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- 20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, briefly sought clarification from the Chair. No specific issue, proposal, or policy matter was raised in the recorded statement. Oral Question by Private Notice: Withholding Tax on Senior Citizens' Deposits and Valaichchenai Paper Factory Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Asked whether the Government will simplify procedures for reclaiming withholding tax, including on children’s savings accounts, and clarify whether such deposits are exempt. He urged the reintroduction of a 15 per cent interest rate for senior citizens’ deposits up to Rs. 2 million, as provided under previous governments, arguing that the proposed effective rate of 10.5 per cent is insufficient. He also sought a mechanism for senior citizens to obtain medicines at concessional prices from state pharmacies and, if possible, private pharmacies. Oral Question by Private Notice: Withholding Tax on Senior Citizens' Deposits and Valaichchenai Paper Factory Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 20 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns under Standing Order 27(2) about the impact of reduced deposit interest rates and taxation on ordinary senior citizens who depend on interest income for basic needs such as healthcare and nutrition. He asked the Government to clarify the current withholding tax rate on deposit interest, whether the Budget proposes an increase, whether all senior citizens’ deposits are subject to the tax or threshold exemptions apply, and what mechanism exists for seniors to reclaim withheld tax, noting practical difficulties faced by many elderly depositors. Oral Question by Private Notice: Withholding Tax on Senior Citizens' Deposits and Valaichchenai Paper Factory Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 19 March 2025 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition urged the Government to pursue country-specific trade arrangements despite the general lapse of GSP benefits, citing the Multi-Fibre Arrangement concessions linked to the “200 Garment Factories Programme” as precedent. He proposed establishing a specialised Sri Lanka Trade Representative and team to conduct government-to-government negotiations, and offered his side’s expertise on a pro bono basis. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Foreign AffairsEmployment Read →
- 19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa argued that the Ministry must strengthen consumer protection, trade promotion, food security policy, and support for MSMEs through better laws, enforcement, market access, infrastructure, innovation, and public–private collaboration. He questioned whether the official poverty line reflects current living costs, criticized the Aswesuma beneficiary selection process as insufficiently evidence-based, and called for a fairer, data-driven approach. He urged durable debt resolution and rehabilitation for MSMEs affected by recent economic shocks, rather than only suspending parate execution. He also asked the Government to clarify its trade policy and negotiating capacity, proposed a Sri Lanka Trade Representative mechanism, and called for strategies to retain EU GSP Plus and restore US GSP access while also considering broader well-being indicators such as Gross National Happiness. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Public FinanceCost of LivingEmployment Read →
- 19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa informed the Chair that he intended to speak for 15 minutes and that the time had been allocated under Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka. No substantive policy issue or argument was raised in this brief procedural statement. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 18 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to at least begin initial steps to implement a promised policy concerning 35,000 graduates. He stated that the Opposition did not seek political advantage from their situation and requested prompt action. Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-third Allotted Day - Committee Stage: Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Youth Affairs and Sports) Employment Read →
- 18 March 2025 AI summary The Opposition Leader opposed the Government’s proposed 15 per cent tax on export services, arguing that it would harm IT and digital service exporters, and questioned whether the Minister and Government had a unified policy on the measure under the IMF framework. He also called for a coordinated ministerial response to worsening global tariff conditions affecting exports, including tariffs linked to United States trade policy. He raised the killing of a tusker in the Minneriya–Kaudulla area and urged systematic elephant conservation using habitat mapping, corridors and GPS tracking. He further pressed the Government to honour employment commitments to 35,000 graduates, proposing immediate induction placements with stipends despite cited legal obstacles. Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-third Allotted Day - Committee Stage: Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Youth Affairs and Sports) EnvironmentPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
- 18 March 2025 AI summary Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa sought clarification on the Government’s National People’s Power policy pledges to recruit graduates into teaching, IT, revenue, customs, foreign service, tourism and related sectors. Referring to ongoing protests by unemployed graduates at Poldowa and prior public assurances by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, he asked the Prime Minister to disclose a concrete action plan, roadmap and timeline for implementing the promised employment opportunities in 2025. Oral Question under Standing Order 27(2): Export of Sri Lanka's Textiles and Apparels and Ministerial Clarifications EmploymentEducation Read →
- 17 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa called for a specialized national ecotourism plan modelled on India’s Project Tiger, arguing that Sri Lanka could conserve elephants, leopards, whales and dolphins while generating foreign exchange and community benefits. He urged systematic human-wildlife conflict mitigation, stronger institutional capacity, insurance mechanisms, continuity across administrations, and greater priority for animal welfare. He also proposed establishing an international environmental university through public-private partnerships, regularizing long-serving volunteers and stabilizing multipurpose officers in wildlife work, and using scientific censuses and private monitoring initiatives to support conservation, ecotourism and national development. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment EnvironmentInfrastructureForeign Affairs Read →
- 17 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa called for a comprehensive, nonpartisan environmental policy framework, including a National Ecosystem Assessment, biodiversity valuation, clear conservation targets, a National Land Use Plan and a National Physical Plan. He proposed community-based conservation, circular economy measures, stronger action on pollution, plastics and deforestation, and evidence-based mitigation of human-wildlife conflict using technology, insurance and stable long-term planning. He urged Sri Lanka to use international climate and biodiversity conventions, green finance and eco-tourism opportunities, citing India’s Project Tiger, and proposed an international environmental university through a public-private partnership. He also asked for employment stability for wildlife volunteers and multipurpose development officers, and for systematic wildlife censuses that integrate credible private conservation data into national policy. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Foreign AffairsAgricultureEnvironment Read →
- 17 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa noted that many students were sitting the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination and extended his wishes for their success. He clarified that his intervention was not a Point of Order and sought the Speaker’s permission to make the brief remark. Speaker's Announcements and Ministerial Special Mentions Education Read →
- 15 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concern that a series of recent murders and unresolved law-and-order issues are creating a public security crisis with potential effects on tourism, and called for urgent action and clarity from authorities. He questioned the Government’s continuation of the previous debt restructuring and IMF framework, arguing that current growth, revenue, and debt assumptions are unrealistic and urging renewed engagement with creditors and international financial institutions to avoid difficulty meeting debt service obligations by 2028. He also called for export market diversification, stronger trade and investment links with India and China including FTAs and dedicated industrial zones, and proactive engagement with the United States to mitigate possible tariff impacts. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Public FinanceForeign AffairsLaw & Order Read →
- 14 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about public security during the Committee Stage, arguing that the Police and Judiciary are under serious threat following incidents including a murder inside court premises and the killing of a retired prison officer. He questioned what assurances the Government could provide to prevent further attacks on courts and judges, noting that a suspect alleged to have planned the courthouse killing remained at large. He also criticized the situation in which the IGP was reportedly evading a court order and could not be located by the Police. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Law & OrderJustice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Read →
- 12 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa referred to the Prime Minister’s statement that a programme remains incomplete and requested that the identified shortcoming be rectified. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 12 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Deputy Minister on whether the increased Rs. 25,000 fertilizer subsidy had been provided to farmers on time. He stated that some farmers had received only Rs. 15,000 or Rs. 10,000 and alleged that the distribution had not yet been completed. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
- 12 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa said the Opposition was responding constructively to the Government’s invitation for participation and tabled proposals for consideration. He argued that state procurement should cover at least 7–10 per cent of the harvest to affect prices, rather than the planned 40,000 metric tons at about Rs. 3 billion, and should extend beyond paddy to crops such as big onions and potatoes under a national plan covering producers of all scales. He also called for a national programme to modernize water management and rehabilitate irrigation systems from village tanks upwards, with the aim of improving food security and developing an export-oriented agricultural economy. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
- 12 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned whether the Budget allocation for agriculture adequately covers the full year, specifically asking where funding for the next Yala season would come from if only Maha-related needs are addressed. He said he was highlighting these gaps so they could be corrected in the Budget process. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Public Finance Read →
- 12 March 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa proposed a National Agricultural Policy and National Land Use Plan to modernize agriculture, improve productivity, attract youth, strengthen markets, and address human–wildlife conflict through zoning, technology, compensation, insurance, and community-based measures. He cited international examples including the Netherlands and Costa Rica to argue for investment in research, precision farming, value addition, sustainability, and coordinated ecosystem management. He questioned whether farm-gate pricing and cost-per-acre calculations properly reflect farmers’ real costs, disaster risks, and regional variations, and called for timely compensation for crop losses. He also said any wildlife census must be conducted properly through coordination among the Agriculture, Wildlife, Forest and other relevant agencies, rather than by the Agriculture Ministry alone. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation EnvironmentEmploymentAgriculture Read →
- 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised the reported assault and sexual violence against a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, arguing that it exposes serious weaknesses in hospital and workplace security. He asked whether the Government was aware of the incident, when it was informed, what action is being taken, what protection mechanisms exist for female doctors and workers, and who is accountable. He urged stronger safeguards for women in public and private workplaces and stated the Opposition’s readiness to support stronger laws and severe punishments for such offences. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Security & DefenceWomen & ChildrenHealthcare Read →