Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Matara

Minister of Women and Child Affairs

Profession: Teacher

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 75 #66 of 225·#29 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

75 speeches

19 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved that Hon. Chanaka Madugoda take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Speaker left the Chair and Hon. Chanaka Madugoda presided. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic and Security Crisis Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved that Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha take the Chair during the sitting. The House agreed to the motion, after which Hon. M.K.M. Aslam left the Chair and Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha assumed it. Debate: Approval of Remuneration and Service Conditions of CIABOC Officers and Employees Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 March 2026 AI summary The Minister supported the Adjournment Motion on recognizing women’s unpaid care work and preparing a National Care Policy, linking it to International Women’s Day and the theme of rights, justice and action for women and girls. She outlined government measures including the establishment of a Women’s Commission under the Women’s Empowerment law, proposed reforms to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, amendments enabling women’s night work, recognition of sexual bribery under the Anti-Corruption Act, and microfinance regulation to protect affected women. She also noted programmes for low-income women and women-headed households, and said the Ministry is working to professionalize caregiving and recognize care work as economically valuable human-capital development. Adjournment: National Care Policy and International Women's Day Women & ChildrenPublic FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
5 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved a procedural motion for Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara to take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. Chanaka Madugoda vacated the Chair and Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara assumed it. Adjournment: National Care Policy and International Women's Day Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary The Minister explained that the National Commission on Women was established under the Women’s Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024, replacing the former Women’s Committee, and functions as an independent institution not gazetted under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. Responding to a Standing Order 27(2) question raised by the Leader of the Opposition, she stated that the Commission’s statutory functions include investigating violations or imminent violations of women’s rights and receiving complaints under Part XI of the Act, with 23 functions specified in law. Procedural: Ministry Statement and Standing Order Clarification Women & Children Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary The Minister supported the Bill to abolish parliamentary pensions, arguing that elected Members receive a five-year public mandate and should not retain special lifetime or family entitlements created through amendments to the Parliamentary Pensions Act, No. 1 of 1977. She framed the repeal as fulfilment of a government pledge and cited related measures such as reductions in presidential and former presidential benefits, housing and welfare programmes, wage and salary increases, public service recruitment, education and health initiatives, and anti-corruption commitments. She also referenced IMF comments on growth, inflation, reserves and revenue, and claimed broad public support for the Government’s programme. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceParliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 January 2026 AI summary The Minister said preschool teachers are in a privately run sector under State regulation and therefore cannot be paid as members of a closed public service, but noted that their stipend has been increased to Rs. 6,000. She outlined plans, in discussion with the Ministry of Education, to professionalize the sector through NVQ certification, higher diploma and possible degree pathways, and a closed service framework. She also said preschools are monitored through MOHs, nutrition support has been increased by raising the breakfast allowance from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 for undernourished children, and relevant institutions are coordinating to improve teacher quality and preschool nutrition. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Women & ChildrenHealthcareEducation Read →
8 January 2026 AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question, stating that Sri Lanka has 18,982 preschools and that no eligible preschool teacher has been excluded from the stipend scheme, which was increased by Rs. 6,000 from June. She said preschools are a Provincial subject under the 13th Amendment, but the Government is working towards a national preschool programme through a National Policy and National Statute, including common standards for teacher diplomas, registration, curriculum implementation and teacher training. She outlined plans for infrastructure support through grants, loans and local authorities, and said a contributory pension scheme for preschool teachers is being proposed in line with the 2025-2029 Early Childhood Care and Development action plan. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements EducationWomen & Children Read →
1 December 2025 AI summary Moved approval of the National Child Protection Authority Annual Report for 2023 under Section 32 of the National Child Protection Authority Act, No. 50 of 1998, including the Auditor General’s observations. The report had been presented on 9 April 2025, considered by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment on 18 June 2025, and reported to Parliament on 8 July 2025; the motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports Tabled Women & ChildrenParliamentary Procedure Read →
1 December 2025 AI summary Moved approval of the National Child Protection Authority’s Annual Report for 2022 under Section 32 of the National Child Protection Authority Act, including the Auditor General’s observations. She noted that the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee had considered the report on 18 June 2025 and presented its report to Parliament on 8 July 2025; the motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports Tabled Parliamentary ProcedureWomen & Children Read →
1 December 2025 AI summary Moved that the Committee report Progress and seek leave to sit again. The motion was put and agreed to, after which the Chairman left the Chair to report Progress. Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026: Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and Child Affairs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
1 December 2025 AI summary An amendment was moved at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, under Head 171, Programme 02. Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026: Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and Child Affairs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
1 December 2025 AI summary At the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, the Minister of Women and Child Affairs moved an amendment on behalf of the Minister of Finance to revise the Ministry’s capital allocation. The proposed amendment replaces the relevant line on page 30 with a capital provision of Rs. 800,000,000. Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026: Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and Child Affairs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary The Minister marked the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, noting this year’s focus on ending online and technology-facilitated abuse. She called on Members across party lines to avoid personal and gendered attacks, including in Parliament, and to uphold dignity, privacy, and respectful political debate. She also highlighted available support services, including Police Women and Children’s Bureau 109, the National Help Line 1938, and SLCERT 101 for cyber incidents, and urged collective action to ensure safety and equal participation for all communities. Ministerial Statements: Defence and Gender-based Violence Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →
14 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Speaker left the Chair and Hon. Nanayakkara presided. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Parliamentary Procedure Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the 2026 Budget as a continuation of the Government’s stabilization and welfare-oriented programme, citing 2025 gains in growth, inflation control, interest rates, reserves, remittances, fiscal discipline, and revenue administration. She outlined 2026 priorities including inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, domestic production, rural poverty reduction, and digitalization. She highlighted measures such as attendance-linked top-ups for estate workers, public service and pension increases, women’s empowerment funding, concessional loans for overseas Sri Lankans, a Wages and Pensions Commission, health-sector strengthening, higher Mahapola scholarships, and Rs. 4,290 million for 2,000 plantation-sector houses under Indian-assisted housing efforts. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Cost of LivingEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Minister highlighted that breast cancer accounts for 26% of female cancers in Sri Lanka, with about 15 new cases and three deaths daily, while stressing that early detection can make it preventable or curable. She noted the higher risk among women aged 40–69, the presence of male cases, and urged women over 20 to practise TLC self-examinations and seek clinical assessment through Suwanari clinics. She also acknowledged the Indira Cancer Trust, the National Cancer Control Programme, and Parliament for supporting awareness initiatives and patient services. Adjournment Motion: Promote Early Detection of Breast Cancer HealthcareWomen & Children Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Women and Child Affairs presented, under Standing Order 119(4), the report on observations and actions taken regarding the Department of Probation and Child Care Services as contained in the Committee on Public Accounts report. She moved that the matter be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Presentation of Papers and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved to adjourn the Second Reading debate on the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill so it could be considered later alongside the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and the related composite Bill. She stated this was being done on the instructions of the Minister of Justice and National Integration and with the leave of the House; the motion was agreed to and the debate was adjourned. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved a procedural motion that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. Thilanka U. Gamage vacated the Chair and Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara assumed it. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →