Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, M.P.
Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources
Profession: ---
Speeches 137 #31 of 225·#15 in party
Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 60 speeches
Last spoke 21 May 2026 in Adjournment
Activity by sitting
53 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
137 speeches- 5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar objected to interruptions during his speaking time and asked Members to stop disturbing him. He insisted that he be allowed to continue without disruption and directed the interjecting Members to sit down. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 March 2025 AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar thanked Members who contributed to the debate on the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources and said the points raised had been noted. He stated that suitable action would be taken and solutions provided in due course. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 March 2025 AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar began to address the Presiding Member, noting proceedings since the morning, but his remarks were interrupted. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the excerpt. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources began referring to matters concerning his Ministry, but the provided excerpt is incomplete and does not include any substantive argument, proposal, question, or demand to summarize. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Agriculture Read →
- 5 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources presented the 2022 Annual Report of the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation. He moved that it be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 February 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to concerns about bottom trawling and illegal fishing, stating that over 200 bottom trawl boats operate in Sri Lanka and that recent assessments and enforcement action have been undertaken. He said a forthcoming Bill would introduce provisions to restrict trawling to designated zones under specific licensing and controls, following consultations with fishers and leaders. He cited seizures of illegal fishing boats in Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar in 2023 and 2025, and called for enforcement, public awareness and cross-party support to eliminate destructive fishing methods. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Unlawful Fishing Activities in the North AgricultureLaw & Order Read →
- 22 February 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the motion on illegal fishing, identifying bottom trawling by pair/trawl boats as a major cause of damage to livelihoods and the marine environment in the Northern Province. He welcomed the issue being raised in Parliament and said he had intended to begin discussions with Tamil Members from the North and East, particularly Northern Province MPs. He stated that illegal fishing must be stopped. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Unlawful Fishing Activities in the North Law & OrderAgricultureEnvironment Read →
- 22 February 2025 AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar supported the National People’s Power Government’s Budget, presenting it as a mandate for national recovery after the economic and political crisis and the 2022 bankruptcy declaration. He said the Government had received significant support across communities and regions, including in the North and East, and emphasized his responsibility as Fisheries Minister and Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Chairman to improve conditions for fisherfolk. He highlighted poverty reduction as a central objective, noting high poverty levels in the Northern Province, especially Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, and said Budget allocations would prioritize village-level infrastructure such as schools, roads, tanks, and related development. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Public FinanceCost of LivingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
- 20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar moved that Hon. Aravinda Senarath take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. Aravinda Senarath assumed it. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 18 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar tabled the reports of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources concerning the 2021 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Fisheries Harbours) and the 2023 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The reports were ordered to lie upon the Table. Tabling of Annual Reports and Ministerial Consultative Committee Referrals Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 17 February 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, citing the court order requiring the local government elections to proceed and rejecting claims of legal or practical grounds for postponement. He argued that local authorities are essential to grassroots administration and daily public services, and that their dysfunction has harmed village-level governance. He criticized past delays to elections and referenced historical anti-democratic actions, including the 1981 District Development Council election violence and burning of the Jaffna Library, as warnings against undermining democratic rights. He stated that the Government would take necessary steps to hold the elections, strengthen democracy, and return responsibility to locally elected representatives. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Law & OrderEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar supported amendments to the Intellectual Property Act aimed at strengthening legal ownership and protection for Sri Lankan products, including through geographical indications and related mechanisms. He argued that protections should extend beyond well-known products such as Ceylon Tea to palmyrah-based products, noting their production across 11 districts, the existence of hundreds of related products, and projected revenue potential. He proposed that ownership of protected palmyrah products be vested in palmyrah development associations rather than individuals, and said the Government had begun efforts to revive a sector damaged over previous decades. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar tabled a response stating that shrimp production and export earnings have declined sharply, with Puttalam District output falling from 12,449 metric tons in 2021 to 9,115 metric tons by end-2023, affecting around 4,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs. He attributed the decline to higher electricity and feed costs, EHP disease, and VAT impacts on farmers, and noted that a meeting with SLADA and NAQDA had agreed on measures including a long-term industry plan, legal action against unlawful broodstock and seed practices, Best Management Practices for disease control, and NARA-led research in 2025 on suitable species, areas, and domestic breeding. Procedural Matters and Points of Order AgricultureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar responded to remarks by Hon. V. S. Radhakrishnan, stating that constructive suggestions would be considered but rejecting allegations that the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme would ban cosmetics or impose blanket restrictions on three-wheelers. He emphasized close relations with India and said the Government’s objective is to build a “noble country,” with particular attention to upcountry communities and war-affected Tamils in the North and East as key participants in the programme. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) EnvironmentForeign AffairsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
- 17 December 2024 AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar presented the 2023 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. He proposed that the report be referred to the relevant Committee, and the House agreed. Papers: Auditor-General's Report and Reports Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 December 2024 AI summary The Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources presented the 2021 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Fisheries Harbours Corporation to Parliament. He moved that the report be referred to the relevant Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 4 December 2024 AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar said the NPP’s electoral gains in Jaffna, the North and East, and among hill-country Tamils reflected public trust across ethnic communities and rejection of racism, fear campaigns, and traditional political leadership. He framed the Government’s approach as ending entrenched ethnic chauvinism rather than making symbolic constitutional promises, while referencing the 13th Amendment debate and past events including emergency laws, the burning of the Jaffna Public Library, and the 1983 pogrom. He stated that the Government’s policy programme would address estate workers’ land rights, housing, wages, health, and education, and said issues of Tamil political prisoners and the disappeared would be handled with special care. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & OrderEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →