Sitting of Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23541 ·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 Parliament Opening 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented: Annual Reports 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions Presented 2 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms 7 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Laggala Bus Station Facilities (Q.1/885/2025) 19 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Questions: Second Round (Q.1/885/2025 deferred; Q.5/1763/2025 absent; Tea Industry Budget Provisions) 5 speeches
- 7 Procedural Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Points of Order 35 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a matter of privilege in Parliament. No further details or specific complaint were stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB
AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri raised a point under Standing Order 28(e) concerning the procedure for Questions to the Prime Minister. He argued that allowing an answer to be tabled during the limited monthly PM’s Questions period, particularly after an objection by the Leader of the House changed the Chair’s initial ruling, could affect MPs’ privileges. He requested that this practice not be treated as a precedent or convention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB
AI summary The Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip stated that Prime Minister’s Question Time forms part of Oral Questions. He noted that questions requiring oral answers had been submitted to the Prime Minister with the Speaker’s permission, while also observing that, under convention, the Speaker could decline to allow them if the relevant Member was absent.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa objected to the late handling of a parliamentary question, saying it suggested insufficient importance was given to it. He urged that the matter be dealt with under normal procedure where possible, or otherwise that the answer be tabled appropriately at a later occasion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara rose to raise a Point of Order. No substantive issue or further argument is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that he had requested the Speaker’s permission to raise a matter of privilege. No further details of the privilege issue were provided in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan used the opportunity before raising a question to congratulate Vijay on his party’s victory in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly Election. He praised the campaign as being based on social justice, good governance, and inclusive development, and expressed hope that the new leadership would meet public expectations and advance the State’s development.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, under Standing Order 27(2), about regulating preschool education and creating a uniform national system with salary structures and benefits for preschool teachers. He also proposed reviewing the preschool-to-Grade 1 transition, including reducing the preschool period and setting Grade 1 admission at age five. He raised concerns about schools nationalized in 2014 without new cadre creation and urged action on volunteer teachers, especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, who remain without permanent appointments despite Cabinet approval, interviews, or wartime service. He requested a special committee to study their cases and either grant permanent appointments or absorb them as teacher assistants.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister said preschool education needs regulation and standardization, noting that most preschools are privately run and therefore their teachers cannot currently be given permanent Government appointments or fixed Government salaries or allowances. She said the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs on preschool education reforms for 2027, including implementation of the National Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework, teacher guides, model activities, and provincial-level teacher training. She also stated that a National Policy for Preschool Education is planned for 2026, that no provincial school was declared a national school in 2014, and that some requested information is not presently available with the Ministry.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Ministry needs time to inquire at provincial level into allegations of political interference in granting permanent appointments to volunteer teachers, as it currently lacks such information. She said Cabinet approval in 2007 allowed only up to 4,700 volunteer teachers to be appointed as teacher assistants under a 2006 Cabinet Memorandum, and provinces were informed that no further appointments should be made. She added that the Ministry has not recruited volunteer teachers after 4 January 2007.
- The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP
AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan urged the Government to expand preschools operated by local authorities, especially in poor and war-affected areas in the North and East, where private preschool fees limit access for children. He requested an appropriate circular and funding arrangements through the Government or local authorities. He also called for a province-wise committee to review 300–400 former volunteer teachers allegedly denied appointments for political reasons, and to provide relief through permanent appointments or teacher assistant positions by revising past circulars where necessary.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has begun regulating private preschools, while the Ministry of Education has asked divisions to assess needs and propose new preschools, particularly in underserved areas such as the North and East. She stated that preschool administration falls under the Women and Children’s Affairs Ministry and would be coordinated with them. On volunteer teachers, she asked for specific case details, said the Ministry would inquire through provincial authorities, and indicated that a committee could be appointed if affected groups from the 2007 issue remain.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam indicated uncertainty about whether the Government would answer his question immediately or seek more time. He stated that if the answer was postponed, he wished to add two further questions, citing limitations on obtaining permission otherwise.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa informed Parliament that the requested answers would not be provided that day and that additional time was being sought.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK
AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the impact of Cyclone “Ditwah” on the 2025/26 Maha season and the risk to the 2026 Yala cultivation, noting reduced cultivated extent, crop damage, and possible rice shortages. He asked the Agriculture Minister for official rice production and availability forecasts, district-wise details of relief and compensation, and measures to ensure timely Yala cultivation in severely affected Northern, Eastern and Central Province districts. He also highlighted delays and inadequacies in fertilizer distribution, especially in Batticaloa, and urged urgent action to prevent farmers being forced to buy fertilizer privately at higher prices.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary An answer to the matter raised would be provided shortly.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that SriLankan Airlines’ restructuring process has progressed with the completion of the Rs. 91.3 billion State bank loan restructuring, including a Rs. 25.2 billion payment in December 2025 to Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank, with further Government capital payments scheduled twice yearly until 2030. He said the USD 175 million sovereign bond guarantee is being restructured and is expected to be completed by end-2026. He acknowledged the Auditor-General’s concern over the airline’s going concern status, noting continued Government support but said the Government does not intend to continue operations in the current form and is discussing a viable business model with the Treasury and potential investors.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake sought clarification on whether the Cabinet had approved a definite course of action, specifically through a strategic partnership or a public-private partnership model. The intervention pressed for a direct answer on the approved policy pathway.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB
AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka said no final decision had been reached on SriLankan Airlines’ future business model, with discussions continuing on options such as public-private partnership, management arrangements or continued State ownership. He detailed the airline’s debt position, Cabinet-approved debt settlement arrangements, payments to State banks, projected Treasury outflows, and outstanding sovereign bond liabilities. He also clarified that ground handling remains under SriLankan Airlines, while SriLankan Catering has separate audited accounts, and outlined recent profitability, route management, load factor, staffing and passenger-share data. He stated that bonuses paid in 2025 were reduced and justified on industrial relations grounds, and that they did not conflict with the IMF programme.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a Point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a matter under Standing Order 29 concerning parliamentary privilege, noting that an earlier privilege issue he had presented had only been partially answered and requesting that it be addressed as previously indicated. He cited the Standing Order provision giving precedence to motions on parliamentary privilege and asked the Speaker to allow him to present a related letter.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara requested the Speaker to consider Standing Order 118 concerning the Committee on Ethics and Standards. He argued that where a matter appears to involve parliamentary privilege, the Committee has authority to inquire and investigate, and sought permission to present the matter.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara informed the House that he has an engagement the following morning.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- 8 Papers Bills Presented 2 speeches
- 9 Procedural Motion on Sitting Hours 1 speeches
- 10 Debate Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading 88 speeches
- 11 Debate Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Committee and Third Reading Stages 9 speeches