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
- 9 Papers Written Answers to Questions 9 speeches
- Written Answers to Questions
AI summary The Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, requested two weeks’ time to provide a written answer to Question No. 1972/2026 raised by Ravi Karunanayake on the Order Paper.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism for detailed data on Sri Lanka’s tourism performance, including annual arrivals, earnings, country-wise source markets, average expenditure, length of stay, promotional spending, and tax revenue. He requested comparisons between 2015–2022 and the period from 2022 to date, including changes in top markets and emerging markets after 2022. He also sought information on short-, medium-, and long-term tourism development plans, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided.
Foreign Affairs Full speech → - The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB
AI summary The Minister provided statistical responses on tourism arrivals, earnings, source markets, emerging markets, average expenditure, length of stay and promotional spending, with annexes and performance tables placed in the Library. He stated that the top source markets have remained largely unchanged since 2022, while markets such as the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland and several European countries show notable growth. He outlined short-, medium- and long-term tourism development plans, including Treasury-funded provincial projects for 2026, a 2027-2029 project pipeline, centralized e-ticketing, Beira Lake development, and preparation of a 2026-2030 sector strategic action plan with World Bank support.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake outlined medium- and long-term tourism development initiatives, including a 2027-2029 plan comprising 49 projects valued at Rs. 2,752 million and proposals for an e-ticketing platform, Beira Lake development, and a 2026-2030 strategic action plan supported by a World Bank grant. He also placed before the House a detailed question on Mahaweli Authority land administration, seeking information on land alienation, title deeds, commercial transfers, irregular occupation, digitization and GIS mapping, possible legislative reforms, unutilized lands, and annual economic returns of the Mahaweli Project over the past decade.
- The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary Minister K.D. Lal Kantha provided detailed data on Mahaweli Authority land distribution, stating that 304,290 acres have been alienated to 45,417 beneficiary families without clear title deeds, and that 10,995 acres remain unutilized for efficient economic activity. He said reallocations and action against irregular acquisitions are handled under relevant land laws with approvals from land-use, environmental, wildlife, forest, archaeology, industry and energy authorities, while a digital “e-SLIM Mahaweli” system is used to manage land records and issue permits and deeds. He also stated that long-term occupants may be granted ownership through legal mechanisms such as Land Kachcheri, and presented annual gross economic values from Mahaweli-related paddy, other crops, fisheries and hydropower, rising to Rs. 305,975 million in 2024.
- The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development whether the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s institutional continuity under the 2023 Central Bank Act includes assuming the rights, obligations, liabilities, and prior decisions of the former Monetary Board. He sought clarification on whether pension-related decisions and policies made before 15 September 2023, particularly periodic pension revisions for retirees, will continue to be implemented by the Governing Board, and what measures would be taken if they are not.
- The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake - President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Digital Economy
AI summary The President, responding as Minister of Finance, stated that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka continues as a body corporate under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, which replaced the Monetary Law Act from 15 September 2023. He said rights, obligations, regulations and decisions made by the former Monetary Board continue under the new Act, subject to Sections 133 and 134 and other relevant provisions. He further stated that pension rules and policies for Central Bank pensioners who retired before that date remain in force, including basic pension, inflation-linked monthly Cost of Living Allowance, and medical benefits.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB
AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education for details on the reported closure of Paragoda, Kithulagoda Kanishta Vidyalaya in the Bulathsinhala Division of Kalutara District. He sought information on the school’s establishment year, annual student numbers from 2015 to 2025, distances to nearby schools, consideration of travel difficulties including floods, the School Development Society’s decision, and whether the Government will reopen the school.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister responded to a question on WP/Ho/Paragoda Kithulagoda Junior School, stating that no decision has been taken to close the school, which was established on 31 July 1939. She provided annual student numbers from 2015 to 2025, showing a decline to 43 students in 2025, and noted that the School Development Society has decided to take steps to increase enrolment. She said the school is in a high flood-risk area but is not submerged due to its elevated location, though access roads can be flooded, and it currently functions as a disaster relief centre; nearby alternative schools were also identified if student transfers become necessary.