Sitting of Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23706 ·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 21 speeches
- 2 Papers Messages from President and Petitions 6 speeches
- 3 Oral question Oral Questions 1-10 46 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha JJB
AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha formally posed a question to the House. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or argument was included in the recorded statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB
AI summary The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation about the condition of reservoirs in Karativu, Sainthamaruthu and Kalmunai in the Ampara District, citing nutrient contamination, aquatic weed invasion, siltation, reduced depth and loss of water retention capacity contributing to flooding. He requested information on whether assessments of environmental degradation and siltation have been conducted, whether a coordinated programme exists to remove silt and invasive weeds and restore the aquatic ecosystems, and when such work would begin.
- The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister, answering on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, said aquatic plants have spread in the Karavahu River and five small tanks and “onion” ponds, obstructing water flow, causing siltation, and reducing storage capacity. He stated that estimates are being prepared and that the Department of Irrigation plans to remove aquatic plants from maintained tanks within the year, subject to requested provisions. In response to a supplementary question, he said machinery issues are being addressed for silt and weed removal, and noted allocations for Gal Oya Project maintenance and rehabilitation, including Rs. 900 million last year and Rs. 500 million this year, with further allocations planned.
- The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa JJB
AI summary The issue concerns long-standing flooding and underutilized paddy lands in the Ampara area, particularly the lower basin of the Gal Oya near Kittangi bridge and related tanks and anicuts. The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa said that a feasibility study and sustainable scientific plan were proposed at the Ampara District Coordinating Committee meeting attended by the President, who indicated that funds would be allocated. He argued that proper implementation would enable wider paddy cultivation, control floods, and reduce recurrent government expenditure.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised Question 1919/2026 to the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development regarding the removal and resettlement of unauthorized settlers on Edirisinghe Road, Gangodawila. He asked whether the Minister was aware of the resettlement plan, the number of affected families, how many would receive alternative housing, and whether housing would be provided in Maligawatta instead of Colombage Mawatha or Kalinga Mawatha, seeking reasons if so.
- The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Urban Development JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that a UN-Habitat preliminary socio-economic survey identified 93 affected structures on Edirisinghe Road, of which 83 are being treated as residential. Housing has been approved for 75 affected family units, while eight cases must go through the Grievance Redress Committee and the Entitlement Assessment Committee. He said resettlement was originally planned at the UDA Colombage Mawatha Phase II housing complex, but due to construction delays and time constraints, arrangements are being made to allocate housing from Chinese-aided housing complexes in the Maharagama–Kottawa area.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva welcomed the Deputy Minister’s efforts to conclude a long-standing resettlement matter but sought to correct the stated figures, saying the total should be 87 rather than 83 when approved residential constructions and pending appeals are counted. He asked within what timeframe the resettlement process would be completed once the corrected figure is taken into account.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB
AI summary Of 93 constructions being regularized, 82 have been identified as residential and 10 as non-residential. The Minister stated that the affected identified persons are expected to be resettled in the Chinese-assisted housing complex under construction in Maharagama before the end of the year.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva corrected the figure for residential constructions to 87 and asked that it be checked. He proposed converting the 2018 National Policy on Involuntary Resettlement into law, noting that current application varies by funding source and is often enforced only under ADB or World Bank projects. He argued that legislation would better protect resettled communities by addressing schooling, employment access, housing conditions, and multi-ethnic coexistence.
- The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB
AI summary Eranga Gunasekara acknowledged concerns about past resettlement practices and said the Ministry is reviewing conditions in 27 high-rise housing complexes in the Colombo District, which he described as uninhabitable. He stated that two complexes are expected to be completed this year and 11 more within the next two years, benefiting over 7,000 people, while also considering social needs affecting families and children. He added that the Urban Development Authority is developing a new policy with national baseline criteria for resettling low-income earners, to be presented to Parliament.
Land & Housing Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB
AI summary Hon. Dewananda Suraweera formally asked the listed parliamentary Question. No substantive details or supplementary argument were included in the speech.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, on behalf of the relevant Minister, requested two weeks to respond to the question. The question was ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB
AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara formally posed the scheduled question to the House. No substantive details or policy issues were raised in the statement.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, a two-week extension was requested to answer the pending question. The question was ordered to stand down.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB
AI summary The Minister answered Question No. 6 on privatized plantation estates, stating that 398 estates are leased to Regional Plantation Companies, with additional estates under government-owned plantation companies and direct management by SLSPC and JEDB. He said the leases run for 53 years from June 1992 to June 2045, and tabled annexes on estate details, employee numbers, and RPC profit/loss data. He further stated that RPCs are private companies audited by private audit firms under company law, that state audit does not apply, and that there is no legal requirement to table their financial statements in Parliament.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC, raised concerns that private plantation companies are profiting from government-owned land, infrastructure, and public wage support while allegedly mistreating estate workers. Citing a recent Amnesty International report describing conditions akin to debt bondage, he asked the Minister whether action would be taken against these companies.
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded to concerns raised from an international human rights organization about conditions on some plantations, stating that the matter is being discussed with the Ministry of Labour and that a formal response will be provided. He said the Government must handle such issues carefully due to international market competition and the economic importance of plantation crops. He cited measures including a Rs. 400 daily wage increase for estate workers and accelerated provision of house and land ownership to line-room residents, with the land allocation increased from 7 to 10 perches.
- The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB
AI summary Requested that, if an international human rights organization’s report is inaccurate, Parliament be informed at the next opportunity. Also asked what percentage and amount of Government-allocated additional wage support is received by private companies, and requested that information if available.
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary Provided details on estate workers’ wage increases since 1998, noting that the daily wage rose to Rs. 1,350 in 2024 and to an effective Rs. 1,750 in 2026 with Rs. 200 each from Government and companies. He also gave current workforce figures for regional plantation companies and state plantation bodies, the monthly number of workers entitled to the 2026 Budget increase, and payments made in the first four months, totalling Rs. 2,883.34 million. He stated that the Government attendance incentive is limited to registered manual workers contributing to EPF/ETF under Cabinet decisions and MOUs, excluding many temporary workers who are not yet registered.
- The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB
AI summary Asked whether, following the new wage increase, the daily leaf-plucking kilogram targets or required tasks for workers have been increased.
Employment Full speech → - The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the agreement reached on worker payments does not impose additional burdens, higher leaf quotas, or new conditions on workers. He said the Government and companies will each contribute Rs. 200 as an incentive, and assured that the Government will intervene if reports emerge of companies imposing new burdens, emphasizing that the aim is to improve living standards.
- The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB
AI summary Asked whether the recently approved increase, which Opposition MPs have challenged as unlawful through complaints, could create problems for future payments. The question sought clarification from the Minister on the legality and continuity of the payments.
Law & Order Full speech → - The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the Government has allocated Rs. 5,000 million to his Ministry to cover the State’s Rs. 200 contribution to the announced wage increase from January 2026. He said concerns raised by Opposition groups about legality and complaints to CIABOC and the Ministry of Finance were addressed through a Cabinet decision, Finance Ministry concurrence, and precedents for State support to private-sector wages. He affirmed that five months’ payments had already been made and that the agreed wage would continue to be paid.
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman raised a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy matter was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman noted that the Human Rights Commission had recently stated that estate workers were not being paid their wages properly. He raised this as a brief follow-up to the Minister’s response, drawing attention to wage payment issues in the estate sector.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman stated that his intention was not to criticize, but suggested that the matter could be streamlined if handled through the Wages Board.
Employment Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB
AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan informed Hon. Jeevan Thondaman that he would be allowed to ask the second supplementary question for the next Question.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan provided district-wise data showing 10,310 estate families affected by Cyclone “Ditwah,” with 431 estate houses or line rooms completely damaged and 2,152 partially damaged. He stated that the Cabinet decided on 06.04.2026 to extend equal compensation to line-room residents without land or house ownership, including Rs. 5 million and 10 perches of Government land for completely destroyed houses, and Rs. 0.5–2.5 million for partial damage as assessed through the relevant authorities. He added that houses deemed beyond repair by the Disaster Management Committee would also qualify for full reconstruction support, with current plans to rebuild 431 houses and repair 2,152, subject to updated data.
- The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan said compensation for fully damaged estate houses had not reached workers because they lack land ownership, and urged the Government to address this long-standing issue by granting land rights to estate workers. He requested the establishment of a Special Task Force to finalize land ownership within the Government’s remaining term, even if housing construction is delayed.
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the long-standing land issue, dating back to colonial times, would not be allowed to continue unresolved. He stated that lands had already been identified with companies for those affected by “Ditwah,” while some sites were awaiting final approvals, including from the National Building Research Organisation. He added that, following the Cabinet decision of 6 April, preliminary work was being expedited with the commitment of the President and Government.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP
AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman urged the Government to respond to grievances in Wevenden following the Ditwah cyclone, stating that residents were protesting over unanswered letters and needed practical solutions rather than political intervention. He called for implementation of Cabinet-approved land rights for hill-country people and asked that plantation wage issues be addressed through the Wages Board so companies could not avoid compliance. He also requested the President’s intervention to resolve the Wevenden concerns.
- The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB
AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded to criticisms about the treatment of estate workers, stating that the Government is addressing issues raised in selective external reports. He outlined recent measures, including wage increases, expanded housing programmes, land title grants, and an increase in allocated land from 7 to 10 perches, while noting challenges in identifying safe land and releasing plantation lands. He said housing construction is progressing with Indian assistance and that post-disaster needs are being addressed through District Coordinating Committees and presidential visits to affected districts.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB
AI summary The Minister answered Question No. 10 (2039/2026) regarding a People’s Bank pawning agency, stating that its authorization had been suspended by letter dated 7 June 2024, correcting the year mentioned in the question. He said the agency has not yet been assigned to another institution and that no reports had been received about the alleged difficulties caused. He added that officials discussed the matter with the Chairman and officers of People’s Bank on 6 May 2026, resubmitted a request, and expect a detailed report from the bank.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB
AI summary Hon. Waruna Liyanage raised concerns that co-operative rural banks must deposit Rs. 10,000 with Divisional Secretariats to obtain pawning licences, diverting member funds from societies intended for welfare purposes. Citing about 250,000 affected members in Ratnapura and 2.5 million nationwide, he asked that the system be regularized or the fee collection stopped, and proposed restoring a People’s Bank facility to allow co-operative rural banks to conduct pawning without this licensing burden.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the co-operative banking sector, including rural, SANASA and other co-operative banks, has faced serious audit, reporting and pawning-related irregularities, with some reports overdue for several years and pledged items missing. He explained that People’s Bank discontinued the pawning licence due to these issues, but said the Government is taking steps to strengthen the sector through amendments to the Co-operative Societies Law, regulation under a Banking Regulatory Authority, and restoration of pawning facilities under proper oversight.
- The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB
AI summary Hon. Waruna Liyanage did not make a substantive argument or raise a policy issue. He yielded his second supplementary question to Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns over rising gold-loan indebtedness, noting Rs. 3,514.5 million in gold loans over 15 months and an average household burden of about Rs. 168,000, much of it through rural banks. He warned that the relevant authorization had lapsed in 2024, potentially creating legal issues, and questioned the impact on farmers who pawned gold to fund cultivation amid an upcoming harvest, reported rice imports of 157,000 metric tons, and the stated rice price band.
- The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB
AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the People’s Bank authorization connected to co-operative pawning licences had lapsed on 07.06.2024, and that three rounds of discussions had been held with the bank to restore it. He said the Government was also taking steps to protect the co-operative sector from asset misappropriation while restoring the facility.
Public Finance Full speech →
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions 8-27(2): Standing Order questions 34 speeches
- 5 Procedural Ministerial Statements 12 speeches
- 6 Debate Debate on Orders and Regulations (Items 1-5) 39 speeches
- 7 Debate Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency 54 speeches
- 8 Adjournment Adjournment and Written Answers 9 speeches