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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Puttalam

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government

Profession: Academician

Roster profile ↗
Speeches 146 #25 of 225·#12 in party
Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 62 speeches
Last spoke 9 June 2026 in Oral question

Activity by sitting

58 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.

Speech history

146 speeches
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary The Minister replied to a question on the appointment of the Uva Provincial Commissioner of Revenue, stating that no qualified officer was available within the Uva Provincial Council Public Service under the relevant recruitment procedure. He said Mr. D.M.N.P. Dissanayake, a Grade I officer of the Sri Lanka Accountants’ Service, was appointed on an acting basis under Section 32(1) of the Provincial Councils Act, No. 42 of 1987, pending island-wide applications and a suitable appointment. The required qualifications are those in Clause 11.2 of the recruitment procedure, which was placed in the Library, and the expected source services are the Provincial Revenue Service or Inland Revenue Service. Oral Question: Provincial Commissioner of Revenue - Uva (Q.392/2025) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 5 March 2025 AI summary The Minister answered questions regarding the Polonnaruwa Public Commercial Complex, stating that 57 shops exist and 52 are occupied. He tabled an annex on decisions from a 24 September 2019 meeting on long-term leasing, including advertising for investment proposals, forming an evaluation committee, and obtaining Municipal Council and Governor approvals. He said the decisions are being implemented, and that six shops with rental arrears were sealed in February 2024, tenancy termination notices have been issued under Section 266 of the Municipal Councils Ordinance, and legal action is being initiated to recover arrears. Oral Question: Shops Leased Out in Polonnaruwa City Center (Q.4/2025) Land & HousingParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary The Minister rejected allegations by the Leader of the Opposition that transfers of Chief Secretaries and District Secretaries were politically motivated, citing individual cases to state that the officers had retired voluntarily or been moved to other responsible posts. He outlined the Ministry’s 2025 programme, including the Integrated Pension Management System, revision of the Pension Minute, nationwide death-reporting links with the Registrar General to prevent post-death pension payments, and digital services for pensioners, beneficiaries, the Public Service Provident Fund, and overseas access to civil documents. He said the Ministry would consider MPs’ proposals, especially from the North and East, through relevant processes, and noted that the 2025 Independence celebrations were organized in a cost-effective manner. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary Public servants who contested in elections faced hardships such as long-distance travel and, in some cases, resignation from their posts. The Minister stated that the Government is working to provide relief to those affected and will outline a broader 2025 work programme at a later stage. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary The Minister outlined measures to strengthen the public service, including salary and pension increases, recruitment to SLAS and other services, and the raising of age limits for delayed examinations. He said the Budget provides for recruiting 30,000 young persons, filling Grama Niladhari and technical officer vacancies, increasing GN allowances, revising the GN Service Minute, and expanding digitization initiatives such as e-GN and divisional secretariat pilots. He also stated that outdated public administration rules are being reviewed and simplified, and that funds are being provided to enable the Election Commission to conduct postponed local government elections independently. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Public FinanceEmployment Read →
  • 27 February 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the minutes record Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan’s participation and do not indicate that he left the meeting. He said the proposal in question emerged from a public meeting involving public representatives, but added that the Government is prepared to review any aspects that may adversely affect the public and make a fairer decision. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 27 February 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, established after the 2019 gazette revising the Ambagamuwa Division, is currently operating from a 1,500-square-foot Grama Niladhari office despite serving over 200,000 people with 110 staff. He noted that a proposal was submitted to move it to an unused Railway Department building in Hatton with about 7,000 square feet of completed space, but stressed that no final decision has been made. He said the Ministry will study this and any alternative proposals after consulting relevant parties, and clarified that the matter was discussed openly at the District Coordinating Committee rather than decided secretly. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Public FinanceInfrastructureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 27 February 2025 AI summary The Minister corrected that the relevant body previously had eight members including the Chairman, not six. He stated that the personnel seconded to the Governor’s Office were State officers rather than teachers, based on his information, and declined to answer on graduates’ registration as it fell outside the scope of the principal question. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that the Provincial Public Service Commission membership had increased from eight, including the Chairman, to ten, while noting that the law sets only a minimum of three members and no maximum. He said expenditure control was important and further reductions could be considered, but argued that larger savings had already been made elsewhere in the overall budgetary context. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Public Finance Read →
  • 27 February 2025 AI summary Records indicate that 10 acres have been allocated for a cemetery and an elephant fence has already been erected around it. Further action on any additional requirements can be taken with the intervention of the Minister of Environment. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Land & HousingEnvironment Read →
  • 27 February 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the land taken for a cemetery is State land that had been informally used for cultivation. He said there is no obstacle to providing alternative land to those affected, as suggested by the Member. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Land & Housing Read →
  • 22 February 2025 AI summary Rs. 17.87 million was spent on the Meegahakiula bus station, but it has not been used because it has only one access road, which is insufficient for efficient bus entry and exit. A stakeholder meeting on 30 January 2025 decided to acquire land for a new access road from the Meegahakiula Hospital to the bus station, with interim access options to be considered. The Minister stated that the project is not considered futile and that local authorities will be instructed to conduct feasibility studies and proper planning before undertaking similar projects. Oral Questions: STaRR Project (Q.1/2025), KL-2 Project Kalutara (Q.2/2025), Lands - Elpitiya DS (Q.3/2025), Meegahakiula Bus Station (Q.4/2025) Infrastructure Read →
  • 20 February 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the 2025 Budget as focused on ordinary people, particularly groups without strong trade union representation, citing increased allocations for Triposha, nutrition packs for pregnant mothers, preschool meals, textbooks, uniforms, scholarships, student transport, and Aswesuma welfare benefits. He argued that the Budget links welfare recipients to productive sectors such as agriculture, small industries and livestock, while also supporting export crops and entrepreneurs. He highlighted major allocations for health services outside Colombo, postgraduate medical training, school and university development, and continuation of expressway infrastructure projects, presenting these as part of building a productive, knowledge-based economy. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceHealthcareEducation Read →
  • 18 February 2025 AI summary A procedural motion was moved proposing that Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha take the Chair. The House agreed, after which Hon. Imran Maharoof left the Chair and Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha assumed it. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 February 2025 AI summary Moved that the Bill be read a Third time. Also sought leave to correct typographical, printing, grammatical and numerical errors in the Sinhala, Tamil and English texts and to make consequential amendments. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Third Reading and Division Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 February 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Bill already addresses concerns raised about refunding election deposits by providing for repayment to the person who made the deposit upon production of the receipt. He emphasized that Parliament is only introducing amendments to enable fresh nominations, while the Election Commission is responsible for fixing the election date. He argued that without the Bill, local government elections would have to proceed on 2023 nominations, creating serious issues, and said all party leaders had agreed on the need for fresh nominations. He urged Opposition support for passing the Bill, describing the vote as historic because a single party held more than a two-thirds majority. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 February 2025 AI summary The Minister moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, explaining that it seeks to cancel the nominations accepted for the postponed 2023 local authority elections and call fresh nominations. He said the postponement had violated fundamental rights, as determined by the Supreme Court, and that fresh nominations were needed to protect the franchise and candidacy rights of those who became eligible in 2023–2024. He stated that the Bill reflects an all-party understanding reached in November 2024 and urged Parliament to pass it to restore elected representation in local authorities. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna responded to earlier remarks on coconut prices, arguing that profitability conditions have changed since earlier periods of very low land lease costs. He stated that the Government is seeking to restore Sri Lanka’s international reputation after a period marked by heavy borrowing and extrajudicial killings, and defended the use of locally produced cashews at the Independence ceremony. He concluded by quoting the Dhammapada on the value of learning and wisdom. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Foreign AffairsPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister supported regulations under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, to register geographical indications, noting their role in preventing misuse, protecting reputation, and increasing economic value. He argued that Sri Lanka had delayed too long in implementing such regulations and cited historical examples of the global value of Sri Lankan gems, cinnamon, and spices. He proposed extending geographical indication protection beyond Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon to products such as Anamaduwa cashew, regional rice, betel, flowers, chilies, Kalpitiya fruits, pottery, brassware, cane products, and white coconut oil, saying recognition and standardization could create international markets for producer communities. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
  • 6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that only partial information had been received in response to Hon. Hesha Withanage’s question concerning state universities awarding Bachelor of Laws degrees. He requested a further two weeks to provide the complete answer, and the question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Bachelor of Laws Degree Awards (Q.1/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →