Mr. Speaker - The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne

¶ 01 The Parliament met at 9.30 a.m., Mr. Speaker in the Chair.

¶ 02 Announcements

¶ 03 Speaker’s Certificate

¶ 04 In terms of Article 79 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I wish to inform that on 20th March 2026, I endorsed the Speaker’s Certificate on the Bill titled “Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority.”

¶ 05 Committee on Parliamentary Business: Substitution of Member

¶ 06 Due to the resignation of Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep from the Committee on Parliamentary Business, I wish to inform the House that, in terms of Standing Order 130(3), the Committee of Selection, at its meeting held on 19th March 2026, nominated Hon. Dharmapriya Wijesinghe to serve on the said Committee on Parliamentary Business.

¶ 07 Papers Presented

¶ 08 Question put, and agreed to.

¶ 09 Petitions

¶ 10 Petitions ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions.

¶ 11 Oral Answers to Questions

¶ 12 Hon. Member, please ask your first supplementary question.

¶ 13 Hon. Member, please ask your second supplementary question.

¶ 14 No, no. I am not agitated, Hon. Member.

¶ 15 Hon. Members, this is the first day this Question is being asked. Therefore, there is no point of order on that. Hon. Member, what is your point of order?

¶ 16 Hon. Member, no microphone has been given to you. Without a microphone, your remarks will not be recorded in the Hansard. Please be seated. There is no point of order. Do not behave in that manner in the House; I request you.

¶ 17 Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, please give the answer.

¶ 18 Order, please! I wish to welcome the Romanian Ambassador and the Delegation from Romania in the Speaker’s Gallery.