Sitting of Friday, 22 May 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23666 ·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 Papers Presented 5 speeches
- 2 Petitions Petitions 3 speeches
- 3 Procedural Procedural: Parliamentary Business Committee and Party Leaders' Meeting 20 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Ancestral lands of displaced people of Mullikulam - Resettlement (Q.68/2025) 6 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Question: Land plots in Omanthai–Veppankulam distributed to public sector employees (Q.3/2025) 8 speeches
- 6 Procedural Question No. 4 Postponed 1 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: Low-capacity electricity cable systems - Expansion (Q.5/2025) 4 speeches
- 8 Oral question Oral Question: Provision of drinking water in Trincomalee District (Q.6/2025) 8 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Questions: Multiple Questions Tabled (Q.7-9, and Agricultural questions) 11 speeches
- 10 Procedural Question No. 10 - Trade/Commerce Question Stood Down 2 speeches
- 11 Oral question Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation 13 speeches
- 12 Debate Ministerial Statement: Cybersecurity Incidents and Response 16 speeches
- 13 Debate Statements of Condolence: Six Former Members of Parliament 29 speeches
- 14 Adjournment Adjournment Questions 11 speeches
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law – Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Parliament moved to adjourn proceedings, and the motion was agreed to. The sitting then proceeded to the item of Adjournment Questions.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. Presiding Member
AI summary Hon. Presiding Member called the first oral question on the Order Paper, naming Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya as the Member to raise it. No substantive policy issue or debate was presented in this intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya JJB
AI summary Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya questioned the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply about the incomplete “Visal Water Scheme” in Galigamuwa, Kegalle, which was initiated in 2021 to serve 13,000 households but has provided only 4,037 connections. He stated that funding shortages, inadequate distribution lines, terrain-related coverage gaps, and continuing shortages in resettlement areas such as Rakshapura have left about 9,000 households without sufficient water. He asked for the aggregate water demand, whether the Ministry acknowledges the unmet need, details of completed and ongoing projects, their progress and outcomes, and future plans to meet the full demand.
- The Hon. T.B. Sarath – Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply
AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister detailed the status of the Helamada/Galigamuwa water supply scheme, which produces 9,000 m³ per day and is intended to reach about 13,000 household connections by 2035, with 4,005 connections already provided under the WaSSIP-completed Galigamuwa scheme. He said additional transmission and distribution infrastructure, including reservoirs, is required across 17 Grama Niladhari divisions, while current extensions funded through Provincial Councils and decentralized allocations are progressing with limited incremental funding. He outlined two proposed projects: the Rs. 837 million Kalugala Project for high-elevation areas with about 1,900 connections, and an Rs. 829 million network extension of about 43.2 km to provide 1,374 connections, with related annexes tabled and placed in the Library. He also stated that a meeting with district management, stakeholders, and MPs would be convened the following month to agree on further extensions.
Infrastructure Full speech → - Hon. Presiding Member
AI summary The Presiding Member called the second oral question on the Order Paper and invited Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe to proceed.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe raised a matter concerning the Judiciary and acknowledged the Minister’s attendance. He referred to the legal backgrounds of those present and asked whether former MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara is also an Attorney-at-Law.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe raised concerns about judicial independence and the handling of fundamental rights applications, alleging that some FR petitions are being refused leave to proceed too quickly despite being a key public remedy. He referred to past politicization of the judiciary, reports of suspended judges allegedly without proper inquiry, and concerns about judicial affiliations, promotions, bail decisions, and retirement-age extensions affecting independence. He asked for year-by-year data from 2021 to 2026 on the number of human rights/fundamental rights cases filed, refused leave at the outset, and granted leave to proceed.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law – Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary The Minister emphasized that judicial independence is necessary for the rule of law and noted the limited role of the Justice Minister in matters handled by the Judicial Service Commission, including suspensions, inquiries and discipline. He stated his view that the Chief Justice and the judicial system operate independently and without political interference. In response to a question, he provided annual figures for fundamental rights/human rights cases filed, leave refused, and leave granted from 2021 to 2026 to date.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Noting that fundamental rights filings in 2026 were very low, Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe warned that the year could record the lowest annual intake if the trend continued and said this may indicate reduced access or deterrence among practitioners. He urged the Minister to convey concerns to the Chief Justice about access to court and the decline in filings. He also referred to Senior President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne’s view that judicial promotions should follow proper procedure and seniority to avoid politicization.
- The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law – Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB
AI summary Clarified that no single counsel should be described exclusively as the party’s lawyer, as many lawyers assist the party. Responding to an inference about 2026 figures, he said leave-refusal data should be viewed historically, noting that 2025 recorded the lowest refusals after the Government took office in November 2024, while earlier years were higher. He added that fewer fundamental rights filings could indicate fewer violations by the Executive and State bodies, and cautioned that 2026 trends may change as eight months remain and the JSC compiled the figures only last month.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe noted that court filings in 2025 were also low and referred to the late appointment of the current Chief Justice that year. He stated that differing views on the matter were on record and that the Bench, Bar, and public would assess them.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech →
- 15 Oral question Question No. 01 - 2003/2026 and Question No. 2004/2026 - Hydropower Capacity 3 speeches