Sitting of Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23618 ·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: Parliament Session Commencement and Points of Order 4 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Ministry Reports 29 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) 71 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural: Motions and Privilege Matter 42 speeches
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, as Leader of the House, sought permission from Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake to move a motion immediately, indicating it would take only a minute and that Dasanayake could raise his matter afterward.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting arrangements, setting sittings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., with Standing Order 8(5) to operate at 11.30 a.m. and adjournment at 5.30 p.m. The motion was put to the House and agreed to.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake informed the Speaker that he had submitted a question of privilege the previous day and requested permission to raise it in the House that day.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake sought permission to raise a question of privilege during the parliamentary proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara rose on a point of order under Standing Order 29. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to Members invoking multiple Standing Orders to seek speaking opportunities, stating that Standing Order 29 applies to collective matters. He said the Speaker may allow Hon. Chamara Sampath to raise a privilege issue if appropriate, but urged that proceedings be conducted strictly within Standing Orders, with responsibility also resting on the Opposition Whips.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake referred to an incident from the previous day in which he brought a letter to the Speaker and was removed from the Chamber on the grounds of obstruction. He appeared to contest the handling of that incident, though the excerpt ends before any substantive request or argument is developed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake stated that he had informed the Leader of the House, the Minister of Justice, and the Secretary-General the previous day that his parliamentary privileges were being violated. He raised the matter as a procedural concern before the House.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised a question of privilege regarding his inability to travel overseas for a Chinese Ministry of Commerce programme for Sri Lankan MPs from 25 May to 5 June 2026. He stated that his passport is held by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with Bribery Commission-related cases, and that despite submitting the parliamentary and Chinese invitation documents through counsel, continued objections by Commission officials have hindered the release of the passport even with a proposed Rs. 1 million cash bail.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake began referring to a letter while addressing the Leader of the House, but the provided excerpt contains no substantive details about its content, context, or any proposal or demand.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake briefly raised the matter of the Bribery Commission. The available transcript is incomplete and contains no further details on any specific allegation, question, or proposal.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, as Leader of the House, briefly addressed a Member and asked them to listen. No substantive policy point, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake briefly stated that all present are Members of Parliament, addressing the Leader of the House. No specific policy issue, proposal, or question was raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that proceedings could not continue under the circumstances and referred to a ruling or intervention by the Speaker. The speech fragment indicates a procedural objection or clarification concerning the conduct of parliamentary business.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake briefly challenged the position being taken regarding a letter from the Secretary-General. He appeared to question what course of action would follow if that letter were not accepted, indicating a procedural dispute over the status or recognition of the document.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that a court order takes precedence over the authority of the Secretary-General, emphasizing that the Court is the higher authority and its order must prevail.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary The Leader of the House objected to a Member discussing a matter subject to a court order, stating that such discussion was not permitted in Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF
AI summary The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake stated that the issue under discussion should not be attributed to an error by the Court. His remark appears to clarify responsibility in the context of a judicial or legal matter being debated.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Leader of the House JJB
AI summary The Leader of the House stated that the Secretary-General had already determined the issue raised was not a matter of parliamentary privilege.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB
AI summary In response to Question No. 643/2025, the Deputy Minister stated that 11.53 hectares of black gram were cultivated by 4,828 farmers in the Mahaweli “H” Zone during the 2025/26 Maha season, while cultivation for the 2026 Yala season had not yet begun. He said no issue arose regarding the sale of produce at a fair price during that season, making related follow-up questions not applicable.
Agriculture Full speech → - The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage responded to Question No. 1936/2026 on the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, stating that it was established under Act No. 49 of 1957 to provide affordable quality fish and support cold storage and ice production. He said the Corporation has faced a capital crisis since 2010, affecting statutory payments, supplier dues, bank obligations, and services, and outlined investigations into 2024–2025 financial irregularities, including CIABOC action, arrests, disciplinary proceedings, and dismissals. He also detailed the status of nine ice plants, noting that about five are operational, and described the 2026 recovery plan targeting higher revenue and profit through new refrigerated trucks, cold store refurbishment, recovery of properties and receivables, and expansion of sales agreements.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to Hon. Chamara Sampath’s conduct in the Chamber, alleging that he was using an opportunity granted by the Speaker during disorder to make improper remarks about a court matter and the judiciary. He emphasized that the Bribery Commission is a separate institution and said any defence should be made in court rather than through intimidation or accusations in Parliament. He urged the Member to stop violating parliamentary rules and not to exploit the Speaker’s permission to raise a grievance.
- Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB
AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised a point of Order during the sitting. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is recorded in the excerpt beyond the procedural intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a point of order citing Standing Order 91(e) on sub judice matters. He argued that the matter being discussed was not awaiting a court decision and asked the Chair to clarify what court decision was at issue, referring to the Speaker having read out the relevant provision.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that Hon. Chamara Sampath’s grievance was being used by others to disrupt proceedings and urged that no unlawful acts be permitted. He argued that the Chair had no authority to allow such actions and requested that the business of the House commence.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB
AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion was proposed for the House’s consideration.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 5 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 99 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Tourism - Room Capacity and Occupancy Rates (Q.?) 2 speeches