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
- 5 Procedural Ministerial Statements 12 speeches
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB
AI summary The Prime Minister provided the Government’s response to a question on the economic impact of the “Ditva” cyclone, outlining compensation mechanisms issued through Finance Ministry circulars and Disaster Relief Service Guidelines, with sector-specific payments for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and MSMEs. She detailed a concessional working capital loan scheme for affected enterprises, allocating Rs. 10,000 million through 15 banks, with Rs. 3,812.48 million disbursed to 2,980 enterprises by 28 April 2026, alongside banking moratoria and fee waivers under Central Bank directions. She also stated that disaster management institutions and relevant line ministries have prepared recovery and future risk-reduction plans, with annexed documents placed in the Library.
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB
AI summary The Minister said tourist arrivals had reached historic highs in late 2025 and early 2026, while per capita spending estimates had declined in US dollar terms partly due to changes in survey methodology, market composition, exchange rates, inflation and length of stay patterns. He explained that SLTDA tourism earnings estimates are not directly comparable with additions to official reserves because of offshore card settlements, informal transactions, unregistered providers and funds retained outside formal banking channels. He outlined measures to improve data and reduce leakages, including monthly TSA-based analysis, registration and capacity-building for informal operators, stronger enforcement, a new National Tourism Policy and Tourism Act, and work on digital payment and regulatory systems to route more tourism receipts through domestic channels.
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned why mechanisms are not in place to capture tax and foreign exchange revenue from tourism transactions, including off-book earnings and credit card payments processed through foreign gateways. He argued that foreign visitors should contribute through appropriate systems, as Sri Lankans are taxed extensively, and asked whether the Government would apply similar rigor to ensure these revenues enter official channels.
- The Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB
AI summary Vijitha Herath said previous governments had not established an effective mechanism to capture and tax international platform-based transactions, including during the tenure of the former Finance Minister. He stated that the current Budget introduces tax and collection mechanisms, supported by legal and technological measures, to bring tourism-related inflows into the domestic system and reduce revenue leakages.
Public Finance 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 stated in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna
AI summary Under Standing Orders 27(2) and 92(1), Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna raised the arrest in Kilinochchi of a person named Sangeerthanan under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, allegedly for singing an LTTE song. He stated that the individual had no connection with the LTTE and directed the matter to the Minister of Defence.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that activities promoting the LTTE are not permitted, while individuals are allowed to commemorate deceased relatives. He referred to the arrest of a youth in Kilinochchi for singing an LTTE song and posting it on Facebook, and said the Attorney-General and IGP were scheduled to discuss the case that evening, after which appropriate action was expected.
- The Hon. Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB
AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala, presenting a statement on behalf of the Minister of Defence, said Police, CID, FCID and Customs investigations had uncovered large-scale illegal foreign remittances made through companies registered as importers, with no corresponding goods brought into Sri Lanka. He outlined three investigations involving alleged telegraphic transfer schemes, drug-related proceeds and suspected customs fraud, including frozen bank accounts, seized balances, links to multiple companies and transactions across numerous countries and banks. He said the Government is investigating the role of company directors, bank officers and related individuals, and described the inquiries as part of wider efforts to address financial crime and protect economic stability.
- 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