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- 7 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested the Minister to design a structured poverty alleviation programme. He proposed that it should incorporate consumption, investment, savings, production, and exports. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Cost of Living Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested a brief pause of five seconds during proceedings. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, requested a brief additional 15 seconds to make a final point, appealing to the Speaker’s goodwill. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary The available excerpt is too brief to identify a substantive argument, proposal, question, or policy context. It only records the Leader of the Opposition addressing a Minister, without further content to summarize. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that accurate calculations and data are essential for government policymaking. He warned that without them, any government risks formulating policies based on incorrect information. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Public Finance Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested an additional minute to continue his remarks during the debate. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s basis for calculating the Official Poverty Line for March 2026 while the 2025 Household Income and Expenditure Survey results were not expected until October 2026. He argued that both the previous and current Governments had relied on outdated 2019 data despite major crises and called for the HIES to be conducted at least every two years to ensure poverty alleviation policies are based on current food and non-food expenditure data. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Minister on whether any supplier that failed to honour a long-term fuel tender was later awarded an emergency spot tender, asking for a clear response. He said public anxiety over fuel, fertilizer and LPG prices stemmed from global supply risks linked to the Middle East situation and the Strait of Hormuz, not political statements. He also pressed the Government on why its election pledge to provide fuel at landed cost by removing taxes and other charges was not being implemented during the current period of pressure on consumers. Questions by Private Notice: Fuel Purchase (CPC) and Private Lands Released by Military Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
- 7 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition sought detailed information on CPC fuel procurement over the previous 12 months, including registered suppliers, delivery defaults, actions taken, and the number of spot, short-term, and long-term procurements. He requested clarification on evaluation criteria, Cabinet procurement approvals, price comparisons between term contracts and spot purchases, and details of high-priced deliveries and refinery impacts from using Murban crude instead of Iranian Light. He also asked whether procurement committee recommendations had diverged from technical evaluations and whether post-procurement audits exist, citing concern that a supplier allegedly defaulted on a term tender but later received a higher-priced spot tender. Questions by Private Notice: Fuel Purchase (CPC) and Private Lands Released by Military Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 6 May 2026 AI summary USD 2.5 million had been lost through alleged fraud and administrative failures, and politicized public-sector appointments had weakened oversight and sidelined competent officials. The Opposition Leader called for an end to cadre-based appointments under programmes such as “Clean Sri Lanka,” protection for public officers acting according to procedure, and safeguards for freedom of expression, citing the remand of a social media activist who criticized such appointments. He also urged humane treatment and land-based empowerment for the Malaiyaha Tamil community, proposing small tea plots or micro-holdings for landless people and unemployed youth instead of evictions and short-term job quotas. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Land & HousingCorruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised concerns over alleged fraudulent foreign debt-related remittances, stating that US$25 million had been sent to a wrong account in ten instances and questioning whether required financial laws, regulations, and procedures were followed. He criticized delays in informing Parliament and the Treasury Secretary’s initial refusal to appear before COPF, and called for details on the death of an interdicted officer and subsequent Treasury staff changes. He demanded that the Government present comprehensive facts to Parliament and clarify accountability for the loss, rejecting any attempt to attribute responsibility solely to a hacker. Debate: Port City Economic Commission Regulations and Orders Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to reassess the paddy cost-of-production formula with state institutions and experts, arguing that the stated Rs. 95 per kilogramme was unrealistic given higher fuel, machinery, seed, and fertilizer costs. He called on the Government to fulfill its promise to pay and legislate a Rs. 150 per kilogramme price, relax the 14 per cent moisture standard where necessary, and expand procurement support for farmers during the Yala season amid continuing fertilizer shortages. Procedural and Main Business: Adjournment Motion Request and Agriculture Statement Public FinanceCost of LivingAgriculture Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary Requested that the debate be held from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. without reducing its duration by half an hour. Procedural and Main Business: Adjournment Motion Request and Agriculture Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the decision to shorten an agreed parliamentary debate scheduled from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. He asked by what authority the debate time had been reduced by half an hour, noting that the original timing was on the record. Procedural and Main Business: Adjournment Motion Request and Agriculture Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or question was stated in the provided excerpt. Procedural and Main Business: Adjournment Motion Request and Agriculture Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned why Parliament was not informed between 7 and 10 April about an incident for which sufficient information had existed to lodge a CID complaint on 23 March. He requested a clear ministerial explanation and argued that at least a brief statement should have been made to notify Parliament of the incident and the complaint. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Minister on an apparent contradiction about why Parliament was not informed of a serious incident discovered on 23 March, noting that Parliament sat from 7 to 10 April. He raised concerns about the Secretary to the Treasury’s non-attendance at the Committee on Public Finance and the lack of answers on repayment timelines and amounts. He also requested a clear statement from the Government and the Minister of Justice on the investigation into the incident and the death of Mr. Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksha, citing public suspicion. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned the Government on alleged erroneous debt service payments, including a reported USD 2.5 million loss, a USD 600,000 issue involving the US Postal Service, possible double payments under Aswasuma, and missing promissory notes related to a French loan. He requested a detailed account of the standard debt payment process, responsible institutions and officers, the dates and actions taken under relevant Financial Regulations and the Payment Devices Frauds Report Act, and why Parliament was not informed earlier. He also asked about verification failures in changing payment details following a fake email, the timing and details of any CID or legal complaints, the status of law enforcement proceedings, and whether the incident constitutes a technical default under the IMF programme. He further questioned whether a fair investigation is possible while the Secretary to the Treasury and other responsible officers remain in office. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 5 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised concerns that state debt settlement funds had allegedly been paid to a party other than the creditor, citing Parliament’s control over public finance under Article 148 of the Constitution. He requested detailed information on the legal framework and institutional responsibilities for managing domestic and foreign public debt, including changes following the State Debt Management Act, No. 33 of 2024. He also asked for confirmed dates of the 10 payments reported to the Committee on Public Finance, through which USD 2.5 million was said to have been lost. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →