Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Matara

Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

Profession: Politician

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Speeches 141 #28 of 225·#14 in party

Attendance 2/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

141 speeches

22 May 2025 AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti welcomed the Member’s reference to the Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act and said all Members should act in accordance with it. He stated that minutes of discussions with employees had been tabled, noting demands including restrictions on transferring salt to other areas and replacing a manager on the basis that he was from Kilinochchi rather than Jaffna. He rejected such discrimination as unacceptable. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Sunil Handunnetti responded to an Opposition member by questioning claims that monopolies had been dismantled, citing Raigam’s continued dominance as evidence to the contrary. He argued that the conditions enabling such market concentration were established during the period when the Opposition had been in government in 1997. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary 12,450 metric tonnes of salt had been imported, and the Minister outlined the ownership history of Puttalam Salt Limited from its 1997 lease to a consortium of cooperative and banking institutions. He said subsequent share acquisitions by Raigam Group created a controlling interest and led to the establishment of Raigam Wayamba Salterns PLC beside Puttalam Salt Limited, raising legal and conflict-of-interest concerns due to overlapping directors. He stated that the issue, enabled by successive administrations since 1997, had resulted in market power that needed to be addressed, with the process expected to conclude in about two years. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti said the regulations before Parliament sought to add Bureau Veritas as an authorized pre-shipment inspection agency for vehicles imported from Japan and to enable online verification of vehicle condition certificates and related banking documentation. He also outlined amendments to various departmental advance and deposit accounts, including higher limits for public officer loans, festival advances, commercial operations, emergency expenditure, Customs confiscated goods, and marked-money advances used by the Bribery Commission. He argued that these were administrative efficiency measures unlikely to be contentious and suggested that broadly agreed regulations be adopted without lengthy debate. Turning to the public debate on salt imports, he said the issue had been exaggerated by some Opposition elements and media outlets and noted that the Government had intervened after the matter arose in December. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti presented the 2022 Annual Report of Lanka Mineral Sands Limited and the 2023 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. He moved that both reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, and the House agreed. Papers Presented and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti noted that the relevant measures or decisions had been adopted on 23 November 2022. No further argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided excerpt. Private Members' Motion (P.19/2024): Course of Action for Implementing Audit Recommendations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that the Standing Orders under discussion were adopted on 23 November 2022 based on proposals made by their Committee. He noted that Hon. Harsha de Silva was also aware of this context. Private Members' Motion (P.19/2024): Course of Action for Implementing Audit Recommendations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary The Minister outlined the existing parliamentary follow-up process for Auditor General’s reports under Standing Order 120, including the requirement for subject Ministers and the Minister of Finance to report back within eight weeks on COPE recommendations. He emphasized COPE’s powers to summon persons, inspect documents and institutions, recall Ministers where responses are unsatisfactory, and refer matters to the Attorney General for legal action. He argued that the process should move beyond reporting and enable more direct initiation of legal proceedings arising from audit findings. Private Members' Motion (P.19/2024): Course of Action for Implementing Audit Recommendations Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary The Minister tabled answers regarding the Raigama Industrial Estate, stating that 16 acres, 1 rood and 20 perches have been allocated to 21 investors, with 1,408 perches still available. He said investors were notified on 7 April 2025 to begin work, while internal roads, water supply and electricity infrastructure are still being developed after delays caused by protests, a work stoppage after 2019, COVID-19 and the economic crisis. He also stated that investors are seeking approvals, some have applied for space in the administrative building, and the Government has spent Rs. 87.96 million on that building, with allocation to follow after valuation. Oral Questions - Second Round (Q.2/2024, Q.3/2025, Q.4/2025, Q.5/2025, Q.6/2025) EmploymentInfrastructure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti supported the proposal to scrutinize the accounts and funds of political parties, arguing that parties wield state power and can be used to defraud the public. Referring to recent allegations of businessmen infiltrating and damaging established parties such as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, he urged the Minister of Justice to consider an amendment to the Bill to enable investigations into those who misappropriated party assets. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2022 Annual Report of Seemasahitha Lanka Sugar (Private) Limited to Parliament. He proposed referring it to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports and Institutional Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti argued that the current government had established political democracy and was enabling economic democracy by reducing fear, bribery, and interference in the rule of law. He alleged that past government factions obstructed investment and left state lands idle through competing attempts to control or exploit them, citing coastal land in Matara–Polhena–Madiha. He requested that the President, as Finance Minister, appoint an open and independent Presidential Commission to investigate alleged bribery involving past ministers and investors. He also contrasted current parliamentary and institutional openness with what he described as intimidation under previous Rajapaksa administrations. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Government had sought to establish political and economic democracy, claiming that Ministers and Members do not interfere in economic management, politics, or the rule of law. Responding to an allegation by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara about licences in Matara, he denied any political influence in licence issuance under the current Government and contrasted it with alleged practices under previous Rajapaksa administrations. He challenged Members to name anyone on the Government side who had improperly obtained such a licence. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti requested one week to respond to the question raised. The matter was ordered to stand down. Second Round Question No. 2 - 191/2024 - Stand Down Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary Sunil Handunnetti briefly acknowledged the Speaker and did not make a substantive argument, proposal, or request. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti contrasted past parliamentary discipline under former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, saying Members responded when called to order and were deterred by being named. His remarks referred to the authority of the Chair and order in parliamentary proceedings. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary The Minister briefly remarked on the conduct of the Speaker, asking rhetorically whether members had seen a Speaker act with such fairness. No specific policy proposal, demand, or legislative matter was raised. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that Members may seek clarification from the Speaker but cannot direct or order the Speaker. He emphasized that protecting the dignity of the Speaker is necessary to uphold the dignity of Parliament, and questioned the repeated pattern of conduct challenging that principle. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary The Minister questioned whether a Member of Parliament has authority under the Standing Orders to direct or order the Speaker to act in a particular way. He asked for clarification on the procedural basis and permissibility of such an instruction. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 March 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Sunil Handunnetti moved Committee Stage amendments to the Appropriation Bill, 2025, for the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. The amendments increased the Ministry’s capital provision, including a Rs. 500 million increase under Head 149, Programme 02, Development Activities, raising capital expenditure there to Rs. 8.9265 billion and total capital to Rs. 9.138 billion. The related recurrent and capital allocations for Head 149 and the Department of Textile Industries under Head 303 were put to the Committee and agreed to. Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-third Allotted Day - Committee Stage: Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Youth Affairs and Sports) Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →