Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney at Law, M.P.
Profession: Attorney-at-Law
Speeches 165 #24 of 225·#9 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 112 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Procedural
Activity by sitting
36 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
165 speeches- 10 November 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe argued that Sri Lanka’s development depends on expanding production, particularly through greater investment in agriculture, seed development, and agricultural experimentation. He said he would table supporting details and cited the United States’ progress as an example of the importance of developing improved seeds and related research. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Agriculture Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe requested an additional five minutes of speaking time from the Chief Opposition Whip. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe argued that Sri Lanka had been returned to macroeconomic normalcy before the present Government assumed office, citing the 2024 Annual Economic Review and World Bank assessments on inflation, growth, exchange rates, Central Bank independence, debt restructuring and reforms. He said the Government’s Budget followed IMF parameters too closely and should give greater attention to poverty, Aswesuma applicants and households vulnerable to economic shocks. He criticized Ministers for remarks about welfare applicants, for discouraging protests despite previously opposing development projects, and for allegedly using policing, prosecutions and political lists as tools of retaliation. He also questioned the Government’s handling of Sri Lanka’s international image, referring to a US travel advisory and the President’s comments at the UN in the context of tourism promotion. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Cost of LivingCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe criticized the Government’s implementation capacity, claiming that overall expenditure execution was only about 15 percent and that some items had virtually no spending. He cited numerous resignations of officials from state institutions as evidence of administrative failure, tabling a list of 26 resigned officers, while contrasting this with his experience in previous ministries where he said public officials were effectively managed. He argued that the issue lay not with the public service but with Government leadership, which he described as unable to work constructively with officials. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe criticized the Government’s implementation record following the previous Budget, saying proposed legal reforms, including laws on inter-institutional information exchange, investment protection, and amendments to the Paddy Marketing Board Act, had not been enacted. He argued that several budget allocations for education modernization, scholarships, vocational training, sports, tourism promotion, and beneficiary empowerment had seen little or partial expenditure, describing unspent public funds as a failure of administration. He urged the Speaker and Government to ensure that presented Bills and allocated development funds are acted on promptly rather than remaining unimplemented. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceEducation Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe argued that the 2025 Budget does not sufficiently reflect the promises made in the NPP manifesto and by the Government before taking office, including pledges on housing, worker protections, fuel and electricity prices, VAT relief, and investigations such as the Easter attacks. He said public expectations were high because the Government received its mandate amid economic collapse, but the Budget contains mostly intentions rather than concrete delivery. He urged that recovery requires specific measures to raise revenue, attract foreign direct investment, create jobs, advance technology, and expand production, warning that poverty could rise further if the economy faces another shock. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceEmploymentCost of Living Read →
- 23 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe supported the proposal on organized crime and drugs, but argued that the Government was using the issue to distract from failures in governance, the economy, and delivery on promises. He said drug policy must focus on reducing demand and rehabilitating users, citing international experience, and criticized public displays that he said risk glorifying traffickers. He also criticized recent ministerial remarks following a killing, stressing that even alleged criminals must be dealt with through police investigation, courts, and due process rather than extrajudicial justification or political labelling. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Public FinanceForeign AffairsLaw & Order Read →
- 10 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe raised a point of order, addressing a Minister regarding whether Members were present in a particular context. He sought clarification after noting that some had stated otherwise. Adjournment: Motion on Independence of National Police Commission (SO 19(2)) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe moved an adjournment motion urging Parliament to intervene over reported plans to transfer powers over OIC transfers from the National Police Commission to the IGP by Gazette. He argued that such a move would undermine the constitutional independence of the NPC, as strengthened under the 19th and 21st Amendments, and said he had written to the Speaker as Chair of the Constitutional Council seeking urgent action. He linked the issue to concerns over politicization of investigative institutions and rising organized crime, citing figures for serious incidents and murders in 2024 and early 2025, and requested the Prime Minister to act to preserve the Commission’s independence. Adjournment: Motion on Independence of National Police Commission (SO 19(2)) Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe raised a point of order concerning the scheduling of an urgent Adjournment Debate, noting that another Adjournment Debate was already fixed for the following day. He requested that the urgent debate be held at 3.30 p.m. on Friday, indicating that this had previously been agreed. Debate: Supplementary Sum - Head 117 - Programme 02 (Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, invoking Standing Order 19(2), moved that Parliament intervene to protect the independence of the National Police Commission. He cited media reports of a Special Gazette assigning powers over transfers of Officers-in-Charge to the Inspector-General of Police, arguing that this may undermine the Commission established in 1991 and strengthened under the Nineteenth and Twenty-First Amendments. Adjournment Motion: National Police Commission Powers Law & OrderParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe stated that the Minister had acknowledged the Commission’s existing powers, but said these powers were being removed through a Gazette. He objected that authority over transfers and related matters was to be vested in the Inspector General of Police. Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe asked the Chair to allow him at least 40 seconds of his allotted one minute to speak. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in the excerpt. Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe requested one minute to speak under the Standing Orders. Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe briefly noted Minister Nalinda Jayatissa’s statement that relevant decisions are made by the Police Commission. No further proposal, question, or argument was recorded in the excerpt. Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders Law & Order Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe rose on a point of order and referred the Chair to Standing Order 92, stating that its provisions were clear. No further substantive argument or proposal was presented in the excerpt. Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Raised a point of order under Standing Order 92(2)(a), questioning whether proper procedures were being followed in appointments to the Bribery Commission and the Police. He argued that the Government’s actions undermined the independence of institutions established for good governance and warned against using the Police, Forces, or independent commissions to retain power or suppress the public. Procedural Matters: National Police Commission and Standing Orders Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 8 March 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe sought clarification on the extent of authority over the banking sector following the Central Bank Governor’s statement that the Bank can only guide, not direct, private or other banks. He asked whether the Minister can direct the Central Bank, whether the Central Bank acts independently in its decision-making, and whether it has powers to influence or control other banks. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax Public Finance Read →
- 8 March 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe sought clarification from the Deputy Minister on the Central Bank’s role in directing banks on interest rates and related decisions. He referred to statements by the Deputy Minister and the Central Bank Governor that the Central Bank cannot issue such directives, indicating concern over the extent of regulatory authority in this matter. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax Public Finance Read →
- 8 March 2025 AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe requested a brief clarification from the Minister. No specific subject matter or policy issue was stated in the excerpt. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax Parliamentary Procedure Read →