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

18 December 2024 AI summary Namal Karunaratne said the Government intends to purchase over 300,000 metric tons of paddy despite limited state drying, milling, and storage capacity. He noted that existing government warehouses can hold about 326,000 metric tons but many of the 353 facilities require repairs, and paddy must be dried to 14 per cent moisture. He said the Government will use private-sector dryers and support while also enabling small, medium, and large millers to purchase paddy, creating three purchasing channels. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Namal Karunaratne said early paddy harvesting would begin by the end of next month, with other varieties following through February, and that arrangements were being made for government paddy purchasing. He stated that production costs per kilogram would be calculated to set a guaranteed price giving farmers a fair margin, while also establishing controlled rice prices to protect consumers. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Cost of LivingAgriculture Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that previous government paddy procurement and rice sales involved significant subsidies and losses, citing purchases at Rs. 120 per 8 kg equivalent with additional costs and sales at Rs. 80 per kg, as well as earlier sales below purchase cost. He said the last Yala season saw no government procurement and existing stocks were sold, leaving the new government, at the start of the Maha season, without state stocks while small and medium millers also lacked reserves. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Deputy Minister distinguished privatization from involving domestic stakeholders in farm development under Government oversight, stating that no process harmful to national interests would be pursued. He acknowledged delays in fertilizer-related payments, including the Rs. 25,000 per hectare assistance to farmers, and said the causes had been identified and would be rectified. He assured that fertilizer issues would not affect the next season and that the Government would work to improve conditions for farmers. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Agriculture Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that the Government has not taken a final decision on plans for idle or overgrown farms, but is considering how to revive them, increase income, and return land to cultivation. He said the Government would intervene directly and, if necessary, work with domestic investors or stakeholders, while safeguarding national interests and not relying on foreign involvement. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Agriculture Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the previous Government attempted to lease significant NLDB assets, including land, milk collection centres and dairy factories, to entities linked to the Amul model on low terms, an initiative opposed by farmers’ organizations, trade unions and civil groups and challenged in the Supreme Court. He stated that the plan has now been abandoned and that NLDB lands will not be transferred to those organizations. He said the Government intends to develop farms profitably for public benefit, with possible local private participation after discussion, and no decision to hand them to foreign companies. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) AgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary For 2023, a loss of Rs. 3,091,574 was recorded in the relevant annex, as stated in the context of Agriculture and Livestock matters. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary For Ambalantota, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock provided financial figures indicating a profit of Rs. 8,296,547 in 2022 and a loss of Rs. 1,633,648 in 2021. He stated that the financial values from 2015 onwards are included in an annex. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Agriculture Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock stated that complete details relating to all 78 farms had been provided in the annexes. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Agriculture Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Deputy Minister, replying on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, provided details on State-owned farms under the Department of Agriculture, Mahaweli Authority, and National Livestock Development Board, numbering 29, 17, and 32 respectively. He stated that farm names, locations, functions, extents, and year-wise profit or loss data from 2015 have been tabled in annexes placed in the Library. He said there is no specific agreement to privatize these farms, and that government policy is to improve and develop them, with possible domestic stakeholder involvement under government oversight but no decision to hand them to foreign companies. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Agriculture Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne said the Government had considered international experience and developed measures suited to Sri Lankan agriculture, including expanding insurance coverage for all farmlands, ensuring timely compensation, and providing concessional credit to farmers and affected persons. He referred to the suspension of the farmers’ pension fund from August 2012 to January 2014 under the previous Government, noting that court action was needed to restore it and that unpaid pensions caused hardship. He said the current pension remains inadequate, with a Rs. 50 deduction, and that the Government would address these issues through a programme to protect and improve farmers’ welfare. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Agriculture Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Rs. 25,000 per hectare is being paid as fertilizer support, while the crop-loss compensation framework introduced after the 2016 drought provides up to Rs. 100,000 per hectare for total losses in three stages. Namal Karunaratne said many farmers had not received dues in recent years, citing unpaid or partially paid obligations to potato farmers in Welimada, seed onion farmers in Matale, and outstanding amounts of Rs. 334.34 million in Ampara and Rs. 160 million in Monaragala. He assured that compensation for current crop losses would be paid and that compensation rates would be reviewed for possible revision. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Rs. 25,000 per hectare is being paid to farmers as a fertilizer subsidy, although the matter was raised outside the original question on farmers’ pensions. The Deputy Minister acknowledged delays in payments, said their causes had been identified, and stated that Rs. 2 billion had already been released with a further Rs. 1 billion due by Friday. He assured that all eligible farmers, including those cultivating more than the usual 800,000 hectares in the Maha season, would receive payments within the next few days and that delays would be addressed before the next season. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne emphasized that disaster management should prioritize preparedness, including convening the National Council for Disaster Management and undertaking pre-emptive rehabilitation of vulnerable irrigation infrastructure. He said the Government had decided to raise death compensation for natural disasters from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 1,000,000, while the existing Rs. 40,000 per acre crop-loss compensation rate is inadequate and should be revised. He distinguished natural disaster compensation from losses caused by policy or administrative failures, citing Udawalawa water releases, unpaid potato and onion seed purchases, unpaid crop insurance claims, and farmer pension arrears. He also proposed reforms to the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, insurance coverage for all cultivated plots, low-interest collateral-free farmer loans, and noted that fertilizer payments for the current paddy season would be made shortly. Adjournment Motion: Compensation for Damaged Crops and Victims of Adverse Weather (Cyclone Fengal) Justice & Human RightsAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne discussed the current paddy and rice crisis, attributing it to the previous Government’s failure to purchase paddy during the last Yala season and its sale of State stocks at a loss. He cited past audit findings and alleged irregularities in rice imports, duty changes, and Paddy Marketing Board stock releases to argue that prior policies benefited intermediaries while harming farmers and consumers. He stated that the Government had reluctantly begun importing rice to address the shortage and pledged to reform paddy purchasing, storage, milling, and distribution to protect farmers, consumers, and legitimate value-added sectors. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Public FinanceAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →