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

20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the Budget departs from neoliberal policy by intervening to raise private sector wages, including for plantation and other private industry workers. She said that despite financial and legal constraints, the Government has taken a compassionate, people-focused approach, and rejected claims that the Budget is neoliberal. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceEmployment Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the Budget is not neoliberal, despite being framed within IMF-related constraints and the fiscal limits of the State Finance Management Act of 2024. She said the Budget reasserts the state’s role through major allocations for social protection, education, health, and public investment, including Rs. 749 billion for social protection and about Rs. 1.9 trillion combined for education, health and welfare. She also cited proposed amendments to the Electricity Act to halt privatization and changes to strengthen the Paddy Marketing Board’s role in the paddy market as evidence of increased state intervention. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceEducationCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra supported the vehicle import regulations, explaining that imports are being reopened in limited categories after restrictions imposed during the foreign exchange crisis and debt default. She argued that controls and taxes are necessary to protect reserves, avoid rupee depreciation, and prevent renewed shortages of essentials as Sri Lanka resumes foreign debt servicing after restructuring. She also stated that the Government is prioritizing improvements to public transport and denied media reports that vehicles would be imported for MPs. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Public FinanceCost of LivingInfrastructure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra ceded her second supplementary question to Hon. Najith Indika. Oral Question: IMF-related Economic Measures and Vehicle Imports Policy Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Asked the Government to clarify its position on permitting vehicle imports following reports of a policy decision. She specifically questioned whether the import plan is intended to protect leasing and finance companies or serves a broader policy objective. Oral Question: IMF-related Economic Measures and Vehicle Imports Policy Public Finance Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development whether the Government was aware of the IMF Senior Mission Chief’s statement on 23 November 2024 that Sri Lanka had not met IMF social spending targets. She requested details on 2024 Budget allocations and actual spending for Aswesuma beneficiaries, the elderly, chronically ill persons and disabled citizens, including the percentage spent, the IMF-required social spending amount, and the reason adequate funds were not allocated. Oral Question: IMF-related Economic Measures and Vehicle Imports Policy Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra briefly stated that she was asking a question, addressing the Deputy Speaker. No details of the question or related subject matter were included in the provided excerpt. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra raised a supplementary question about institutions and agents collecting money by claiming to arrange Korean or other foreign employment. She asked whether such jobs are provided under Government auspices and, if not, what action would be taken against the entities and individuals involved. Oral Questions Corruption & Governance ReformEmployment Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Asked whether the Government will establish a proper mechanism to regularize Korean employment, citing recent issues involving former Ministers and connected parties allegedly collecting large sums from rural youth by promising jobs in Korea. Emphasized that Korean employment is a sensitive issue for rural youth and sought safeguards for future recruitment. Oral Questions EmploymentCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism for details on Sri Lankan workers sent to Korea, including the number of visas issued, the basis for sending workers under the E8 visa category, and how many workers had been sent. She also sought clarification on whether any of them were in distress and what action would be taken, and asked whether workers are sent only under E8 visas or under other visa categories as well. Oral Questions EmploymentForeign Affairs Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra asked what remedies or measures are available to students and student bodies when university administrations obstruct discussions. She also requested the relevant Minister’s position on such administrative interference with student discussions. Oral Question: Clean Sri Lanka Programme and Related Questions to Prime Minister EducationJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra raised a supplementary question referring to a World Socialist Web Site article alleging that a University of Peradeniya conference on opposing the IMF austerity programme was barred because it opposed Government policy and supposedly on ministerial instructions. She asked whether opposition to IMF austerity is considered contrary to Government policy. Oral Question: Clean Sri Lanka Programme and Related Questions to Prime Minister Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra asked the Prime Minister whether national examinations, disrupted by COVID-19 and the economic crisis, are now being held according to scheduled timetables. She also sought details on measures taken by the Ministry to prevent future interruptions to education and requested an update on the status of the new education reform process. Oral Question: Clean Sri Lanka Programme and Related Questions to Prime Minister Education Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary By mid-2024 Sri Lanka had achieved macroeconomic stabilization and improved investor confidence, aided by completion of external debt restructuring, but the recovery was financed heavily through increased VAT and personal income tax burdens on ordinary people. Attention was drawn to reduced spending on education, health, and transport, including cuts to school welfare, textbooks, and health services, which increased unpaid care work and costs borne especially by women. Citing a December 2024 Human Rights Commission report on labour outsourcing, the remarks noted that many women moved into less-protected “manpower” work due to crisis pressures and lack of childcare. The Government was urged to direct the benefits of recovery toward social welfare, reintegration of affected groups, SMEs, workers, women, and lower-income households. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Public FinanceEmploymentWomen & Children Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary The Member seconded the Adjournment Motion on the Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report submitted under the State Finance Management Act. She noted that the report reflects the fiscal position as at mid-2024 and shows signs of stabilization and growth after the economic collapse, attributing this to the work of the Finance Ministry and other state agencies. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra asked the Minister whether, in light of recent crises over medicine quality testing, the Ministry has taken measures to improve the quality testing process. She requested details on any steps implemented to address those issues. Oral Question: Software System for Management of Medicine Stocks (Q.236/2024) Healthcare Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Asked the Minister to provide a report on the current operations of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and the actions taken in response to reported irregularities within the institution. Oral Question: Software System for Management of Medicine Stocks (Q.236/2024) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra defended proceeding with the international debt restructuring agreements, arguing that the Government inherited a default situation from previous economic policies and had limited practical alternatives. She said renegotiating the already reached agreements could delay the exit from bankruptcy, increase interest costs by about USD 1.7 billion or more, send negative market signals, and further harm access to financing. She criticized opposition positions as inconsistent and stated that the Government’s priority is to end bankruptcy and use any debt relief to support economic growth and relief for affected people. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
5 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra defended the JJB Government’s decision to continue engagement with the IMF and complete debt restructuring, arguing that it had been stated in the party’s manifesto and was necessary to avoid further economic damage. She said the previous Government was responsible for the debt crisis and that delays in restructuring had cost an additional USD 1.7 billion in interest. She also stated that the President’s expenditure head had reduced personal staff allocations by 64 percent and that the Government’s mandate was to restore economic inclusion for affected workers and SMEs. She further pledged a new Constitution to ensure equality and dignity for all communities and inclusive participation in the State. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Public FinanceEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCost of Living Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra urged Parliament to use the new mandate as an opportunity to advance national unity and prevent a return to racist or religious politics, citing Dr. N.M. Perera’s 1955 call for both Sinhala and Tamil to be State languages and the President’s recent policy pledge against racism. She linked the failure to heed such warnings to the consequences of the Sinhala Only policy, the war, social harm and national bankruptcy. She rejected Opposition claims that the Government was targeting “social media activists,” arguing that those spreading false or current-looking hate content should not be protected as free expression. She called on both Government and Opposition Members to respect the people’s mandate and ensure equality, dignity, and freedom from violence and discrimination for all communities. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Law & OrderEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionReligion & Culture Read →