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
- 4 Oral question Oral Questions 8-27(2): Standing Order questions 34 speeches
- The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB
AI summary Tabled in response to Question No. 8, the answer stated that seven services fall under the Combined Services and provided vacancy figures as at 1 March 2026, including major vacancies in the Management Service Officers Service, Office Employees Service, Combined Drivers Service, ICT Service, Translators Service, and Librarians Service. It outlined Cabinet approvals, gazette notices, examinations, interviews, and appointments already completed or scheduled to fill vacancies in several services, including translators, librarians, ICT officers, MSOs, and drivers. The answer noted that recruitment restrictions during 2020–2024 had created backlogs, and that ongoing recruitment would proceed through due process, cadre reviews, and institutional requirements.
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary The Hon. Kins Nelson requested a brief opportunity to seek clarification from the Chair. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson requested the Speaker’s permission to make a brief correction to the House. No substantive policy matter or specific issue was stated in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB
AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson briefly requested the Speaker’s permission to make a correction during the proceedings.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised questions under Standing Order 27(2) on the Government’s economic policy framework, focusing on the coordination of fiscal and monetary policy within the IMF programme and related agreements with international institutions. He asked for details on policy instruments, targets, responsible institutions, risks, and assessments of impacts on inflation, interest rates, the rupee, investment, employment and cost of living. He also sought clarification on reported differences between the Treasury and Central Bank, including the alleged missing US$25 million, and requested that the Treasury’s report on the matter be tabled in Parliament. He further asked what measures are being taken to ease economic pressures on middle-income groups, professionals, MSMEs, farmers, fishers and low-income households, and to strengthen parliamentary oversight and public accountability.
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Deputy Minister, replying on behalf of the Minister of Finance to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, outlined the roles of fiscal and monetary policy and the respective responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. He said IMF, World Bank and ADB support contributes to stabilization and reforms, including the 2023 IMF Extended Fund Facility, Aswasuma social protection allocations, debt restructuring, governance reforms and public sector transparency measures, while national policy decisions remain with the Government. He noted coordination under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, and identified risks including high public debt, geopolitical and trade uncertainties, inflationary pressures, SOE-related fiscal burdens and social protection needs. Government responses cited included strengthening tax administration, rationalizing exemptions, improving expenditure management, debt and SOE reforms, expanding social protection and digitalization, anti-corruption measures, and promoting exports and foreign exchange earnings.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the effectiveness of the proposed fiscal-monetary Coordination Council, citing differing positions of the Central Bank and Treasury over the alleged disappearance or theft of US$25 million. He also sought clarification on usable official reserves, arguing that import-cover adequacy should exclude non-convertible reserves such as yuan holdings. He further warned that non-compliance with IMF governance-linked bond conditions could result in the loss of an estimated US$70–80 million in coupon relief in 2026, and urged attention to the impact on the public.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition indicated he was concluding his remarks with a final point. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question is contained in the excerpt provided.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa objected to interruptions while raising the difficulties faced by the public. His intervention was brief and focused on asserting the need to speak about people’s suffering without disruption.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that people across multiple sectors, including farmers, fishers, workers, industrialists, MSMEs, the self-employed, salaried employees, and entrepreneurs, are facing hardships and expect practical solutions. He called for Government intervention to address their difficulties.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that the Government cannot offer a clear solution because the Treasury and the Central Bank are giving conflicting positions. He specifically referred to a matter involving US$25 million, indicating concern over inconsistency in official financial information.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned the Government’s ability to govern, implying concern over the country’s management. The excerpt is incomplete and does not provide details on the specific issue, policy, or demand being raised.
Corruption & Governance Reform Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a matter under Standing Order 92(2) regarding alleged harassment of an officer in the Parliament IT Department and noted that six months had passed since Hon. Sujatha Alahapperuma submitted a report with no apparent action. He questioned the appointment of another lower-level committee despite an earlier committee headed by a Supreme Court Judge, and requested the Speaker to take a decision on disciplinary action or ensure appropriate committee leadership.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara noted that six months had passed, indicating the passage of time in relation to a matter before the House. No further substantive argument, proposal, or question was made in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna rose to raise a point of order. No substantive issue or argument was recorded in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB
AI summary Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, sought recognition from the Speaker to raise a question. No substantive issue or policy matter was stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB
AI summary Nishantha Jayaweera outlined recent fiscal allocations for relief and economic support, including Rs. 67 billion for “Ditva” cyclone-affected persons in 2025, Rs. 500 billion in 2026, Rs. 100 billion in concessional credit for MSMEs, and Rs. 100 billion for sectoral relief linked to the Middle East war’s impact. He stated that the Ministry of Finance has met the conditions for the macro-linked bond and IMF targets, while maintaining coordination with the Central Bank, despite tax relief measures expected to reduce revenue by about Rs. 100 billion.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Prime Minister, under Standing Order 27(2), for a detailed assessment of the 2023 IMF Extended Fund Facility following approval of the fifth and sixth reviews and a further US$695 million tranche. He sought information on whether the programme has met its economic, fiscal and social objectives, including effects on living standards, growth, employment, investment, exports, MSMEs, wage earners and vulnerable groups. He also questioned whether Sri Lanka can proceed without another IMF arrangement, whether further engagement with the IMF beyond 2027 is being discussed, and what alternative strategy exists if not. He requested disclosure to Parliament of the total repayment cost of the IMF facility and the annual external debt service schedule from 2028 to 2048.
- The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera JJB
AI summary Nishantha Jayaweera requested additional time to provide an answer to the question raised.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 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