Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Ratnapura

Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 26 #149 of 225·#88 in party

Attendance 3/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

26 speeches

21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep said legal steps would be taken to incorporate the relevant name appropriately in future. He criticized opposition to a proposed wage increase and called for Government and Opposition cooperation to secure sustainable development for hill country people, while inviting constructive advice and correction. He rejected claims of divisions within the JVP/NPP and said the Government would address hill country issues including land, education, health, and Tamil-language services in administration and Police stations through the appointment of Tamil-speaking officers. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream EmploymentEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLand & Housing Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep rejected claims that the JVP was hostile to estate workers, citing hill country participation in JVP-led struggles, and argued that the current Government is correcting long-standing neglect in plantation communities. He said the Government has allocated about Rs. 60 billion to complete unfinished Indian housing scheme projects, is taking initial steps to provide land to schools and regularize temple lands in estates, and is addressing estate company violence through decisions taken at a meeting chaired by the Minister of Public Security. He emphasized recognition of “Malaiyagam people,” pledged progress on education, health, economic upliftment, and land ownership, and stated that the NPP Government had already increased wages and would grant land rights to enable dignified living. Adjournment Debate: Integration of Malaiyaha People into National Mainstream Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEmploymentLand & Housing Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep used the debate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act to raise longstanding land and housing issues affecting hill-country plantation communities, noting that many estate families still live in overcrowded line rooms and are denied permission to build basic facilities. He cited the recent Neelagama Estate incident in Kahawatte, where a worker’s shelter was attacked and family members assaulted, and said nine suspects were arrested within eight hours while investigations were initiated after discussions with officials and plantation company representatives. He stated that the Government’s position is to protect hill-country Tamils, enforce the law equally, prevent estate managements or others from taking the law into their own hands, and pursue land ownership as the solution to repeated injustices. Debate: Port City Economic Commission Regulations and Orders Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderLand & Housing Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep said the Government was rebuilding the economy after the 2024 change of administration by reducing corruption, removing privileges for former office-holders, and expanding public relief amid the “Ditva” cyclone and global economic pressures. He highlighted Cabinet-approved Rs. 5 million housing assistance for cyclone-affected hill-country families, housing schemes for plantation communities, wage increases, Aswesuma allowance increases, fertilizer support for tea smallholders, and fuel relief for fishers. He also urged Tamil youth to apply for 7,500 police vacancies to improve Tamil-language public service delivery, and said the Government would continue development and relief measures despite Opposition criticism. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Cost of LivingCorruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep supported the extension of the Emergency Regulations, arguing that the current emergency was declared for humanitarian response to Cyclone Ditva rather than for political suppression. He said the regulations enabled faster rescue and relief in hill country areas by allowing cross-boundary assistance, removal of dangerous trees, land allocation, and delivery of essential services. He rejected Opposition claims of abuse of emergency powers, asked for specific examples, and raised related concerns including communal divisiveness, respect for women MPs, ongoing hill country housing projects, wage increases, and a call for estate-owning politicians to provide land to affected people. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Security & DefenceCorruption & Governance ReformLand & Housing Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary While welcoming training and cultural facilities, the speech notes that previous operations were slow and that many trainees had difficulty finding suitable employment locally or abroad. It states that the Government will seek to place trainees from the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre in government service where possible and connect them with foreign employment opportunities. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives EducationEmployment Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep argued that public and donor-funded institutions should not be named after politicians and said this practice should be corrected. He proposed considering names of upcountry heroes and martyrs for such institutions and stated that special programmes are being introduced to deliver services directly to the upcountry community, alongside planned legislative amendments to the selection process for Board members. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that final accounts for 2022–2024 are incomplete, while 2020–2021 accounts show income of Rs. 192.27 million and expenditure of Rs. 168.43 million, including spending on the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre, Sports Complex, and Cultural Centre. He said Board meetings scheduled in July and September 2025 were not held due to lack of quorum, and 2025 income figures are still being prepared. He outlined the current NVQ courses at the Hatton Thondaman Vocational Training Centre, noted 219 students were enrolled in 2025, and described planned income generation from Norwood Stadium bookings, matches and parking, along with upcoming certification and trainee recruitment activities. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Public FinanceEducation Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep defended the Government’s response to the recent “Hour” cyclone, stating that relief efforts were carried out swiftly with support from officials, public representatives, NGOs, the diaspora and foreign leaders, while accusing the Opposition of politicizing shortcomings. He said plantation workers would receive a daily wage of Rs. 1,750 from 10 February and criticized Opposition members over their stance on wage increases. He also announced that, following NBRO guidance, safe land would be identified for affected Hill Country residents and that 7,000 houses with 10 perches of land would be built and handed over in 2026 as the first phase of assistance. Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 1) EmploymentInfrastructureEnvironment Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Condolences were offered to those killed by the cyclone, with thanks to the Police, public officials, Tri-Forces, foreign countries, and NGOs assisting relief efforts. The Deputy Minister said hill-country and plantation communities were especially vulnerable because multiple families often live in one house and lack safe places to evacuate, and called for permanent solutions such as safe housing or land allocation in plantation areas. He stated that the Ministry would implement housing and infrastructure projects in the coming year and urged cooperation in recovery efforts rather than politicization of the disaster. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Land & HousingInfrastructure Read →
14 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep defended the Budget’s plantation wage proposal, stating that the daily wage will rise to Rs. 1,750 from January through Rs. 200 contributions each from companies and the Government, and framed it as part of the Government’s commitment to Malaiyaha workers’ dignity, land, housing and rights. He criticized Opposition figures for challenging the Government’s Rs. 200 support before the Bribery or Corruption Commission and accused past political actors of using plantation wages for trade union and electoral politics. He also noted that the Government had obtained Cabinet approval and issued a Gazette recognizing the Ayyappan pilgrimage to India as a sacred pilgrimage. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Religion & CultureLand & HousingEmployment Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the salt shortfall was a temporary result of climate-related disruptions and outdated domestic production methods, not a failure of the current Government, and noted that import restrictions were eased to address supply. He argued that the NPP Government had begun modernizing salterns, ensuring distribution through state channels, and stabilizing the economy after past mismanagement. He also highlighted Clean Sri Lanka initiatives in the estate sector, including rehabilitation of line rooms in Ratnapura with Rs. 112.5 million from sponsors, while reaffirming commitments to land rights, housing, inter-ethnic unity, and accountability for wrongdoing. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Farmers with more than 20 perches have been identified for support to facilitate cultivation. The Tea Smallholders Development Authority is prepared to provide the necessary guidance and assistance. Oral Question: Tea Smallholders in Kalutara District (Q.3/2025) Agriculture Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep responded to a query on eligibility to hold office in societies, noting that the current requirement is two years of membership. He said the proposal to reduce the period to six months would be discussed with the societies, and that steps would be taken to introduce amendments in the future. Oral Question: Tea Smallholders in Kalutara District (Q.3/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister provided figures on tea smallholders and production, stating that Kalutara District has 43,984 tea smallholders and produced 15.514 million kg of made tea in 2024, representing 7.86% of national smallholder production. He said there are 120 Tea Smallholding Development Societies and outlined the “Tea Shakthi” insurance benefit scheme, including eligibility through society membership and benefits for specified medical conditions, disability, accidental death and natural death. He also explained the procedures for society membership and the election of office bearers, including eligibility requirements, annual fees, two-year terms and reorganization under the Tea Smallholders Development Authority. Oral Question: Tea Smallholders in Kalutara District (Q.3/2025) Agriculture Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister tabled a written answer on drinking water access in estate housing, stating that while most estate households rely on natural sources through communal or individual arrangements, less than 10 per cent have access to safe, protected drinking water. He said the community infrastructure division had not implemented UNICEF-initiated estate water schemes, but had implemented 27 drinking water schemes in 2023 and 2024 with a total allocation of Rs. 165,283,843.85. He also reported that the Poonagala LLG Capkade scheme had been completed on 20 September 2020, with the relevant annexes placed in the Library. Oral Questions: Plantation Community Infrastructure and Transport Issues Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary The Member states that the largest ground in Nuwara Eliya is under discussion for transfer to the Ministry of Sports for management. He says consultations are being held with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sports, and that the Government intends to assign the ground to the Ministry to address the needs of the people of Nuwara Eliya District. Oral Question: Saumyamoorthi Thondaman Memorial Foundation (Q.1/2025) Infrastructure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep stated that the matter was already under discussion and said future action would involve completing the audit processes properly. He indicated that the relevant institutions would then be aligned accordingly before proceeding. Oral Question: Saumyamoorthi Thondaman Memorial Foundation (Q.1/2025) Public Finance Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep answered a question on the Saumyamoorthi Thondaman Memorial Foundation, stating that it was established under Act No. 19 of 2005 and has an approved cadre of 217, with 181 currently in service. He provided details of the Foundation’s assets across its vocational, cultural, sports and community empowerment institutions, with full inventories tabled, and said 45 Community Empowerment Centres have been established, of which 44 are operational. He reported annual budget allocations from 2020 to 2024 ranging from Rs. 106.2 million to Rs. 172 million, and stated that audits for 2020 and 2021 are complete while financial statements for 2022 to 2024 are being prepared. Oral Question: Saumyamoorthi Thondaman Memorial Foundation (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceEducation Read →
18 March 2025 AI summary Provided details on drinking water projects in Badulla District estates, noting that only about 10 per cent of estates and surrounding households have access to safe drinking water despite existing natural and scheme-based sources. He reported 103 projects implemented from 2004 to 2024 at an approximate total cost of Rs. 209.1 million, including Government/Plantation Human Development Trust and NWSDB/WASSIP projects, and confirmed completion and full funding release for the Punagala LLG Kepkade housing scheme water project. In response to supplementary questions, he said older UNICEF-era schemes had deteriorated due to poor design and ageing pipelines, announced future estate water projects across several districts, and undertook to conduct and submit an audit on the Punagala scheme. Oral Questions: Teachers' Service and Principals' Service Salary Anomalies (Q.502/2025), Estates in Badulla District Drinking Water Projects (Q.505/2025), Damage to Cultivations by Wild Animals (Q.498/2025) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →