Sitting of Friday, 10 April 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23479 ·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 of Parliament 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented and Committee Reports 4 speeches
- 3 Committee report Sectoral Oversight Committee Reports on Health, Mass Media and Women's Empowerment 1 speeches
- 4 Petitions Citizens' Petitions 4 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Non-Academic Staff of State Universities (Q.25/2024) 2 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Multiple Questions in First Round (Q.2, Q.3, Q.4 and others) 5 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Questions: Second Round and Supplementary Questions 10 speeches
- 8 Procedural Private Notice Questions and Procedural Matters 14 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Rasamanickam questioned the adequacy of the Aswesuma welfare targeting system in the absence of an updated domestic poverty survey since the 2019 HIES, noting post-crisis poverty increases cited by the World Bank. He asked the Finance Minister whether a post-2019 national poverty estimate exists, when the 2025 HIES will be published, and whether Aswesuma eligibility criteria will be revised before the next phase. He also requested district-level data on beneficiaries and appeals, and asked what further measures and delivery mechanisms would protect households affected by cost-of-living pressures linked to the Middle East crisis.
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary Responding on behalf of the Finance Minister, the Deputy Minister said the next Aswesuma web and printed publications are targeted for 30 October and 30 December 2026, respectively. He reported that an expert committee is reviewing beneficiary selection criteria, with a final draft to follow field testing, Cabinet approval and submission to Parliament. He provided beneficiary figures for disability, chronic kidney disease, elderly and centenarian allowances, noted appeals and objections pending before the Welfare Benefits Board, and placed district-wise annexes in the Library. He also outlined April Aswesuma top-up payments, related relief for fisheries, fertilizer and electricity, and said recertification assessments to address inclusion gaps would be finalized by 30 June.
- The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar responded to allegations raised by Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, stating that he frequently criticizes Rasamanickam and M.A. Sumanthiran in Tamil on Northern issues. He denied the accusations as baseless and challenged Rasamanickam to table any evidence in Parliament or refer the matter to the CID for lawful investigation.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC
AI summary M.A.M. Thahir raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government regarding a cultural centre built with government funds on waqf land belonging to the Kottantivu Mohideen Jumma Mosque in Puttalam. He asked why the completed centre has remained closed and not handed over for public use, citing mosque objections to reported moves by the District Secretariat to appropriate the land and noting that related mosque and water-supply infrastructure on the site are community-managed. He sought clarification on whether the centre can be handed over to the mosque for management and maintenance, when and by whom this would be done, and what action would be taken against officials responsible for delays or obstruction.
- The Hon. P. Ruwan Senarath - Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary Funds allocated in 2017 and 2024 were used to complete a multipurpose building in Kalpitiya in December 2024, but its handover to the Kalpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha was obstructed by persons claiming to represent the Mohideen Jumma Mosque. The Deputy Minister stated that the mosque’s Board of Governors had initially agreed to provide the land, but ownership of the exact portion where the building stands has not been conclusively established by survey, and relevant letters were placed in the Library. He said the facility was publicly funded for use by all residents and therefore cannot be managed by the mosque; pending regularization of land title, it should be assigned to the Pradeshiya Sabha with the cooperation of the District Secretary, the mosque, and other stakeholders.
- The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC
AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir objected to a proposal to transfer a community centre built on mosque waqf land to a local authority, noting that it was constructed with Government funds in 2017 and 2023 and has been maintained by the mosque. He argued that the mosque had already arranged access for all communities and questioned why similar buildings managed by temples in Sinhala-majority areas were not treated the same way. He urged the Deputy Minister to ensure the centre is handed to the mosque for management in line with waqf law and communal harmony.
- The Hon. P. Ruwan Senarath - Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that decisions regarding the multipurpose conference hall were not racially motivated and noted that an audit query in 2023 had raised several issues. He said the land status must first be surveyed and verified with the District Secretary, after which the building could be vested in the Pradeshiya Sabha for maintenance and made accessible to all communities. Once the land is regularized, further action would be taken in consultation with district-level stakeholders.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a matter of privilege, alleging that unanswered questions to the Central Bank and other authorities on financial regulation, reserves, debt policy, governance, and alleged irregularities are obstructing his parliamentary duties and undermining oversight under Article 148. He asked the Speaker to rule on whether such delays breach privilege, to direct public institutions to provide complete and timely information, and to consider referral to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges or another authority. He also questioned whether the Central Bank’s independence should be re-examined for lack of corresponding accountability, and informed the House that he would complain to police about misuse of his social media byline.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna stated that he had repeatedly raised, under Standing Order 118(3), the absence of an inquiry into “YouTube Sudaawa.” He noted that he had not received a response and sought clarification on why no inquiry had been initiated.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 9 Procedural Order of Business Motions and Agenda Setting 2 speeches
- 10 Debate Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) 184 speeches
- 11 Adjournment Adjournment of Parliament 3 speeches