Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Anuradhapura

Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

Profession: Medical Doctor

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Speeches 183 #22 of 225·#10 in party

Attendance 3/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

183 speeches

13 November 2025 AI summary In response to a question on water supply in Pottuvil and surrounding areas, the Minister stated that a USAID-funded groundwater project began in 2008 but now provides only about two hours of supply per day due to limited capacity. He said the Heda Oya Project proposed in 2016 for Pottuvil, Lahugala, Madulla and Siyambalanduwa was suspended for lack of funds and has not been approved for restart. Instead, a Rs. 12,000 million Phase I project to draw water from Senanayake Samudraya has been submitted to the World Bank for appraisal, while a weir-type anicut across Heda Oya–Navalaru is being built as a short-term measure for completion by July 2026. Oral Question: Heda Oya Water Supply Project Status (1395/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary The NWSDB-implemented Dry Zone Urban Water and Sanitation Project was stated to have been completed, handed over to the Urban Council, and made operational, not stopped. The Member clarified that the reported halt appears to relate to a separate Urban Council-initiated project and requested the exact project name to provide a precise response. Oral Question: Mannar Water Supply Project (Standing Order 27(2)) Infrastructure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that the ADB-funded Dry Zone Urban Water and Sanitation Project in Mannar, implemented by the NWSDB from 2012 to 2016, was completed within its loan allocation and its septage treatment facility, suction trucks, and public toilets were handed over to the Urban Council. He said the NWSDB had confirmed on 21 October 2025 that the facilities are operational. He distinguished this project from a separate adjacent Solid Waste Management Project reportedly halted on legal grounds, stating that it is not under his Ministry and inquiries on it should be directed to the Urban Council. Oral Question: Mannar Water Supply Project (Standing Order 27(2)) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that he could not provide full details on the Nawamedagama tower immediately, but said the reply referred to the “Medagama Dialog tower” being alienated under the State Lands Ordinance with covering approval from the Director General. He explained that lease regularization and collection for telecommunications towers have been delayed nationwide due to land-tenure complexities and rapid deployment needs. He said the Land Commissioner General’s Department and Divisional Secretaries are working to regularize such leases and collect dues, and clarified that the issue is countrywide, not confined to Mahaweli areas. Oral Question 3: Telecommunication Towers in Mahaweli System C Land & HousingPublic Finance Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that misuse of State lands obtained for projects, including non-implementation, sub-leasing, sale, or subdivision, has occurred both under the Mahaweli Authority and in other State land allocations. He said the Government is compiling system-wise data on long-term Mahaweli lease lands to determine actual use and payment status, with action to follow through land recovery or enforcement of lease conditions. Oral Question 3: Telecommunication Towers in Mahaweli System C Public FinanceLand & Housing Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister detailed the number and status of 16 telecommunication towers erected in the Dehiattakandiya DS Division of Mahaweli System C, including whether each site had formal lease approval, had been alienated under the State Lands Ordinance, or was only handed over for possession. He explained the approval process for tower sites and the procedure for land already granted to individuals, including reacquisition by the State and issuance of long-term and interim leases under the relevant circular. He also stated that no lease payments had been collected for the Dialog tower in Nawamedagama due to the absence of formal lease approval, and that the Ministry is compiling details of Mahaweli Authority lease lands to verify proper use, recover arrears, regularize telecom tower leases, and repossess lands where warranted. Oral Question 3: Telecommunication Towers in Mahaweli System C InfrastructurePublic FinanceLand & Housing Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that compensation and provision of alternative land had been discussed, including the development of certain Forest Department lands for paddy cultivation. He said irrigation infrastructure such as canals and field channels cannot be completed fully within the year, but the Department of Irrigation plans to finish the work in the first months of 2026 and enable cultivation by the third quarter of 2026. Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Yan Oya Reservoir Project, though initially foreign-funded, was later implemented with Government funds and has left affected residents without compensation, alternative land, or paddy fields for over a decade. He said a seven-member committee, chaired by former Secretaries M.K. Dissanayake and Sarath Wijesinghe, was appointed to review the issue and has submitted its report after field visits and consultations. Based on its recommendations, the Ministry is proceeding with compensation payments and provision of alternative lands, with a target to complete compensation within the year using allocated funds. Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District Public FinanceLand & Housing Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister, answering on behalf of the Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister, provided details on the Yan Oya Reservoir Project, including its 2013 commencement, government funding of Rs. 48,355.30 million, command areas supplied by the left and right bank canals, and the feasibility study conducted by the Irrigation Department. He said the project remains delayed, with completion extended to 31 December 2025 and a Cabinet Memorandum submitted to extend it further to 31 December 2026. He outlined land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement arrangements, stating that compensation for acquired residential lands has been completed, some payments for upland and paddy lands remain pending, and delays continue in providing alternative lands under Ministry of Lands Circular 1/2016. Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District Land & HousingInfrastructureAgriculture Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe said the Heda Oya Reservoir has been studied since 1956, with later updates showing that the full project would inundate 6,000 acres and displace over 250 permanent households, creating major social and political concerns. He stated that no funds will be allocated for the project in Budget 2026 and that there are no immediate implementation plans, though the project has not been abandoned and would require further socioeconomic and environmental assessments. He said the Government’s current priority is to complete stalled irrigation projects such as Pahala Malwathu Oya, Pahala Yan Oya, Lower Uma Oya, Mundeni Aru and Kivul Oya, where work, land acquisition or expenditure has already begun. Adjournment and Adjournment Questions AgricultureInfrastructureEnvironment Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Susil Ranasinghe stated that the Land Reform Commission is facing significant arrears due to poor collection of lease rentals on LRC lands, citing past inefficiencies and lack of proper systems. He said non-paying lands and reasons for arrears have been identified, and a district-wise programme has been launched to regularize and expedite rental recovery to prevent a financial crisis in the LRC fund. Oral Questions: Irrigation Department Tanks and Land Reform Commission Lands - Kalutara District Land & HousingPublic Finance Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Susil Ranasinghe explained the two current processes for allocating Land Reform Commission lands to projects: investor-identified lands with project reports and approvals, or Commission-identified lands offered to proponents without a specific site. He noted that the Commission is mapping suitable project types for identified lands and seeking investors, while addressing the absence of complete consolidated land records. He also stated that agricultural use of LRC lands without proper leases is being regularized. Oral Questions: Irrigation Department Tanks and Land Reform Commission Lands - Kalutara District AgricultureLand & Housing Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister, Susil Ranasinghe stated that many lands vested under the Land Reform Commission Law No. 1 of 1972 were not properly surveyed at the time and therefore remain imprecisely identified. He said action would be taken under the LRC Law and relevant circulars, noting issues such as pending surveys, unauthorized cultivation, litigation, and verification of occupancy. He clarified that the Commission does not issue permits, but alienates land conditionally under Section 22 or grants 30-year leases, with possible disposition through the Land Kachcheri process to eligible beneficiaries. Oral Questions: Irrigation Department Tanks and Land Reform Commission Lands - Kalutara District Land & Housing Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Susil Ranasinghe acknowledged concerns that acquired lands had been unlawfully sold and described the matter as a long-standing issue not fully resolved despite steps by the Irrigation Department. He stated that action would be taken, with the assistance of Members representing the Matara District, to prepare measures to regularize the process. Oral Questions: Irrigation Department Tanks and Land Reform Commission Lands - Kalutara District Corruption & Governance ReformLand & Housing Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister provided data on 700 tanks and 103 rivers registered with the Irrigation Department, including classifications by size and region, and details on tanks, rivers, canals and irrigation works in the Matara District. He stated that reservations under the Nilwala Project have been demarcated, 13 legal cases over unauthorized occupation are ongoing, one has concluded, and 42 more cases are being prepared. He also said approximately 10.5523 hectares in Nadugala had been acquired with compensation records held by the Divisional Secretariat, and that while the original French-funded Nilwala Project abandoned in 1988/89 may not be implementable as designed, flood control and irrigation activities are continuing with possible future implementation subject to economic stabilization. Oral Questions: Irrigation Department Tanks and Land Reform Commission Lands - Kalutara District Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
26 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, details were tabled in response to a question on farms owned by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority. The response stated that the Authority owns 17 farms and that approximately 47 acres were handed over in 2001 through the Galnewa Divisional Secretary and the North Central Provincial Council to the Rajarata Jana Sahana Foundation in Anuradhapura. It further stated that records of lease payments are not available to the Mahaweli Authority because the land was transferred through the Provincial Council, and that part (b) was not applicable. Oral Questions: Energy (Adani Power Plant) and Agriculture (Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority) Agriculture Read →
26 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister requested two weeks’ additional time to respond to a Member’s question, stating that the reply had not yet been received. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Land and Irrigation (Q.5/2025, 880/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe corrected the premise of the question before Parliament, stating that there are no tanks under the Department of Agriculture. The response was made in the context of a question listed under “Illegal Foreign Immigrants: Details,” though his answer addressed the institutional responsibility for tanks. Oral Question 10 (125/2025): Sri Lanka Tea Board Investments Law & OrderAgriculture Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary An assurance was given that a Ministry-level inquiry would be conducted into the procedures followed in allocating the specific land in question to employees, in response to points raised by another Member. Oral Question Q.4/2025: Ratalankawa Land - Land Reform Commission Land & Housing Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe explained that the LRC has long granted non-commercial land for staff housing under welfare provisions, though the Act does not expressly require it. He noted concerns that some staff obtained commercially valuable urban plots through influence, but said blanket cancellation would be legally and practically problematic. He stated that if any such land is needed for another public purpose, it could be taken over through the District Coordinating Committee and relevant agencies. Oral Question Q.4/2025: Ratalankawa Land - Land Reform Commission Corruption & Governance ReformLand & Housing Read →