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

22 May 2025 AI summary A procedural motion was moved proposing that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Speaker left the Chair and Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara assumed it. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary The Minister said investigations into the referenced incident would proceed without interference and noted that relevant ministries and stakeholders had established a mechanism within 24 hours to ensure swift action in similar cases. She pledged measures to protect women’s and children’s rights, including ethical changes in media practice, and said the Government would act for all communities. She also defended the Government’s mandate and its women parliamentarians against criticism, stating that they would pursue necessary laws, discipline, attitudes, and public awareness to prevent violations against women and children. Debate: Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act - Electric Vehicle Tax Revision (Continued) Women & ChildrenJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary The Minister of Women and Child Affairs called for vigilance against groups she characterized as seeking to undermine the Government, national unity, and public interests through opportunistic or conspiratorial actions. She urged that such forces be defeated, framing the issue as a duty to protect the country and its unity. Debate: Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act - Electric Vehicle Tax Revision (Continued) Women & ChildrenEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary The Minister justified the increase in excise tax on imported electric vehicles as a revenue-raising measure adopted in the context of economic recovery, arguing that it avoids placing additional taxes on essential goods. She said limited vehicle imports would help revive the motor trade, provide opportunities for eligible importers and permit holders, and generate funds for development, welfare, and state priorities while protecting foreign reserves through import limits. She also defended the Government’s collective responsibility for difficult decisions, stated its willingness to correct mistakes, and rejected allegations of corruption or deliberate harm to the public. Debate: Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act - Electric Vehicle Tax Revision (Continued) Public FinanceEnvironmentWomen & Children Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary Strongly condemning the incident and extending condolences to those affected, the Minister said her earlier remarks were based only on the B Report and JMO report and did not go beyond those documents. She stated that any assessment of facts must be through medical and legal processes, agreed to remove any inappropriate wording from Hansard if necessary, and urged that the matter not be politicized. She said the priority is justice for the victim, with a meeting arranged with the parents the following morning and further information expected within a week based on investigations. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said her comments were based on documents submitted during a police inquiry and that she had asked to meet the girl’s parents when protesters sought a meeting. She stated that the parents were not part of the protest and that the protesters were understood to be parents of students at the school. She emphasized that justice should be pursued through legal institutions and cautioned against diverting the issue or taking the law into one’s own hands. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj briefly indicated that she wished to clarify or continue a point concerning a child. The excerpt is incomplete and does not contain enough substantive content to identify a specific proposal, demand, or policy position. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Women & Children Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary The Minister of Women and Child Affairs raised a point of order to clarify that she had not disclosed the identities of any student, school, or teacher. She stated that her earlier remarks were based on documents submitted in connection with a police investigation. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that documents are being compiled for a full investigation into a student’s death, including records relating to an alleged sexual abuse incident in December 2024, mental health treatment, a JMO report, school performance, and statements from friends. She said the parents had been asked to file a formal complaint with the National Child Protection Authority and meet the relevant ministries, but had not yet done so, though they were expected to submit a petition shortly. She emphasized that justice should be pursued through proper legal institutions rather than social media or extrajudicial action, and called for the relevant parties to engage with the authorities to ensure due process. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Law & OrderWomen & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary At a Ministry Advisory Committee, the Ministry agreed with the Police Children and Women Bureau to record child victims’ video testimony at the earliest stage so they need not give evidence repeatedly. Measures are being pursued to speed up court processes and enable children in remand or probation homes to testify securely by remote means, reducing transport, exposure and risks to victim identity. She said further details on judicial procedure could be obtained by inviting the Minister of Justice to respond. Oral Question 579/2025: Sexual Crimes Against Women Serving in Government Institutions HealthcareJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Provided statistics on reported victims and categories of offences from 2015 to March 2025, noting that most cases involved sexual harassment and that 148 cases have been instituted in court, with annexed details tabled in the Library. She said the Ministry, the National Committee on Women, and the National Child Protection Authority are preparing ethical media reporting guidelines on gender-based violence with the Ministry of Mass Media. Addressing delays in women’s and children’s cases, she stated that about 40,000 complaints have accumulated over the past decade and that recruitment to add 109 NCPA staff, faster forensic and DNA reporting, and coordination with the Minister of Justice, including on the Corporal Punishment (Prohibition) Bill, are being pursued. Oral Question 579/2025: Sexual Crimes Against Women Serving in Government Institutions Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary The Minister provided data on complaints of sexual harassment and related offences against women in government institutions, stating that no complaints were recorded by the National Committee on Women’s Complaints Centre or the 1938 Women’s Help Line from 2015 to 2021, while nine complaints were recorded through those channels from 2022 to 2025. She said further police data from 2015 to March 2025 and action taken reports had been submitted as annexes to the Library. She outlined ongoing measures, including awareness programmes on laws, redress mechanisms and the 1938 Help Line, and training and sensitization programmes for police, public officers and officials working with women and children, with participation figures for 2023 to early 2025. Oral Question 579/2025: Sexual Crimes Against Women Serving in Government Institutions Women & ChildrenLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary The Minister of Women and Child Affairs presented the National Child Protection Authority’s Annual Report for 2023. She moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented: Customs Resolution, Ministry Reports, Annual Reports Women & ChildrenParliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary The Minister of Women and Child Affairs tabled, under Standing Order 119(4), a report on observations and actions taken concerning matters related to the Ministry of Women, Children’s Affairs and Social Empowerment and its former institutions, as raised by the Committee on Public Accounts. She proposed that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports and Institutional Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that her remarks at the UN CEDAW session had been misreported by the Daily Ceylon, emphasizing that she answered specific questions posed to Sri Lanka and did not make the statement attributed to her. She said issues on children’s rights require balancing cultural rights and human rights through consultations with diverse groups, and denied saying the Ministry would lead legal changes. She indicated that legal action would be taken over the alleged misreporting. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Religion & CultureJustice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →
17 March 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to allegations that she was pursuing legal or religious law reforms, clarifying that her portfolio is Women and Child Affairs and not Justice. She stated that her position concerns children’s and women’s rights, particularly ensuring 13 years of compulsory education for all children up to age 18, in line with national policy and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She said she had discussed these matters transparently with ACJU leaders and urged MPs and community leaders to counter misinformation and avoid framing the issue in racial or religious terms. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Religion & CultureEducationWomen & Children Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj condemned the sexual violence incident involving a female doctor at Anuradhapura Hospital and said the Government and women Members of Parliament stand with the victim and will pursue justice. She criticized media reporting that disclosed identifying details or reenacted evidence, arguing that such coverage retraumatizes victims and undermines confidence in justice. She called for swift punishment of perpetrators, stronger victim support mechanisms, enforcement of media-related laws and ethical standards, and an inquiry into how confidential police or court statements reached the media. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenLaw & Order Read →
10 March 2025 AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj supported the Budget’s increased education allocations, arguing that education and health should be treated as fundamental rights and highlighting measures such as learning-material grants, free footwear and uniforms, nutrition programmes, increased university stipends, Mahapola and bursaries, and Rs. 15.4 billion for TVET. She noted Rs. 2.78 billion for student loan schemes, salary increases for teachers and principals, and targeted support for children at risk of dropping out or in institutional care. As Minister of Women and Child Affairs, she emphasized gender equality in education, citing Rs. 1.4 billion for sanitary pads for schoolgirls over 13, and called for adult education for women and the integration of preschool education into the national education system with curriculum standards and teacher training pathways. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Seventeenth Allotted Day – Committee Stage Public FinanceEducationWomen & Children Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Moved for parliamentary approval of the National Child Protection Authority Annual Reports for 2020 and 2021 under Section 32 of the National Child Protection Authority Act, No. 50 of 1998, including the Auditor-General’s observations. She noted that the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender had considered each report and presented its findings to Parliament. Both motions were put to the House and agreed to. Annual Report of the National Child Protection Authority for 2023 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025 relating to Head 171, Programme 02. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Parliamentary Procedure Read →