Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, M.P.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Vanni

Profession: Civil Engineer

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 55 #90 of 225·#28 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

55 speeches

5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged corrections to Aswesuma beneficiary selection, including Divisional Secretariat-level grievance redress, use and modernization of Samurdhi banks, promotions for long-serving Samurdhi officers, and wider coverage after the economic crisis. He called for stronger action against Indian trawlers, support for inland fisheries and the proposed Aquaculture Centre of Excellence in Mannar, and urgent coastal protection for Vankalai. He also requested redesign of Oluvil Harbour to benefit Eastern Province multi-day boat owners, targeted modernization support for IMUL vessels, and revocation or clarification of the Kalpitiya/Chilaw night-diving ban following NARA’s findings. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to complete and fund delayed infrastructure and public service projects in the North, East, Puttalam, and Mannar, including the Silavathurai cultural hall, hospital upgrades, roads, canals, bridges, and resettlement facilities for displaced communities. He called for restoration of withdrawn allocations for IDP areas, urgent rehabilitation of flood-prone bridges and waterways such as Mavadipalli Bridge and Senanayake Samudraya, and faster implementation of Indian-funded projects for Mannar Hospital and aquaculture development. He also requested reopening closed Sathosa outlets, practical support for SMEs, protection of Mannar’s tourism potential from mineral sand extraction, revival of connectivity with Rameswaram, and action on Forest Department land designation issues affecting local communities. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionHealthcareInfrastructure Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen supported the preceding suggestion and added that a Mannar–Puttalam road is also needed. He argued that this route would be 100 kilometres shorter than existing alternatives. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Infrastructure Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen briefly referred to the Mannar to Kalpitiya area, likely in the context of a matter affecting that coastal stretch or route. No further substantive details, proposal, or demand are provided in the supplied excerpt. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Infrastructure Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen stated that while the matter under discussion may be viable, the associated road infrastructure is also very important. He emphasized the need to give attention to road access or development as part of the proposal. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Infrastructure Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen said the Government has a moral responsibility to deliver on its election promises to the diverse communities that supported it. He requested that the Rs. 10 million allocated for each MP’s area be implemented with the input of all 225 MPs, and urged stronger programmes for farmers despite increased Budget allocations to education, agriculture and health. He thanked the Government for allocating Rs. 1,000 million for the Vattuvakal Bridge in Mullaitivu and called for rehabilitation of the Mannar–Puttalam road, including repair of three damaged bridges, to improve North-South connectivity and reduce travel distance. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Public FinanceAgricultureInfrastructure Read →
24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen supported the Vote of Condolence, paying tribute to the late Rukman Senanayake and Sirinal de Mel for their parliamentary service and contributions to public life. He focused in detail on the late Dr. I. M. Ilyas, recalling his work as a physician, parliamentarian, advocate for displaced Muslims from the North, campaigner on local and international injustices, and contributor to health, education, the salt industry, and Sri Lanka-Iran relations. He conveyed condolences to the families and supporters of the deceased and acknowledged Dr. Ilyas’s continuing legacy through his family. Votes of Condolence: Rukman Senanayake, A.A. Reginald Perera, Sirinal de Mel, and Dr. I.M. Ilyas Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to clearly explain the Clean Sri Lanka programme and to use its mandate to implement substantive reforms rather than engage in political blame. He called for attention to India-Sri Lanka connectivity, including the previously discussed bridge project, and argued it could support tourism and development in the North and East. He also raised several local concerns, including incomplete housing projects in Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu, resettlement support for Muslims expelled from Jaffna, development of Puttalam Hospital, waste dumping in Vavuniya, alleged discriminatory conduct by a public officer in Mundal–Kalpitiya, and protests against new liquor stores. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionInfrastructureHealthcare Read →
10 January 2025 AI summary Rishad Bathiudeen supported the condolence motion for former MPs Kumara Welgama, H. Nandaseena and Tudor Gunasekara, conveying condolences on behalf of his party to their families, supporters and districts. He highlighted Welgama’s work as Transport Minister, including railway rehabilitation with Indian assistance, his long electoral record in Kalutara, and his public opposition to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential nomination. He also noted Nandaseena’s service in the North Central Provincial Council and to Anuradhapura, especially Medawachchiya, and Tudor Gunasekara’s parliamentary career, ambassadorship to Poland, service to Gampaha and contribution to the UNP. Votes of Condolence: Hon. Kumara Welgama, Hon. H. Nandasena, and Hon. Tudor Gunasekera Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to move beyond criticism of past administrations and act on current public needs, including fair prices for essential commodities, unresolved flood damage and farmer compensation in Mannar, and an alternative site for waste dumping near Salambakulam in Vavuniya. He requested reviews of the gazetting of 18,900 hectares in Mannar under wildlife and forest conservation, the stalled EU-funded drainage project, delayed teacher training certificates from Kopay, and pay anomalies affecting university library assistants under UGC Circulars 975 and 985. He also raised concerns about Myanmar/Rohingya refugees rescued off Mullaitivu, calling for access for MPs and NGOs, provision of basic supplies, UNHCR involvement, third-country resettlement where possible, and no forced return in violation of international law. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Cost of LivingJustice & Human RightsInfrastructure Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen welcomed the Rs. 6,000 stationery grant for children from low-income families but urged the new Parliament to focus on substantive governance rather than internal controversies, warning that public expectations are high. He requested disclosure to Parliament of the list of COVID-19 Janazas forcibly cremated and their next of kin, criticized errors in the Aswasuma beneficiary selection process, and called for revised lists using Samurdhi and local officials. He also urged action on delayed Al-Alim examinations, recruitment of religious teachers and trained principals, and the establishment of a Tamil-medium school in Kolonnawa where land donors are available. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) EducationReligion & CulturePublic Finance Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Rishad Bathiudeen, speaking on behalf of the Opposition and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, congratulated the newly elected Speaker. He noted the Speaker’s election by the ruling party’s large parliamentary majority and his professional background as a medical doctor, and expressed the expectation that the Speaker would act fairly and respect all Members and parties in the House. Opening: Parliament Meeting, Affirmations, and Speaker's Election Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen moved an Adjournment Motion on the impact of the “Bengal” cyclone and floods, stating that more than 475,000 people in 24 districts were affected, with deaths, crop losses, property damage, damaged roads and tanks, and livestock losses. He urged the Government to provide compensation for loss of life, crop and property damage, and livelihood losses, citing severe damage in Mannar District including 68,334 affected persons and thousands of hectares of agricultural land. He alleged negligence by police and disaster management officials in the deaths of Nintavur madrasa students near the Karaithivu bridge, and called for legal action against officials who failed to warn, rescue, or respond properly. Adjournment Motion: Compensation for Damaged Crops and Victims of Adverse Weather (Cyclone Fengal) AgricultureLaw & OrderSecurity & Defence Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen thanked voters in the Vanni district and said his party would support the Government if the President’s policy statement is implemented sincerely, while urging Parliament to focus on the economic crisis rather than campaign rhetoric. He called for weekly monitoring and control of prices of essential goods, equal treatment of all communities, stronger relations with India and Middle Eastern countries, improved investor facilitation, tourism development, education and technology reform, and value addition to mineral resources. He also urged a full investigation into the Easter attacks, the release of detainees held without proof in connection with those attacks or alleged LTTE links, and the restoration of halted funds for resettled Jaffna Muslims and roads in Puttalam. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Cost of LivingForeign AffairsEducation Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen raised concerns about the response to recent floods in Ampara, where eight deaths occurred, stating that police barriers and timely rescue action could have prevented the tragedy. He alleged delays by the Disaster Management Centre and Navy response, police inaction, and subsequent inconvenience to victims lodging complaints, while noting that the madrasa principal had been remanded. He requested an independent investigation into the incident and the establishment of effective procedures to prevent similar tragedies. Debate: President's Policy Statement Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderSecurity & Defence Read →