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 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa insisted that the relevant Minister should answer a question, noting that time had been allocated while the Speaker was in the Chair and the Leader of the House was being represented. He urged the Deputy Speaker to allow the Minister to respond, criticizing avoidance of answers in procedural terms. Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa said the Opposition supports pursuing and punishing criminals within the law, but objected to PSC Chairpersons and recipients of character certificates being summoned to the CID after he raised the issue in Parliament. He urged the Government to focus on arresting criminals and strengthening law and order, public safety, national security and the rule of law. He proposed a new community-centred security programme involving all communities beyond political, ethnic, religious, caste or class divisions to help prevent and uproot criminal activity. Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
- 20 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought clarification on the Government’s plan to recruit 10,000 police personnel against 35,116 vacancies and proposed increasing recruitment further in view of law and order, public security, justice, rule of law and national security concerns. He expressed support for community policing and action against criminals, but alleged that Public Security Committees were being appointed in a partisan manner and that their chairpersons were being used to provide recommendations for police reports and character certificates, which he said could obstruct effective crime prevention. Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderSecurity & Defence Read →
- 20 February 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition sought a procedural clarification on what is permitted during the exchange, specifically asking whether Members may raise supplementary questions or only seek clarification. Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa thanked the Chair for allowing supplementary questions and stated that he would proceed to ask them. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in this brief intervention. Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to perceived unequal treatment of Members in the allocation of speaking time, arguing that giving the Government side more time than the Opposition would violate the Constitution and his fundamental rights. He requested the Speaker to allow him a detailed clarification in response to a detailed answer. Clarifications and Supplementary Questions; Matters of Order and Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that he raised reports of shortages, including information obtained through social media, in order to seek a solution rather than to provoke unrest. He acknowledged that official supply schedules may be in place but said shortages were occurring in some areas, and urged the Minister to address the issue on behalf of consumers without turning it into a debate. Debate: Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and Judicature (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Cost of Living Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over a continuing gas shortage, stating that consumers were facing long queues and hardship, including mothers, elders, and children. He urged the Government to acknowledge the shortage and take immediate action to resolve it, arguing that such deprivation affects the public’s rights. Debate: Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and Judicature (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human RightsCost of Living Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa objected to time limits on parliamentary responses, arguing that complex policy and economic questions require comprehensive answers. He urged that Members be allowed adequate time to address such issues rather than being restricted to five minutes. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition objected to a proposal to instruct Ministry Secretaries to limit answers given under Standing Order 27(2) to five minutes. He argued that matters such as public financial management and the country’s bankruptcy require full responses, emphasizing Parliament’s authority over public finance and warning that limiting answers would curtail democratic rights. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural point before making a point of order, requesting that he be allocated the same speaking time as Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, the Leader of the House. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, rose to raise a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa supported the Government Chief Whip’s proposal but raised a privilege-related concern over individuals he had named in Parliament being summoned to the CID. He said he had earlier disclosed that police reports were being linked to character certificates or recommendations from Civil Defence Committee Chairpersons, and asked whether summoning Yasantha Ariyasena, Thevuni Jayawardena and Sakusha Roshani after his disclosure was appropriate. He requested the Speaker’s ruling on the matter. Oral Question: Hospital Attendants Shortage and Mahaweli Land Allocation (Q.) Parliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned the Government on public security amid rising shootings, homicides and organized crime, requesting data on Police vacancies, crime trends, arrests, prosecutions and incomplete investigations over the past decade. He asked whether current Police staffing is sufficient, whether mechanisms under the Palermo Convention and UNTOC are being used, and what measures are being taken to dismantle domestic and international crime networks. He also sought updates on pledged independent investigations into long-pending high-profile killings and attacks on politicians, journalists, sportsmen and civilians, including the cases of Lasantha Wickrematunge and others, and urged action to improve Police recruitment and accountability. Oral Question: Hospital Attendants Shortage and Mahaweli Land Allocation (Q.) Law & OrderSecurity & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa objected to the prohibition of Opposition questions on education matters and tabled the relevant letter in Parliament. He argued that the Opposition was raising national policy issues, not personal or inappropriate matters, and criticized what he described as unequal treatment allowing the Government wider speaking freedom while restricting Opposition questions. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Parliamentary ProcedureEducation Read →
- 18 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa challenged the Government’s handling of the National Commission on Women, arguing that it had been placed under the relevant Ministry despite its intended independence and citing the resignation of its Chairperson over staffing, administrative control, and lack of access to senior officials. He tabled Gazette and Appropriation Act documents, questioned delays in funding and operationalizing the Commission, and argued that the proposed Rs. 50 million allocation for 2026 was insufficient compared with the requested Rs. 150 million. He also complained that Opposition questions on education, university administration, acting principal appointments, teacher recruitment, and archaeology were being disallowed, stating that this restricted parliamentary scrutiny. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Women & ChildrenCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural concern under Standing Orders 92(2)(a) and 27(2) regarding the National Commission for Women. He argued that, as an independent commission, it should receive budget allocations under Special Expenditure Units like other independent commissions, rather than being gazetted under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. He requested that this be corrected, stating that placing it under a ministry undermines its independence. Procedural: Ministry Statement and Standing Order Clarification Public FinanceParliamentary ProcedureWomen & Children Read →
- 17 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to hold Provincial Council elections without delay if it claims to retain public support. He defended pensions for MPs as a measure of social security and anti-corruption, while questioning the Government’s handling of state pensioners, including unresolved teacher-principal pension anomalies and exclusions from recent pay adjustments. He also criticized the cancellation of senior citizens’ higher savings interest, the proposed electricity tariff increase despite prior reduction promises, and the relocation of disabled war veterans from Boossa to Panagoda. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsCost of Living Read →
- 17 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa challenged the Government’s assertion that the shooting location was not a High Security Zone, noting its proximity to the Ministry of Defence and Tri-Forces Headquarters. He argued that recent shootings involving military-grade weapons, followed by killings in Jinthupitiya and Kalutara North, indicate a broader threat to public safety and the rule of law. He called on the Minister to present concrete measures and a new plan to strengthen national and public security. Oral Question Second Round and Ministerial Response (Q.1184/2025, Security Incident) Law & OrderSecurity & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 17 February 2026 AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over the killing of a lawyer and his wife near the High Security Zone in Thalawathugoda, questioning whether it indicated a serious national security lapse and whether prior intelligence existed. He challenged the Government’s early characterization of the incident as an underworld crime and asked whether investigations were being influenced or prejudged. He also referred to subsequent shootings in Jinthupitiya and Kalutara North and reports of 111 shootings in the past year, demanding measures to curb gun violence and ensure the safety of judges, lawyers, Attorney General’s Department officers, police investigators, and the public. Oral Question Second Round and Ministerial Response (Q.1184/2025, Security Incident) Law & OrderSecurity & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →