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- 25 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa asked that he not be interrupted while posing his question. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or specific demand is stated in the provided excerpt. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural concern that the agreed time slot from 11.00 to 11.30 a.m. for matters under Standing Order 27(2) had been affected because proceedings began eight minutes late. He requested not to be interrupted while making the point. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 July 2025 AI summary Raised under Standing Order 27(2), the matter concerns the NMRA’s renewed strict enforcement of pharmacy regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015, including reported refusals to renew many pharmacy licences. He asked the Minister to clarify the situation, noting pharmacy owners’ concerns that enforcement is being intensified without first addressing the national shortage of qualified pharmacists, while also acknowledging the importance of pharmacists for safe prescription interpretation and medicine dispensing. Standing Order 27(2): Renewal of Pharmacy Licences and Training of Pharmacists Healthcare Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa requested the Prime Minister to ensure that pending appointments are issued immediately once any legal or judicial obstacles are cleared. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa began to pose a question to the Prime Minister, but the provided excerpt contains no substantive content beyond the opening phrase. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised the issue of around 250 education graduates from the Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya and the Open University who have not received teacher appointments for nearly two years. He noted that three cohorts remain unappointed despite having state university qualifications and teacher training amid teacher shortages, and asked why appointments are being delayed citing a Cabinet decision. He requested that the Government take steps to resolve the matter. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) EducationEmployment Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa criticised the education reform presentation for lacking detail on teacher welfare, workforce training, governance, equity, functional English, AI and emerging technologies, school nutrition, at-risk youth, and post-school pathways. He called for increased education spending, better coordination between central and provincial authorities, and a clear plan to train over 240,000 teachers for a modular credit-based system, drawing on international models. He urged that History remain compulsory alongside ICT and new technologies, and argued for universal access to English-medium education and better resources for provincial schools to reduce inequality within free education. He supported a non-partisan approach and proposed cooperation between Government and Opposition, including alternative funding mechanisms, to strengthen public schools. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms Education Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa questioned the clarity and implementability of the Government’s education reform presentation, saying it resembled a wish list without sufficient operational detail, timelines, or strategies for early childhood education. He noted long delays in reforms and warned that results expected only by 2029 would exclude much of the current student cohort. He welcomed the Prime Minister’s assurance that the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination would not be abolished, while calling for greater attention to rural school upgrading, STEM access, teacher training infrastructure, and the welfare and inclusion of all school-sector personnel. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms Education Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to table a full concept paper, similar to a Green or White Paper process, to guide education reforms with clear targets, timelines and consultation. He argued that education should be recognized as a fundamental human right in any constitutional reform, alongside other social, economic and political rights. He called for modernizing the system by moving away from rote learning, expanding ICT, STEM to STEAM, English-medium education, and new fields such as AI, data science, quantum computing, augmented and virtual reality, and machine learning. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms Education Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa condemned targeted character attacks against MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna and her late father, noting her public service and her father’s role in initiating the farmer pension scheme through a Private Member’s motion. He called on the Speaker to take specific steps to strengthen her security and said such attacks, particularly against a woman representative, should cease immediately. Procedural: Member's personal statement and Privilege matter Women & ChildrenParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over the proposed 33-year lease of state-owned assets and lands in Thambuttegama to a private company, including provisions allowing sub-leasing. He requested that all stakeholders be consulted and that the process be conducted transparently, stating that the issue was raised in good faith to obtain answers and solutions. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Land & HousingCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns regarding the proposed 33-year lease of the Thambuttegama Economic Centre, including permission for sub-leasing, and the possible transfer of state assets to a private company. He said farmers and traders fear that assets developed over 22 years, within a wider network of 13–14 economic centres valued at about Rs. 6 billion, may be handed over without proper stakeholder consultation. He requested the Minister to clarify the Cabinet decision and provide assurances to affected farmers and traders. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to respond calmly to an issue he was raising, asking that members not become agitated or shout during the exchange. He called for concrete solutions and answers rather than disorder in the Chamber. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over the eviction of around 1,000 farming families in Trincomalee from 800 acres cultivated since 1972, alleging the lands were handed to solar power ventures without due process and that farmers were intimidated through legal and police action. He requested compensation, permits for remaining lands or alternative fertile land, and an immediate halt to the expropriation, while clarifying that he was not opposing renewable energy. He tabled documents, newspaper reports and photographs, and urged Government MPs and authorities to provide solutions for residents of Taharavettuvan, Maththiyaveli and Muththunagar. He also began raising concerns from traders at the Thambuttegama Economic Centre about the management of economic centres, asking Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe to address them. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading AgricultureEnvironmentLand & Housing Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary While supporting corporate accountability measures, Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about alleged abuse involving land used by about 1,000 farming families in Trincomalee and Kaddaiparichchan since 1972. He said court action and eviction orders since 2024-2025 are being used to remove cultivators from about 800 acres, despite their long-term use of the land and receipt of fertilizer subsidies and cultivation loans. He objected to evictions reportedly linked to a proposed 200-acre solar power project, stating that renewable energy should not come at the expense of long-standing farmers. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Justice & Human RightsAgricultureLand & Housing Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the rationale for rice imports despite reported domestic production exceeding requirements, and proposed a scientific review of the production, procurement and distribution cycle. He asked the Government to re-examine paddy production cost estimates, citing input costs, crop losses and human–wildlife conflict, and urged legislation to make guaranteed paddy prices legally enforceable. He also called for investment in post-harvest technology, continuous updating of agricultural data, and concessional debt restructuring and working capital support for distressed small and medium rice millers. Ministerial Statement: Government Policies on Paddy Purchase and Rice Import Public FinanceAgricultureEmployment Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Clarified that a White Paper is a discussion document rather than a final policy paper, intended to frame debate. He objected that, in the material presented, History and Information Technology appear to have been made optional subjects, arguing both should be compulsory, while noting that the matter could not be discussed at that time. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Questions – Sri Lanka Electricity Bill Scheduling Education Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa requested 30 seconds of speaking time. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Questions – Sri Lanka Electricity Bill Scheduling Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa rose on a point of order and requested one minute to clarify a matter before the House. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Questions – Sri Lanka Electricity Bill Scheduling Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to holding the scheduled debate on new education reforms without a formal White Paper, noting that the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill had been temporarily withdrawn to accommodate it. He argued that a PowerPoint presentation by the Prime Minister was an inadequate basis for debating major changes to education policy and requested that the Government table a formal document to anchor the discussion. He also asked for the debate to be extended to about three days to allow Members to fully address the proposed reforms. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Questions – Sri Lanka Electricity Bill Scheduling Parliamentary ProcedureEducation Read →