Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Ratnapura

Profession: Other

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 27 #144 of 225·#84 in party

Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

27 speeches

9 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha formally posed a question to the House. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or argument was included in the recorded statement. Oral Questions 1-10 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha argued that the Government inherited a severely weakened economy in 2024 due to past policy failures, citing the 2022 crisis and declines in growth, revenue, reserves, and living standards. Referring to the Central Bank’s 2025 Review, he said the first two Budgets and improved management had stabilized key indicators, increased GDP and per capita income, strengthened reserves and the banking sector, expanded tourism, remittances, private credit, and revenue, and reduced the fiscal deficit. He urged support for the Government’s economic programme despite natural disasters and global shocks. Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 Public FinanceEmploymentCost of Living Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha moved an adjournment motion citing the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Annual Economic Review 2025 as evidence that the economy has stabilized after the 2022 crisis, with low inflation, GDP exceeding USD 100 billion, per capita income above USD 5,000, higher remittances, a current account surplus, and improving financial-sector indicators. He contrasted these outcomes with the 2022 contraction, high inflation, depleted reserves, and increased debt-to-GDP ratio, arguing that the Government’s policies since 2024 had restored growth across agriculture, industry, and services. He proposed that all Members support the continuation of structural reforms while managing external economic risks. Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary A petition from Mr. N.K. Chakkumbura of “Sukhitha”, Mihitiya, Malwala Junction, Ratnapura was presented to Parliament. Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Ministry Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide details on professional education courses conducted by the National Institute of Education. He requested information on enrolment numbers, course durations, assessment methods, and any courses that have not been completed within the specified period after enrolment. Oral Questions: Multiple Questions in First Round (Q.2, Q.3, Q.4 and others) Education Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Institute of Real Estate Professionals of Sri Lanka Bill, arguing that Sri Lanka lacks systematic planning and standards for land and property use, causing conflicts among residential, industrial and commercial interests. He highlighted the importance of property valuers for local authority revenue collection, transparent use of development funds, and bank lending, citing an urban council where a comprehensive valuation had not been conducted since 2003. He said the proposed professional institution would help uphold standards, ensure uniformity of service and build the professional capacity needed for national development. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Public FinanceInfrastructureLand & Housing Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Ministry of Education’s proposed transformation of general education from 2026, arguing that Sri Lanka’s current exam-centric and outdated system does not meet national, social, or economic needs and has deep resource disparities. He called for reforms covering curriculum, teaching methods, technology, human and physical resources, school management, administration, community participation, and assessment methods. He urged Parliament to counter misinformation about the reforms and unite behind an education system focused on lifelong learning, innovation, equity, sustainability, and social responsibility. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Education Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill as part of the Government’s strategy to attract foreign direct investment, strengthen the Port City as a competitive special economic zone, and improve Sri Lanka’s ease of doing business. He argued that 2025 demonstrated economic stability through higher revenue collections, remittances, tourism, exports, stock market performance, growth, ratings improvements, and low inflation. He said the amendments would rationalize tax incentives and exemptions, strengthen regulation and compliance for strategic businesses, and create a framework for offshore banking, while noting that BOI projects, PPPs, and joint ventures would also remain important channels for investment. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha argued that Sri Lanka’s education system must be reformed to support broader social and economic change and to prepare future generations for a global, digital society. He said classrooms, teaching methods, facilities, and assessment should be redesigned around self-learning, inquiry, problem solving, creativity, gamification, and knowledge creation and sharing, rather than traditional approaches. He cited major infrastructure gaps, including limited smart boards, internet access, computers, and devices in schools and zonal offices, and stated that a task force for digital transformation in education has been established to address these needs gradually. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) EducationInfrastructure Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha stated that issues should be escalated to the ministry only if they cannot be resolved at district committee level. He said the Government is supporting entrepreneurs from village to provincial level by allocating funds and creating an enabling environment for industry and entrepreneurship, and expressed confidence that national development goals are achievable. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha said Sri Lanka’s industrial share of GDP has grown only modestly over 75 years and argued that long-term industrial development requires an enabling environment and education reforms to produce entrepreneurs rather than only job-seekers. He outlined planned 2026 reforms introducing Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy from Grade 6, expanding entrepreneurship studies at O-Level and A-Level, and shifting teaching and assessment toward skills such as problem-solving, creativity, collaboration and communication. He also said new technology and vocational streams would support industrial manpower needs, while newly established District and Divisional Industrial Promotion Committees would decentralize support for industrialists and entrepreneurs. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day EducationEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEmployment Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha defended the Government’s second Budget, arguing it was designed to rebuild an economy and society weakened by the previous administration and to improve living standards. He said the Government had reduced corruption, waste and unnecessary expenditure while prioritizing programmes such as Clean Sri Lanka, anti-drug efforts, support for MSMEs, social protection, agriculture, industry, entrepreneurship, tourism and the digital economy. He cited improved reserves, ratings, remittances, the current account, the budget deficit and borrowing limits as evidence of economic stabilization, and rejected Opposition claims that the economy was collapsing. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the amendments to the Convention Against Doping in Sport Act, stating that they are needed to align Sri Lanka’s anti-doping framework with updated WADA requirements and strengthen SLADO’s international recognition. He cited recent SLADO data showing continued anti-doping violations and argued for improved education, testing, results management, infrastructure, human resources, and accredited laboratory capacity. He also criticized misinformation circulated on social media about an unpassed bill relating to school discipline, noting that existing circulars and legal frameworks already address corporal punishment. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Environment Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Penal Code amendment to protect children from violence, punishment, and abuse, framing it as part of a broader move toward a more humane society. He argued that children should be guided through supportive environments rather than punishment, and said protections must apply not only in schools but also at home and in wider society. Citing recent district-level child abuse figures, including cases involving relatives and close associates, he urged universal and continuous protection for children. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha thanked the Prime Minister for providing clear and detailed answers on matters concerning the university system. He noted the system’s importance to the country’s future and economic development. Oral Question: University Admissions based on G.C.E. (A/L) Examination Results Education Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha asked the Prime Minister for detailed data on the 2025 G.C.E. (A/L) examination and university admissions, including candidates by stream, numbers qualified, expected university intake, and the intake as a percentage of those who sat and qualified. He further sought information on whether the 2025 university intake has increased, the courses affected, and the Government’s measures to expand university admissions. Oral Question: University Admissions based on G.C.E. (A/L) Examination Results Education Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha argued that Sri Lanka’s debt problem lies not in borrowing itself but in the unproductive and poorly governed use of loans, contrasting this with countries whose high debt levels finance productive assets. He said the Public Debt Management Act, No. 33 of 2024, and the establishment of a Debt Management Office would centralize borrowing, debt servicing, guarantees, and reporting across public entities. He emphasized that the framework is intended to improve transparency, clarify repayment capacity and revenue generation from loans, and support fiscal discipline and debt sustainability. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha presented a petition from Mr. M. Sumanadasa of Udawela, Opanayake. The petition was ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions Presented by Members (Citizens' Petitions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the proposed increase in the national minimum wage, placing it in the context of ILO standards, Sri Lanka’s ratification history, and previous wage legislation in 2016, 2021 and 2024. He stated that the monthly minimum wage would rise to Rs. 27,000 from 1 April 2025 and Rs. 30,000 from 1 January 2026, with corresponding daily rates of Rs. 1,080 and Rs. 1,200, affecting EPF/ETF bases and related payments. He acknowledged that Rs. 30,000 was not fully adequate but argued it was the feasible increase under current constraints, with further improvements intended through future economic growth and Budgets. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Public FinanceEmployment Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha argued that Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector underperforms despite substantial natural resources, citing low export earnings compared with hubs such as Hong Kong and Bangkok. Referring to COPE findings on the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, he said its outsourced planning, lack of rolling five-year plans, staff vacancies, and inadequate enforcement capacity undermine development and regulation. He proposed strengthening recruitment, filling key posts, improving exploration beyond traditional gem areas, adopting modern technologies, and rotating enforcement officers at least every four years to reduce malpractice, with the aim of reaching a USD 1 billion gem economy by 2027 and USD 5 billion thereafter. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority AgriculturePublic Finance Read →