Hon. Arun Hemachandra, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Trincomalee

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 75 #66 of 225·#29 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

75 speeches

20 February 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that the allocation in question is made by the Government of Sri Lanka, not by the Government of India. He stated that the Indian Government cannot allocate budgetary funds for the people of Sri Lanka. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Foreign Affairs Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that allocations for Sri Lankans are made by the Government of Sri Lanka, emphasizing that such funding decisions are the responsibility of the Government. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Foreign Affairs Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Arun Hemachandra supported the Budget as a corrective response after bankruptcy, arguing that it addresses corruption, waste and past political excesses while increasing public servant salaries, expanding welfare measures and prioritizing digitalization through initiatives such as decentralized President’s Fund services, digital consular services and GovPay. He said the Government is changing political culture by reducing privileges, citing past presidential foreign travel entourages and costs, and highlighted the abolition of transferable duty-free vehicle permits as an anti-corruption reform. Responding to claims that the East had been neglected, he listed Budget allocations for education, hospitals, roads, fisheries, resettlement, water harvesting and development planning in the Eastern and Northern-Eastern areas, including projects in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Complaints to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment’s Special Investigations Division are handled by summoning both parties and examining evidence of payments. Efforts are first made to secure settlements and refunds, failing which cases are filed in Magistrates’ Courts and resolved according to court orders. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Justice & Human Rights Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Registered recruitment through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment facilitates tracing and enforcement action when problems arise. Even for unregistered cases, the Government accepts responsibility to protect citizens and works through the Consular Division, while acknowledging constraints in some locations and stating that measures are being taken to address them. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Foreign Affairs Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra stated that while the SLBFE receives about 3,000 complaints annually from migrant workers, fewer than 150 concern violence against female domestic workers. He outlined the procedures for handling such complaints under Sections 44, 65 and 66, including coordination with licensed agencies, missions and foreign employers, diplomatic intervention where needed, and referral of unregistered self-migrant cases to the Consular Affairs Division. He also said fraud cases are prosecuted under Section 64(a) for licensees and Section 64(b) for unlicensed actors, with money recovery first attempted through SLBFE-mediated settlement and then through Magistrate’s Court orders if necessary. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Justice & Human RightsForeign Affairs Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra said the problem arose because officials failed to renew an agreement before it lapsed, but action has been initiated and a solution is expected shortly. On the proposed agreement with Italy, he stated that discussions began in 2022, the main text is ready for signature, clarifications on Sri Lanka’s licence format changes and personal data exchange have been addressed, and the final equivalence table will be confirmed before signing. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Foreign Affairs Read →
20 February 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister, answering for the relevant Minister, said difficulties faced by Sri Lankans in Italy over conversion of driving licences stem from the expiry of the 2011 bilateral agreement and delays in finalizing a new agreement due to clarifications on changed Sri Lankan licence formats and data exchange rules. He stated that the agreed text is ready for signature once Italy sends the final table of licence category equivalences for Sri Lankan verification. He also outlined SLBFE complaint and legal procedures for migrant worker abuse and fraud, noting that fewer than 150 of about 3,000 annual complaints involve physical, psychological or sexual violence, and that action is taken through missions, licensed agencies, the Consular Affairs Division and Magistrate’s Courts under the SLBFE Act. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said the Government had provided humanitarian assistance, medical care, quarantine, and court-directed detention for 117 people who arrived by boat from Myanmar in December 2024, while immigration and health investigations continue. He stated that Sri Lanka is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or 1967 Protocol but would act consistently with humanitarian principles, including non-refoulement, and in cooperation with UNHCR where applicable. He said nationality verification is being pursued with the Myanmar Embassy, access by the Human Rights Commission had been granted, and the next court hearing is scheduled for 31 January 2025. He emphasized that no deportation decision had been made and that the Government would balance border security, immigration law, national security, and humanitarian obligations. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Justice & Human RightsForeign AffairsLaw & Order Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra argued that the Clean Sri Lanka programme should be understood as a broad reform agenda covering politics, the environment, public attitudes, governance, and digitalization, not only physical cleanliness. He said the Government had a mandate to address economic, social, and political crises and to transform institutions after long-term decline. Referring to his portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, he highlighted past problems including political appointments, weak diplomatic representation, and corruption allegations, and said a transparent software framework would be introduced at the Foreign Employment Bureau. He requested support for these reforms, or at least that they not be obstructed. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) EmploymentCorruption & Governance ReformForeign Affairs Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra said an inquiry into a recent irregularity found that the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment’s software systems were outdated and insecure, with sensitive data handled in editable MS Excel files. He said the Ministry had obtained expert advice from the University of Moratuwa and decided to comprehensively overhaul the SLBFE software system. He urged the Opposition to cooperate rather than make what he described as baseless criticisms, arguing that the Government is laying the institutional foundation for reform. He also referred to concerns raised by a foreign employment delegation that previous governments had sent unsuitable workers despite available vacancies. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance ReformEmployment Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment stated that the Ministry is pursuing the matter through diplomatic channels. He requested one week to provide statistics-based information in response to the questions raised. Oral Question by Private Notice: Issues Faced by Youth Migrated to Russia (Standing Order 27(2)) Foreign Affairs Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism presented the 2022 Annual Reports of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Tourism Development Fund. He proposed that the reports be referred to the relevant Committees, and the House agreed. Papers: Auditor-General's Report and Reports Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra outlined the impact of the recent cyclone-related disaster, giving district-level figures for deaths, displaced families, damaged houses, roads and welfare camps, particularly in Trincomalee and Batticaloa, and conveyed condolences to the victims’ families. He said the Government, security forces and police acted quickly despite some shortcomings, and argued that many flood-related problems stem from long-standing failures such as poor drainage maintenance, blocked waterways, unsafe bridges, encroachments, minor tank issues and politically influenced sand mining. He stated that the Government intends to pursue longer-term disaster-management reforms, including updating the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2005, using technical expertise and new technology, securing funding, and involving non-state organizations and communities in preparedness and response. Adjournment Motion: Compensation for Damaged Crops and Victims of Adverse Weather (Cyclone Fengal) EnvironmentInfrastructureSecurity & Defence Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said the NPP-led Government had received a mandate to change longstanding political practices and pursue reforms across government. He identified foreign affairs and foreign employment as sectors affected by past irregularities, including diplomatic appointments, consular work, and malpractice, and said reforms would be led under Minister Vijitha Herath to make them people-oriented services. He also said the Government would uphold the rule of law, reject extremism, and protect national unity and public security, while seeking public and Opposition support for broader reforms. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCorruption & Governance ReformForeign Affairs Read →