Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law, M.P.
Profession: Attorney-at-Law
Speeches 145 #26 of 225·#10 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 61 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
58 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
145 speeches- 19 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem acknowledged cross-party and community assistance following the recent disaster, particularly in Kandy District, while stating that relief delivery and administrative response had been slow. He called for urgent relocation and recovery measures for affected institutions including Al-Hikma School, Rambukwella School, Wattegama Hospital, and around 140 impacted schools in Kandy, based on rapid needs assessments and community consultation. He urged revival of climate-resilient infrastructure programmes, a donor conference with involvement from former leaders and neighbouring countries, urban regeneration and drainage plans for Gampola and nearby areas, coordinated identification of river buffer zones, and regulatory oversight to ensure insurers honour flood and cyclone claims. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) InfrastructureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
- 18 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem requested the Minister of Industries to reconsider the financial assistance provided to small businesses in districts including Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. He argued that the Rs. 200,000 allocation is insufficient and proposed increasing the initial bulk disbursement to help businesses restart operations. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Public FinanceEmployment Read →
- 18 December 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem indicated he had a brief question for the Minister. No substantive issue, proposal, or policy matter was stated in the excerpt provided. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem compared the scale of the current climate disaster with the tsunami, estimating asset losses of USD 6–7 billion, and urged the Government to treat Opposition proposals constructively. He called on the President to immediately convene an international donor conference, engage key world leaders and former Presidents, seek USD 2–3 billion in urgent support, and negotiate debt-service deferral with the IMF and bilateral creditors if needed. He highlighted severe flooding, landslides, road closures and displacement in areas including Kandy, Gampola, Akurana, Delthota and Pattiyagama, and proposed using LRC, JEDB and SPC lands for relocation subject to NBRO safety certification. He also urged mobilising university engineering faculties and experienced former officials to assist with geotechnical assessments, reconstruction planning and fundraising. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations EnvironmentLand & HousingPublic Finance Read →
- 27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised urgent disaster-related concerns, including flooding risks at the Murapola Ela irrigation channel near Ududeniya, and called for investigation of nearby quarry blasting and an assessment by the National Building Research Organization. He urged the Government to resolve long-standing land title issues in Kalugamuwa, LRC lands in Puttalam, and other areas through land kachcheris and agency intervention, and to examine complaints about the dismantling or diversion of pipelines under the Puttalam-South Water Supply Project. He proposed establishing a National River Basin Conservation Authority to coordinate floodplain, irrigation and potable water planning for major rivers, while welcoming the decision not to immediately abolish the Mahaweli Authority. He also sought clarity and action on major water and irrigation projects including Lower Malwathu Oya, Kumbukkan Oya, Heda Oya, Yan Oya and Mundeni Aru, particularly for the Eastern Province. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) InfrastructureLand & HousingAgriculture Read →
- 27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem briefly interjected to ask whether the ongoing matter or discussion would be concluded. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 November 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem raised concerns over the treatment of the Daftar Jailani Muslim place of worship in Balangoda, saying UDA and Archaeology Department interventions had affected devotees and presented an incomplete historical narrative. He urged the inclusion of Kandy’s underserved settlements in urban regeneration, faster development of the vacant Bogambara Prison site, and conservation of heritage buildings to improve tourism. He requested Rs. 23 million for an SLLDC feasibility study on flood mitigation in Akurana, revival of CRIP-related flood control proposals in Kalmunai and wider drainage studies in Ampara. He also called for prioritising the Heda Oya Reservoir, improving Pottuvil bus facilities and Colombo–Pottuvil transport, and addressing land allocation issues at Mahakanda involving the University of Peradeniya. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 EnvironmentReligion & CultureInfrastructure Read →
- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised concerns over recurring communal and religious tensions, including disputes over temples and Shabbat houses, and proposed a race relations body with decision-making powers to handle such issues. He questioned the use of the TID and PTA-related processes against individuals commenting on these matters on social media, linking this to the Government’s pledge in Geneva to abolish the PTA. He criticized the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s response to Israel’s attack on Qatar for not naming Israel, and alleged excessive sensitivity to criticism of Israel. He also supported establishing an Independent Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing concerns about politically motivated prosecutions and the case of Hejaaz Hizbullah. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionForeign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 8 November 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem argued that Sri Lanka’s recent economic stabilisation was largely due to measures taken before the current Government assumed office, including the IMF programme and Indian assistance, and said the Government is now constrained by IMF conditions despite election promises such as a 30 per cent electricity tariff reduction. He criticised the loading of CEB legacy debt onto consumers under cost-reflective pricing. He also alleged serious irregularities in the transfer of Lanka Transformers Limited shareholdings to an insider-controlled trust, claiming substantial public asset losses and dividends paid to a small group. He called for a full forensic audit, referral to CIABOC, and legislative reforms to prevent abuse of State-owned enterprise and employee-trust structures. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 22 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem supported attention to breast cancer awareness and called for a ministerial statement and urgent investigation into the killing of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, citing concerns over public safety and possible political links. On the potato and big onion import measures, he said seasonal controls can help farmers during harvest but questioned whether they would increase domestic production, noting past reliance on imports and seeking clarification on reported pre-levy onion imports. He urged the Government to fill and promote Agricultural Extension Officer posts, address gaps in agricultural offices in the Kalmunai area, provide paddy drying facilities in Ampara, and ensure adequate seed onion supply. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) AgricultureEmploymentLaw & Order Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem criticized reductions in transport-related allocations under the Supplementary Estimate and urged the Government to take responsibility for reviving rail and SLTB services, citing the closure of the profitable Ridithenna SLTB depot as an example. He requested urgent action by the RDA and Provincial Road Development Authority on several deteriorated iRoad and district road segments, and questioned reallocations from the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal, iRoad, and Getambe flyover projects amid congestion and stalled work. He sought clear timelines for the Kandy bus terminal components and progress on the Central Expressway up to Galagedara, including widening the road from Galagedara to Kandy. He also asked that unresolved contractor claims relating to Central Expressway Section 1 be settled before the Government proceeds with the loan and contract approval. Debate: Supplementary Sum - Head 117 - Programme 02 (Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised concerns about poor facilities at the passenger terminal of Kankesanthurai Port, noting complaints from Indian tourists. He requested the Minister to address the issue urgently. Debate: Supplementary Sum - Head 117 - Programme 02 (Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation) Infrastructure Read →
- 26 September 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem raised the fatal incident at the Nauwuyana forest monastery in Melsiripura and called for preventive measures for mechanized transport systems operating in difficult terrain. He urged that such facilities be inspected, licensed, and subjected to annual checks by the Ministry of Transport and Highways or local authorities, and requested the Minister to inform the relevant agencies. Oral Question: Shabbat House and Religious Institutions (Q.8/2025) Law & OrderInfrastructure Read →
- 23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem requested the expedited submission of the Auditor-General’s forensic audit recommended by the Committee on Public Finance regarding the alleged loss from awarding a contract to a Dubai-registered company linked to VFS, noting its relevance to pending court proceedings. He supported the National Building Research Institute Bill but proposed that the Institute include representation from the Urban Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, and the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. He also urged urgent scientific action on recurrent flooding in Akurana, landslide-damaged school buildings in the Central Province, and inadequate firefighting capacity for high-rise buildings in Colombo. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Public FinanceInfrastructureLaw & Order Read →
- 23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem referred to the Supreme Court’s conviction of the former Controller General of Immigration and Emigration for contempt of court over delays in implementing an Interim Order in cases challenging the proposed e-visa scheme. He said the petitioners had argued that a 16-year contract awarded without proper procurement could have cost Sri Lanka about US$ 3.4 billion, with further losses from delayed compliance, and noted that the main case is due to be argued on 20 November. He emphasized the judgment as a warning to public officials acting on orders in matters involving alleged fraud and outlined the Court’s findings on contempt and sentencing. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
- 12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem paid tribute on behalf of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to several former Members of Parliament whose Votes of Condolence were before the House. He recalled the public service of P. Dayaratna in Digamadulla, Gamini Lokuge’s long ministerial and trade union role, Indradasa Hettiarachchi’s contributions in Kalutara, education and Buddhist institutions, and W. B. Ranatunga’s political work in Nuwara Eliya. He gave particular emphasis to former SLMC Chairman M. H. Cegu Isadean, describing his role in the party, his defence of Akkaraipattu during periods of insecurity, and his political leadership in the North-East Provincial Council. Votes of Condolence: Late Former Members of Parliament (P. Dayaratna, Gamini Lokuge, Indradasa Hettiarachchi, M. H. Cegu Isadean, W. B. Ranatunga) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem presented, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, the Committee’s report on the 2026 Budget Estimate of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The report included the Finance Minister’s observations under Section 31(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, and was ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Report: Public Finance Committee on Budget Estimate of CIABOC Parliamentary ProcedurePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem criticized the handling of the former President’s arrest after a CID visit, arguing that while equality before the law must apply, procedural courtesy should have been extended to a former Head of State through a B report, summons, and magistrate’s decision rather than detention before production. He questioned how a YouTuber appeared to predict the arrest in advance, suggesting possible improper disclosure and warning against public “exhibitionism” in justice processes. He also referred to the upcoming UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report debate in Geneva and welcomed the Government’s proposed independent Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing concerns about prosecutorial discretion, investigative capacity, forensic expertise, Tamil-speaking officers, and impunity. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Justice & Human RightsParliamentary ProcedureLaw & Order Read →
- 22 August 2025 AI summary Acting as Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, Hon. Rauff Hakeem presented the Committee’s report on the Draft Budgetary Estimates for the National Audit Office for 2026. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Report: Draft Budgetary Estimates for the National Audit Office Public Finance Read →
- 19 August 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem argued that the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, while potentially useful for investment and jobs if properly regulated, is inadequate on anti-money laundering and foreign-exchange safeguards and risks enabling cash-based illicit flows through casinos. He called for mandatory use of authorized banking channels, limits on large cash transactions, player accounts, clear CTR/STR thresholds, and regulation of junkets and VIP promoters, citing FATF obligations, the 2025 mutual evaluation, IMF Article VIII, and practices in Singapore, the UK, the US and Macau. He also urged that sports betting be explicitly covered by the law, referring to recent cricket-related betting concerns and sponsorships by betting entities. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Public FinanceLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →