The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, the Speaker took the Chair.
Announcements by the Speaker
1 : Receipt of copy of petition in respect of the Bill titled “Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka” filed at the Supreme Court
2 : Meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business
Presentation of Papers
(i) Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development under Section 20 read with Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 as amended by Acts, No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2496/38 of 10th July 2026
(ii) Report on the observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education in the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(iii) Report on the observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Department of Technical Education and Training in the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(iv) Annual Report of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited for the year 2023
(v) Annual Report of the Palmyrah Development Board for the year 2023
(vi) Annual Report of the Coconut Cultivation Board for the year 2024
(vii) Performance Report of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs for the year 2025
Presentation of Reports from the Committees
The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women's Empowerment was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe, Member of Parliament, the Chair of the Committee.
Presentation of Petitions
The Hon. Hector Appuhamy, Member of Parliament
(Petition stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)
Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament
(i) The Hon. Sajith Premadasa
Rising of cost of living, inflation and poverty in Sri Lanka
The Hon. Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning replied to the above Question.
(ii) The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam
Details regarding investigation of Sathurukondan killing and disappearance in Batticaloa
The Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs replied to the above Question.
Ministerial Statements
Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development replied to the Question raised by the Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 10.07.2026 regarding issues regarding Port City.
Presentation of Bills
The Hon. Chief Government Whip moved the Bill entitled
“Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment)”
to amend the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992.
Main Business of the House for Today
The following Motions (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 7 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House and Passed: -
• Promoting self-sufficiency in milk production
That this Parliament resolves that a National Dairy Development Policy be implemented by the Government to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production, by improving breed access and veterinary services, expanding fodder cultivation, strengthening farmer training and infrastructure, providing incentives to dairy farmers, promoting public-private partnerships, and encouraging research in dairy development, and a mechanism be devised for the relevant Ministries to coordinate with provincial councils and farmer groups, and the relevant Committee of Parliament to monitor implementation and recommend further action, whereas country currently relies on dairy imports, leading to significant foreign exchange loss, and farmers face issues such as limited access to good breeds, veterinary care, fodder, and infrastructure, and whereas addressing these challenges would enhance food security, create rural jobs, and reduce dependency on imports.
• Developing a programme to protect the mangrove ecosystem
That this Parliament resolves that a programme should be developed to protect the mangrove ecosystem which is extremely important for environmental balance and the fishing industry.
• Formulation of a system to stop the ripening of fruits using chemicals
That this Parliament resolves that a formal system be developed to stop the practice of ripening fruits using chemicals, which is being carried out by unscrupulous businessmen with the aim of making profits while destroying the future of the country, whereas unripe fruits are artificially caused to ripen using chemicals and are sold in the Sri Lankan fruit market instead of naturally ripened fruits, whereas imported fruits are also sold after being artificially ripened using chemicals, and whereas these fruits are mostly consumed by children.
• Formulation of a National Policy and Methodology for the Wildlife Management in Sri Lanka
That this Parliament resolves that a practical and modern policy and methodology be formulated and implemented, whereas Sri Lanka is internationally recognized as a country with high biodiversity, whereas due to deforestation, human encroachment, illegal wildlife trade, and escalating human-wildlife conflicts, both these wildlife as well as human lives are lost in large numbers annually, whereas the formulation of a National Wildlife Management Policy through new policies and plans is a sustainable development objective, and whereas this would result in protection of animal habitats, reduction of human-wildlife conflicts, and improvement of the economic status and social life of the farming communities.
• Expanding the railway line from Batticaloa to Pottuvil or the railway line from Matara to Kalmunai
That this Parliament resolves that steps should be taken to expand the railway line from Batticaloa to Pottuvil or the railway line from Matara to Kalmunai since a large number of people in the Batticaloa, Ampara and Moneragala Districts will benefit from the expansion of the railway line from Batticaloa to Pottuvil and the expansion of the railway line from Matara to Kalmunai.
• Establishment of a Commission to Investigate the Unilateral and Forced Cremation of the Remains of Deceased Muslims During the COVID-19 Pandemic
That this Parliament resolves that a Commission be established to investigate the number of bodies of Muslims that were unilaterally and forcibly cremated contrary to the guidelines of the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 Pandemic, to investigate the names and addresses of the victims who were so cremated, to inquire into the background that led to the forced cremation of the said dead bodies, to assess the mental state of the relatives of the victims who were so cremated, and to investigate steps to be taken against government officials including politicians who acted contrary to the said guidelines in support of such cremations.
• Establishment of a special Development Fund dedicated to reduce regional disparities in development
That this Parliament resolves that the Government of Sri Lanka should take steps to; establish a National Development Fund for lagging regions such as Northern Province, Eastern Province, Monaragala District, and Nuwara Eliya District, to mobilize contributions from government, bilateral and multilateral partners, private investors, and philanthropic donors, with a target size of USD 250 million over a 10+2 year programme tenure; deploy the Fund strategically to revive rural livelihoods through agriculture, fisheries, and cottage industries, to develop infrastructure for promoting employment and women's socio-economic empowerment, to activate idle assets and support SMEs and cooperatives, to invest in renewable energy and other commercially viable ventures, to initiate capacity building and educating women and youth; facilitate the establishment of a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to build local capacity, close viability gaps in investments, and ensure effective and transparent utilization of funds; ensure gender inclusivity across all investment areas, with measurable targets to promote women's participation in economic activities and decision-making; mandate relevant Ministries, Provincial Councils, and local authorities to coordinate with the Fund to ensure equitable regional coverage, accountability, and sustainability in project implementation, by considering the establishment of the Fund an urgent national measure towards inclusive growth, reconciliation, and sustainable development of Sri Lanka, whereas these lagging regions are continuing to face severe economic deprivation due to the effects of the protracted civil conflict and historical neglect over the past decades; whereas the present economic crisis has further aggravated these disparities, placing disproportionate burdens on the livelihoods of the people in these lagging regions; and whereas it is necessary to establish a dedicated national initiative to address these concerns, with the objective of promoting equitable growth, sustainable development, and gender empowerment in economically deprived areas.
Questions at the Adjournment Time
(i) The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe, Member of Parliament
(ii) The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake, Member of Parliament
The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1752 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 18th August 2026.
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