Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P.
Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip
Profession: Medical Practitioner
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- 23 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa detailed land use, production, sales, operational issues, and employee payment matters at the Pelwatte and Sevanagala sugar factories. He said Sevanagala’s 2025 output was affected by machinery failures, procurement delays, farmer protests, field burnings, VAT-related sales constraints, and cash-flow problems, while Pelwatte production proceeded as planned. He reported that EPF arrears at Sevanagala had been settled, Pelwatte arrears were being addressed through Cabinet-approved funding and the 2026 Budget, and monthly EPF/ETF payments had resumed on schedule from October 2025. He also stated that formal cadre approval, recruitment, promotion procedures, and placement on government salary scales for Lanka Sugar Company employees were being finalized. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives EmploymentPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary The Minister stated that the matter would be taken up as a special subject for discussion at the Ministerial Consultative Committee. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary The Member stated that the question raised would be referred to the relevant Minister for discussion. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the proposed Heda Oya Project is intended to provide irrigation water to farmers in the Pottuvil and Lahugala Divisional Secretaries’ Divisions in Ampara District. He reported that no expenditure was incurred in 2018, while Rs. 3,784,014 was spent in 2019 and Rs. 999,928.74 in 2020. He added that only preliminary investigative work has been carried out, no implementation is currently proceeding, and the project has been delayed due to public protests over houses and lands that would be submerged by the reservoir. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Annual reports and regulations were presented on behalf of several Ministers and referred to the relevant committees. These included the 2024 reports of the National Building Research Organisation and State Mortgage and Investment Bank, telecommunications infrastructure-sharing regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, the 2023/2024 report of Ceylon Commercial Fertilizers Ltd., and the 2023 report of the Coconut Cultivation Board. Parliament agreed to each referral motion. Papers Presented and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa moved that Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasinghe take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna vacated the Chair and Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasinghe assumed it. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the health service’s aim is to prevent loss of life and that any shortcomings in the relevant process would be addressed through disciplinary and legal action. He said the matter is before court and assured that the hospital, Health Ministry, and Provincial Director of Health Services would assist the judiciary and provide the necessary documents. Ministerial Statement: Death of Kuganeshan Dinoja from Silawatta, Mullaitivu HealthcareJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary The member stated that the reply to the question raised under Standing Order 27(2) would be provided at the next sitting. Question by Private Notice: Employees' Provident Fund Gratuity to Pension Scheme (Standing Order 27(2)) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa tabled a written answer on land extents in the Vavuniya District, including DS Division totals amounting to 5,989 acres, 3 roods and 22 perches. He stated that GN Division-wise land details, information on lands transferred to second parties, and particulars on housing schemes, beneficiary allocations and documentation status were provided in the annex. Oral Question: Land Provided for Middle-Income Housing Programme Land & Housing Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that Extraordinary Gazette 2379/02 of 08.04.2024 established the Ayurveda Compendium and the relevant Regulatory Authority following earlier court observations. He said the Attorney General’s Department had raised concerns about the Gazette, amendments were underway, and interim legal measures were being taken to support regulation and registration until a revised Gazette is issued. He acknowledged enforcement difficulties where regulation remains incomplete and said steps were being taken to rectify them. Oral Question: Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing Plants Regulation Law & OrderHealthcare Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Under existing law, authorities can regulate social media promotions of Ayurvedic products and treatments, investigate complaints, and take legal action where warranted. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa acknowledged that Sri Lanka lacks a comprehensive legal framework for broader regulation of harmful social media content and stated that new laws should be drafted while current provisions continue to be used. Oral Question: Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing Plants Regulation Religion & CultureHealthcare Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary There are 908 registered Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing plants, and regulation of Ayurvedic products is conducted under the institutional directives in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2379/02 of 8 April 2024 and the Ayurveda Compendium 2024. Prior written approval is required for advertisements of declared Ayurvedic medicines after verification of safety, efficacy, quality, and stability, on the recommendation of the relevant manufacturing, warehousing and market surveillance committee. While social media promotions of Ayurvedic products have been observed, no complaints have been recorded regarding fraud involving public money; any future complaints will be investigated by committees under the Ayurveda Drugs and Products Regulatory Authority with action taken under Section 13(o). Oral Question: Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing Plants Regulation Healthcare Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Moved that the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, following consideration by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. Presented several annual and performance reports, including those of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, Department of Ayurveda, and Superior Courts Complex Board of Management, and moved their referral to relevant oversight committees. In response to a question on Trincomalee District hospitals, detailed ongoing and planned development at Trincomalee District General Hospital, including JICA-funded cardiology, sewerage, waste disposal, A&E, ward and equipment projects, staffing measures, and possible future support for Kantale Base Hospital under ADB and government-funded programmes. Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Motion HealthcareParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Urged that health service disputes be handled humanely and procedurally, noting that strikes in the Eastern Province worsen the impact of severe staffing shortages and leave the public with no alternative to government hospitals. Regarding trade union action over the removal of a government medical officer, called for complaints to be investigated properly and for any Ministry decision to be based on inquiry reports rather than pressure. Requested the parties not to pre-judge the matter and said the inquiries would be completed as quickly as possible. Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order clarification HealthcareLaw & Order Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question covering Akkaraipattu Base Hospital, Tellippalai Base Hospital and Jaffna Teaching Hospital, while cautioning that such broad questions could create time-management difficulties. He stated that the Akkaraipattu Medical Superintendent, Dr. I.M. Jawahir, was appointed with Public Service Commission approval and that several complaints against him have led to cautions, concluded files, and ongoing preliminary inquiries into alleged financial irregularities, treatment delays and an unauthorized media briefing. He said the GMOA demand for the MS’s removal could not be acted on before inquiries are completed, as pre-judgment may expose officials to litigation, and described the strike as unjustified due to its impact on the public. On Tellippalai Base Hospital, he said complaints are under disciplinary review, with a Governor-appointed fact-finding committee and a Ministry Rapid Response Unit preliminary inquiry proceeding. Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order clarification HealthcareJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa requested time from the Chair to provide an answer. Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order clarification Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down. Oral Question No. 6 (1222/2025) - Aswesuma welfare benefits Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 January 2026 AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the opposing side had proposed a debate on the “8960” cyclone response covering 12 to 27 November, but indicated the Government was also ready to debate education reforms the next day if that was preferred. He asked for a decision on whether the scheduled debate should concern the cyclone response or education reforms. Procedural - No-Confidence Motion and Business Scheduling Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 January 2026 AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government is ready to hold the debate even before the signature petition is fully processed, if necessary by suspending Standing Orders. He said they are prepared to respond to the matter without delay. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Tourism Performance and Deferral of Ravi Karunanayake Question Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that, given the rapid collection of signatures, the matter should be brought for debate without delay, possibly even starting that day. He said they were prepared for a four-day debate and requested that it be scheduled at minimum. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Tourism Performance and Deferral of Ravi Karunanayake Question Parliamentary Procedure Read →