Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney at Law, M.P.

New Democratic Front (NDF)· Mahanuwara

Profession: Attorney-at-Law

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 31 #133 of 225·#5 in party

Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

31 speeches

7 March 2025 AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne rejected claims that he and former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe laid the foundation stone for the Kandy Lawyers’ Office Complex without approvals. He tabled UDA correspondence, the Kandy Bar Association’s acceptance letter, related documents, and a Cabinet Memorandum to argue that the necessary approvals had been obtained. He urged members not to make unfounded allegations and said any errors should be corrected so that projects such as lawyers’ and court complexes are not delayed by official inaction. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne rose to raise a point of order. No substantive issue or argument was recorded in the provided excerpt. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne urged the Government to create a continuing mechanism to implement Cabinet-approved national development projects, noting that land acquisitions under the Land Acquisition Act are often delayed by court cases and administrative inaction, with funds such as the Rs. 678 million allocated for Gampola urban development largely returning to the Treasury. He asked that officials be empowered to proceed with essential urban development works and requested reconsideration of a UDA decision so land in Kandy can be provided to new lawyers for chambers at acquisition cost rather than market value. He also highlighted gaps in pipe-borne water supply in Kandy and Gampola, called for protection of lands acquired for water projects, and proposed reviewing essential water schemes through a committee and exploring new models, including private-sector participation and a basin-based approach. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Justice & Human RightsLand & HousingInfrastructure Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne argued that Sri Lanka’s transport and urban development sectors require integrated administration and greater private-sector participation to progress. He urged the Government to revive the proposed BYD-supported monorail/LRT project for Kandy, linking Kadugannawa, Thannekubura and Katugastota, and to actively drive it rather than leave it solely to officials. He also called for major urban and transport development plans to be reviewed, gazetted and institutionalized as long-term frameworks so they are not altered with changes of ministers or governments, citing delays and inconsistencies in projects such as the Gampola road from Sahira College to Nidahas Mawatha. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) InfrastructureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne argued that the transport sector requires restructuring beyond traditional methods to meet national targets. Citing the Doluwe–Kandy route, he said road infrastructure had improved but bus services remained outdated, and he supported a new model with private participation where the State cannot bear the full burden. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne urged that land for a proposed lawyers’ complex in Kandy be provided at acquisition value as agreed with the Urban Development Authority, citing precedents in Matara, Weligama, Ratnapura and Gampola where public land was used for similar facilities. He said the complex would support around 200 new lawyers in the Kandy District and called for further reform legislation. He also thanked ministry officials, the Legal Draftsman’s Department and the Attorney General’s Department for their role in enabling the passage of 36 Acts. Committee of Supply: Ministry of Justice and National Integration (Head 110, Heads 228-236, Head 326) Justice & Human RightsInfrastructureLand & Housing Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne urged the justice authorities to continue digitizing court services module by module, noting recent POS machine installation and difficulties faced in obtaining court records. He called for action on draft house arrest legislation to reduce remand congestion and requested a retrospective amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure so that remand and appeal periods count toward sentences for prisoners sentenced before 1 July, saying it could lead to the release of over 1,900 inmates. He also raised the Kandy Lawyers’ Complex land issue, tabling a related letter and asking that land be made available to junior lawyers at the original 1990 acquisition price. Committee of Supply: Ministry of Justice and National Integration (Head 110, Heads 228-236, Head 326) Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderLand & Housing Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne reviewed legislative work undertaken in the justice sector since 2022, stating that 36 Acts and multiple regulations were passed under successive Justice Ministers, with around 90 further drafts in progress. He highlighted laws connected to GSP+, the IMF programme, Central Bank independence, anti-corruption, and election expenditure regulation, and urged effective implementation, including possible amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act and speedy presentation of pending Bills. He also called for phased digitalization of the court system, including SMS court notices and digital record rooms, given fiscal constraints. Committee of Supply: Ministry of Justice and National Integration (Head 110, Heads 228-236, Head 326) Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
28 February 2025 AI summary The Member submitted two public petitions for acceptance: one from Mr. A.R.N.D.H. Kumarasiri of Pahala Biyagama, Biyagama, and another from Mr. J.B. Mannilaka Arachchi of Mahudugama, Hunukotugama, Gampola. Petitions - Citizens' Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne argued that the Budget must be accompanied by credible plans to maintain security, rule of law, revenue, reserves, and export growth. He cited recent court and prison security alerts to stress the need for proper intelligence and procedures, and said economic stability achieved since the 2022 crisis should not be put at risk. He questioned whether projected revenues, including from vehicle imports, and the target of US$ 19 billion in exports are realistic, especially while essential goods are still being imported. He welcomed the Government’s continuation of the IMF programme and some practical policy shifts, while urging clearer long-term planning to avoid renewed economic difficulty. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne said the Opposition would act constructively while scrutinizing whether the President’s Policy Statement can be implemented in practical short-, medium- and long-term terms. He argued that Sri Lanka should continue the IMF programme as agreed, warning that reopening it could risk renewed economic instability, and called for clarity on public service reform and the future of loss-making State-owned enterprises such as SriLankan Airlines. He questioned reliance on expanded subsidies and welfare, urging priority for long-planned irrigation projects such as the North Central Maha Ela and Wayamba Canal to improve agricultural productivity. He also noted omissions from the Policy Statement, including the Government’s position on abolishing the Executive Presidency and broader parliamentary system reforms. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate AgriculturePublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →