Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Profession: Lawyer

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 100 #47 of 225·#21 in party

Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

100 speeches

10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that export foreign currency earnings should be repatriated and converted domestically to ease pressure on foreign reserves. She said concerns about rising debt should be assessed through debt sustainability indicators rather than nominal debt stock, citing declines in debt-to-GDP from 95.5% to 91.6% and external debt share from about 55.8% to 50.4% between 2024 and 2025. She also stated that lower interest costs had been supported by Treasury cash buffers and interest rate anchoring, and contrasted current trends with debt increases during the 2015–2019 Yahapalana government. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Public FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
10 June 2026 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra explained that the Central Bank regulation shortens the permitted period for converting export proceeds to a maximum of 40 days, replacing earlier arrangements that allowed longer holding periods. She said the measure is temporary and intended to reduce pressure on the rupee, limit imported inflation, and protect consumers from higher costs of fuel, raw materials, and essential goods. She argued that, alongside other demand-management measures such as temporary import duties, exporters have a responsibility to repatriate and convert proceeds in the national interest. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra raised a privilege matter concerning a confidential Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting held on 5 June 2026 about a child abuse case in Anuradhapura involving multiple court proceedings. She said information from the meeting had been leaked and misrepresented in a BBC Sinhala article published on 8 June, despite officials being warned that disclosure could affect the child’s protection, investigations and court proceedings. She requested that the article be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges under Sections 5, 6 and 7 of Part A of the Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, and rejected several statements attributed to her as false. Procedural: Questions of Privilege and Motions Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenParliamentary Procedure Read →
9 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra supported extending the emergency regulations after Cyclone “Ditva”, stating that they provide the legal basis for the Essential Services Commissioner-General to deliver relief, housing and rehabilitation to displaced persons. She challenged Opposition claims on poverty figures, asked for sources to be tabled, and said the Government’s Praja Shakthi programme and fiscal measures were aimed at reducing poverty and providing relief. She also said the Government would protect investigators and pursue justice in relation to crimes, corruption and the Easter Sunday attacks, while accusing the Opposition of spreading misinformation on welfare, prices and public finances. Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency Public FinanceCost of LivingJustice & Human Rights Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra supported the Inland Revenue Act amendments as a measure to strengthen direct taxation, improve tax compliance, and ensure that all legally liable taxpayers contribute fairly rather than relying mainly on VAT and other indirect taxes. She argued that low revenue contributed to the 2022 economic crisis, while higher revenue had enabled relief measures, and cited recent Government actions such as increasing the PAYE threshold and removing VAT on infant nutrition. She rejected claims that the amendments are draconian, stating that the IRD would issue notices, allow time for compliance, and pursue legal action only after due process. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Law & OrderPublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the Minister of Finance has lawful authority to withhold information from Parliament where disclosure would harm national security, negotiations, litigation, or government commercial activities. She emphasized that Parliament’s control over public finance is defined by the Constitution and law, and cautioned against demanding immediate disclosure beyond those legal limits. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Under the Public Financial Management Act, certain fiscal and economic reports, including the Budget, Economic and Fiscal Position Report, and Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report, must be presented to Parliament. The Member noted that the Act also permits non-disclosure where publication could prejudice national security or specified government commercial activities. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Public Finance Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra requested an additional minute to continue her remarks, stating that she had been heavily interrupted. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra disputed Opposition claims about the handling of a missing USD 2.5 million issue and said details from the Committee on Public Finance should not be disclosed in Parliament before its Chairman, Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, presents a report. She stated that the Secretary to the Treasury was specifically summoned only for the April 28 committee sitting, requested an alternative date due to inability to attend, and later participated, rejecting claims that he had refused to appear. Citing Articles 148 and 4(b) of the Constitution, she argued that Parliament controls public finance through legal authority over taxation and expenditure, but executive and investigative action within the Ministry of Finance remains the responsibility of the Executive and relevant agencies. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra stated that the Opposition had raised the issue of USD 2.5 million allegedly missing or transferred to a third-party account and called for it to be reported to Parliament. She also requested the Presiding Member to maintain order in the House. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra requested the Presiding Member to maintain order in the House. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra noted that the Opposition had raised a main issue in the debate, but the provided excerpt ends before she explains the substance of that issue or any related arguments, proposals, or demands. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra briefly thanked the Presiding Member for the opportunity to speak. No substantive policy argument, proposal, question, or legislative issue is contained in the provided excerpt. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra briefly thanked the Presiding Member for granting her time to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the coal tender complied with High-level Procurement Committee requirements, stating that supplier eligibility depended on registration before bid submission, not before issuing bidding documents. She contrasted this with the previous award to Potencia LLC, which she said supplied coal for three years while unregistered following a Cabinet decision, and challenged the Opposition to show any comparable ministerial interference by Minister Kumara Jayakody. She also addressed laboratory accreditation concerns, stating that Mitra SK South Africa was accredited for key coal quality tests but lacked only ash composition capability, with related issues examined at COPE and to be handled through government and committee oversight. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra stated that the Opposition’s intervention was primarily based on the Auditor-General’s Special Report on coal. She thanked COPE Chairman Hon. Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera for initiating the request for the report to be considered by Parliament in an impartial manner. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Public Finance Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra stated that the Government is seeking to sustain economic growth and livelihoods by cushioning fuel price increases, with the Treasury absorbing Rs. 20 per litre on petrol and Rs. 100 per litre on diesel. She argued that such relief is a governmental duty given fuel’s wider impact on the economy, and referred to the effects of the Easter Sunday attacks and the pandemic on tourism and other sectors. She also challenged the Opposition to state what relief measures it had provided while in office. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra said subsidies for farmers and fishers are intended not only to support incomes but also to control food prices and safeguard future food security. She stated that, in response to the current crisis and rising fuel and electricity costs, Aswesuma payments for April have been increased across beneficiary categories, including from Rs. 17,500 to Rs. 25,000. She contrasted this with the Government’s handling of earlier crises such as the Easter Sunday attacks and COVID-19, citing negative economic growth figures in 2019 and 2020. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy AgricultureCost of Living Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra defended the President’s attendance in Parliament to make clarifications on national issues and rejected Opposition criticism over the coal shipment issue, stating that quality determinations must rely on port and standards reports rather than political claims. She accused Opposition parties of selectively raising corruption allegations while ignoring past controversies, including waste shipments, the Central Bank bond matter, and the Easter Sunday attacks. She also welcomed reported progress toward Iran-America peace talks and said global conflict was affecting Sri Lanka’s energy and food security. She outlined Government relief measures, including Rs. 60 billion for fuel subsidies, targeted support for fishers, Rs. 15 billion for electricity relief for households using under 90 units, and fertilizer support for farmers. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Foreign AffairsCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra said the regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act should be considered in the context of global instability caused by conflict in the Middle East and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, which could affect oil and food supply chains. She supported temporary conservation measures such as the Wednesday holiday, QR system, and a 25 percent reduction in government fuel use, while acknowledging the burden on workers. She argued that Sri Lanka’s political neutrality, fiscal stability, and energy-security planning should be used to attract long-term investment and strengthen the country’s position as a stable destination. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act Regulations Approval Public FinanceForeign AffairsCost of Living Read →