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

12 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne moved that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne defended the Budget as one that gives reasonable expectations to the public while rejecting what he described as bad-faith criticism from the Opposition. He outlined Government measures to address agricultural market problems following increased production, including procurement of big onions and potatoes, a Rs. 1,000 million allocation for maize, potato and onion market issues, and forthcoming guaranteed prices with more systematic purchasing. He said the Government would also reduce production costs and improve yields, and defended support for plantation workers’ wage increases as assistance to low-income workers. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne clarified that he had stated only that an allegation existed. The remark appears to distinguish between asserting a fact and referring to the presence of an allegation. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne states that a charge or accusation is being raised. No further details, context, or specific demand are provided in the excerpt. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne argued that the Opposition’s own opening remarks in the Budget Debate acknowledged economic stabilization, support for the anti-corruption programme, continued public support for the Government, increased vehicle imports, and a Treasury surplus. He said later Opposition criticisms contradicted those acknowledgements, particularly claims that the surplus was achieved merely by raising taxes. He maintained that the Government had improved tax management and compliance by bringing previous tax evaders into the system rather than simply increasing taxes. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Namal Karunaratne tabled a written answer providing the Government’s minimum guaranteed paddy prices by season and variety from 2014/15 Maha to 2023 Yala. The response stated that the Paddy Marketing Board has 18 lorries and no rice mills, and that when milling is required it is done through small and medium-scale private millers. Oral Question 1312/2025: Minimum Fixed Price for Paddy from 2015-2023 Agriculture Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne refers to a pricing issue beginning at Rs. 120, indicating concern over the applicable rate or price level. The excerpt is too brief to identify the specific commodity, policy, or demand being raised. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Privilege Issues Public Finance Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne objected to another Member’s statement, stating that it was entirely false. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Privilege Issues Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne made a brief clarification in response to a matter raised in Parliament. He noted that Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe had already provided a response on the issue. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Privilege Issues Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister presented written answers on agricultural production and productivity, defining their units of measurement and detailing the 2025 Budget allocation of Rs. 150 million for promoting other food crops. He outlined the crops and regions covered by the programme, including legumes, maize, sesame, finger millet, cashew and several yams, implemented through the Department of Agriculture, Mahaweli Authority and provincial agencies. He also tabled projected production increases for selected grains and yams from 2025 to 2027, noting data limitations for some small-scale crops such as Dioscorea, kiriala and innala. Oral Question: Increase of Production of Grains and Yams - Allocations from Budget 2025 (Q.1467/2025) Agriculture Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne said the Government faces practical constraints in purchasing paddy at threshing floors, including a shortage of suitable vehicles and the lack of provisions to accept wet paddy. He stated that paddy must be dried to about 14 percent moisture and that proposals have been called to provide the necessary equipment, with paddy dryers expected to be installed by the next season. He added that Ampara, which produces over 20 percent of national paddy output, would be prioritized based on local conditions. Oral Question: Warehouses of Paddy Marketing Board in Ampara District (Q.8/2025) Agriculture Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that 28 warehouses exist in the Ampara District and that farmers delivered paddy to 27 of them during the Yala season. He said the Government has information on the specific warehouse raised by the Member, noting that many warehouses have been temporarily repaired while some require permanent restoration, and undertook to give special attention to the issue. Oral Question: Warehouses of Paddy Marketing Board in Ampara District (Q.8/2025) InfrastructureAgriculture Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that when the Government assumed responsibility for the paddy stores, purchases had stopped and facilities were damaged, with stores affected by wildlife and rice mill machinery and drying-yard fittings removed or sold as scrap. He said the Government is restoring the stores and related operations, and is planning to install paddy dryers where possible in the future. Oral Question: Warehouses of Paddy Marketing Board in Ampara District (Q.8/2025) Agriculture Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, responding on behalf of the Minister, provided data on paddy cultivation and Paddy Marketing Board activity in Ampara District. He stated that the district has 98,531.3769 hectares of paddy land, with Yala harvests rising from 232,709 metric tons in 2024 to 265,774 metric tons in 2025, while PMB purchases increased from 119.6 metric tons to 23,660 metric tons. He also listed 28 PMB warehouses in the district and confirmed that none is equipped with paddy dryer machines. Oral Question: Warehouses of Paddy Marketing Board in Ampara District (Q.8/2025) Agriculture Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne said the Government is moving toward cultivation planning based on domestic demand and resource requirements, while seeking higher yields from smaller land areas to reduce production costs. He stated that increased output must be matched with value addition, agro-processing, preservation, and by-product development, through a coordinated programme involving the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, Finance, Science and Technology, and Industries. He said the objective is to lower farmer costs, provide consumers with quality goods at lower prices, ensure fair prices for farmers, and support all actors in the agricultural supply chain. Oral Question 7: Safeguard of Interests of Farmers, Traders and Consumers Agriculture Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne said farmer market problems cannot be resolved all at once and require time, as the President had noted at the “Sahal Mangalyaya.” He stated that the Government has already responded to paddy farmers and is intervening in the procurement of groundnuts, big onions, potatoes, and manioc, with private sector participation where relevant. He added that the Government is addressing these issues sequentially, including through value addition and coordination with other ministries. Oral Question 7: Safeguard of Interests of Farmers, Traders and Consumers Agriculture Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that measures will be taken to promote value chains that reduce post-harvest losses. He said the necessary facilities would be provided and related networks strengthened to support this objective. Oral Question 7: Safeguard of Interests of Farmers, Traders and Consumers Agriculture Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Farmers’ living conditions and profitability were acknowledged as priorities in a reply on behalf of the Agriculture Minister, citing 2023/24 Maha cost-of-production and net-profit data for paddy, potato, onions and chillies. The reply stated that recent food prices had stabilized after sharp increases during the economic crisis, with detailed CPI data tabled in the Library. It also noted that market intermediaries provide logistics and employment but said the Ministry is implementing measures to improve productivity, seeds, technology, cooperatives, cold storage, packing centres, infrastructure and lower-intermediary marketing channels. Oral Question 7: Safeguard of Interests of Farmers, Traders and Consumers AgricultureCost of Living Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, a two-week extension was requested to provide an answer. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question 3 (859/2025): Agriculture - Stand Down Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 October 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that the Government had already begun the relevant work and rejected the suggestion that it was deflecting responsibility. The exchange concluded with the question being put and agreed to. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Agriculture Read →