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

11 July 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne indicated that he would conclude his remarks. No substantive policy point, proposal, or question was raised in this excerpt. Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 July 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government aims to increase daily milk production from about one million to three million litres through a dairy sector plan including value-addition centres in every veterinary range, starting in Anuradhapura in 2025, expanded farm targets, improved evening milk collection, cold-chain support, and better breeding stock through sexed semen imports rather than unsuitable cattle imports. He said Sri Lanka currently produces about 40 percent of its milk requirement and that a formal programme launch is planned for the 20th of the month. On poultry, he outlined measures to support egg and meat production by supplying concessional maize directly to small producers, promoting maize cultivation on fallow lands, setting fair purchase prices, and establishing State-backed parent stock farms to provide chicks at reduced prices while reducing intermediary influence. He also noted plans to strengthen goat breeding and referred to the impact of a severe viral outbreak on the swine industry and wild boar. Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement AgricultureCost of Living Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne argued that Sri Lanka should increase domestic rice production rather than rely on imports, noting that current yields are difficult to achieve but remain below levels in other countries. He outlined the Ministry of Agriculture’s programme to raise yields through soil testing, crop- and soil-specific fertilizer application, quality seed supply, timely cultivation, and adoption of new technology. He stated that these measures are already being implemented and are expected to improve per-acre productivity over the next few seasons. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Agriculture Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne responded that his position was consistent with that of Lal Kantha and said the Government had begun addressing shortcomings in paddy procurement and storage from the Maha season, with fuller intervention planned for the Yala season. He stated that refurbishment of neglected Paddy Marketing Board stores was about 75% complete, 133 closed BAG stores had been reopened, and more would be opened with a more systematic procurement process and mechanisms for entrepreneur participation. He also said investigations and legal action were underway over alleged thefts and asset destruction at the Paddy Marketing Board under the previous Government, with recoveries being pursued. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary The member stated that annexures tabled in the House contain the requested names and details, including dates of birth to be verified. He confirmed that since the 2021/22 Maha season, paddy has been purchased through five regional Paddy Marketing Board boards, milled by small and medium-scale millers under contract, and distributed as rice through Sathosa. He added that this programme could continue with Government intervention. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Agriculture Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne provided, on behalf of the Minister, statistical details on Paddy Marketing Board operations, including its establishment date, district-wise paddy purchases for 2022–2024, and the number of purchasing centres and storage facilities available for the 2024/25 Maha season. He stated that PMB purchases fell sharply after 2022, from 78,360.81 MT worth Rs. 6,747.23 million to 2,153.924 MT in 2023 and 2,757.525 MT in 2024, with 133 purchasing centres and 353 storage facilities identified nationwide. He also gave district-wise percentages of total harvest purchased by the Government for 2022 and 2023, noted that 2025 data were not yet available, and said further information on State bank lending to mills and rice distribution would be provided separately once compiled. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Agriculture Read →
3 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne acknowledged concerns over the increased use of chicken manure after earlier soil-building practices using cattle and organic manure with chemical fertilizer had declined, stating that relevant departments were intervening. He said the fertilizer subsidy for farmers had been increased from about Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 per 2 hectares from the last Maha season and would continue. He also noted a new Rs. 30,000 per 2 hectares subsidy for approved inter-seasonal crops grown in paddy lands during Yala, and said Kalpitiya’s specific needs would be examined within ongoing discussions. Oral Question: Kalpitiya Agricultural Flooding (Q.585/2025) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
3 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne acknowledged agricultural issues in Kalpitiya and surrounding areas, noting that about 16,000 acres are under vegetable cultivation and that the area contributes significantly to national chili and onion production. He said new fertilizer and compensation-related insurance schemes have been introduced, and officials from the Insurance Board will visit around the 12th to inform farmers about enrollment. He stated that suitable insurance and risk-sharing mechanisms would be developed for the region, taking account of farmers’ efforts to cultivate sandy soils. Oral Question: Kalpitiya Agricultural Flooding (Q.585/2025) Agriculture Read →
3 June 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne stated that cultivation in Kalpitiya is being damaged by inundation caused by a high groundwater table, a problem that has occurred recently and is continuing. He said there is no general ex gratia compensation scheme, though six specified crops receive free Government compensation and other farmers may join a contributory insurance scheme through the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board. He also clarified that the 2025 Yala fertilizer subsidy applies only to paddy and additional crops grown in paddy fields, not to Kalpitiya vegetable and fruit cultivations, and noted that a detailed answer was placed in the Library. Oral Question: Kalpitiya Agricultural Flooding (Q.585/2025) Agriculture Read →
23 May 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that the Rs. 50,000 fertilizer assistance per two hectares is being released and may be used for cultivation-related activities, including land preparation, harvesting, fertilizer, and agrochemicals. He said the Government is addressing the seed paddy shortage by purchasing certified seed from the private sector and using stocks from state farms. He also reported that compensation for initial Maha season damages has mostly been paid, and compensation for later January-February damages will be fully paid within the next month. Oral Question 1: Crop Damage and Compensation (Q.72/2024) Agriculture Read →
23 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne stated that pending compensation for the previous Yala season was settled after the Ministry assumed responsibility, and that payments for damage during the 2024/25 Maha season in November have also largely been completed. He said about Rs. 8 million remains unpaid due to incomplete farmer data and technical issues, and that the remaining cases are being verified before settlement. Oral Question 1: Crop Damage and Compensation (Q.72/2024) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
23 May 2025 AI summary Responding for the Minister, Namal Karunaratne stated that 74,176 acres of crops were damaged, with paddy accounting for 90 per cent and other crops 10 per cent. He said Rs. 1,000 million was allocated for compensation, of which Rs. 952 million had been paid in the same 90:10 ratio, and that all recommended compensation for crop damage caused by the November 2024 floods had been fully paid. Oral Question 1: Crop Damage and Compensation (Q.72/2024) Agriculture Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Namal Karunaratne requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Agriculture (Q.9/2025) - Stand Down Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, a request was made for two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: National-Level Stadiums in Northern and Eastern Provinces (Q.1/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne rejected an allegation that he had said something would occur “within 24 hours,” calling it false. He objected to what he described as the spreading of gossip in Parliament. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne’s intervention was limited to addressing the Deputy Chairperson and did not include any substantive argument, proposal, question, or reference to legislation, policy, or events. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 March 2025 AI summary No formal national assessment of crop damage by wild animals was conducted in 2024, though HARTI had produced a semi-annual aggregate estimate in 2022 and a committee is now working on enumeration, expert recommendations, and district-level protective measures such as air rifles, electric nets and fences. The Ministry also said guidelines on human-wildlife coexistence are being prepared following a HARTI workshop with Agrarian Service Centres. As of end-2024, 13,207 agricultural firearms were in issue, and the price of a 12-bore SG cartridge had been reduced to Rs. 500.76 by lowering district agents’ sales margin from 30% to 20% with Defence Ministry intervention, in response to higher input costs, VAT and foreign exchange constraints. Oral Questions: Teachers' Service and Principals' Service Salary Anomalies (Q.502/2025), Estates in Badulla District Drinking Water Projects (Q.505/2025), Damage to Cultivations by Wild Animals (Q.498/2025) Agriculture Read →
18 March 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne stated that a loan issued in 2001 by the Mihintale Govijana Bank to the Limited Janatha Lanka Chilli Production and Marketing Farmers’ Company had been fully recovered as principal, but Rs. 1,975,233 in interest remains due and will be pursued under standard recovery procedures. He said an earlier decision not to recover interest had been revised, and notice had been issued to the company chairman, Mr. S. M. Chandrasena, to pay the outstanding amount. In response to supplementary questions, he said investigations are under way into fertilizer subsidy payments recorded as paid but not credited to farmers, including an alleged misappropriation of Rs. 2,934,310 affecting 155 farmers in Anuradhapura, with a CID complaint lodged and one officer arrested. Oral Question: Govijana Seva Bank, Mihintale - Loan Granted to Janatha Lanka Chillie Marketing Ltd. (Q.495/2025) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the matter being referred to occurred during the period when fertilizer was unavailable. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Agriculture Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary Namal Karunaratne rejected a statement made by another member, saying he does not and has never eaten paddy. He added that paddy is eaten only when cattle trample fields, apparently responding to an accusation or remark made during the debate. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Agriculture Read →