Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Jaffna

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 22 #168 of 225·#106 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

22 speeches

22 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported condolence motions for six late former MPs, paying tribute to their public service across academia, agriculture, labour rights, rural development, education, healthcare and regional infrastructure. He highlighted Prof. Tissa Vitarana’s role in the All-Party Representatives Committee on the ethnic issue and recalled his support for laboratory improvements at Jaffna Teaching Hospital. He gave particular detail on T. Kanagasabai’s service to Batticaloa, including efforts to develop agriculture, promote Tamil–Muslim unity, support a medical faculty at Eastern University and upgrade Kaluwanchikudy Hospital. He concluded by stating that, despite differing ideologies, all six had served the welfare of the people, and extended condolences to their families and constituents. Statements of Condolence: Six Former Members of Parliament Parliamentary ProcedureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
6 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported the Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Bill as a modernization of Sri Lanka’s outdated insolvency framework and a measure to shift from punitive action to restructuring and rescue. He highlighted the proposed Insolvency Regulatory Authority, protections for small borrowers and essential assets, temporary stays on creditor action, and penalties for fraud. He argued that the Bill would support MSMEs, protect livelihoods, improve investor confidence, and address financial distress in the North and East, including issues linked to predatory microfinance, non-bank finance institutions, and post-war industrial decline. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
17 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported determining proper remuneration and service conditions for CIABOC officers, arguing that independence, resources, and effective implementation of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2023 are essential to combat corruption and rebuild public trust. He cited Sri Lanka’s improved Transparency International ranking, past losses such as the 2020 sugar scam, and proposed reforms including a beneficial ownership register, digitized public services, and whistleblower protections. He also addressed fuel supply concerns, attributing current constraints to Middle East conflict rather than domestic shortages, and said the Government would maintain supplies for essential sectors while discouraging hoarding and misinformation. Debate: Approval of Remuneration and Service Conditions of CIABOC Officers and Employees Security & DefenceCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
8 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah briefly ceded the floor, indicating that the second supplementary question would be asked by Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 January 2026 AI summary Asked the Minister whether there is a tentative time frame for providing solar power facilities to the public in the Northern Province, following the Minister’s earlier answer. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Infrastructure Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah spoke during debate on the Colombo Port City Commission (Amendment) Bill, but focused his remarks on the recent “Dithva” cyclone. He expressed condolences to those affected, thanked foreign governments and peoples for their assistance, and acknowledged the President’s announced relief measures and the role of public officials in delivering aid quickly. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Infrastructure Read →
22 November 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah stated that drug procurement involves 13 to 15 procedural stages, but said the Budget allocation would enable an uninterrupted supply of medicines. He expressed confidence that shortages would be progressively eliminated. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
22 November 2025 AI summary Rs. 654 billion had been allocated for health, including Rs. 187 billion in the 2026 Budget for drug procurement, with the Government aiming to end the shortages that followed the economic crisis through proper procurement. The speech identified human resource gaps as the main remaining challenge, noting cadre revisions, expedited appointments of medical administrators, and priority for qualified long-serving hospital volunteers, especially in the Northern Province. Specific commitments were made to address deficiencies in offshore island health services, develop facilities including a proposed 10-storey maternity building at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, establish internal audit units in major hospitals, and create opportunities for unemployed Ayurvedic graduates. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported the Adjournment Motion and called for a National Strategic Plan for eye health, noting that Sri Lanka lacks a national plan despite comparatively strong general health indicators. He proposed integrating eye care into primary healthcare, national screening for cataract, refractive errors and diabetic retinopathy, and legal support for public-private partnerships. He also urged targets aligned with WHO SPECS 2030, expanded cataract surgery and spectacle provision, screening for diabetic patients, premature babies and preschool children, improved refractive error correction, and more corneal transplants, while citing the high volume of cataract surgeries at Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Adjournment Motion: National Strategic Plan for Eye Health Healthcare Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah concluded by emphasizing that savings on medicine directly benefit household welfare. He stated that reforms undertaken now would provide future relief to thousands of Sri Lankans. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Healthcare Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah called for stronger consumer awareness by making approved medicine lists and Maximum Retail Prices easily accessible online and in pharmacies. He urged closer coordination between the NMRA, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation to ensure islandwide supply of affordable essential drugs, including through bulk purchasing and generic substitution. He requested support for legislative and administrative measures to strengthen the NMRA’s independence, modernize its operations and improve medicine price regulation. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Cost of LivingHealthcare Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported strengthening the National Medicines Regulatory Authority under the relevant regulations to address rising medicine costs and improve access to essential drugs. He proposed introducing maximum retail and ceiling prices through a transparent pricing formula, modern digital price surveillance, stronger enforcement, and fast-tracked registration for quality local pharmaceutical production. He also called for greater transparency in NMRA approvals and pricing decisions, independent audits, and an internationally standard quality control laboratory to prevent distribution of substandard medicines. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 HealthcarePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
26 September 2025 AI summary As a COPE member, Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah said the Committee had reviewed 14 of 457 institutions in six months and found Auditor General-reported cases of fraud, waste, and misuse of public funds. He focused on alleged corruption at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, citing the immunoglobulin scandal, adulterated eye drops, and irregular fast-track imports without required documentation, and called for expedited investigations and redress for victims. He also highlighted drug supply disparities affecting government hospitals and urged action on cadre revisions, promotions, and transfers to address staffing shortages in Northern hospitals. Adjournment Debate: Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Justice & Human RightsHealthcareCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah referred to COPE and Auditor General findings on financial abuses, focusing on the failed import of 15,000 dairy cows and alleging waste, disease risks, farmer losses, and a USD 11 million corruption-related loss. He argued that those responsible should be punished and said Sri Lanka should reduce reliance on imported milk by developing modern farms, importing climate-suitable breeds, controlling cattle feed prices, and supporting cooperatives such as Yarlco. He also proposed reviving defunct chilling centres in the North and East, filling veterinary and related staff vacancies in Jaffna District, and providing medicines, equipment, and grazing land to strengthen local dairy production. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority AgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
6 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah paid tribute to Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, highlighting his early activism, education, and long involvement in Tamil political and social struggles. He recalled Senathirajah’s role in organizing youth against standardization, university admission restrictions and the “Sinhala Only” policy, noting that he was imprisoned for over seven years for such activism. He also emphasized Senathirajah’s assistance to students seeking higher education, his work with senior Tamil leaders, and his decades-long advocacy for Tamil rights inside and outside Parliament. Debate: Votes of Condolence for Four Former MPs EducationEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported the Adjournment Motion and called for revival of SMEs in the Northern Province, noting that many industries in Jaffna and other districts had closed due to the war and political factors. He proposed developing SMEs in agriculture, fisheries, handloom and palmyrah products, with vocational training, bank finance, market access, incentives and public-private partnerships. He also urged the removal of government impediments and export bottlenecks, including allowing direct exports, to increase employment, foreign exchange earnings and the North’s contribution to national output. Adjournment Motion: Empowerment of Small and Medium Exporters in Northern Province AgricultureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Hon. S. Sri Bavanandarajah addressed concerns over a recent land Gazette, stating that its purpose is to identify landowners and regularize titles rather than seize land. He said owners, including those overseas through authorized attorneys, can submit evidence of ownership, residence, cultivation or use to the Land Registry. He noted that implementation has been temporarily paused and that further decisions will be taken at upcoming District Development Committee meetings with MPs and officials, including on the allocation of State lands, preferably to diaspora Tamils seeking to invest or start industries. Adjournment Motion: Land Settlement Gazette Notification 2430/2025 (Tamil Lands in North and East) Land & HousingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
6 March 2025 AI summary The member supported the proposal to create a middle-level medical officer grade within the Ministry of Health, noting that the issue had been discussed previously without resolution. He argued that recognizing experienced medical officers through a Service Minute, in consultation with relevant medical colleges, the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, and the Department of Management Services, would help retain health personnel and strengthen rural healthcare. He proposed appointing such officers to divisional hospitals as officers in charge to reduce pressure on urban hospitals and called for a committee to develop a practical solution. Adjournment Motion: Challenges Faced by Medical Specialists (Postgraduate Trainees) HealthcareEmployment Read →
6 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah commended the Budget allocation for free healthcare and acknowledged health workers’ contributions to Sri Lanka’s public health outcomes, while calling for stronger primary healthcare and better staffing of rural hospitals through clustering and resource sharing. He highlighted urgent infrastructure and service gaps in the North, including the long-delayed maternity and critical care units at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, under-equipped facilities at Kilinochchi Hospital, and specialist shortages at the Vavuniya cath lab. He also raised the need to address stray dog-related bite cases, operationalise planned hospital upgrades including making Jaffna Teaching Hospital a National Hospital and Tellippalai Cancer Hospital a specialised hospital, and reopen the Lanka Siddha Ayurveda College in Jaffna. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionHealthcareInfrastructure Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah supported the Motion on drug control, stating that drug distribution in the North, particularly after 2009 and the opening of the A-9 road, has severely affected youth and higher education students in Jaffna. He said the issue is also straining the health sector through rehabilitation and treatment costs, and called for action to identify and stop distributors. He urged the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in Jaffna District with vocational training and employment support, alongside village-level monitoring and coordinated action by the armed forces, Police and judiciary to prevent distribution and relapse. Adjournment Motion: Jaffna - Social Impact of Drug Addiction Among Youth Security & DefenceHealthcareLaw & Order Read →