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- 27 February 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem urged that any Constitution-making process be inclusive and not conducted unilaterally by the Government, calling for engagement with the Opposition, the public, and public sittings. He linked this to the Government’s statements on inclusivity in Geneva and asked that inclusivity begin in Parliament by ensuring Party Leaders are given due representation in the Committee on Parliamentary Business and other important Committees. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised concerns about reports that the Government is considering drafting a new Constitution and submitting it to a Referendum, noting that this relates to its election promise of constitutional reform. Referring to a discussion convened by Karu Jayasuriya and the National Movement for Social Justice, he cited differing legal views on whether a complete constitutional overhaul requires a Referendum, including issues such as entrenched provisions, presidential immunity, and the Executive Presidency. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem urged the Prime Minister and Leader of the House to reconsider rules that exclude some party leaders, including himself, from the Parliamentary Business Committee, arguing that responsible opposition scrutiny should be accommodated. He welcomed the Government’s decision to send a ministerial delegation to Geneva and engage with the UN Human Rights Council, contrasting it with what he described as previous governments’ disengagement from Council processes. He also noted that recent reconciliation-related measures, including Northern infrastructure work, Tamil-speaking police recruitment considerations, and allocations for libraries such as the Jaffna Library, were symbolic steps within the broader need for constructive international cooperation on human rights. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem stated that the President had assured him he would be included in the Committee on Parliamentary Business following a request made at a Defence Ministry Consultative Committee meeting. He questioned the Speaker’s subsequent decision to exclude him from the Committee, asking that the matter be checked with the President and handled without escalation. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem stated that his remarks were not baseless and referred to a previous occasion when the President attended a Ministerial Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Defence. He sought to continue explaining the matter despite interruptions. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem briefly interrupted proceedings to assert his right to speak within his allotted time and asked the Chair to allow him to continue. No substantive policy argument or legislative position was presented in this excerpt. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem referred to the President’s Budget speech criticism of the previous interim administration over suppression of the public and postponement of the 2023 Local Government Elections, and called for immediate action on cases arising from the Aragalaya protests. He also questioned the consistency of the Government’s claims of inclusivity in Geneva with parliamentary practice, alleging that Opposition access to the Business Committee was being restricted and urging that such changes not be made unilaterally. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Moved a traditional cut-motion to reduce by Rs. 10 the recurrent and capital allocations under specified Heads being debated at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025. He objected that the reply to the Second Reading debate was delivered by the Leader of the House rather than the Minister of Finance or a Deputy, calling it a departure from parliamentary tradition. He urged the Government to withdraw remaining Aragalaya-related cases and associated restrictions against protesters, and raised concerns that some Opposition party leaders’ access to the Parliamentary Business Committee had been curtailed despite claims of an inclusive Legislature. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem yielded his opportunity to allow Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem to ask the second supplementary question. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 27 February 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem raised concerns about the burial site used for over 3,000 COVID-19 victims, stating that the decision to require burial in deep groundwater areas caused hardship to families seeking dignified last rites. He highlighted the impact on poor residents and cultivation permit holders in Majma Nagar following land acquisition, and asked whether alternate State lands in nearby areas would be provided to about 10 affected permit holders. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Land & HousingJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 25 February 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem criticised the Budget’s fiscal assumptions, arguing that the 6.7 per cent deficit, high debt-servicing burden, and reliance on Rs. 300 billion from vehicle import taxes create sustainability risks, especially after government statements suggesting duties may later be reduced. He proposed pension reform through a contribution-based or hybrid system, independent pension funds, complementary private pensions, and benefit indexation to inflation and GDP. He also raised concerns over killings, custodial deaths, and illegal weapons, urging compliance with Supreme Court guidelines, proper investigations, and stronger action to uphold the rule of law. He concluded by calling for improved tax collection, expenditure discipline, private sector-led growth, transparent public spending, and targeted social safety nets. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Public FinanceLaw & Order Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem requested that additional speaking time be allowed for party leaders. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Rauff Hakeem objected to the handling of time during the proceedings, stating that adequate time was needed. His remark was directed to the Chair in response to apparent irritation in the chamber. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem briefly noted that he had requested speaking time to raise a matter concerning the Attorney-General’s Department. No further substantive details, proposals, or questions were provided in the excerpt. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem questioned the Attorney-General’s Department’s handling of a Bill where two judges had found certain clauses inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution, requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority. He argued that the Department should have identified the inconsistency at the outset and issued the necessary certificate to Cabinet, which he said could have avoided the subsequent procedural issue and expedited the case. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem briefly sought permission to make a clarification. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the recorded statement. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem requested that he be given an opportunity to speak after the current matter was addressed. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised a brief clarification in the presence of the Minister of Justice, noting that he had appeared as counsel for his party in the relevant case. The excerpt does not include the substance of the clarification or any specific proposal or demand. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem began to refer to the contents of a Supreme Court determination, apparently in the context of a parliamentary matter under discussion. The excerpt provided is incomplete and does not contain the substance of his argument, proposal, or question. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 7 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem clarified that the COVID-19 cremation policy was decided early, after the second death, and was not originally based on Prof. Meththika Vithanage’s later views on groundwater transmission. He argued that a committee should be appointed to examine all scientific claims and criticized officials for withholding information under the Right to Information process, saying this obstructed the search for truth. He also objected to remarks portraying the absence of a Muslim Cabinet Minister as a positive development, noting that Muslims had held Cabinet positions since Independence. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →