Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament
Profession: ---
Speeches 691 #5 of 225·#2 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 333 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
126 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
691 speeches- 27 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa expressed condolences for deaths and damage caused by severe weather and thanked officials and security forces involved in relief work, while urging the Government to immediately declare a state of disaster under Section 11(1) of the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005. He called for swift compensation and updated relief circulars for affected households, farmers and fishers, and questioned delays in past disaster relief, including in Ampara. He also criticized the Government’s agricultural policy, alleging failures in fertilizer support, input affordability, fair prices, irrigation rehabilitation and human-elephant conflict management, and demanded a national programme to revive agriculture and strengthen food security. He further urged reforms to the Disaster Management Act and framework, including improvements to early warnings, inter-agency coordination, risk mapping, community preparedness and infrastructure. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) AgricultureEnvironmentCost of Living Read →
- 26 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa called for a comprehensive new fisheries policy focused on sustainable stock management, fisher livelihoods, anti-IUU enforcement, digital monitoring systems, aquaculture, infrastructure, export value addition, and blue economy financing. He said the sector contributes only 0.9 per cent to GDP despite Sri Lanka’s large maritime and inland water resources, and urged the Government to deliver promised fuel relief to fishing communities while offering support for a successful national policy. He also outlined proposals to build a US$ 25–30 billion digital economy by 2030 through upgraded connectivity, cloud and data infrastructure, AI and IT skills development, district-level IT investment zones, digital ID, digital public services, and inter-agency data sharing. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day AgricultureEnvironmentEmployment Read →
- 26 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa noted that the education allocation had increased only from 1.8% to 2% of GDP between 2025 and 2026, arguing that progress toward the 6% target should be faster. Citing the Government’s Policy Statement on recruiting 35,000 graduates, he proposed a one-year stipend-supported apprenticeship programme for unemployed graduates before recruitment into teaching, STEM, technical and other sectors. He also urged diplomatic action with South Korea to restore EPS-TOPIK job placements, saying around 5,000 qualified candidates risk losing opportunities due to the two-year departure limit, and called for filling identified public sector vacancies. Ministerial Statement: Minimization of Unemployment EducationEmploymentForeign Affairs Read →
- 26 November 2025 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned the Prime Minister on education funding, recalling her previous advocacy for allocating 6 percent of GDP to education. He said that while reaching that target immediately may be difficult, a substantial increase from the current allocation is necessary, and asked why the Budget does not reflect a significant rise consistent with her earlier position. Oral Question: National Schools and Provincial Schools: Vacancies for Labourers (Q.563/2025) Public FinanceEducation Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa argued that education reforms should preserve the teaching of history and national heritage while prioritizing English proficiency in the public education system. He said past language-based political decisions had disadvantaged millions of children and proposed that the new Constitution’s Fundamental Rights chapter include broad guarantees such as free education, free health, social welfare, economic sectors, and good governance. He called for modernization of free education in line with global labour market needs, expanded opportunities for self-education through libraries, and drew on India’s IIT and IIM model as an example for building a more educated middle class. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Public FinanceEducation Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa criticised the Government’s handling of education reforms, arguing that changes are being introduced without a coherent plan and that issues across pre-school, school, university and vocational sectors remain unresolved. He questioned delays in implementing the remaining “Subodhini” salary proposals, addressing teacher, principal, teacher educator, teacher advisor, non-academic and university staff salary anomalies, and filling shortages including principals, sports coaches and school support staff. He also demanded implementation of a court settlement for 16,600 Development Officers serving as trainee teachers and accused the Government of failing to honour manifesto pledges to provide 35,000 graduate jobs, including teaching and public-sector posts. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) EducationPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Asked whether early childhood education falls under the remit of the Minister of Education in the context of ongoing major education reforms. Question by Private Notice: Standardization of Preschool Education and Personal Explanation Education Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, informed the Chair that he was rising on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument is contained in the provided excerpt. Question by Private Notice: Standardization of Preschool Education and Personal Explanation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected during the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, noting that the day’s proceedings concerned education. He questioned why the Minister of Education was unable to answer a question on early childhood development and the preschool sector. Question by Private Notice: Standardization of Preschool Education and Personal Explanation Education Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, raised a point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt. Question by Private Notice: Standardization of Preschool Education and Personal Explanation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about weaknesses in regulation, curriculum standards, infrastructure, and the economic security of preschool teachers in the early childhood education sector. He asked the Government to provide detailed divisional-level data on preschools and staff, clarify allowances paid in 2024 and 2025 including removals and delays, and outline plans to increase allowances, introduce a pension scheme, improve infrastructure, and protect teachers’ professional status. He also sought details on the proposed single syllabus under education reforms, related teacher training and awareness programmes, and any policy on regional zoning and placement of government and private preschools to safeguard job security. Question by Private Notice: Standardization of Preschool Education and Personal Explanation EmploymentEducation Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa reiterated that the matters he raised were brought under the provisions of the Standing Orders. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa rejected accusations that he had lied and maintained that he was stating the truth. He criticized the summoning of journalists to the CID over their reporting, describing it as unacceptable, and urged that such actions be stopped. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Deputy Speaker’s interruptions during proceedings, asking why they were occurring more than usual that day. No substantive policy issue or legislative proposal was raised in the remark. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition referred to a Matara Police noticeboard listing a “Letter from the Civil Defence Committee” among documents required for a Police Certificate, and said that requirement had been erased after the issue was raised in Parliament. He tabled both versions of the documents and asked that the public judge whether his earlier claim was truthful, rejecting allegations that he had misled Parliament. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa cited requirements for obtaining a Police Certificate, specifically noting that a “Letter from the Civil Defence Committee” was listed among the necessary documents. He urged the House not to react with agitation while he presented this point, implying concern over the use of such a requirement in the certification process. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa drew attention to a notice displayed outside the Matara Police, asking members to examine the announcement. No further substantive argument or proposal is provided in the excerpt. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Law & Order Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a matter under Standing Order 91(c), stating that improper imputations had been made regarding his earlier statements. He referred to two letters he had tabled from the Chairman of the Badabadda Public Security Committee concerning police clearance requests for Abeysekara Pathiranage Sakusha Roshani and Thesanya Jayawardena, and asked for time to clarify the facts. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary No substantive speech content is provided beyond the address to the Chair, so no policy position, proposal, question, or argument can be summarized. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 November 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural query asking who determines the speaking time in the debate. He sought clarification from the Chair on the allocation or control of time. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →