet decision. He requested clarification on whether the Government would agree to affiliate NISD with a national university, whether such affiliation is possible in future, and what steps have already been taken.

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

      AI summary The Minister stated that committees appointed in 2025 and 2026 reviewed the National Institute of Social Development and recommended its affiliation to the University of Kelaniya. He said the NISD Academic Board and Governing Council approved the proposal on 24 March 2026, preliminary discussions with the university have been held, and an operational plan and compliance report are in place. He added that the Government expects to table the required legal instrument by 31 May 2026, including amendments to the existing Act, and tabled further details as an annex.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC

      AI summary He expressed thanks for the answers provided.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →