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

8 March 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Women and Child Affairs moved a Committee Stage amendment to the Appropriation Bill 2025 for her Ministry. The amendment replaces the relevant allocation figures with Rs. 15.234 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 842 million for capital expenditure. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Public Finance Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj said children aged 14 to 18 can face workplace exploitation and called for stakeholder consultations to develop evidence-based solutions, noting that persons under 18 are internationally recognized as children. She stated that Kandyan Law, Tesawalamai, and Muslim Marriage and Divorce Law should be considered separately, with an expert committee to advise on reforms, and urged that ongoing processes not be complicated. She also objected to derogatory language used in Parliament and, marking International Women’s Day, said over 85 percent of her Ministry’s allocation is directed to child wellbeing as part of a gender-sensitive Budget. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs EducationWomen & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that women and children can report violence through the 1938 and 1929 hotlines, while acknowledging limited public awareness, Tamil-language capacity, staffing, and follow-up legal support, and said a broader awareness campaign and service improvements are planned. She outlined measures to improve and expand childcare facilities, including at Sethsiripaya and for parliamentary staff, and noted that regulation of day care centres under the National Child Protection Authority has resumed. She said appointments to the National Commission on Women are pending through the Constitutional Council process, after which a Women’s Empowerment Fund could be established, and added that concerns of women-headed households and vulnerable groups in the North, East, and plantation communities would be considered. She also explained that the apparent reduction in the Ministry’s budget reflects the separation of social development from women and child affairs, and cited the Rs. 6,000 schoolchildren’s allowance as part of efforts to reduce family burdens and prevent school dropouts. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs EmploymentWomen & Children Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj supported the proposals of Hon. Faiszer Musthapha regarding the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, emphasizing the need to protect children’s right to education. She stated that reforms to the personal law would not be introduced unilaterally and proposed appointing a multi-sectoral committee involving Members of Parliament, civil society, and religious bodies to consider decisions collectively. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Religion & CultureEducationWomen & Children Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary The Minister marked International Women’s Day by highlighting women’s economic and social contributions and said the Government’s first Budget includes gender-sensitive measures, with Women and Child Affairs now elevated to a Cabinet ministry. She said the Ministry is pursuing policy and structural reforms through a National Action Plan, nationwide Women’s Week programmes on empowerment, legal awareness, protection and health, and a focus on women’s equality, dignity and remuneration. She also noted allocations for child and maternal welfare, including Rs. 7,500 million for nutrition support for expectant mothers and an increase in the preschool morning meal allowance from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 per child. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs EducationPublic FinanceWomen & Children Read →
18 February 2025 AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj supported the 2025 Budget as a “people-centric” recovery Budget, highlighting Rs. 749 billion for social protection alongside salary increases, education assistance, health and nutrition programmes, transport, and other household-support measures. She cited specific allocations including Rs. 6,000 for 650,000 schoolchildren, Rs. 1.4 billion for sanitary pads, Rs. 12.5 billion for Thriposha and nutrition programmes, and funding for Suwaseriya, medicines, disability support, rehabilitation, and children in care. She also outlined measures for youth leaving care, housing and jobs for vulnerable young women, regional development in the North, East and Hill Country, rehabilitation of the Vattuvagal bridge, technical education, and action to secure the Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Public FinanceWomen & ChildrenHealthcare Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary The Minister of Women and Child Affairs presented, under Standing Order 119(4), the report on observations and actions taken concerning the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, based on the Committee on Public Accounts report. She moved that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Clean Sri Lanka Project is part of the Government’s mandate to reform political culture and public administration, rejecting Opposition claims that the programme or the Government would fail. She cited recent measures including debt servicing, economic stabilization, increased Aswasuma benefits, fertilizer subsidies, pension increases, schoolbook support, and reduced ministerial expenditure as evidence of progress. She also referred to stronger excise revenue collection and enforcement against tax defaulters, arguing that the Government would continue efforts to curb waste, corruption, and divisive political campaigns. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Corruption & Governance ReformCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj said the Government has allocated Rs. 6,500 million to provide a Rs. 6,000 grant from January 2025 for school supplies and books to children from economically distressed families. She linked the measure to rising school dropout rates, poverty, microfinance-related hardship among mothers, and the need to ensure free education includes equitable access to materials, nutrition, and support such as girls’ sanitary needs. Responding to Hon. Jeevan Thondaman, she stated that the grant is intended for all children without ethnic, regional, or occupational discrimination, with the longer-term aim of preventing dropouts and reducing the education burden on parents. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) EducationCost of LivingWomen & Children Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary The Minister stated that Sri Lanka currently has 502,269 children in early childhood education, across first and second stages, and that policy should be based on these figures. She said the immediate priority is to standardize existing pre-schools and ensure adequate facilities, safety, and nutrition, while the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Ministry of Education work toward a common, multi-stakeholder decision, with further responses to follow. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Women & ChildrenEducation Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said early childhood institutions are currently regulated through multiple bodies, including the National Child Protection Authority, Provincial Departments of Social Services, Provincial Pre-school Units and the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development. She stated that clearer and more uniform standards are needed, particularly on administrators’ and teachers’ qualifications, and that the sector should be better anchored within the national education system. She indicated plans to introduce a standardized diploma and a regulatory programme to bring existing pre-school teachers up to that standard, alongside new early childhood initiatives focused on soft skills, empathy and creativity. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) EducationWomen & Children Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary The Minister provided figures on early childhood development centres and teachers as at 31 March 2024, stating there were 19,099 centres and 17,152 teachers, and confirmed that national standards have been introduced though not all centres meet them. She tabled the handbook on National Standards for Early Childhood Development Centres, outlining 20 standards across physical environment, health and safety, staff competence, learning environment, and management, including staffing ratios and facility requirements. She stated that registration, management and monitoring are devolved to Provincial Councils under the Thirteenth Amendment, with provincial authorities and national early childhood development officers conducting oversight. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Women & ChildrenEducation Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj said the new parliamentary mandate reflected a shift toward policy-based politics and noted the increased representation of women in Parliament. She outlined government priorities to protect and uplift women and children, including better safeguards for women workers at home and abroad, enforcement against violence, improved safe public infrastructure such as sanitary toilets, and stronger systems beyond legislation. She also highlighted concerns over substandard pediatric medicines and unsafe food, pledging action on medicine quality and food standards, and framed the election result as a rejection of communalism in favour of a shared Sri Lankan identity. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Women & ChildrenEmploymentEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj moved that Hon. Imran Maharoof take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi vacated the Chair and Hon. Imran Maharoof assumed it. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 November 2024 AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj seconded the proposal by Hon. Nalinda Jayathissa to elect Hon. Mohamed Rizvi Sally as Deputy Speaker of the Tenth Parliament. Election of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees Parliamentary Procedure Read →