Sitting of Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23608 ·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 and Announcements 8 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers and Reports Tabled 14 speeches
- 3 Procedural Procedural Matters and Oral Questions (Standing Order Issues) 23 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions 38 speeches
- 5 Oral question Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements 22 speeches
- 6 Papers Bills Presented: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2 speeches
- 7 Debate Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage 89 speeches
- 8 Adjournment Adjournment Motion: Sustainable Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict 20 speeches
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary The Leader of the House, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion was proposed for the House’s consideration.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna moved an Adjournment Motion calling for a sustainable, scientific solution to the human-elephant conflict, citing recent deaths in Wilgamuwa and data from Matale showing 14 elephant deaths, 12 human deaths, and 50 property damage incidents in 2025-2026. She said compensation payments are delayed, around 100 GN divisions in Matale face elephant threats, and existing mitigation measures such as electric fences suffer from poor design, maintenance, and regulation. She proposed a proper land-use plan, improved fence standards, stronger Wildlife Department infrastructure, vehicles, staffing and supplies, and tabled expert recommendations for consideration under a broader institutional framework with state oversight.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Rohini Kumari Wijerathna urged that regulation remain under Government control while engaging capable specialized partners to assist, emphasizing that both human lives and animal welfare are at stake. She called for a structured, sustainable programme to protect both people and animals and for the expedited payment of compensation to victims.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson seconded a motion by Hon. Rohini Kavirathna and, while marking 17 years since the end of the war, thanked war heroes and wartime state leaders. He highlighted the continuing human-elephant conflict, citing 35 human and 117 elephant deaths nationally from January to April 2026, including 7 human and 22 elephant deaths in Polonnaruwa, and attributed the problem partly to ineffective fencing, habitat loss from land allocations, and livestock inside Maduru Oya National Park. He urged better maintenance of electric fences, payment of overdue allowances and provision of facilities to Civil Security Department personnel attached to Wildlife, faster vehicle procurement, and stronger operational support for the Department of Wildlife. He also proposed that farmer organizations identify households needing secure paddy storage containers during harvest seasons to reduce elephant raids on homes.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dinesh Hemantha JJB
AI summary Hon. Dinesh Hemantha stated that the human-elephant conflict in Matale District has worsened despite national and local measures, including the formation of a district committee coordinating wildlife offices. He cited the recent deaths of a father and daughter in Moragahulpotha, Wilgamuwa, and highlighted problems such as ineffective electric fences, isolated forest patches within planned settlements, and abandoned lands that now harbour elephants. He said short-term action was sought after the incident, including possible removal of an identified rogue elephant, while the Government is pursuing gradual, sustainable solutions across the district.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna supported the motion on human-elephant conflict, stating that Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and parts of Jaffna are severely affected and that no elephant fences have been erected in the Northern Province. He requested the Minister to consider establishing elephant fences in Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar, especially in poorer areas. He also raised a procedural concern under Standing Order 141(1), alleging that Hon. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam insulted a guest, Ms. Kowsalya Narendran, in the Parliamentary Library.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Called for the establishment of elephant fences in the Northern Province to prevent elephant attacks.
Environment Full speech → - The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC
AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir supported the Adjournment Motion on the human-elephant conflict, linking it to the need to protect domestic agricultural production during the economic crisis. He said forest clearing and resettlement in parts of Ampara District have pushed elephants into coastal DS divisions, causing damage to lives, crops and property. He criticised the effectiveness and conduct of some officials assigned to elephant control and urged the Government and relevant Ministers to take serious action, noting that farmers are personally paying large sums for guards and fencing.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Biyanwila JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Biyanwila supported the motion, noting that several districts, including Matale, have been badly affected by the wildlife-related hazard, with severe impacts on perennial crops such as coconut. He said past ad hoc responses were insufficient and called for a coordinated plan involving the Wildlife Department and other stakeholders, while identifying shortages of vehicles, staff, and night-time response capacity as obstacles. He stated that district-level planning has begun under the Minister’s leadership and that efforts are under way to improve rapid interventions, strengthen fences, and reduce harm to farmers and the public within the year.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB
AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi said the Environment Ministry is addressing both wild elephant conservation and issues relating to captive elephants used in cultural processions, including by suspending previous Cabinet decisions and appointing a committee. He outlined measures to reduce human-elephant conflict, including strengthening the Department of Wildlife Conservation with staff, vehicles and field support, rehabilitating 5,747 km of electric fences, establishing district coordination committees, creating nutrition zones, declaring 81 new forest reserves, operationalizing the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve by Gazette, and updating the 2020 expert action plan. He requested parliamentary support to legally secure elephant corridors, including the Polonnaruwa–Batticaloa corridor, and said opposition cooperation was needed for successful implementation.
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised a Point of Order, expressing regret over remarks made by a Minister. She requested the Presiding Member’s permission to clarify the matter if given time.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB
AI summary Mrs. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna clarified that her request to the Bribery Commission and the Auditor General was for a wage increase to be extended to small and medium estate workers as well. She criticized the Minister for misunderstanding her communication before Parliament was adjourned.
Employment Full speech →
- 9 Papers Written Answers to Questions 9 speeches