Hon. Aravinda Senarath, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Hambantota

Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

Profession: Teacher

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Speeches 94 #51 of 225·#24 in party

Attendance 2/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

94 speeches

12 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that 1,418,318 acres, 0 roods and 37 perches were declared under the Land Reform Law No. 1 of 1972, and 418,754 acres, 0 roods and 28 perches under the 1975 amendment. He said district-wise details of lands vested in the Land Reform Commission have been tabled in the Library, but the full extent had not been completely surveyed at takeover and is now being surveyed and mapped with the Department of Survey. He added that alienation is carried out under the Land Reform Law and Control Circular No. 2024/03, that the LRC does not issue “transfer certificates,” and listed the subsequent amendments and special provisions Acts relating to the 1972 Law. Oral Question 1289/2025: Lands belonging to Land Reform Commission - Transfer Land & Housing Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath called for cross-party support to combat crime, drugs, and the underworld, saying the Government would enforce the law regardless of political affiliation. Referring to the murder of the Weligama Chairman, he warned against politicizing the case in ways that could obscure the real perpetrators. He argued that rebuilding the country required not only economic recovery but also social and cultural renewal, with the Opposition and citizens cooperating in a national programme for public safety. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Law & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath said the Government is pursuing a national programme to eradicate narcotics and organized crime, strengthen the legal framework, and enforce the law after one year in office. He accused previous administrations and elements within Opposition party structures of protecting or associating with criminal and drug networks, while calling on Opposition parties to remove such individuals and stop shielding them. He said investigations would proceed into incidents such as the Weligama Chairman’s murder and emphasized that drug use, including “ice” among children, is a national problem requiring collective action. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary Asked about Land Reforms Commission lands in Kandy District, the response stated that surveys are being conducted to identify lands suitable for development and investment, with plans to direct them for such use soon. It also criticized the previous “Urumaya” land title programme as poorly planned and costly, and said the Government has launched the “Himikama” programme to issue deeds and resolve land issues through a lawful process over the next four years, with the relevant Gazette circular issued the previous week. Oral Question: Leased Out LRC Lands in Kandy District (Q.7/2025) Land & Housing Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation stated that he was providing an answer on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. No substantive details of the answer or policy position were included in the excerpt. Oral Question: Leased Out LRC Lands in Kandy District (Q.7/2025) AgricultureLand & Housing Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that incidents reported across districts have not been comprehensively recorded officially and therefore require a formal investigation. He said the Ministry will conduct an inquiry, take prompt action, and report back to Parliament. Oral Question: Alternative Lands Distributed out of LRC Lands (Q.6/2025) Land & Housing Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the answer available did not contain the requested list of names. He said similar incidents were reported from various parts of the country and undertook to conduct a formal investigation, provide an early response, and instruct the Ministry to inform the Member accordingly. Oral Question: Alternative Lands Distributed out of LRC Lands (Q.6/2025) Land & Housing Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, provided figures on land holdings relevant to a question raised by Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi. He stated that 29,965.4128 hectares and 97.21 hectares were involved under the relevant categories, with detailed records placed in the Library as an annexure. He further said the Commission’s records show no alienation of lands to politicians under any legal instrument, making the remaining parts of the question not applicable. Oral Question: Alternative Lands Distributed out of LRC Lands (Q.6/2025) Land & Housing Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary An investigation is expected to be conducted through the Land Commissioner, with a report to be presented thereafter. Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division Land & Housing Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Most of the areas in question are State lands, and Divisional Secretariat officers are already carrying out inspections and field visits there. They are collecting information with the aim of issuing the necessary official documents to the public. Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division Land & Housing Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister responded to a question on land-related applications and registrations. He stated that some details were available and tabled lengthy information as Annexes 01 and 02, including applicants registered under Circular No. 2008/4 at the Land Kachcheri in several areas such as Selva Nagar (East), Palamunai, Kokkatticholai, and Arayampathi. He said no further applicable information was available for one part of the question, and the documents were placed in the Library. Oral Question 4: Occupants of State Lands in Manmunai Pattu DS Division Land & Housing Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment to Standing Order 119(4), under Standing Order 137, to empower the Committee on Public Accounts to refer suspected serious financial fraud or corruption identified in Auditor General reports directly to the Bribery Commission or the Inspector-General of Police for legal action. The proposal seeks to formalize a direct referral mechanism from the Committee when such conclusions arise during its examinations. Motion to Amend Standing Orders of Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Aravinda Senarath supported amendments to the National Audit Act and said they are needed to strengthen oversight by the Auditor-General, Audit Department and Audit Service Commission over fraud, corruption and misuse of public funds. He linked the reforms to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and international reform expectations, arguing that past governments bear responsibility and that the current Government is acting on its mandate through new laws, including the removal of former Presidents’ privileges. He said the supplementary estimates for the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs and Urban Development, Construction and Housing are intended to redirect funds toward restarting stalled projects and delivering public benefits, while also pledging further legal action on waste, corruption and narcotics. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath raised a privilege matter concerning legal action by Richardsons Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. against Dr. Roshani Dissanayake over evidence she gave before COPA on alleged irregularities in Colombo Municipal Council public-private partnership projects. He said the company’s letter of demand, Court of Appeal defamation application, and Colombo District Court damages suit challenge protections under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act for witnesses before parliamentary committees. He requested that the matter be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to protect COPA’s privileges and the independence of parliamentary committee proceedings. Ministerial Statements and Privilege Question Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Aravinda Senarath asked the Deputy Minister about recruitment for employment in Israel, noting strong interest among youth and reports of irregularities, corruption and political interference. He sought clarification on whether the Ministry had identified such issues and what corrective measures were being taken. Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) Corruption & Governance ReformEmployment Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Aravinda Senarath raised concerns that youths from districts including Hambantota, Moneragala, Jaffna, and Kilinochchi are being defrauded by foreign employment agencies after borrowing against land or houses to seek overseas jobs. He specifically cited an agency named “Rainbow” allegedly defrauding people of millions of rupees in Hambantota and asked whether the Ministry had identified the issue and what action had been taken. Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) EmploymentJustice & Human Rights Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath informed Parliament of his resignation as Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, stating that he had fulfilled his duties in the role. He said the resignation was to facilitate the Government’s decision to allocate the COPA Chair to the Opposition, and added that he would continue to serve diligently as a Committee Member. Personal Explanations and Committee Resignations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath tabled the Second Report of the Committee on Public Accounts under Standing Order 119(3), concerning inquiries into the Department of Motor Traffic held in March 2025. He said the report was presented separately because of the Department’s failure to implement audit recommendations dating back to 2012 and the serious irregularities identified, including matters requiring legal action to recover State revenue losses. Citing Parliament’s financial oversight role under Article 148, he called for enforcement of the law beyond party lines, acknowledged action already taken in some cases, thanked audit and COPA staff, and requested parliamentary time for a debate on the report. Committee on Public Accounts: Second Report Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary The Hon. Aravinda Senarath tabled the First Report of the Committee on Public Accounts for the First Session of the Tenth Parliament. Announcements and Papers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 June 2025 AI summary Aravinda Senarath supported the Regulations under the Anti-Corruption Act, arguing that they are necessary to build a transparent, corruption-free State after decades of misuse of public funds and state resources. He cited alleged abuses including luxury lifestyles funded by public money, irregularities in Hambantota road projects, vehicle registration fraud noted in Auditor General reports, and payments for a non-functioning Colombo Municipal Council sewage project. He said the Government would protect honest public officers, pursue cases with evidence through the courts, and invited genuine support from the Opposition while rejecting efforts to shield wrongdoing. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →