Hon. Namal Karunaratne, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Kurunegala

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 135 #32 of 225·#16 in party

Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

135 speeches

3 March 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister answered on behalf of the Minister regarding Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, stating that ARPA ranges have been established across one or more Grama Niladhari Divisions, with staffing in all provinces except where cadre limits affect the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He said ARPAs serve under the Department of Agrarian Development, report to the Agrarian Development Officer, and perform duties assigned under the 2013 recruitment procedure and the Agrarian Development Act No. 46 of 2000, though they have not been assigned research activities so far. He further stated that district offices have been instructed on performance evaluation procedures, ARPAs collect field-level data and coordinate projects, and detailed annexes on staffing, duties, and appraisal formats have been tabled in the Library. Oral Question: Agricultural Research and Production Assistants (Q.913/2025) Agriculture Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne supported the Bill to abolish MPs’ pensions, arguing that it fulfils the Government’s electoral mandate and is not an act of political revenge because Government Members are also giving up benefits. He said the administration has already reduced presidential, ministerial and parliamentary privileges, including salaries, allowances, insurance and multiple-post entitlements, as part of a broader shift in political culture. He added that while not all promises can be completed early in a five-year term, measures such as increases to public servants’ pensions and salaries and estate workers’ wages have already been implemented, and genuinely destitute former Members could seek assistance through existing channels. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne stated that the Government increased the fertilizer subsidy to Rs. 20,000 for two hectares and extended it to interim crops cultivated on paddy lands. He explained that the payment system was changed to release the first instalment before cultivation began and the second after confirming cultivation, with payment schedules varying by irrigation area. He said delays in the second instalment were caused by cyclone-related damage and staffing vacancies among Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, but that all fertilizer funds had now been released and remaining payments would reach farmers within days. Oral Question: Paddy Lands Filling in Anuradhapura (Q.5/2025) Agriculture Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Namal Karunaratne acknowledged past irregularities and under-the-table dealings related to land matters, stating that the government is now regulating and correcting them. He said a new circular and departmental intervention have been introduced to balance necessary land-use changes with the need to prevent environmental damage from land filling. Oral Question: Paddy Lands Filling in Anuradhapura (Q.5/2025) Land & HousingEnvironmentCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister answered a question on approvals to fill or use paddy lands for other purposes in the Anuradhapura District. He stated that no such approvals were granted in 2024, while in 2025 approvals were issued under the Agrarian Development Act for five applications, including construction of business premises, covering a total of 33 perches. He said copies of the Commissioner General’s approval letters were tabled, and that the remaining part of the question was not applicable. Oral Question: Paddy Lands Filling in Anuradhapura (Q.5/2025) Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary Over 90 per cent of payments for vegetables and other crops have been made, with remaining funds sent to District Secretaries, and compensation for wildlife damage to livestock is also being processed. Funds for the fertilizer subsidy have been fully released, with over 95 per cent of the first round credited and the balance pending. On paddy leaf yellowing, the Department of Agriculture and specialists are investigating, and the Government will provide support if further losses occur. He also stated that arrears inherited at the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board were cleared and that compensation for recent Maha-season disasters was paid before the next season. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Agriculture Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne stated that farmer leaders had been consulted and that any remaining issues could be referred to the Agriculture Committee and Coordinating Committee for action. He outlined expanded wildlife damage compensation, noting that eligibility now covers all vegetable crops and fruits such as banana, pineapple and melon, with increased rates including paddy seedling loss compensation rising from Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 60,000 per acre. He said officials had been instructed to facilitate payments, around 90 per cent of released funds had already been paid, and pending payments and requests on partial damage would be expedited. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Agriculture Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that the Senapura anicut in Meewellawa GN Division, Thirappane DS Division, was constructed at a total cost of Rs. 32.43 million in 2023 and 2024. He said it benefits about 70 farming families and irrigates approximately 120 acres of paddy land. Addressing concerns about sand deposition, he reported that sand washed into nearby field margins during rehabilitation works had been removed and that officials and local farmers confirmed the completed anicut is not causing damage to fields. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Agriculture Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister reported extensive cyclone damage, including deaths, missing persons, housing losses, and damage to irrigation infrastructure, and said restoration and compensation work had begun with official and volunteer support. He rejected claims of impending food shortages and said the Government had expanded agricultural compensation beyond previous schemes, paying Rs. 60,000 per acre and covering vegetables and fruits as well as traditional crops, with remaining payments expected to be completed shortly. He also criticized past governments’ handling of farmer payments and disaster relief, while stating that damaged tanks, anicuts and canals would be repaired and that current relief funds were being directed to affected people. Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 2) Public FinanceInfrastructureAgriculture Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister tabled data on livestock theft complaints in the Vavuniya Division for 2024 and 2025, including numbers recorded, solved, and prosecuted. The answer outlined police instructions and community policing measures to prevent livestock theft, including patrols, roadblocks, expedited investigations, and guidance to owners on securing animals. It also detailed agriculture and livestock development programmes for 2026, including Dairy Hub initiatives to reach 75 per cent milk self-sufficiency by 2030, breeding and fodder support, emergency assistance, climate resilience projects, crop data systems, wildlife damage control measures, and concessional credit programmes. Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order clarification AgricultureLaw & Order Read →
20 January 2026 AI summary A procedural motion was moved proposing that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The motion was seconded, agreed to, and Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake vacated the Chair accordingly. Debate - Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne stated that the ministry is preparing a detailed response to the issues raised by the Member. He requested two weeks to submit the answer and said the matters are receiving special attention. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 December 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne contrasted alleged past misuse of public resources and compensation payments with the present Government’s claimed focus on distributing benefits to the public. He said criticism from opponents would not deter the Government and affirmed that it would continue its programme and intervene to advance the country. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne tabled a response detailing Rs. 23,015.5 million in loans and allocations obtained from banks, the Farmers’ Trust Fund and the Treasury for paddy-related activities from 2020 to 2025. For 2025, he stated that the Paddy Marketing Board expects to purchase 48,000 metric tons of paddy with Rs. 6,000 million allocated, while concessionary Treasury loans are available to small and medium mill owners. He said PMB stocks are partly kept as a buffer and partly milled and distributed through Lanka Sathosa and cooperatives, but there is no plan for a joint public-private integrated purchase mechanism because the Government’s objective is to maintain buffer stocks and ensure fair prices for farmers. Oral Questions - Paddy Marketing Board and Divisional Secretaries Divisions (Q.1349/2025) Agriculture Read →
27 November 2025 AI summary Funds have been allocated for four crops, including potato, big onion, finger millet and chili. The Deputy Minister stated that further discussions will be held to determine how these allocations can best benefit farmers. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Agriculture Read →
27 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne expressed condolences over the ongoing disaster and said the Agriculture Ministry had taken account of suggestions and criticisms raised during the Estimates debate. He argued that recent interventions in the paddy and rice sectors, including minimum prices, procurement and reopening stores, had stabilized farmer prices and consumer supply, while plans were in place to address issues in big onion, potato, finger millet and other crops. He rejected claims that farmers had left cultivation or harvests had fallen, citing increased production in mungbean, big onion and paddy, and urged farmers to continue cultivation with government safeguards. He also said the Government had prevented the sale of NLDB and Milco and was working to stabilize those institutions and settle farmer-related issues. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Agriculture Read →
15 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne requested that the Deputy Minister of Finance provide a response. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Parliamentary Procedure Read →
15 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne acknowledged concerns about paddy released to millers through Government Agents, noting current shortages of both stocks and cash and alleging fraud by some parties. He said the law should be applied equally amid investigations into irregular releases, while highlighting that small millers faced tougher and costlier access to credit compared with large millers. He stated that steps are being taken to address this imbalance and prevent market cornering by larger millers. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
15 November 2025 AI summary The Hon. Namal Karunaratne provided details of Cabinet-approved concessional loan schemes for small and medium-scale rice millers across recent paddy seasons, including objectives to secure fair prices for farmers, provide low-interest financing, and strengthen the rice milling sector. He outlined eligibility criteria such as business registration, a 25 MT maximum daily milling capacity, a Rs. 50 million loan ceiling, a 180-day repayment period, and the requirement to purchase paddy at or above the Government-announced minimum price. He stated that banks would monitor stock-based lending and collateral, the Treasury would pay interest subsidies after certification, and the Department of Agrarian Development would monitor compliance during procurement, while further financial details and lists of mill owners would be provided once received. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
15 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, stated that the list of mill owners requested under part (a)(iv) was still awaited from the finance division. He said the remaining information could be tabled immediately and the outstanding list submitted later. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Agriculture Read →