Sitting of Thursday, 21 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23621 ·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 Speaker's Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Ministerial Consultative Committee Reports and Committee Reports 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question Q.841/2025: Colombo National Art Gallery Renovation 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question Q.921/2025: Widows of Fallen or Missing Military Personnel - Pension/Allowances 6 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question Q.1013/2025: Financial Cybercrime Details 6 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question Q.1303/2025: Acting Teacher Advisers and Resource Persons in Eastern Province 6 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question Q.1371/2025: Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme 6 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Beligaha Court Complex (Minister of Justice) 6 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Question Q.1770/2025: Rural Development Bureau Projects in Batticaloa District 7 speeches
- 11 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lankan Workers Abroad - Complaints 2 speeches
- 12 Procedural Oral Question Q.1770/2025 (Stand Down) and Standing Order 27(2) Question 3 speeches
- 13 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Question: Renewable Energy Outstanding Payments 5 speeches
- 14 Procedural Standing Order 27(2) Question: Political Prisoners and Interrogation 8 speeches
- 15 Procedural Point of Order: Parliamentary Library Conduct 2 speeches
- 16 Procedural Adjournment Debate Request and Scheduling 4 speeches
- 17 Procedural Private Members' Bills: Al-Hashimi Association Bill 3 speeches
- 18 Debate Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions 69 speeches
- 19 Procedural Motions Agreed - Adjournment Motion Called 1 speeches
- 20 Adjournment Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream 43 speeches
- The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan said leave had been sought under Standing Order 19 for an urgent adjournment debate on integrating the Malaiyaha people into the national mainstream. He acknowledged the cooperation of Hon. Bimal Rathnayake and Hon. Kayanta Karunathilaka in facilitating the matter.
- Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan moved an Adjournment Motion highlighting deprivation in plantation regions and rising living costs, and argued that earlier initiatives on housing, land ownership, local administration, education, health, and a Hill Country Authority had sought to integrate hill country plantation communities into the national mainstream. He alleged that these programmes had not been continued under the present Government and that estate management intimidation, demolitions, violence, and displacement after Cyclone “Didwa” remained unresolved. He urged immediate Government intervention to stop intimidation and violence in plantation areas and prioritized granting suitable land ownership for housing to plantation families.
- The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees procedural
- Hon. Palani Thigambaram SJB
AI summary Hon. Palani Thigambaram seconded the Adjournment Motion on land rights for hill country people, arguing that successive governments have failed to resolve the issue despite their contribution to foreign exchange earnings. He cited measures taken during the 2015 “Good Governance” Government, including housing projects, land deeds, expanded Divisional Secretariats and the Hill Country Authority, and urged the current Government to fulfil its Hatton Declaration promise by granting ten perches and land ownership to estate families. He said the Opposition would support any government move to provide land deeds and called on hill country government MPs to press the President to act.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB
AI summary Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi supported the Adjournment Motion on hill country issues and said the Government is implementing the Hatton Declaration to address long-neglected rights, housing, roads, land, education, and livelihood needs of estate communities. He cited planned measures including gazetting about 800 ungazetted estate roads in Nuwara Eliya, allocating Rs. 3,250 million for the Lindula-Dayagama road, rehabilitating disaster-damaged RDA roads, regularizing land for 968 Central Province schools, and providing Rs. 998 million for the Praja Shakthi programme in Nuwara Eliya. He urged MPs to avoid ethnic or local politicization of grievances, participate in District Coordinating Committees, and work collectively across party lines to deliver development and national unity.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Ravindra Bandara
AI summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara said the Government has acted within 18 months to address long-standing housing, land, road, wage, and infrastructure issues affecting hill country estate communities. He cited increased allocations for estate infrastructure, PRDA roads, wage increases, identification of 83 hectares for resettlement, and ongoing transitional and permanent housing for Cyclone “Ditwa” victims and landslide-affected families, including a Cabinet proposal to extend the Rs. 500,000 grant despite land title issues. He also stated that the Government will provide proper addresses, increase land allotments to ten perches, improve Tamil-medium education through smart classrooms and school facilities, and address illicit liquor through security committees and Police. He urged support for continuing these programmes under a systematic approach, while criticising previous political representation for failing to resolve these issues.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan highlighted the longstanding deprivation of hill country Indian-origin Tamil communities and urged the Government to continue and expand initiatives begun by the Tamil Progressive Alliance, including plantation housing, land allocation, local government restructuring, new Divisional Secretariats and GN divisions, and the Hill Country Authority. He called for completing the remaining Indian-funded houses, increasing land allocations beyond ten perches, expanding Pradeshiya Sabhas and Divisional Secretariats in Nuwara Eliya, and properly funding mechanisms to improve livelihoods and services. He also referred to a recent meeting with the Minister of Public Security, stating that estate companies or others must not take the law into their own hands and that complaints involving hill country people should be handled by the Police.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB
AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep rejected claims that the JVP was hostile to estate workers, citing hill country participation in JVP-led struggles, and argued that the current Government is correcting long-standing neglect in plantation communities. He said the Government has allocated about Rs. 60 billion to complete unfinished Indian housing scheme projects, is taking initial steps to provide land to schools and regularize temple lands in estates, and is addressing estate company violence through decisions taken at a meeting chaired by the Minister of Public Security. He emphasized recognition of “Malaiyagam people,” pledged progress on education, health, economic upliftment, and land ownership, and stated that the NPP Government had already increased wages and would grant land rights to enable dignified living.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake asked whether, given the consensus on the term “Malaiyagam people,” the Government plans to include it in school textbooks and university courses.
- Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep JJB
AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep said legal steps would be taken to incorporate the relevant name appropriately in future. He criticized opposition to a proposed wage increase and called for Government and Opposition cooperation to secure sustainable development for hill country people, while inviting constructive advice and correction. He rejected claims of divisions within the JVP/NPP and said the Government would address hill country issues including land, education, health, and Tamil-language services in administration and Police stations through the appointment of Tamil-speaking officers.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB
AI summary Minister Chandrasekar supported the Adjournment Motion and highlighted the historical hardships of hill country Tamils, including their transport from India, loss of citizenship after 1948, and the impact of the Sirima–Shastri Agreement. He recalled efforts through a parliamentary Select Committee to end statelessness and secure citizenship for affected people. He argued that present conditions, including line-room housing, show the need for focused action to improve education, health, housing, water, roads, and modern industry in the hill country.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA
AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan supported the Adjournment Motion on the rights and conditions of Malaiyagam Tamils, stating that his party recognizes them as a national community and will support their struggles. He highlighted landlessness, poverty, and the continuing “line room” housing system, including related problems faced by Malaiyagam Tamils serving as home guards in northern and eastern border areas. He urged the Government to give special attention to ending line-room living, resolving land issues, and improving basic rights and living conditions for the community.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB
AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi responded to a Motion under Standing Order 19 on hill country issues, stating that despite past ministerial involvement by current Opposition representatives, unresolved problems remain in housing, land, roads, education, and health. She said the Government is acting under the Hatton Declaration and its policy programme, including steps to provide land deeds to over 500 schools in Nuwara Eliya, bring estate hospitals under the central Government, increase wages through the Budget, and begin housing construction. She highlighted ongoing housing projects for disaster-affected families at Kabaragala and Wolfrend, and called for cooperation in securing land ownership, services, and better prospects for hill country communities.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa expressed support for proposals to empower hill country communities and criticised the Government for failing to ensure their security, deliver promised cyclone relief, and address estate housing and infrastructure needs. He cited the Hatton Manifesto, the Nilagama Estate assault, Cyclone Ditwa impacts, and unmet relief commitments following the March 2026 declaration with the President. He urged action on land ownership, housing, education, health, nutrition, and social welfare, proposing that estate workers be enabled to become land-owning smallholders while pledging Opposition support for tangible measures.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House JJB
AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake supported the Motion, stating that the Government accepts its core concerns about poverty and structural injustice affecting hill country communities. He identified factors such as the 1948 Citizenship Act, plantation enclave structures, line-room housing, geographic isolation, and caste-based vulnerability as causes of long-term deprivation and statelessness. He said housing, land and education issues must be addressed sincerely, noting Cabinet discussions on teacher shortages in hill country schools and the generational impact of past exclusion from citizenship and free education.
- Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan noted that estate schools were incorporated into the national education system in 1947–48. His intervention highlighted the historical status of estate-sector education within the state system.
Education Full speech → - Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that formal equality is insufficient for hill country people due to their socio-economic and political marginalization. He called for affirmative action measures to achieve substantive equality.
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the Government is pursuing tailored interventions for plantation and other underserved communities, including housing, land, and recognition, and rejected claims that presidential visits are election-oriented. He stated that funding is not the main constraint for work in the upcountry, plantations, North, or East, but identified administrative weaknesses and inadequate needs-based implementation as obstacles. He cited the lack of teacher accommodation at Mooloya Estate despite the presence of a large school as an example of practical gaps requiring attention.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said teachers in the estate area face practical accommodation difficulties and proposed that unused official quarters on the estate be rented through the Ministry of Education and allocated to them until the estate requires them. He said he had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister and Minister Madhura Senanayake, and urged a cooperative approach to resolving such issues. Referring to a recent incident, he stated that suspects had been arrested the same day and alleged that estate management linked to senior political figures was responsible for driving people away while later seeking votes.
- The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan stated that responsibility should not be attributed to individual owners but to the broader system. His intervention framed the issue as a systemic problem rather than one caused by particular persons.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Government was willing to work with members who have longstanding links with the affected communities, without considering electoral advantage. He cautioned against creating a chauvinist narrative around the incident, stating that relevant suspects had already been taken into custody and that the matter was not being treated as a Sinhala–Tamil issue.
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB
AI summary Mano Ganesan commended the conduct being referred to, stating that it was positive because it avoided introducing racism into the matter.
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that some Tamil leaders had presented and spoken on the matter in a particular way, implying their framing influenced how it was perceived.
Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake acknowledged interruptions during his remarks and thanked the member who brought the Adjournment Motion. He stated that his side is also working to change the situation under discussion.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB
AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath said the Government has moved away from treating Malaiyaha people as a political vote bank and is working to integrate them as equal, dignified citizens rather than defining them only as estate or upcountry communities. He argued that previous governments failed to address their needs adequately and cited the Government’s policy framework, “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,” and the “Hatton Declaration” as guiding its approach. He stated that the Government is taking lawful steps on land, livelihood, housing, infrastructure, and social cohesion, while rejecting communal, regional, and divisive politics.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB
AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath stated that the Government had acted during the economic crisis to improve higher education, sanitation, estate hospital facilities, and wage entitlements for estate workers, while addressing exploitative labour practices. He rejected Opposition claims that the Government neglected people affected by the “8962” cyclone in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, and Kandy, saying all possible measures had been taken. He argued that the Government was advancing equal opportunities and dignity for Malaiyaha communities and asserted that no citizen would be treated as second-class under the Malima Government.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman said the central issue of the motion was whether the Government would grant land ownership to the Malaiyaha community, distinguishing it from house ownership and urging an equity-based approach rather than a general equality framework. He referred to the community’s history of statelessness and the Sirimavo–Shastri Pact, corrected the Hansard record regarding the ship name to “Aadhilakshmi,” and suggested considering the return of people repatriated to India under that pact. He also raised procedural concerns about District Coordinating Committee invitations not reaching MPs properly, and called for implementation of an existing Cabinet Paper on land ownership while noting concerns over estate workers’ wage irregularities.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB
AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj welcomed the Adjournment Motion on land and housing rights for the Malaiyaha plantation community, linking it to May Day struggles and ongoing demands for “land ownership” and “house ownership.” He cited the NPP’s 2023 Hatton Declaration, stating that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had pledged dignity, land and housing ownership, and equal rights for plantation people, and said the Government was prepared to implement those commitments. He criticized previous generations of Malaiyaha political leaders for failing to resolve the line-room housing and land issues, and asserted that the current Government would advance programmes to grant land and housing rights to estate workers.
- 21 Procedural Final Parliamentary Items and Adjournment 5 speeches