Hon. Riyas Farook, M.P.
Profession: Businessman
Speeches 13 #203 of 225·#141 in party
Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Corruption & Governance Reform 5 speeches
Last spoke 8 April 2026 in Adjournment
Activity by sitting
13 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
13 speeches- 8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook argued that the Government has managed economic pressures, disaster relief, and the fuel supply more effectively than previous administrations, citing the country’s prior bankruptcy, fuel queues, and lack of reserves. He listed relief payments provided after the “Ditva” cyclone and said the Government is absorbing losses on fuel while allocating Treasury funds to support sectors such as fisheries and agriculture. He also noted ongoing development projects in Kandy District, including the Katugastota-Ketambe flyover and Mahaiyawa tunnel, and stated that fuel prices would be reduced if the Middle East ceasefire holds. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook raised a matter of parliamentary privilege, alleging that the Vice Chairman of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha publicly threatened to physically assault him in response to a statement he made in Parliament on 09 January 2026. He said the threat, reportedly made at a Pradeshiya Sabha General Meeting on 13 January 2026, affected his freedom of speech and personal safety, and requested an immediate inquiry and action to protect Members’ privileges. Privilege: Threat by Vice Chairman of Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook supported the amended regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act, stating that they were needed to expedite Customs clearance of donated goods and equipment following Cyclone “Dicha”. He detailed housing damage in Kandy District and said reconstruction was under way, with land identification for rebuilding continuing there alongside programmes begun in other districts. He also disputed claims about relief work in areas such as Deltota, Akurana and Rambukeella, crediting government MPs, officials, the Police, Army and other agencies for restoring access, and called for machinery such as JCBs, trucks, bowsers and chainsaws to accelerate rebuilding and resettlement. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations InfrastructureEnvironment Read →
- 5 December 2025 AI summary Riyas Farook responded to a point raised by Rauff Hakeem regarding Akurana, noting that 29 bodies had been found in the landslide-affected area, including 11 recovered by their team. He stated that some local residents chose to bury victims at the site and added that UAE forces had arrived and were assisting with operations there. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Security & DefenceEnvironment Read →
- 15 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook rejected claims that the government had failed to appoint Muslims to Cabinet or other positions, arguing that appointments were made without regard to ethnicity or religion and according to suitability. He criticized past Muslim political representatives for using Muslim voters’ support to bargain for ministries and posts, and accused Hon. Hizbullah of politicizing claims about achievements secured through discussions with the President. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook presented three petitions to Parliament from residents of Hatharaliyadda, Chalpagolla North in Kandy, and Kanakkarapola in Hatharaliyadda. No details were provided in the speech regarding the subject matter of the petitions. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook spoke in support of the customs and excise-related measures, explaining the phased lifting of vehicle import restrictions from 2024 to 2025 and the associated duty and HS code arrangements for various vehicle categories. He said disputes over documentation, undervaluation, cross-border letters of credit, and classification of electric and new-technology vehicles had led to re-exports and court cases, including issues concerning BYD vehicles. He rejected claims about Hambantota Port congestion and increased fees, attributing uncleared vehicles there to earlier duty changes and legal constraints. He also responded to criticism of Muslim government MPs, stating they participate without making communal speeches and support the government’s anti-communal stance. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Law & OrderReligion & CulturePublic Finance Read →
- 6 August 2025 AI summary Riyas Farook raised a point of order responding to a question about alleged leasing of parts of Sri Lanka to Israel and the role of Muslim Ministers. He challenged critics by asking why previous long-serving governments had not addressed the issue if such leases and constructions had occurred. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook said export products from the Kandy District, including tea, pepper and coffee, have strong potential but have suffered in the past from quality deterioration and adulteration. He stated that the Government is prioritizing exports, imports and tourism, noting discussions with the Australian High Commission on the potential for Sri Lankan coffee exports. He also addressed vehicle import issues linked to e-commerce, letters of credit, shipment dates and regulatory hurdles in Dubai, Singapore and Japan, saying around 300 vehicles had been cleared and another 300 remained at port. He said a committee had been appointed to resolve the matter quickly, including questions over demurrage and vehicles affected by earlier tax and duty changes. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) Public FinanceAgricultureInfrastructure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook argued that past governments created uncertainty in vehicle imports through abrupt bans and duty increases, leaving vehicles stranded at ports and damaging Sri Lanka’s credibility with foreign banks and exporters. He said the Government is reopening imports in a methodical and predictable manner to rebuild trust, while accusing previous administrations of corruption and manipulation in matters such as tax changes and vehicle age limits. He requested cooperation for the new import duty process. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 12 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook welcomed the Minister’s commitments to address wild elephant issues and flooding in Akurana, arguing that the Akurana problem stems from decades of canal-bank encroachment enabled by successive governments and political patronage. He said the current Government, in office for three months, is pursuing action through multiple agencies, including seeking University of Peradeniya engineering input and allocating Rs. 22 million to the SLLDC for a feasibility study, after earlier reports were not implemented. He also stated that the Government is addressing drinking water shortages in Delthota and would proceed as quickly as possible. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation AgricultureCorruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
- 22 February 2025 AI summary Riyas Farook defended the Government’s first Budget as an effort to correct administrative and political failures in education and other sectors, particularly in school admissions, transfers, and infrastructure. He cited problems arising from the “1,000 National Schools” and “Nearest School — Best School” programmes in Akurana and Poojapitiya, including unresolved feeder-school allocations, declining enrolment, underfunded development projects, and alleged political interference in principal transfers. He requested action to rebuild facilities at Al Ashaar National School and said the Government was reviewing admissions practices that disadvantage poorer families, with the aim of presenting a more reliable education system by the following year. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformEducation Read →
- 4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook thanked the voters of Kandy District and expressed gratitude for being elected to the Tenth Parliament on behalf of the National People’s Power. He emphasized that the Government had received support across ethnic and religious communities and called for unity among Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims after past conflict and division. He urged Members to work together beyond party, ethnicity and region to build a corruption-free, non-racist Sri Lanka, eradicate rural poverty and advance national digitization. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCorruption & Governance Reform Read →