Sitting of Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23707 ·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 Meeting and Announcements 1 speeches
- 2 Committee report Committee Reports: Public Finance and Sectoral Oversight Committees 2 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions 5 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: Renewable Energy and Electricity Generation (Q.1) 7 speeches
- 5 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Supplementary Questions 59 speeches
- 6 Oral question Oral Question: Rebuilding Sri Lanka Account Expenditure (Q.2) 2 speeches
- 7 Oral question Oral Question: School Dropouts Since 2010 (Q.3) 12 speeches
- The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB
AI summary Asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide detailed data on school dropouts from 2010 to the present, including annual numbers, age groups, district-wise figures, and common causes. He also sought information on Government measures to address the issue and whether a formal study is being conducted, or, if not, whether the Government accepts the need for an urgent study.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary The Minister provided figures on estimated school dropouts in Grades 1–10 from 2018 to 2024, noting that no ministry data is available for 2010–2017 and that some recorded attrition may reflect transfers, migration, or movement to international schools rather than cessation of education. She said district-wise figures were tabled, and identified personal, school-related, family-related, societal, and alternative activity-related factors as key causes, based on a 2024–2025 ministry study. She outlined compulsory education obligations for ages 5–16, existing non-formal education and welfare measures, monitoring mechanisms, and forthcoming education reforms and digitization of teacher and student data to improve retention and tracking.
Education Full speech → - The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB
AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised concern that reliable data on out-of-school children are not maintained despite Sri Lanka’s free education system. He asked whether the Ministry of Education would introduce a targeted welfare mechanism for children who leave school due to economic hardship, noting problems in the administration of the Aswasuma welfare programme.
- Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has begun improving data collection to better target support for schoolchildren, while continuing interventions despite current data gaps. She said ongoing programmes include providing shoes, nutritious meals, uniforms, books, sanitary pads for girls, and stationery allowances for low-income children, including through Aswesuma beneficiary households and small schools. She acknowledged that coverage is not yet fully accurate and said the aim is to obtain reliable data this year to improve delivery.
- Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB
AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi questioned the Prime Minister on the Government’s stated policy that politicians should not enter schools for political purposes. Citing an incident where MP Ambika reportedly visited a school with a band and laid a foundation stone for a toilet, he asked whether the policy had been withdrawn or whether the MP had acted contrary to it.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that her position was against the political exploitation of schoolchildren and the use of school events for inappropriate political activity. She clarified that this does not prohibit local MPs from visiting schools for observations or participating in ceremonies, but emphasized opposition to any political misuse of the school system and children.
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB
AI summary The Minister stated that the monthly disability allowance is Rs. 10,000, following the 2025 Budget increase, and that 171,957 people currently receive it, with applications accepted continuously up to the gazetted ceiling of 200,000. He said eligibility is based on medical certification and household per-capita income below the official poverty line of Rs. 16,191, with no restriction on multiple eligible persons in one family or on receiving Aswesuma or other livelihood support. He added that Rs. 19 billion has been allocated for 2026, the previous waiting list was ended from April 2025, and payments are scheduled monthly before the 15th through Divisional Secretariats.
- Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB
AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva raised concerns about the low travel allowance of Rs. 2,000 for central Government Social Services Officers and disparities with provincial officers. He said these officers are frontline workers supporting persons with disabilities but face difficulties covering their areas, while retirements and departures from service also require regularization. He asked whether the forthcoming Budget could increase travel allowances for central Government Social Services Officers involved in disability assistance.
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage stated that Social Services Officers under Provincial Councils and the central Government play an important role, and that allowance administration is being streamlined through digitization, including use of the Aswesuma data system. He said remaining data are being entered to improve efficiency, while acknowledging that field officers’ travel and office allowances are insufficient. He noted that proposals to increase these allowances have been submitted and action will follow once approval is granted.
- Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB
AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva asked whether the Ministry has a comprehensive plan to collect accurate islandwide data on persons with disabilities, including the type and severity of disabilities. He raised concerns about disparities in disability living assistance for North, East and plantation communities, noting that the Budget had allocated funds for a national data collection effort, and asked whether it would be implemented within the year.
- Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage stated that 2024 Department of Census and Statistics data on persons with disabilities have been compiled at district level. He said the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, working with the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Department of Census and Statistics, has begun developing a disability classification and related data system, with completion expected by the end of the year.
Justice & Human Rights Full speech → - Mr. Speaker procedural
- 8 Oral question Procedural: Points of Order and Oral Question - Human-Elephant Conflict, Kurunegala District (Q.4) 39 speeches
- 9 Oral question Oral Question: Chilaw Plantations Limited and Hospital Infrastructure (Q.5-6) 14 speeches
- 10 Oral question Oral Questions and Ministerial Statement: Hajj Pilgrims and Fisheries (Q.7-8, Ministerial Statement) 8 speeches
- 11 Procedural Procedural: Questions of Privilege and Motions 17 speeches
- 12 Procedural Procedural: Motions on Standing Order Exemptions and Electoral System Committee 13 speeches
- 13 Debate Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution 104 speeches
- 14 Adjournment Adjournment: Issues in Health Sector 17 speeches