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- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa requested additional time for the Opposition to speak, citing parliamentary practice and the need to present views. He asked the Government to clarify whether further electricity power cuts would occur, noting the presence of the subject Minister, and also raised concern that political reprisals were continuing. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Cost of LivingParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, rose to a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was stated in the provided excerpt. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, briefly thanked the Chair or House. No substantive policy issue, proposal, question, or demand was raised. Parliament Opening and Announcements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa asked for clarification on the scheduling of Ministerial Consultative Committees following the Speaker’s announcement of the Supreme Court determination on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill. He requested a mechanism to ensure Members receive and review the determination before attending the committees, noting the likely time lag in printing and asking whether the committees would proceed that day and at what time. Parliament Opening and Announcements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, invoking Standing Order 27(2), raised concerns over prolonged container clearance delays at the Port of Colombo and the reported release of 323 containers without Customs examination. He asked the Government to provide details on daily container arrivals, inspection capacity, vessels allegedly diverted due to delays, economic losses, and proposed measures to improve clearance. He specifically sought information on whether any of the released containers were “red label” consignments, the criteria used for their release, their contents and importers, potential revenue loss, responsibility for preventing harmful imports, and whether an investigation or policy decision on such releases had been initiated. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Law & OrderInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition indicated that he would first raise a question under Standing Order 27(2) before allowing another Member to raise a point of order. The remark was procedural in nature and did not address substantive policy or legislative matters. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that he had requested the Prime Minister to brief Parliament the following day on action being taken regarding the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge. He said the request was aimed at ensuring justice for Wickrematunge’s family and bringing those responsible to account. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa clarified that his earlier Sinhala phrase was intended to mean “please do not obstruct” and not as an insult to the Chair. He withdrew the remark and any related shortcoming, stating that he had no objection to doing so. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition sought permission from the Deputy Speaker to intervene during the proceedings. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa called on the Government to ensure justice for journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge by pursuing and prosecuting those responsible for his killing. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa requested one minute to speak without interruption. No substantive policy point, proposal, or question was made in the quoted statement. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa asked the Prime Minister whether the Government would intervene to ensure a transparent inquiry into the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. He said he would avoid commenting on recent developments so as not to prejudice judicial proceedings, but urged action to bring the perpetrators to justice for Wickrematunge’s family and the media community. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa, as Leader of the Opposition, drew the Deputy Speaker’s attention to a point of Order being raised by Hon. Archchuna. The intervention was procedural and did not advance a substantive argument or policy proposal. Questions Under Standing Order 27(2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa said the Opposition had raised Privilege Questions because repeated discussions with the Speaker, the Leader of the House and the President had not resolved concerns over parliamentary representation and procedure. He alleged that conventions were being disregarded, including in elections to friendship associations, and asked the Leader of the House to ensure adequate Opposition representation in Committees. He also cited alleged intimidation at cooperative elections, protests in Gampaha and Kamburupitiya, and restrictions on student expression at the University of Peradeniya regarding the IMF programme, describing these as anti-democratic and requesting remedial action. Procedural: Privilege Questions and Sitting Time Motion Parliamentary ProcedureLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural objection, arguing that a Supreme Court determination on a Bill should first be communicated to Parliament through the Speaker before being made public. He said the reported public announcement of its contents, along with an election timetable including nomination and polling dates, violated parliamentary procedure and infringed the privileges of the Speaker and all Members. Procedural: Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Supreme Court Determination Status Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought clarification from the Speaker on why the Supreme Court determination on the Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill had not been announced in Parliament. He noted that the determination had reportedly been sent to the Speaker, publicly reported, and linked to an election timetable presented to the country, and asked why it could not be formally communicated to the House. Procedural: Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Supreme Court Determination Status Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa contributed to condolence motions for former MPs Rukman Senanayake, Sirinal de Mel, A.A. Reginald Perera and I.M. Ilyas. He recalled Senanayake’s role in national politics, dialogue efforts during the 1988–89 unrest, and conservation work; de Mel’s trade union leadership and labour advocacy; Perera’s local government service, industrial development work and water supply initiatives; and Ilyas’s support for displaced people, health, education, land, transport and farming communities during the war. He conveyed sorrow on behalf of the Opposition and offered religious tributes for each former Member. Votes of Condolence: Rukman Senanayake, A.A. Reginald Perera, Sirinal de Mel, and Dr. I.M. Ilyas Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2025 AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to handle the arrival of 116 Rohingya refugees at Mullivaikkal on 19 December 2024 in accordance with international humanitarian norms, despite Sri Lanka not being party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. He cited relevant international instruments and the Rohingya’s vulnerability in Myanmar, including exclusion from the 2014 census, and stated that returning them to Myanmar was not an acceptable solution. He called for protection of their rights and expressed support for constructive government action consistent with international standards. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Justice & Human RightsForeign Affairs Read →
- 23 January 2025 AI summary Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), said passport issuance delays of three to four months had become a national problem, affecting especially those seeking overseas employment and allegedly encouraging unofficial payments. He asked the Minister to provide detailed figures on processing times, daily applications and issuances, pending applications since January 2024, booklet stocks and procurement plans. He also requested information on the current passport supplier, tender process and performance, and whether newly issued e-passports meet required quality standards, urging the Government to state when normal service would be restored. Question by Private Notice: Delay in Issuing Passports EmploymentParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa said that calls for a new political culture and programme must be matched by concrete solutions and State responsibility. He stated that his side would support positive and progressive measures benefiting the country and people, while warning that unfulfilled promises would obstruct the goal of a prosperous Sri Lanka. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →