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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
  • 7 January 2025 AI summary Fifty institutions were identified, with detailed cadre and status information tabled in an annex covering facilities down to Primary Medical Care Units. Vacancies in the relevant hospitals are to be filled through upcoming recruitments, while excess staffing in some locations is also being managed. Development of Chilaw Hospital is proceeding under the Primary Health Care System Improvement Project, and provincial hospitals in Puttalam District are being improved using Provincial Specific Development Grants and Asian Development Bank loan-assisted projects. Oral Question: Government Hospitals in Puttalam District Vacancies (Q.132/2024) Healthcare Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa said COVID-19 urgency provisions were used to facilitate procurements from unregistered companies, including entities already issued orders. He referred to public concern over a company from which the Government spent Rs. 2.2 billion on antigen tests without NMRA registration, and stated that a full investigation would be conducted with all information tabled in Parliament. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Concerns were raised that vaccines had been procured at prices higher than international market rates, with the matter linked to earlier issues in PCR and antigen test procurement. It was stated that the Government, in office for one month, would investigate the procurement process and inform Parliament of any fraud or corruption identified. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Public FinanceHealthcareCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister provided Ministry of Health data on COVID-19 Rapid Antigen and PCR tests conducted by government and private sector laboratories from 2019 to 2022, including annual and total figures. He also tabled the names of NMRA-registered local agents for the relevant tests, listing six companies in an annex. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Healthcare Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary The Member noted that there were 10 Oral Questions on the Order Paper and emphasized the need to limit supplementary questions to two in order to manage parliamentary time. He suggested that Members seeking further clarification on the matter could raise their concerns separately with the Ministry of Agriculture. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Clarified that Standing Order 86 applies to debates and restricts multiple speeches by a Member within a debate, but does not apply to Question Time. He instructed Members to rely on the relevant Standing Orders governing Questions instead of invoking SO 86. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa moved that Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne assumed it. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary The record provided does not include the content of Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa’s speech from 17 December 2024. A substantive summary cannot be produced without the speech text or transcript excerpt. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Healthcare Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa defended the Government’s plan to provide Rs. 6,000 for books and stationery to schoolchildren from Aswesuma and other financially distressed families, arguing that education should not depend on parental income. He also challenged claims to medical qualifications, stating that use of the title “doctor” requires SLMC registration under the Medical Ordinance and outlining the ERPM, internship and registration pathway for foreign medical graduates. He raised concerns over past payments from the President’s Fund to politicians and public figures, contrasting them with difficulties faced by ordinary patients, and questioned transparency in those disbursements. He further referred to spending by the Prime Minister’s Office medical unit and indicated that the current administration was reducing such expenditure. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceEducation Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa said that the decision-making committee during the COVID-19 period was established and operated under political pressure. He argued that advice from Health Ministry officials and medical specialists was not given sufficient weight, and that scientific concerns raised by officials were overridden by higher political considerations. Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) Corruption & Governance ReformHealthcare Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Acknowledged that the previous Government’s act was egregious and said the Ministry would consult the Attorney General to provide as much information as legally permissible. He stated that there was no intention to suppress information, but that disclosure must remain within the existing legal framework. Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa stated that personal medical information cannot be provided under medical principles. He emphasized that the refusal was based solely on confidentiality considerations and not on any other reason. Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) Healthcare Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa addressed the controversy over COVID-19 burial and cremation decisions, stating that the former Government’s approach was unscientific and politically driven. He said patient information is protected under medical ethics and the RTI Act, but broader information should not be concealed. He emphasized that such decisions should be based on science and pledged that similar wrongs would not be allowed in future. Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) Justice & Human RightsHealthcare Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa responded to a question on COVID-19-related cremations, stating that 13,183 bodies were cremated following COVID-19 infection. He said personal details could not be provided under the Right to Information Act and medical ethics, and that related registration information falls under the Department of the Registrar General rather than the Ministry of Health. Oral Question: Cremation of COVID-19 Victims (Q.9/2024) Justice & Human RightsHealthcare Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary The Minister stated that the matter raised was not a point of order and was not relevant to the current proceedings. He indicated that it could be discussed separately. Oral Question: Ungazetted Livestock Grasslands in Batticaloa District (Q.64/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 December 2024 AI summary The Minister rejected a newspaper report alleging “fake medicines” in 500 government hospitals, stating that no such reports had been received by the Medical Supplies Division or the NMRA and that medicines are supplied only through approved and regulated procedures. He said shortages may occur but are being addressed systematically, and warned that unverified claims could unnecessarily alarm the public. He also outlined government action to recover unpaid excise taxes from several alcohol companies, including licence suspension and legal recovery efforts, and stated that the Vote on Account reflects reduced spending under the current President compared with previous allocations. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters HealthcarePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 6 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa informed Parliament that he would table a detailed report, as previously indicated. Vote on Account Debate (Introduction and Motion) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 December 2024 AI summary Only NMRA-registered medicines are supplied to government hospitals, though delays, inefficiency, and past irregularities within the NMRA are being addressed, including by expediting registrations. A report has been requested on the referenced news item and will be presented to Parliament. He rejected claims that large quantities of unregistered or substandard medicines had entered the state hospital system bypassing the NMRA, stating that medicines with quality issues are suspended. Vote on Account Debate (Introduction and Motion) Corruption & Governance ReformHealthcare Read →
  • 6 December 2024 AI summary Parliamentary Business Committee membership was discussed in the context of Standing Orders and proposals to expand committee representation. The Minister argued that, while other committees such as Ministerial Consultative Committees could be enlarged, the Parliamentary Business Committee must remain limited for effective functioning, especially given the possibility of many Opposition parties. He said agreement had been reached to increase nominated membership to 16, bringing the total with ex officio members to 23, and urged the Opposition to share its available slots fairly. Procedural Matters: Sitting Hours, Legislative Standing Committee, Committee on Parliamentary Business Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 December 2024 AI summary The Ministry of Finance is conducting an inquiry into the matter. Once the inquiry is completed, the relevant document will be tabled in Parliament for public access. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Public Finance Read →