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

23 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, provided details on land held by the Land Reform Commission, stating that about 101 acres are vested, with portions allotted to 20 institutions including 27 acres to the Industrial Development Board. He outlined the Commission’s employee land-allocation scheme, eligibility criteria, related court proceedings affirming employee rights, and steps to regularize unauthorised occupants under Plan No. 1584. He stated that detailed answers and annexures had been tabled and could be provided to the Member. Oral Question Q.4/2025: Ratalankawa Land - Land Reform Commission AgricultureLand & Housing Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister rejected claims that the Government had not engaged with farmers, citing the Rs. 120 per kilogram paddy minimum price, activation of Paddy Marketing Board procurement, and the increase in fertilizer support from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000. He said the PMB had been revived from a poor operational and financial position through reopening and repairing stores, using alternative storage and staff arrangements, and providing security where needed, though some wet paddy had sold below the target price. He stated that these measures helped prevent a collapse in farmgate prices and that further steps would include adding dryers, improving storage technology, introducing updated rice cultivation packages, addressing fertilizer payment issues, and exploring government-to-government fertilizer procurement with China. Adjournment Debate: Fair Guaranteed Price for Paddy Agriculture Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe stated that the status of the land must first be clarified, including whether it is State land, LRC land, or land leased to an individual. He said any project proposal and possible allocation would depend on those details, and if the land belongs to the LRC, an application could be submitted for consideration of allocating a portion. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Land & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe stated that he could not confirm whether the Land Reform Commission holds suitable land in the relevant locality for resettlement. He said that if suitable land is identified at divisional level, an application may be submitted to the LRC to have it vested for that purpose. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Land & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Land Reform Commission lands in the Kegalle District, stating that the district has 55,884 acres and 1 rood of high lands and 253 acres and 3 roods of paddy lands. He said 13 acres, 1 rood and 30.8 perches have been allocated for industrial purposes, including mini hydro power plants, a power plant, and a telecommunications tower, and listed the relevant allottees and lease details. He further stated that about 667 acres remain unused for development, that alternative lands have been distributed, and that the list of recipients was tabled. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe said land processed for long-term lease for an industrial project can be reconsidered if it is more suitable for an elephant corridor or another public purpose. He stated that the Divisional Coordination Committee could refer such cases to the Land Commissioner’s Department, and that approvals, especially from the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, should be reviewed before further intervention based on official local reports. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) EnvironmentLand & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Long-term leases for the lands in question must follow the established approval process through the Divisional Secretary, Divisional Land Use Committee, relevant agencies, and, where necessary, the District Land Use Committee before referral to the Land Commissioner General and ministerial approval. If the applications are still under consideration, the Ministry can inspect the lands, obtain local reports and verify the proposed use and approvals, and expedite processing within the Land Commissioner General’s Department where appropriate. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Land & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, details were provided on long-term land leases in Anuradhapura District, including 42 parcels in Ipalogama and 535 in Kekirawa, all for 30-year terms, with annexes tabled. The response clarified that GN Division No. 618 is Obeysekarapura, not Karambawatte, and listed specific leased lots in Obeysekarapura, Ihalagama and Ihalakagama, including lessees, extents and development status. It stated that the relevant lands have been developed, have not been re-acquired or sub-leased, and that elephant fences have not been erected. Oral Question: Lands in Anuradhapura District Leased Out for Development (Q.1241/2025) Land & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe explained that the Government’s “Himikama” ownership programme is being used to issue land permits and deeds, with work starting in the Palai DS Division of Kilinochchi due to acute land ownership issues in the North and East. He said longstanding displacement, lost or damaged documents, deaths and resettlement require a land regularization process to establish ownership, occupation and claims before deeds or permits can be issued. He noted that about 60,000 acres in Kilinochchi remain to be regularized and stated that the Government intends to proceed expeditiously in stages once clearance is completed. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Land & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Under the past government’s freehold programme, 1,850 deeds have already been issued after permits were collected. A further 477 permit files have been received by the Land Commissioner General’s Department, and deed preparation has begun for those remaining cases. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Land & Housing Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister provided figures on land ownership and permits in the Kilinochchi District in response to Question No. 1178/2025. He stated that 46,787 families occupy 19,525.718 hectares, with 1,850 families issued freehold deeds under the “Nidahas Himikama” programme and 477 further applications being processed. He also noted that 12,748.57 hectares of paddy and dry lands are held under permits, and that there is insufficient data to assess the impact on access to mortgages or loans. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe said the Government was committed to reconciliation and human rights for all communities, linking that commitment to development initiatives in the North, East and Hill Country. He outlined land-related measures including the “Himakama” programme for titles and permits, planned issuance of titles for 700 LRC lands in Mannar, and discussions to release gazetted forest lands being used as farmland. He also cited irrigation and water projects such as Pahala Malwathu Oya, “Chari Mahima,” and the planned Mundeni Aru project as measures to support cultivation, flood control, drinking water supply and reconciliation through development. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country AgricultureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLand & Housing Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary In response to a question on grazing land in the Vanni District, the Deputy Minister said District Development Committees are coordinating with the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation to allocate suitable forest lands to livestock farmers once formally released. He stated that these lands, along with unused or underutilized State lands where needed, would be managed under departmental guidelines, with technical support from animal production and veterinary authorities and plans to rehabilitate or establish water sources. Oral Questions (Second Round and Standing Order 27(2) Questions) Land & HousingAgricultureEnvironment Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Lower Basin Development component of the Uma Oya project had stalled after about 85 per cent completion, with several canal sections halted, abandoned, or damaged. He stated that Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated this year and 68 work items have begun through the Irrigation Department’s direct labour. He said the Government aims to complete most works by the end of the year, with any remaining work to be finished by May next year. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that no investigation has yet been initiated into the canal constructed under the “Lower Uva Medium and Minor Scale Development Project,” which began in 2008 and concluded in 2023. He noted that the 6.5 km canal had been stopped and restarted intermittently, and that the Department of Irrigation acknowledges siltation is obstructing water conveyance. He said the Ministry will discuss the matter with the Department to determine whether the canal has failed or whether defects in construction caused the problem. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister answered questions on the Debara Ara feeder canal, stating that construction began in 2008 with an initial estimate of Rs. 67.58 million under the Lower Uva Medium and Minor Scale Irrigation Development Project, with procurement procedures followed. He named the four contractors and said the Department of Irrigation supervised the staged works, with excavated rock and soil reused for related irrigation and service-road purposes. He stated that although water had been delivered to the Debara Ara reservoir, the 6.5 km deep canal has silted due to rainfall, reduced demand and non-use of the upstream reach, requiring a special allocation for maintenance. He added that water is currently supplied to nearby fields, two minor tanks and about 200 acres of highlands, and that plans are in place to desilt the canal before the next rainy season. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) InfrastructureAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
21 August 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, requested two weeks to provide an answer. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions: Q.3-808/2025, Q.4-832/2025, Q.5-859/2025 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe stated that the “Urumaya” freehold programme has been paused due to procedural and legal concerns raised by the Department of the Land Commissioner General. He said Cabinet appointed a land law expert committee, whose report has been referred to the Attorney-General, and implementation will proceed after legal advice is received. He added that the Government’s broader programme to issue deeds and permits continues, and pending “Urumaya” applications can be considered once deed issuance resumes. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Land & HousingParliamentary Procedure Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Government is beginning a programme to issue land deeds and permits, starting on 13 August in the first Divisional Secretariat Division in Kilinochchi under the Minister and Northern Province Governor. He said LRC deeds would be issued first in Kilinochchi under the “1.4” initiative, and that any valuation concerns could be discussed and addressed as the process proceeds. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Land & Housing Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe, replying on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, provided land extents held by category, totalling 161,506 hectares, and stated that the Land Reform Commission’s remaining extent after acquisitions and exclusions is 6,439 acres, 1 rood and 6.58 perches. He said the relevant process has not been suspended and that the LRC is continuing a programme to issue deeds or permits to long-term occupants, with plans to issue 7,000 deeds island-wide, including in Monaragala District, by 31 December 2025. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) AgricultureLand & Housing Read →