Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Monaragala

Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security

Profession: Administrator

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 45 #100 of 225·#48 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

45 speeches

12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana rejected claims that economic centres would be privatized, stating they would remain state property under government control. He said the Government intends to streamline governance by appointing managers to each centre and placing them under a central board of directors, while noting that existing oversight by District and Divisional Secretaries and rental collections would be regularized. Oral Question: Economic Centres Details (Q.5/2025) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana stated that the Ministry had reviewed 18 economic centres and identified deficiencies including poor access roads, limited public accessibility, lack of shelter for produce, and inadequate basic amenities for traders and transporters. He said plans had been prepared to address these issues through allocated funds and international assistance, including cold rooms at Thambuththegama, Dambulla and Keppetipola, canopies to protect produce from rain, and improvements to external facilities and access roads. Oral Question: Economic Centres Details (Q.5/2025) InfrastructureAgriculture Read →
12 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, R.M. Jayawardhana stated that 18 designated economic centres come under the Ministry, of which 15 are operational and three—Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi—are not. He said the Ministry has no record of a Medawachchiya Economic Centre among the centres established under the relevant 2006 Cabinet decision, making the related questions inapplicable. Oral Question: Economic Centres Details (Q.5/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana stated that significant frauds in rural banks, including amounts exceeding Rs. 500 million in the Western Province, had gone undetected due to delays and weaknesses in provincial-level audits. He said the Ministry, through the Commissioner, is intervening to strengthen audit processes, and that the Central Government will use alternative audits where Provincial Councils are unable to conduct them effectively. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
12 September 2025 AI summary Measures regarding rural banks are constrained because responsibility falls under the Provincial List, limiting direct intervention by the Central Government or the National Co-operative Commissioner. The Government has begun amending the Co-operative Societies Law to provide a legal basis for coordination with rural banks and provincial authorities, with the intention of completing the amendment before the end of the year. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Public FinanceLaw & Order Read →
12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana said co-operative powers are devolved to the Provinces under the Thirteenth Amendment, with rural banks operating through provincial co-operative societies under Provincial Co-operative Development Commissioners. He stated that the Central Government is examining the extent to which it can intervene in rural bank functions and may act on the proposal if such authority is confirmed. He added that the Central Department of Co-operative Development is working to strengthen production by establishing 1,000 production-oriented co-operative societies. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) AgricultureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
12 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that Co-operative Rural Banks fall under Provincial Council responsibility under the 13th Amendment, with provincial co-operative authorities handling audits, inspections, investigations, corrective action, and supervision. He noted that a national regulatory committee was established by Cabinet in 2013 to guide provinces, and a 2025 Cabinet-appointed committee will recommend reforms to the co-operative network, including CRBs. He acknowledged audit delays and inadequacies had delayed fraud detection and contributed to financial misconduct in some cases, and said provinces have been instructed to update annual audits and strengthen supervision. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, speaking on behalf of the Minister, requested two weeks to provide an answer to the matter before the House. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary R.M. Jayawardhana stated that the lands in question are subject to a pending court case and were vested in the Department of Forest Conservation by a 2012 Gazette. He added that a previous Coordinating Committee decision had barred entry to the forest, and said these facts remain in effect. Adjournment Debate: Fair Guaranteed Price for Paddy Justice & Human RightsLand & Housing Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary R. M. Jayawardhana moved that Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne take the Chair, which was seconded and agreed to. Following the motion, Hon. Chanaka Madugoda left the Chair and Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne assumed it. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana moved that Hon. Chanaka Madugoda take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was seconded, agreed to, and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair, after which Hon. Chanaka Madugoda assumed the Chair. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary On behalf of the relevant Ministerial Consultative Committee, the Deputy Minister presented its report on Orders made under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, No. 2 of 2018, as published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2429/32 of 27 March 2025. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports Public Finance Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported amendments to the Companies Act to strengthen company registration procedures by identifying beneficial ownership, control, and connected parties. He said the reforms address money laundering and terrorism financing risks, align Sri Lanka more fully with FATF Recommendation 24, and should improve rather than deter investment by increasing transparency and regulatory stability. He also responded to concerns about the Registrar of Companies website outage, stating it occurred during a service transition back to the Ministry, was under investigation, and had been rectified after about 10 days. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Security & DefencePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary R.M. Jayawardhana cited audit findings on Lanka Sugar Company’s Sevanagala and Pelwatte operations, alleging large unauthorized write-offs, procurement losses, advance payments, incomplete projects, excess recruitment, and other financial irregularities under previous management. He said the Government has decided to revive the institution rather than privatize it, including a two-year halt on new recruitment and steps to protect employees and farmers. He also denied that the Ministry was using its licence to import brown sugar and rejected claims that the National People’s Power Government intended to privatize Lanka Sugar Company. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister R.M. Jayawardhana rejected opposition claims that the collapse of Pelwatte and Sevanagala occurred under the current Government, stating that Lanka Sugar Company had recorded losses, irregularities, and alleged misuse amounting to Rs. 7.47 billion before the present Minister assumed office in December 2024. He cited audit findings on unauthorised payments, politically influenced recruitment and promotions, and a large wage burden, noting that the two plants currently employ 9,489 workers. He also reported outstanding dues as of mid-2025, including Rs. 3,740 million payable to suppliers and Rs. 2,034 million to farmers, and argued that prior mismanagement had damaged the institutions. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Orders and Regulations as necessary updates to outdated laws, including changes under the Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act to revise long-standing thresholds and provide additional revenue to Provincial Councils. He said easing restrictions on electric bicycles and cautiously resuming vehicle imports would support economic activity without causing a foreign exchange crisis, and argued that investor interest and business confidence indicate economic stabilization. He also rejected Opposition claims about local authority gains, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to action against corruption, and said legal reforms are needed to align old legislation with current economic plans. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Public FinanceEmploymentParliamentary Procedure Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana stated that a remaining portion of land near a court complex, owned by the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, contains shops and stores leased long ago without proper valuation and later unlawfully subleased at higher rates. He said notices to vacate had been issued, but occupancy was extended until December 2025 while valuations and revised rent agreements are completed. He indicated that the Government intends to regularize the leases and turn the property into a productive State revenue-generating asset. Oral Questions: Land in Wattala and Sri Lanka Railways Income Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceLand & Housing Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, the Deputy Minister stated that the matter raised had not previously been addressed through an existing procedure and confirmed that no such procedure exists. He said an investigation would be initiated based on the inquiry and that formal written notification would be sent to the lawyers concerned in due course. Oral Questions: Land in Wattala and Sri Lanka Railways Income Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana explained delays in Mahapola stipend payments, noting that the current system requires Treasury funds to pass through the UGC and the Mahapola Trust Fund, while universities must also provide updated and accurate beneficiary lists. He stated that payments of Rs. 5,000 per month up to March are ready to be completed once Treasury funds are received, and that from April the allowance has increased to Rs. 7,500, with two months still pending due to roll-update delays. He said the Trust and Ministry are working to reduce the present three-month lag to about one month. Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair EducationPublic Finance Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister provided a written response on the Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Secretariat and the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund. He stated that the last Mahapola fair was held in Ja-Ela from 13 to 17 December 2023, with Rs. 93.21 million disbursed, Rs. 52.42 million recovered, and Rs. 40.79 million outstanding, while a planned Anuradhapura fair did not take place despite related advance and vehicle hire payments in 2024. He also reported the Fund’s assets as Rs. 2,092.71 million, including investment properties, National Wealth Ltd. investment, and other assets, with supporting annexures placed in the Library. Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Public Finance Read →