Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Colombo

Profession: Other

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 38 #122 of 225·#65 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

38 speeches

22 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasinghe moved an Adjournment Motion marking Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month, citing rising breast cancer incidence in Sri Lanka and the need for earlier detection through improved awareness. She proposed systematizing early-detection methods and conducting nationwide awareness programmes with the Ministry of Health, women’s organizations, and state and non-state institutions. She emphasized improving women’s health literacy, encouraging self-examination, and addressing social attitudes by involving families and wider society in prevention and support. Adjournment Motion: Promote Early Detection of Breast Cancer Women & ChildrenHealthcare Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha defended the Government’s “Prosperous Country - Beautiful Life” policy framework for 2024–2029, arguing that it is aimed at national unity, economic recovery, and equitable distribution of benefits. She cited increases in official reserves, debt servicing, resumed vehicle imports, revival of stalled projects, SOE improvements, fertilizer support, and public-sector salary measures as evidence of progress. She also listed implemented or initiated pledges, including Cabinet restructuring, abolition of MPs’ duty-free vehicle permits, reduced presidential privileges, reforms to retired Presidents’ benefits, AML/CFT measures, and tax administration changes. Referring to assessments such as PEARL’s tracking of 1,333 pledges and comments by the IMF and World Bank, she urged the Opposition to evaluate the Government’s programme fairly as an ongoing stabilization and reform process. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Multiple Speakers Public FinanceAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasinghe said COPE has actively examined 14 institutions in the 10th Parliament and argued that its work should move beyond reporting to requiring follow-up action, legal proceedings, surcharges, disciplinary measures, and removals where public funds have been misused. She proposed that all 457 institutions be subject to written examination and inquiry, and that Ministers, Secretaries, officials, and politicians who ignore or cause breaches of COPE recommendations be held accountable. Citing expenditure under the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment’s “Vigamanika Harasara” and “Jayagamu Sri Lanka – Glocal Fair” programmes, she alleged misuse of public funds for electoral publicity and said COPE findings should support complaints to the CID and Bribery Commission. Adjournment Debate: Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasinghe said the Government’s education reforms, led by the Prime Minister as Education Minister, are intended to begin tangible changes in 2026 through child-centred curricula linked to national development, heritage, technology, inclusion, and equal opportunity. She argued that past reforms failed because the State withdrew from its responsibility, reduced funding, allowed politicized or private interference in schools, and lacked a national policy. She clarified that schools with fewer than 50 students would not be closed indiscriminately, but assessed using data and, where appropriate, improved, consolidated, or repurposed for educational and vocational use, while preventing misuse of State assets by politicians. She also called for moving beyond rote learning toward practical, life-skills-based and vocationally linked education, citing initiatives such as school “Travel Clubs” connected to tourism education. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) EducationCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha stated that the regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act formalized a time-limited salt import decision made to address a weather-related production shortfall, not a new decision to import salt. She said government intervention stabilized supply and prices through limited imports, distribution, raids and standards checks, while rejecting Opposition claims of mismanagement and panic. She also addressed allegations regarding a Lotteries Board official residence and said the Salt Corporation, now under the Industries and SME Development Ministry, would be modernized to increase production, improve quality and potentially export surplus salt. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) Public FinanceLaw & OrderAgriculture Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha defended the Government’s economic management and criticized Opposition figures for relying on alleged falsehoods and for not objecting to costly foreign travel by former Presidents during the economic crisis. She said vehicle imports had been restarted in phases after rebuilding reserves and stability, with controls to protect inflation, the trade balance and foreign reserves, which she cited at about US$6.5 billion. She highlighted increased exports, expected gains from investment and tourism, and a US$1 billion World Bank package for sectors including agriculture, tourism, regional development and jobs. She also referred to recent local authority results and described the conduct of elections and normal functioning of schools afterward as evidence of civic normalcy. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Public FinanceCost of LivingEmployment Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasingha argued that the Batalanda Commission Report should be used to understand past State repression, the banning of the JVP after 1983, and the denial of democratic rights despite the Commission’s finding that the JVP was not responsible for the Black July violence. She linked the events to broader patterns of political suppression, illegal detention, torture, sexual violence, and killings, citing cases such as Embilipitiya and the 1988 arrests and murders of Deepika Muthuhettigama and Chaminee Geethanjali. She called for justice for victims across the North, South, and East, while also briefly noting recent workers’ salary increases as gains achieved through public struggle and sacrifice. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Law & OrderJustice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →
20 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasinghe presented two public petitions to Parliament, one from Ms. I. N. Weligama of Moratuwa and another from Ms. S. M. N. Senanayake of Nugegoda. Citizens' Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha moved that Hon. Sagarika Athauda take the Chair. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha supported the Votes of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, describing the Budget as focused on women’s empowerment, family strengthening, poverty reduction and children’s rights. She highlighted the social and economic contribution of women, including migrant workers, and said the Government would improve protections through training, proper contracts, recognized agencies, a contributory pension scheme, loan schemes and education support for migrants’ children. She also raised the need to address basic service conditions for women police officers, including long-unmet requirements such as proper footwear. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Public FinanceEmploymentWomen & Children Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha said the Budget allocation for the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment is intended to support inclusive development, with particular emphasis on psychological and social empowerment alongside economic measures. She outlined plans to address shortages of counsellors in Divisional Secretariats, conduct regular community mental health awareness programmes, develop gender-sensitive and youth-friendly services, and establish community day centres linked to mental health support. She noted that Rs. 707.15 million has been allocated in Budget 2025 for related institutions and programmes, including services for elders, counselling units, and social security. She also proposed improved data systems for counselling, reintegration pathways, reduced stigma, and pension avenues for informal sector workers, especially women. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Women & ChildrenHealthcareCost of Living Read →
21 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha described the 2025 Budget as women-centered, citing allocations for pregnant mothers’ nutrition, Thriposha, rural hospitals, school breakfasts, preschool teachers, scholarships, and student athlete nutrition. She highlighted a proposed five-year national programme for children with neurological conditions, beginning at Lady Ridgeway Hospital with Rs. 200 million, and support for children without birth certificates or parental protection, including birth registration and a Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance. She argued that these measures address burdens often borne by mothers and women, including in vulnerable families and communities affected by crime. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Public FinanceWomen & ChildrenHealthcare Read →
21 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha defended the National People’s Power Government’s first Budget, arguing that current economic difficulties resulted from previous governments’ failed policies, fiscal mismanagement, corruption, and reliance on IMF-led recovery after bankruptcy. She said the Budget aims to stabilize the economy, prevent further restructuring, strengthen domestic production and exports, and allocate development support across regions and sectors including agriculture, fisheries, industry, infrastructure, and urban issues. She highlighted proposals such as Rs. 11.3 billion for agricultural and agro-industrial productivity, including cinnamon, tea smallholders, coconut, and rural women’s participation, while rejecting Opposition criticism that the Budget is merely a “handout” budget. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Read →
18 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha supported the motion on Meelad Muslim Vidyalaya, noting severe space shortages at the high-demand bilingual school and delays in making the closed Sumantha Vidyalaya building available despite approval in 2024. She said Grade 1 pupils had been left without classrooms after objections raised on ethnic grounds and emphasized the government’s policy direction toward tri-lingual schooling and equal access to education. She outlined interim and long-term measures, including temporary accommodation at Nikape Vidyalaya and consideration of upgrading S.D.S. Jayasinghe Vidyalaya as a tri-lingual national school, and stated that the issue would be resolved within days. Adjournment Debate: Additional Building for Meelad Vidyalaya, Dehiwala EducationEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionReligion & Culture Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha welcomed the PUCSL decision to reduce electricity tariffs and urged that the resulting relief be passed on to households, industries and consumers through lower prices. She defended the Clean Sri Lanka Programme as an organized effort to improve environmental conditions, civic conduct and social ethics, citing pollution, inadequate public facilities, unsafe public transport for women, poor food practices and weak tourist amenities. She said consultations with local institutions and community groups had identified needs such as public toilets, drinking water points, clean food outlets and accessibility for persons with disabilities, and called for short-, medium- and long-term action leading to value-based social change. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) EnvironmentCost of LivingWomen & Children Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasinghe, referring to Standing Order 91, stated that the Sri Lanka Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus had received no complaint regarding a recently reported incident involving women officers or women MPs. She urged Members to consider the social impact of such statements, said there was no known or reported incident, and noted that raising unverified historical claims could create difficulties for female staff. She added that the Caucus was ready to intervene if any complaint was formally reported. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act Parliamentary ProcedureWomen & Children Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha thanked Colombo District voters and said the National People’s Power’s increased female representation reflected a changed political culture valuing women’s participation. She defended President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Policy Statement as a break from privatization, excessive borrowing and import dependence, arguing instead for reviving state enterprises, protecting national assets, releasing land for productive use by farmers, and building a participatory production economy with fair distribution of benefits. She highlighted poverty in Colombo and the burdens on female-headed households, citing their rise to about 29 percent by 2018, and referred to planned relief such as Rs. 6,000 for children unable to afford educational materials. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Women & ChildrenPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
21 November 2024 AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasingha seconded the proposal by Hon. Sunil Handunneththi to elect Hon. Hemali Weerasekera as Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Tenth Parliament. Election of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees Parliamentary Procedure Read →