Sitting of Friday, 8 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23554 ·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: Ceremonial Reception of H.E. To Lam, President of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam 7 speeches
- 2 Procedural Procedural: Announcements and Tabling of Reports (Constitutional Council, Committee on Public Finance) 6 speeches
- 3 Procedural Procedural: Motion to Exempt Business Nos. 1-7 from S.141 1 speeches
- 4 Debate Debate: Private Members' Motion P.17/2024 - School and Higher Education Frameworks for Sportspersons 10 speeches
- 5 Debate Debate: Private Members' Motion P.18/2024 - Formulating a Programme to Make School Students Aware of University of Vocational Technology 20 speeches
- 6 Debate Debate: Private Members' Motion P.43/2025 - Preventing Misuse of Positions of Professors and Doctors 24 speeches
- 7 Debate Debate: Private Members' Motion P.33/2025 - Setting up of a Unit with Legal Powers to Solve Problems Faced by Migrant Employees 19 speeches
- 8 Debate Debate: Private Members' Motion P.50/2025 - Formulating a Methodology to Prevent Damage Caused by Pine Plantations to Water Sources 8 speeches
- 9 Debate Debate: Private Members' Motion P.60/2025 - Preventing Suicide Among Young Children 9 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB
AI summary Lal Premanath moved a resolution calling for deeper intervention by political authorities, officials, the media and the public to prevent youth suicide, arguing that existing counselling, university training and hospital psychiatric services remain inadequate. He cited high risks among school-age girls linked to relationship, exam, family and online pressures, and among young men linked to drugs, unemployment, economic stress and domestic disputes, while noting stigma and poor coordination between schools, police, divisional offices and hospitals. He urged increased funding at district and divisional levels, use of community structures such as “Praja Shakthi”, stronger roles for the Youth and Sports Ministry, field-oriented counselling, resilience education, responsible media reporting, parental awareness of social media and gaming risks, and the creation of a national rapid-response unit.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB
AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara seconded the Private Member’s Motion on suicide prevention, arguing that suicide attempts reflect both individual psychological distress and wider social factors such as economic hardship and community conditions. He said a lack of resilience is a key underlying cause, criticizing the education system for being too teacher-centred and exam-centred rather than preparing children to adapt to new challenges. He urged reforms in education, media, and social discourse to build resilience among youth so they can cope with adversity without resorting to self-harm.
- The Hon. Aruna Panagoda JJB
AI summary Hon. Aruna Panagoda supported the motion on preventing youth suicide, citing frequent cases and estimating that 3,000 to 3,500 young lives are lost annually over issues such as examinations, workplace problems, and school-related stress. He argued for long-term social interventions through the education system, including character-building, counselling, extracurricular activities, stronger family relationships, and closer teacher-student engagement. He also urged electronic and social media, and Parliament itself, to act responsibly and avoid conduct that could negatively affect individuals, families, and social attitudes.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dinindu Saman Hennayake - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Dinindu Saman Hennayake thanked Hon. Lal Premanath for raising youth suicide and noted that, while Sri Lanka’s suicide rate has declined from earlier levels, it remains above the global average. He identified mental stress from educational competition, parental expectations, relationship breakdowns, family conflict and cyberbullying as key contributing factors, and linked the Government’s education reforms to efforts to reduce pressure on adolescents. He said the Ministry of Youth Affairs is developing preventive measures, including a Youth App for confidential counselling, youth engagement programmes through the National Youth Services Council and National Youth Corps, and a National Research Conference on Youth Development with a focus on youth mental stress.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB
AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath highlighted suicide prevention as a sensitive national issue, identifying causes such as examination pressure, family conflict, social acceptance pressures, online harassment, mental health conditions, trauma, economic hardship, imitation, and harmful media content. He urged legal action against publicizing or glamorizing suicide methods, closer attention to online games and digital risks, and consideration of these issues in new legislation. He proposed a 24-hour national rapid response unit or emergency hotline, with a task force to intervene when at-risk individuals are reported, and called for reducing stigma around mental healthcare. He also supported including character development in education reforms, potentially as a compulsory subject, to strengthen resilience among children and students.
- 10 Adjournment Adjournment: Parliament Adjourns 1 speeches