Hon. Arun Hemachandra, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Trincomalee

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment

Profession: ---

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Speeches 75 #66 of 225·#29 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

75 speeches

23 May 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra supported the amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, arguing that Sri Lanka has lagged in adopting technology for justice administration and that audio-visual testimony and electronic evidence are necessary to address organized crime, witness safety, and court congestion. He referred to proposed changes including provisions linked to Sections 144 and 273, enabling remote testimony where there are threats to life or public safety, and cited international precedents from the United States and India. He connected the need for reform to past incidents involving organized crime and violence, including attacks on prisoners and witnesses, and urged all parties to support the Bill as part of broader justice-sector reforms. Debate: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Law & OrderJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the issue raised by the Leader of the Opposition spans multiple sectors and is being examined by a multi-sectoral committee appointed by the Government. He said more time is required to provide a formal response, which would be given in the coming days. Ministerial Statement: SO 27(2) Question to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister tabled an answer detailing job quotas under Sri Lanka-Israel employment agreements, totalling 33,800 positions across agriculture, construction, infrastructure, rehabilitation, hospitality, manufacturing and caregiving. It reported that 10,639 workers had been sent for agriculture employment by 2 April 2025, while deployments in hotels, restaurants, infrastructure and manufacturing had not yet begun due to ongoing selection processes. The answer stated that Israel had temporarily suspended recruitment of Sri Lankans for agriculture because of skills concerns and absconding by some workers, leaving about 1,557 selected candidates awaiting deployment. It added that Sri Lanka is continuing discussions with Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority and will deploy candidates when opportunities resume under new fitness, knowledge and interview-based selection procedures. Oral Questions: Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; Foreign Employment Foreign AffairsEmployment Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra defended the Bill’s asset recovery provisions, stating that they are not retrospective and do not infringe fundamental rights, while enabling the freezing and recovery of property derived from earlier crimes. He cited international examples from the UK, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, and Nigeria to support the need for conviction- and non-conviction-based recovery mechanisms and international cooperation. He argued that Sri Lanka previously lacked adequate tools to investigate unexplained wealth among politicians, officials, and others, and said the Bill would help create a healthier political culture by requiring proof of lawful acquisition. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra requested to continue his remarks, stating that he had not named the other member and that any response should be made during that member’s own allotted time. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra briefly stated that despite having many opportunities, the matter in question had not been carried out. The intervention was interrupted and contained no specific policy proposal or detailed context. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra briefly directs another member to sit, stating that the requested action was not done. No substantive policy issue or proposal is raised in this intervention. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra briefly requested to proceed with his remarks, indicating that the other member could respond during their allocated time. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was addressed in this intervention. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra rejected an attempted point of order, stating that he had not mentioned the relevant Member by name. He directed the Member to take their seat and maintained that no point of order arose. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra supported the Second Reading of the Bill, presenting it as a timely measure to recover or freeze assets derived from past wrongdoing and to strengthen accountability for unexplained wealth. He criticised the Opposition for what he described as a lack of constructive engagement, noting that they had opportunities to act between 2015 and 2019 and did not challenge the Bill in the Supreme Court. He argued that the Bill does not have retrospective effect, does not violate fundamental rights or Article 12 of the Constitution, and said the Government is prepared to conduct investigations and implement the law once enacted. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
18 March 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said foreign employment is a major source of foreign exchange and emphasized the need to curb irregular migration while noting a decline in the share of workers leaving as domestic workers. He urged all migrant workers, including those travelling on visit visas for work, to register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, stating that registration is necessary for effective state intervention in disputes or emergencies. He said the Government is reforming the Bureau, addressing past political interference, and developing mechanisms down to Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari levels to provide guidance, training, and family support for migrant workers. He stated that the Government’s objective is to regulate the sector, ensure migrant safety, and address the economic pressures that compel people to seek work abroad. Adjournment Motion: Protection and Support for Migrant Workers Abroad EmploymentCorruption & Governance ReformForeign Affairs Read →
15 March 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra defended the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Ministry’s performance, arguing that it is restoring public confidence in foreign missions through merit-based appointments, digitization of consular services, and clearing passport backlogs. He cited past corruption allegations involving former ambassadors as context for reforms, and said the eBMD portal now enables overseas issuance of birth, marriage and death certificates while generating foreign exchange. He also outlined steps to strengthen policy preparedness through the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and to reform foreign employment processes, including reviving E-8 visas through the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency, restoring Italian driving licence conversion recognition, and resuming Italy work visa processes. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Foreign AffairsEmploymentCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra stated that the Ministry intends to address both sectoral production issues, including palmyrah and hill-country tea, and communities’ basic infrastructure needs. He emphasized the aim of providing permanent solutions through the Ministry. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) AgricultureInfrastructure Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra argued that plantation sectors such as coconut, palmyrah, tea and cinnamon had declined due to past mismanagement, poor land use, the chemical fertilizer ban, weak value addition and lack of reliable data. He said the Government is beginning scientific approaches to issues such as animal damage and agricultural statistics, while also developing the palmyrah sector through a non-political board and seeking to strengthen export earnings. He emphasized that estate communities require basic rights, including addresses, land, housing and education, and that rebuilding tea and other plantation industries should proceed alongside environmental protection. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) AgricultureInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
11 March 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government has begun releasing lands acquired by the armed forces, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and is addressing delays inherited from earlier administrative processes. He stated that discussions at District Coordinating Committees in Trincomalee and Batticaloa, consultations with the Defence Secretary, and directions from the President and Defence authorities support the release and regularization of lands to rightful owners. He said documentary and communication issues would be corrected, deeds would be issued on an outright grant basis without leases where applicable, and a public report had been requested to expedite resettlement and restoration of property rights. Adjournment Debate: Batticaloa Airport Land Acquisition and Release Land & HousingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
11 March 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra supported the Budget proposals for the Ministry of Digital Economy, arguing that digitalization is essential for transparency, good governance and reducing corruption, fraud and wastage. He defended the proposed digital ID system, including biometric use, stating that security measures such as encryption and encoding would be applied and citing international implementation as context. He said digital tools could improve data-driven decision-making in agriculture, fisheries, transport, livestock, public administration, foreign employment selection and consular services, and noted that GovPay and a proposed single-window investor platform were part of the Government’s broader digitalization agenda. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Foreign AffairsAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Accepted six petitions from residents of Kinniya, Kantale and Trincomalee for presentation to Parliament. The petitions were submitted by Ahamadu Jan Rasool Jan, H. A. Ramani, Kamindu Kamaldeen, Rasathurei Akilan, T. P. Kamalanathan and U. L. K. Mohamed. Petitions: Citizens' Petitions presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Budget and the Government’s energy policy, rejecting Opposition claims of an emerging fuel crisis and saying the Government would not allow shortages or instability. He tabled a 2022 National Audit Office report on CPC dealer commission overpayments, documents alleging improper overtime and vehicle use by union-linked individuals at CPSTL and CPC, and a list of alleged political links to petroleum dealerships. He argued that Opposition criticism was connected to affected business interests and stated that the Government’s priority was energy security and public relief after the country’s bankruptcy. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformForeign Affairs Read →
21 February 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister tabled an answer stating that Sri Lanka has no formal agreement with South Korea for employment under the E-8 seasonal visa scheme, and that private recruitment for such visas is not legally permitted. He said the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment cannot register workers for E-8 deployment, warned that high recruitment costs and possible overstaying could jeopardize the existing EPS programme with Korea, and noted that seven affected workers had recovered about Rs. 7.1 million through legal action while the relevant agency’s licence was suspended. He added that further complaints with evidence could be pursued through legal processes, and that a Cabinet memorandum and concept report for a pilot E-8 project had been submitted for a policy decision. Oral Question: Sri Lankans with E-8 Visa Leaving for Jobs in South Korea (Q.386/2025) EmploymentForeign Affairs Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the allocation in question is made by the Government of Sri Lanka for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka. No further policy detail, proposal, or question was included in the excerpt. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Foreign Affairs Read →