Sitting of Thursday, 7 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23540 ·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: Special Security Arrangements on 08 May 2026 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Report 4 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question 3 (840/2025): Dhammarathana Vidyalaya and Other Schools in Moratuwa 7 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question 4: Cybercrime Cases Against Women 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question 6 (1337/2025): Sports Officers and District Youth Service Officer in Ampara 7 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question 7 (1457/2025): Post Offices in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya Districts 7 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question 8: Waste Disposal at National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question 9: Community Water Supply Schemes in Vavuniya 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Second Round of Oral Questions (Q.10 and Tabled Answers) 8 speeches
- 11 Procedural Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Standing Order 27(2) 6 speeches
- 12 Oral question Questions by Private Notice: Fuel Purchase (CPC) and Private Lands Released by Military 9 speeches
- 13 Papers Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation 21 speeches
- 14 Procedural Procedural Matters: Points of Order, Privilege, and Parliamentary Business 39 speeches
- 15 Papers Presentation of Bills and Regulations Approval 16 speeches
- 16 Debate Debate: National Transport Commission Act Regulations, Motor Traffic Act Regulations, Immigrants and Emigrants Act Regulations 17 speeches
- 17 Procedural Suspension of Proceedings for Lunch 1 speeches
- 18 Debate Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 1 19 speeches
- 19 Debate Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 48 speeches
- 20 Procedural Division Vote and Adjournment: Public Security Ordinance Resolution 15 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC
AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam said he would call a Division and vote against extending the Emergency, arguing that the Government had not shown a present necessity and that ordinary disaster or foreign-crisis management did not justify emergency powers. He warned that emergency rule risks abuse in the North and East without security sector reform, and cited the detention of books by Theepachelvan Piratheepan through Customs and Defence Ministry involvement as an example of improper censorship requiring rectification. He also demanded the release of military-held private lands in Valikamam North and written guarantees on land returns, including Thayiddi, while raising concerns over garbage dumping near the Chinnathottam Hindu cremation ground in Kinniya and asking for intervention.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister supported extending the Emergency Regulations under the Public Security Ordinance to continue essential services following the nationwide disaster, arguing that government data showed over 90 per cent effectiveness in post-disaster administration. He rejected Opposition criticisms on relief progress, security sector reform, and land release, citing community engagement in Jaffna and inviting Members to raise land issues at the Defence Ministerial Consultative Committee. He said work had begun on 952 fully damaged houses with Rs. 1,950 million allocated, and payments of Rs. 5,291 million had been made for 24,365 partially damaged houses, while resettlement, temporary shelter, and reconstruction efforts continued with the involvement of state agencies, the Tri-Forces, and civil organizations.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC
AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam called for a Division, requesting that the matter before the House be put to a recorded vote.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK
AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan requested a division during the parliamentary proceedings. His remarks were limited to calling for the formal vote procedure following the Division Bell.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- Electronic Voting Results
AI summary An electronic vote was recorded with 150 Members present. The result was 144 votes in favour, 6 against, and no abstentions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB
AI summary A Resolution was moved on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to approve the declaration issued under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979. The declaration was published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2486/13 dated 28 April 2026 and on 6 May 2026, and the House agreed to the motion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural