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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Kalutara

Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

Profession: Medical Practitioner

Roster profile ↗
Speeches 729 #3 of 225·#2 in party
Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 403 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Adjournment

Activity by sitting

117 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.

Speech history

729 speeches
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa asked the Deputy Speaker to identify the specific Standing Order applicable to the matter under discussion. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa said Sri Lanka requires 2,800 medical specialists under the 2018 approved cadre but currently has about 2,000 in service. He argued that specialist migration was due to multiple factors, including unmet benefits, political instability and lost expectations, not only vehicle permits. He stated that the Government is engaging with specialist associations and the Ministry of Finance to provide feasible relief, retain existing specialists, and encourage those who left the country to return. Oral Question: Sri Lanka National Hospital Procurement (Q.7/2024) Public FinanceEmploymentHealthcare Read →
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa responded that a charge sheet had been issued against Consultant Dr. Anil Jasinghe following an audit inquiry into food procurement for the Sri Lanka National Hospital in 2016/2017 and a preliminary investigation ordered by the Health Ministry Secretary. He stated that after a formal disciplinary inquiry and review under the Establishments Code, Dr. Jasinghe was acquitted and discharged of all charges, making the remaining parts of the question inapplicable. Oral Question: Sri Lanka National Hospital Procurement (Q.7/2024) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, the Minister presented the 2023 Annual Performance Report of the National Community Water Supply Department. He proposed that the report be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development, Construction and Housing, and the House agreed. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary The Minister thanked Members for raising health-sector issues and said further responses would be provided during the Budget Committee Stage. He addressed concerns at Karapitiya National Hospital, stating that the cardiac catheterization issue should be resolved within 10 days, while procurement for a second cath lab machine requires retendering due to a supplier and cost discrepancy. He said the Government would expedite the transfer of 42 estate hospitals to the Central Government and had submitted a Cabinet paper to regularize about 600 dengue assistants. He also announced planned recruitments in the coming weeks and months, including nurses, PHIs/family health officers, pharmacists, radiographers and other technical staff, while noting that shortages of specialist doctors remain difficult to resolve immediately. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Public FinanceEmploymentHealthcare Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the company involved in supplying chlorhexidine mouthwash was not blacklisted, but a previous supply default had been identified by the SPC, leading to cancellation of the tender and referral to the Technical Evaluation Committee to award it to the second lowest bidder. He said the SPC Chairman had complained to the CID regarding possible improper media conduct, and that an inquiry was ongoing. He also said the Public Service Commission had ordered the interdiction and inquiry of a doctor for allegedly violating the Establishments Code by campaigning for the SJB without resigning from a senior public service post. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceHealthcare Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary Asked how much financial assistance an ordinary person receives from the President’s Fund for heart surgery, contrasting it with a payment of Rs. 1 million received by the addressee. The intervention sought clarification on the level of support provided to the general public under the Fund. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa tabled an answer regarding the Technical Committee on Management of Dead Bodies Infected with COVID-19. He stated that no specified statement had been made, and that the Committee gave recommendations based on the virus variant, international practice, and WHO guidance, within powers vested under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2170/8 of 11 April 2020 under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. The answer identified the Secretary to the Ministry of Health as the relevant authority, provided the Committee’s membership in an annex, and outlined its chairing arrangements, meeting frequency, venue, and last meeting date of 2 February 2021. Oral Question: COVID-19 Health Guidelines (Q.249/2024) HealthcareSecurity & Defence Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary Presented the 2016 Annual Report of the Central Cultural Fund on behalf of the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. He moved that the report be referred to the relevant Consultative Committee, and the House agreed. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Parliamentary ProcedureReligion & Culture Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa presented the 2023 Annual Reports of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Fund and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. He moved that the reports be referred to the relevant Consultative Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Parliamentary ProcedureForeign Affairs Read →
  • 5 February 2025 AI summary The Minister confirmed the Speaker’s statement that the relevant matter or document had not yet been received. Procedural: Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Supreme Court Determination Status Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa tabled, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, a report under Standing Order 119(4) concerning observations and actions taken relating to that Ministry and its institutions. He moved that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Tabling of Papers and Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa stated that the Government intends to rebuild the country while providing relief to the public. He also said the Government is ending the public burden of maintaining retired Presidents and their households. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayathissa presented Government Valuer assessments and maintenance costs for official residences allocated to former Presidents and a former First Lady, arguing that the State is carrying an unjustifiable financial burden. He cited high property values and monthly rental estimates, including Rs. 4.6 million for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Wijerama Mawatha residence, and detailed recent repair and maintenance expenditure borne by the State. He said some former office-holders had vacated their residences, while others remained, and indicated that the valuation of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s residence would be tabled later. He called for former Presidents to relinquish such residences, stating that the Government intends to change the political culture around post-retirement privileges. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa stated that an earlier Cabinet decision, made despite expert epidemiological advice and without sufficient scientific basis, was wrong and was later reversed by a properly constituted committee. He said evolving WHO guidance allowed country-specific adaptations, and that Sri Lanka should continue to acknowledge and express regret for the decision. Oral Question: Disposal of the Dead Due to COVID-19 During 2019–2022 HealthcareJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa said past political decisions in the health sector caused hardship to the public and pressure on officials, citing the closure of the Atulugama maternity clinic and its later restoration after opposition. He expressed regret over pandemic-era decisions influenced by religion, noting the government is now addressing such issues, and said legal action would be taken where deliberate wrongdoing is identified. Oral Question: Disposal of the Dead Due to COVID-19 During 2019–2022 HealthcareCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that COVID-19 death data were collected by the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit for pandemic control purposes and were not disaggregated by ethnicity or religion, except for religion-wise data on burials. He said the Technical Committee on Management of Cremation of Bodies of Persons Who Died of COVID-19 recommended cremation within 24 hours and later burial in designated isolated locations, with Oddamavadi cemetery selected for burials. He reported 13,183 cremations and 3,634 burials from 5 March 2021, giving sex-wise totals and religion-wise burial figures, and noted that further breakdowns by age, province, district, ethnicity, or religion for cremations were not available. Oral Question: Disposal of the Dead Due to COVID-19 During 2019–2022 Healthcare Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary In response to a parliamentary question, Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa provided official COVID-19 statistics up to 31 December 2022, stating that Sri Lanka recorded 671,893 laboratory-confirmed cases and 16,817 confirmed deaths. He gave the death breakdown by age, sex and province, noting the highest deaths among those aged 70–80, more male than female deaths, and the largest provincial total in the Western Province. He also cited selected district figures and said full district-wise, ethnicity and religion breakdowns are maintained by the Epidemiology Unit and can be provided. Oral Question: Disposal of the Dead Due to COVID-19 During 2019–2022 Healthcare Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa said rising outpatient demand in State hospitals cannot be addressed by expanding buildings alone, noting very high annual OPD visits despite Sri Lanka’s population size. He stated that the Ministry’s priority is primary healthcare reform, including adequately staffed and equipped units within about 2.5 kilometres of residents, with a pilot planned in two districts this year before wider rollout. He highlighted the need to train and appropriately deploy medical officers, family medicine specialists, and community health specialists to support screening and treatment close to home. Oral Question: Family Medicine Specialist Training Stream Healthcare Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the question on establishing Family Medicine as a specialist training stream and appointing such specialists to hospitals cannot be answered at present due to ongoing litigation on specialist placements. He said a response would be provided after the court proceedings conclude. Oral Question: Family Medicine Specialist Training Stream HealthcareJustice & Human Rights Read →