Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Matara

Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 141 #28 of 225·#14 in party

Attendance 2/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

141 speeches

9 January 2025 AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti rejected claims that the Government is continuing Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policies, arguing that in its first 100 days Ministers had not undertaken costly foreign trips or faced concrete allegations of corruption. He said programmes such as Clean Sri Lanka were being implemented without corruption and invited Members to raise any allegations through COPE. He clarified that a kabook export item in a Gazette had been carried over from earlier Cabinet decisions and would be corrected, and stated that Sathosa had reduced prices on 20 of 38 selected items, including an 8 per cent reduction over the previous four months. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformCost of Living Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister briefly requested additional speaking time, stating that the Government Chief Organizer had informed him that no others would speak. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Government has decided to import the relevant commodity and distribute it to mills. The remark indicates a direct state intervention in supply to support milling operations. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public Finance Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister said longstanding issues in the coconut sector, including tree felling and estate conversion, cannot be resolved immediately because new trees take time to mature. He stated that the Government would import copra and provide it to local mills for domestic processing as an interim measure. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Agriculture Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister accepted the Member’s concern about the Special Commodity Levy, stating that it is intended to offset some VAT effects but had previously been misused through arbitrary duty changes, citing the sugar duty case. He said the Ministry would consider the issue at the appropriate time. On edible oils, he noted that VAT applies to coconut oil and proposed importing copra pieces for local processing instead of refined RBD oil, citing concerns over consumer protection, health risks, and misleading labelling of imported coconut oil products. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister intervened briefly to address or call upon an Honourable Member during the proceedings. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was presented in this speech. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the continued use of Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act, stating that six-monthly revisions are necessary in current economic conditions to balance farmer and consumer interests despite past abuses associated with the levy. He tabled a Sathosa report on 38 SCL-related consumer items, arguing that prices of 25 items had fallen between January 2024 and January 2025, with an average reduction of about 19 per cent, including decreases in big onions, chickpeas, dried chillies, green gram, cowpea, potatoes and sprats. He acknowledged ongoing rice supply concerns but said separate action was being taken by the Trade Minister, and noted that the Government had been in office for only 49 days. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister explained that a regulation under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, published in Gazette No. 2400/25, was being presented for parliamentary approval within the required four-month period. He said the regulation includes a Rs. 1 per kilogram cess reduction on imported clinker, conditional on a Rs. 2 per kilogram reduction in cement retail prices, with the aim of lowering a 50 kg bag by about Rs. 100 and supporting the construction sector. He also noted concerns over a pilot proposal to permit the export of one million metric tons of black stone blocks, stating that domestic construction needs must be considered and that no export applications had yet been received. He further referred to Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act, describing the SCL framework as intended to protect farmers and consumers from VAT and other tax burdens. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions InfrastructureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that although the issue was not specifically included in the question, he would discuss it with the Minister of Public Security and the Police. He indicated that appropriate steps would be taken following those discussions. Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Law & Order Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary The Minister said facilities for miners had not been withdrawn and that the Government was working to remove political interference in the gem mining sector, particularly affecting traditional miners. He proposed a special presidential investigation into alleged corruption, improper licensing practices, land takeovers and the displacement of traditional miners. He outlined planned measures including a sector advisory committee, mine safety manual, expanded compensation and insurance schemes, public complaint mechanisms, and weekly ministry public days. He also said the Government would strengthen gem valuation and export oversight, address weaknesses in the NGJA legal unit, and discuss VAT relief for value-added gem processing with the Finance Ministry. Adjournment and Adjournment Questions AgricultureCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary The Minister presented a regulation under Section 14 of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, No. 40 of 1979, concerning a cess imposed by the former Minister of Investment Promotion and published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2400/25 of 5 September 2024. He moved that the regulation be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Annual Reports and Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti argued that state procurement and support should be directed to state institutions and local producers to reduce costs for school supplies and revive domestic industries. He cited exercise books, shoes and matches as examples of policies and taxes disadvantaging local manufacturers against imports or unregulated alternatives, and said Treasury savings could be redirected to benefit students and keep children in school. He also urged the Leader of the Opposition to continue his school bus donation programme after the election period, stating that sustained implementation would show it was not merely a political campaign. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Cost of LivingPublic FinanceEducation Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister said the Supplementary Estimate provides a Rs. 6,000 grant for school supplies to children from low-income families, using Aswesuma as the immediate delivery mechanism to avoid delays before the January school term, while the Education Ministry identifies other eligible children through schools. He emphasized that the programme should not be politicized and said coverage could be expanded, including through voluntary donations from better-off families. He linked the measure to improving revenue performance and outlined plans to reduce exercise book prices by reviving domestic paper production through waste-paper collection, the Government Printing Department, and the National Paper Company. He also said VAT relief on essential school supplies should be pursued as fiscal conditions improve, and criticized past election-period recruitment to state-owned enterprises. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Cost of LivingEducationPublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development presented the Annual Report and Accounts of Mantai Salt Ltd. for 2020/2021 and moved that it be referred to the relevant Committee. The motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports of Government Institutions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti argued that the current Government is stabilizing the economy and advancing IMF-linked debt restructuring despite what he described as debt-restructuring conditions created under the previous administration. He said higher growth and a stronger rupee could reduce the percentage of ISB debt relief under the agreed formula, but maintained that the alternative of renewed default and deeper bankruptcy would be worse for the country. He provided indicative nominal GDP figures for 2025 and 2026 and tabled the IMF Staff Mission press release of 23 November 2024, citing it as evidence that the new Government’s commitment had reduced uncertainty. He also pointed to stock market gains, tourism recovery, stable interest rates, and improved governance as signs of economic stabilization. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
6 December 2024 AI summary Sunil Handunnetti briefly remarked that he was observing the reason another Member stood up to raise a point. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was addressed. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 December 2024 AI summary The Minister stated that local brown sugar producers are unable to compete because brown sugar is subject to about 20 per cent in taxes, including 18 per cent VAT, while imported white sugar is VAT-exempt and cheaper in the market. He said he intends to submit a Cabinet paper seeking removal of VAT on brown sugar to help clear existing stocks, support local factories, and address employee-related issues. He also noted that Sri Lanka needs about 130,000 metric tons of sugar annually, of which local producers can supply around 70,000 metric tons, and called for correction of the classification that treats imported white sugar as essential while local brown sugar is deemed non-essential. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
5 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti argued that allocations in the Vote on Account are precautionary and need not be fully spent, citing the Rs. 3,000 billion provision for ISB-related commitments as potentially unnecessary if agreements are finalized by end-2024. He said the Cabinet has directed unutilized funds to be returned to the Treasury and outlined savings from reducing nonessential expenditure, limiting official residences and vehicles, relocating rented offices to government buildings, and using foreign assistance for school uniforms. He also defended continued payments under existing legal and advisory contracts, including restructuring-related advisers, as legacy obligations that could create litigation costs if abruptly terminated. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Public Finance Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary The Minister expressed condolences for those affected by the recent cyclone and floods in Sri Lanka and India, and said emergency responses were carried out by the Disaster Management Centre, public officials, armed forces, and volunteers with unusual coordination and commitment. He detailed relief and transport arrangements in flood-prone parts of Matara, including efforts to ensure A/L candidates reached examination centres, and thanked named officials and defence personnel involved. He provided figures on disaster relief allocations and spending, noted emergency assistance from China, and stated that any allegations of wrongdoing should be raised, while mentioning a CID referral regarding alleged irregularities in Ampara relief distribution during the 2023–2024 floods. Adjournment Motion: Compensation for Damaged Crops and Victims of Adverse Weather (Cyclone Fengal) InfrastructurePublic FinanceSecurity & Defence Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti defended the new Government’s early performance, arguing that criticism about inexperience is premature given that it has held only a few Cabinet meetings and has already responded effectively to recent floods. He said the President’s policy vision centres on a national production economy, wider public participation, equitable distribution of benefits, export expansion, tourism growth, digitalization, and the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme. As Industry Minister, he criticized past policies that left many state industrial institutions inactive or marked for sale, and argued that state-owned industry should be revived as a strong competitive pillar alongside the private sector. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) InfrastructureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →