Hon. Ananda Wijepala, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Kurunegala

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

Profession: ---

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Speeches 244 #19 of 225·#8 in party

Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

244 speeches

20 June 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a question on charging fees for police services requested for business purposes, citing the Police Ordinance, IGP Circulars issued in February and March 2025, and a Cabinet decision as the legal and policy basis. He said requests are formally assessed, must be justified, require approval by the IGP or Ministry Secretary, and are handled case by case without a fixed numerical cap. He provided revenue figures showing Rs. 50.26 million collected in 2024 and Rs. 114.32 million up to 31 May 2025 from police officers’ services, vehicle hire, police animals, and siren system installations. He added that applications are assessed for illegality, anti-social nature, and the applicant’s background, with intelligence reports obtained before recommendations are made. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Law & OrderPublic Finance Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Presidential pardons have not been stopped, and no procedural change has been made to the existing pardon process. An illegal release allegedly made outside the President’s approved list is being investigated by the CID, and the public should not be misled about the matter. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Ananda Wijepala stated that investigations are ongoing and related matters are before court, so details can be provided only after those processes conclude. He asked that the relevant Member clarify where he worked and how payments were made, noting that this issue is also under inquiry. He also referred to allegations involving gems and murders, saying there are sufficient fraud-related concerns and noting that Namal Rajapaksa had acknowledged them. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Ananda Wijepala stated that Presidential pardons are based on lists prepared by the Prisons Department and forwarded through the Ministry of Justice, with the President approving them on recommendations rather than personally verifying each prisoner. He said an investigation by the CID is underway into a case where a person not on the approved list was allegedly released, and that responsibility should fall on those who effected any illegal release. He added that past releases, including cases involving serious offences, are also being investigated, while maintaining that action is being taken according to law and not to target officials. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
21 May 2025 AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala responded to the Opposition Leader’s question on alleged links between the underworld and politicians, stating that he had already presented relevant names in Parliament. He said investigations are ongoing and that the findings will be tabled once completed, emphasizing that such statements are not made without basis. Debate: Finance Act Order - Continued Discussion (Multiple Speakers) Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that recent violence is linked to internal clashes among organized criminal gangs and drug trafficking, but said the Government does not consider it a threat to the State or national security. He outlined enforcement actions including arrests in 32 concluded incidents, seizure of weapons and vehicles, Red Notice requests for overseas traffickers, repatriation of 11 suspects, and airport arrests using facial recognition. He also described measures against drug smuggling and gang operations, including scanners at ports, limits on SIM ownership, financial controls, prison phone disruption, rehabilitation programmes, and school awareness initiatives. Referring to threats against public officials, he said complaints are under investigation, including an alleged assassination contract involving “Kanjipani Imran” and an inmate at Boossa Prison. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Security & DefenceForeign AffairsLaw & Order Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary The Minister said recent shootings were inter-gang underworld incidents linked to long-standing organized crime, political interference, military deserters, and leakage of weapons from some military camps, with investigations ongoing and implicated politicians to be named after police inquiries. He reported that about 3,000 military deserters, 2,106 suspects, and 1,278 firearms had been taken into custody or seized, and that 52 high-crime police divisions were being targeted by 15 special task teams. He outlined measures including island-wide raids and patrols, inter-agency task forces, intelligence and database upgrades, prison monitoring, maritime and airport controls, INTERPOL action, officer incentives, and coordination with the Attorney General to expedite prosecutions. Planned steps include new laws against organized crime, repatriation of overseas drug network leaders, reducing the domestic drug market, establishing a forensic laboratory, and further upgrading airport surveillance. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Security & DefenceLaw & Order Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Ananda Wijepala said the passport backlog was inherited from previous administrations and that daily issuance had been increased from about 1,200 to 4,000 while pending applications were being cleared. He outlined measures including 24-hour office operations, increased capacity at provincial offices, a forthcoming Jaffna office opening, tenders for an e-passport system, and recruitment of 186 officers to address staffing shortages in the Department of Immigration and Emigration. He also noted ongoing court action related to passports and said the Government had completed about 69 per cent of the steps needed to improve efficiency. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Infrastructure Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that the passport backlog has been reduced since the introduction of a 24-hour service, with 303,483 passports issued out of 349,483 applications received. He said 56,769 of the earlier backlog of about 110,000 applications had been cleared, leaving 43,231 pending, and that urgent applicants can now obtain a passport within a day under the one-day service. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Public Finance Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary The Minister provided data on passport issuance, stating that about 3,000 applications are received daily and 246,714 passports were issued between 1 January and 16 May 2025. He said around 4,000 passports are issued per day across one-day, regular, foreign mission, emergency, and backlog-clearing categories. He stated that one-day service applications are processed within a few hours, passport validity is not extended, and a 24-hour one-day passport service has been implemented from 18 February 2025. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Law & Order Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs requested two weeks’ time to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said the Government is strengthening intelligence gathering through regional intelligence units, the State Intelligence Service, military intelligence, and new District and Divisional-level Public Security Committees. He said these community-based mechanisms are intended to improve public cooperation, support a community-friendly police service, and help address narcotics trafficking and organized underworld crime. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Security & DefenceLaw & Order Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary The Chair called on the Hon. Ananda Wijepala to proceed with his speech. No substantive remarks or policy positions were recorded in this excerpt. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala stated that the Government is implementing a planned operation to suppress underworld activity and drug trafficking, which he described as interconnected and previously enabled by political patronage. He reported 79 shootings between 21 September 2024 and 7 May 2025, resulting in 52 deaths and 35 injuries, with 260 suspects arrested, while declining to disclose details of suspects still at large due to ongoing investigations. He outlined measures including intensified patrols, intelligence and data systems, prison and airport monitoring, international cooperation, naval interdictions, and action against police personnel involved in crime. He also announced forthcoming steps such as new organized crime legislation, forensic laboratories, expanded surveillance and analytics capacity, a Central Criminal Investigation Unit, and provincial Criminal Divisions to be implemented shortly. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Security & DefenceLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Ministers are not receiving salaries, in response to a point raised by a Member. Private Members' Motion (P.2/2024): Curtailing Privileges of MPs and Former Heads of State Public Finance Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Government is implementing the NPP mandate to change political culture by removing privileges for politicians and investigating corrupt practices such as bar permits, contract commissions, and misuse of benefits. He stated that vehicle permits have been declined, amendments to abolish parliamentary pensions are being drafted following the Justice Chitrasiri Committee report, 51 luxury official residences have been vacated for productive reuse, and Ministers and State Ministers are not drawing salaries. He added that MP security will not be treated as a blanket privilege but provided only where a specific threat is assessed, and said the Government will continue reporting to Parliament on its remaining commitments. Private Members' Motion (P.2/2024): Curtailing Privileges of MPs and Former Heads of State Parliamentary ProcedurePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Ananda Wijepala cautioned against generalizing individual incidents to broader society and said separate, lengthy investigations are conducted for that reason. He responded to a claim that 90 people had been detained without cause, indicating the matter was being considered in the context of investigative processes. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Justice & Human Rights Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that while he could not direct the Police or CID on questioning methods, any alleged shortcomings could be examined. He clarified that the Moulavi in question had not been arrested but that his house had been searched, and said he would avoid further details given the 22-year-old youth’s future. He warned against the re-emergence of communal nationalism and stressed the need to ensure the safety of Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLaw & Order Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Investigations are being conducted into reported extremist activities, including an inquiry concerning Miflan Moulavi. Action is being taken based on available information, with inquiries pursued where necessary rather than automatic arrest or detention. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Security & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala argued that the Batalanda Commission Report should be viewed within the broader context of state violence, disappearances, torture camps and mass graves during the J.R. Jayewardene and Premadasa era, rather than through isolated incidents. He cited other commission reports recording 16,263 complaints of killings, disappearances and abductions across provinces, the killing of 44 children under 14, and numerous alleged torture and burial sites linked to local political actors. He contended that the 1983 ban on the JVP and suppression of democracy contributed to the conflict, and stated that the Batalanda Report identifies Ranil Wickremesinghe as directly connected to that apparatus of oppression. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →