Hon. Vijitha Herath, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Gampaha

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

Profession: Politician

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Speeches 86 #59 of 225·#26 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

86 speeches

22 July 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath moved a procedural motion on behalf of the Leader of the House to vary the sitting hours of Parliament for the day, notwithstanding Standing Order No. 8. The motion set sittings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m., with Standing Order No. 8(5) to operate at 5.00 p.m. and adjournment at 6.00 p.m.; it was agreed to by the House. Procedural: Sitting Hours Extension and Land Development Bill First Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the matter raised falls under the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. He indicated that the relevant Deputy Minister would provide the response. SO 27(2) Question: Ferry Service Thalaimannar-Rameswaram Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath said that while the minimum wage had been USD 300 before 2019, subsequent shocks including the Easter Sunday attacks and COVID-19 led to an economic crisis, making recovery through remittances, tourism and exports a priority. He stated that any immediate redetermination of the minimum wage must consider reactions from relevant countries, but preliminary discussions are already under way as the economy stabilizes, with further action to follow. Ministerial Statements EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary The Minister said Sri Lanka removed the mandatory US$300 minimum monthly wage for migrant workers in 2021 and currently relies on host-country wage laws, bilateral labour agreements, contract vetting, mission monitoring, and recruitment regulation to protect workers in the Middle East. He outlined wage arrangements in Qatar and Kuwait, noted the absence of statutory minima in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and described SLBFE and embassy mechanisms for dispute resolution, complaints, blacklisting abusive employers, and repatriation support. He stated that the 2023 National Policy and Action Plan does not reintroduce a fixed outbound minimum wage, but the Ministry is open to reviewing such a mechanism through consultations. He also said SLBFE is preparing standardized wage guideline benchmarks for high-demand jobs to reduce wage theft and protect remittances. Ministerial Statements Foreign AffairsEmployment Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath stated that investigations are continuing into matters relating to the relocation of the Bureau to Badulla during Dilan Perera’s tenure under the previous Government. He argued that retaining the same staff in one station for long periods can lead to irregularities, and said transfers are being carried out fairly and without political vendetta. Oral Question: Sri Lankans Departed for Seasonal Employment in South Korea (Q.3/2024) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath said the Government and Sri Lankan missions are monitoring the Israel–Iran hostilities and assisting Sri Lankans, including about 35 in Iran and 20,000 in Israel. He reported that four Sri Lankans in Israel were injured, with embassy support provided for medical care, food, shelter, funds, and travel, including facilitating overland exit in urgent cases. He said most Sri Lankan workers in Israel wish to remain under local security protocols, but evacuation through neighbouring countries is being planned if the situation worsens. He also advised Sri Lankans on leave not to return to Israel for now and said visa-extension arrangements are being pursued to protect both lives and employment. Oral Question: Sri Lankans Departed for Seasonal Employment in South Korea (Q.3/2024) Foreign Affairs Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Minister Vijitha Herath stated that South Korea has no “E.S.” visa scheme and that seasonal employment is handled under the E-8 visa categories for agriculture and fisheries, including arrangements through provincial government MOUs and relatives of F-6 visa holders. He said three persons self-registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and departed in 2025 under the approved process, while seven unregistered jobseekers were stopped at Katunayake Airport in September 2024 for violating the SLBFE Act. The Minister added that Rs. 7,172,400 paid to Sejong World (Pvt.) Ltd. had been refunded by court order, the agency’s licence was suspended, private-sector recruitment for South Korean seasonal jobs is not permitted, and CID and Bribery Commission investigations are ongoing into visas obtained through an improperly executed MOU. Oral Question: Sri Lankans Departed for Seasonal Employment in South Korea (Q.3/2024) Foreign AffairsEmployment Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath stated that no specific Standing Order applied in the matter under discussion. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath urged Members to avoid wasting parliamentary time, implying a need to proceed efficiently with the matter under discussion. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath briefly urged the House not to waste time and to proceed with the debate. His remarks were interrupted, and no substantive policy position or proposal was presented in the excerpt. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath stated that the matter could not be taken up, without providing further detail or argument. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary The Hon. Vijitha Herath stated that an Adjournment Motion cannot proceed if the Member who submitted it is absent from the House. He emphasized that this is an established and straightforward parliamentary procedure. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath raised a procedural objection to the presentation of an Adjournment Motion, stating that because it was submitted in Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s name, he should personally move it in the House. He argued that allowing another Member to present it would violate established parliamentary practice. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath attempted to seek permission to clarify or explain a point during proceedings. The intervention was interrupted, and no substantive argument or proposal was recorded in the provided excerpt. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath responded briefly to an interruption, offering no substantive argument, proposal, or policy position in the recorded excerpt. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath stated that the Motion in question could not be moved by other Members. The remark appears to address a procedural limitation on who is entitled to move that Motion. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath rose on a point of Order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument is recorded in the provided excerpt. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Vijitha Herath objected procedurally to a motion or proposal being moved. He stated that it could not be moved, without providing further substantive argument in the recorded excerpt. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary The Minister reported that four Sri Lankans in Israel had been injured amid the Middle East conflict and said the Embassy in Israel had facilitated treatment, while Sri Lankan missions in Israel, Iran, Türkiye and the wider region were coordinating safety measures and consular support. He said the Government had temporarily suspended sending workers to Israel, including those on leave in Sri Lanka, and was seeking visa extensions from Israeli authorities while advising Sri Lankans to use shelters and contact embassies as needed. He added that evacuation from Israel was difficult due to airport and land-route restrictions, that relocation options from Iran were being prepared with friendly governments, and that contingency measures were being considered for possible impacts on remittances and oil prices. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Foreign AffairsSecurity & Defence Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism moved the procedural motion that Parliament adjourn. No substantive policy issues or proposals were raised. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Parliamentary Procedure Read →