Hon. T. B. Sarath, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Polonnaruwa

Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 58 #85 of 225·#40 in party

Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

58 speeches

19 June 2025 AI summary At present, Batticaloa Municipal Council has no proper wastewater management system, so no renovation is applicable. The Deputy Minister stated that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has identified the need for such a system and that a feasibility study was undertaken by M/s Ion Exchange (India) Limited under NWSDB supervision, but the final report has not been submitted due to lack of funding. He said further planning can proceed once a suitable funding source is identified, and the rest of the question was not applicable. Oral Question: Batticaloa Municipal Council Drainage Systems (Q.1/2025) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary A petition from Mr. A.M. Sunil Adhikari of Rankoth Vehera Mawatha, Nishshankamallapura, Polonnaruwa, was presented and accepted by the Deputy Minister of Housing. Petitions: Five Petitions Accepted Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary T. B. Sarath briefly reassured another Member, telling them not to be alarmed. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the statement. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath stated that there was no cause for alarm and assured that he would provide the internal audit report. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Public Finance Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary T. B. Sarath responded to a reference made by Hon. Harsha de Silva regarding alleged outstanding payments and the use of his name. He stated that Harsha de Silva’s name may also have been used and undertook to provide him with the internal audit report. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath began to address the Deputy Speaker, but no substantive remarks, proposals, questions, or policy points are included in the provided excerpt. Private Members' Motion (P.12/2024): Enhancing State Sector Involvement in Food Import and Distribution Land & Housing Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Nilwala salinity barrier, built as part of a Rs. 3,000 million water supply project intended to serve about 800,000 people, has caused serious post-construction flooding impacts, damaging more than 20,000 acres of farmland. He outlined immediate measures including widening openings, removing a temporary sandbag barrier, and clearing river obstructions, while a University of Peradeniya team will conduct a comprehensive study with input from engineers, farmers and the public. He said the Government will convene a broader discussion with Matara District MPs and allocate funds for a durable, scientifically based solution. Adjournment Motion: Mitigation of Floods Caused by Nilwala Salinity Barrier AgricultureEnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister rejected Opposition claims about unpaid flood compensation in Polonnaruwa, stating that Rs. 103.2 million had been paid to 6,234 farmers for 9,058.9 acres within a month of the damage. He defended the Government’s paddy purchasing price of Rs. 120 per kilo as based on production cost calculations and Treasury constraints, and said fertilizer subsidy spending would be reviewed in light of past allocations and actual disbursements. He outlined plans to move toward pesticide-free agriculture, require officer certification for agrochemical use, expand certified seed production through 29 seed farms, fund value-added agricultural industries, improve transport and market systems, and reduce maize imports by meeting national demand within two seasons. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary T. B. Sarath stated that the Government intends to recover State losses arising from past allocations of State property that had received Cabinet and parliamentary approval. He said further allocations have been stopped, noting that of 76 units requested, 26 had been granted and the remainder halted, and that future action would proceed through lawful policy decisions. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Rs. 1,360 million has been allocated for repairs to apartments in the Colombo District, while Rs. 3,000 million is set aside nationwide for housing construction. The aim is to build within the year a number of houses equivalent to those built during 2015–2019, with a further Rs. 2,850 million allocated as assistance. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Public FinanceLand & Housing Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath alleged that some individuals who received compensation and insurance payments for damaged houses, including cases of limited damage, also obtained State apartments, thereby misusing public funds. He said that when such matters are exposed the Opposition becomes agitated, and argued that concerns raised about limestone at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board relate to a cancelled contractor agreement. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister T. B. Sarath argued that housing policy had been driven by politically motivated targets rather than verified need, citing incomplete model village projects, overstated construction figures, unoccupied or rented-out houses, and thousands of units left only at foundation stage. He said the Government has allocated Rs. 2,000 million this year to complete part of the unfinished work and raised concerns over past projects including Ranpokunugama, Yakkala Charalawatta, Marine Town, athlete housing promises, and NHDA recruitment. He also alleged irregular procurement, missing files, political allocation of housing units, and State losses from concessionary apartments given to MPs after the Aragalaya-related attacks. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformLand & Housing Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath presented a petition from Mr. K. L. Anura Fernando of Hingurakgoda. The petition was ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions: Citizens' Petitions presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Budget against Opposition claims that it was an IMF or capitalist Budget, arguing that it begins a programme of economic democracy and social justice through allocations for health, education, housing, agriculture, and environmental initiatives. He highlighted measures including fuel price reductions, school supply assistance, pension increases, a higher fertilizer subsidy, and a guaranteed paddy price of Rs. 120 per kilogram with a consumer rice price ceiling of Rs. 230 per kilogram. He also referred to action on rice pricing, rehabilitation of electric fences to address human-elephant conflict, plans to expand big onion cultivation to reduce imports, and proposals for youth and cooperative farmer villages. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Cost of LivingPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath rejected Opposition claims of unmanaged shortages in rice, salt, and coconuts, while acknowledging a scarcity of Nadu rice and alleging that major millers were influencing supply and prices. He defended the Government’s controlled consumer prices for rice, arguing that reducing import duties during harvest would depress farmgate prices, and said the policy aims to balance consumer protection with fair returns for farmers. He also stated that the fertilizer subsidy had been raised from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per hectare, with Rs. 18 billion already paid or allocated, and said comprehensive farmer data would be presented within six months. The Deputy Minister maintained that the Government would address supply and pricing issues methodically and that results would be visible within one to three months. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath raised a point under Standing Order 38 seeking clarification on a statement referring to “three large mill owners.” He asked the Member to identify who the three mill owners were, specifically questioning the identity of the third. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath, Deputy Minister of Housing, rose on a point of Order. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided speech excerpt. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath thanked voters in Polonnaruwa and argued that current rice and agricultural problems stem from the long-term decline of agriculture after the 1977 open economy and the weakening of institutions such as the Paddy Marketing Board. He cited unused paddy storage capacity and decayed state-supported mills in Polonnaruwa, saying the Government cannot resolve supply issues within weeks of taking office and that those now criticizing helped create the conditions for private domination of the rice sector. He also addressed a recent protest at the Education Ministry, stating that officials offered dialogue, Cabinet action was being pursued, and Police acted lawfully after violence occurred. He said the Government aims over five years to strengthen national unity, uplift the rural economy, and address these issues. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) AgricultureEducationLaw & Order Read →