Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Digamadulla

Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

Profession: ---

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Speeches 23 #163 of 225·#101 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

23 speeches

9 June 2026 AI summary The issue concerns long-standing flooding and underutilized paddy lands in the Ampara area, particularly the lower basin of the Gal Oya near Kittangi bridge and related tanks and anicuts. The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa said that a feasibility study and sustainable scientific plan were proposed at the Ampara District Coordinating Committee meeting attended by the President, who indicated that funds would be allocated. He argued that proper implementation would enable wider paddy cultivation, control floods, and reduce recurrent government expenditure. Oral Questions 1-10 Public FinanceInfrastructureAgriculture Read →
9 June 2026 AI summary A petition was presented on behalf of R.D. Asanka Vishvanath Ariyapala of Gemunupura, Ampara. Messages from President and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa said current fuel, gas, electricity and transport cost increases stem from a global energy crisis and supply disruptions, not Government mismanagement, and stated that relief measures had been outlined by the President. He contrasted this with the previous economic collapse, citing corruption and dollar shortages, and claimed the Government has improved fiscal discipline, saved Treasury funds, funded Cyclone “Ditva” relief without new debt or money printing, and pursued anti-corruption investigations. He also referred to public sector salary increases, plans to recruit 73,000 workers including 23,000 teachers, energy infrastructure projects involving the Trincomalee oil tanks and Muthurajawela-Katunayake pipeline, and corrections to Aswesuma beneficiary targeting. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Cost of LivingPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the amendments to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and the Judicature Act, arguing that drug trafficking and dependence had expanded through political protection, weakened rule of law, and organized networks. He cited increased arrests and raids in 2025 compared with 2019, and said the Government is pursuing a whole-of-nation anti-drug effort through district and local operations councils involving security forces, police, officials, and political authorities. He linked the drug problem to poverty and said programmes such as Aswesuma, the “Praja Shakthi” national mission, Clean Sri Lanka, digitization, and “Rata Ma Ekata” are intended to support poverty eradication, rehabilitation, and institutional reform. Debate (continued): Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and Judicature (Amendment) Bill Corruption & Governance ReformCost of LivingLaw & Order Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa moved that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 December 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa supported the Rs. 500 billion Supplementary Estimate for disaster recovery, citing UNDP data on the scale of the cyclone-related damage, including 2.3 million people affected, extensive flooding, and major losses to paddy fields and buildings. He said the Government had mobilized state institutions, security forces, local committees, and volunteers for relief work, with grants and compensation for cleaning, equipment, housing reconstruction, and land purchase already being disbursed. He rejected Opposition criticism of the response and argued that recovery funding would come through reallocating existing Treasury funds rather than borrowing, money printing, or new taxes. He also called for scientifically planned rebuilding and long-term measures to reduce risks from floods and landslides, linking the disaster to unscientific development in vulnerable areas. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Read →
27 November 2025 AI summary Farmers’ difficulties in drying harvested paddy were highlighted, with the argument that reliance on large-scale buyers of wet paddy disadvantages them. A proposal was noted to provide modern drying equipment to farmers’ cooperatives and multipurpose societies, supported by an allocation of Rs. 500 million. The speech framed these measures as initial steps toward sustainable solutions under the Government’s agricultural policy. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Agriculture Read →
27 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa addressed the ongoing flood situation linked to heavy rainfall, expressing condolences for deaths including three in Sainthamaruthu, and said the President had met Government and Opposition Members to discuss further parliamentary and relief measures. He reported rising water levels at Senanayake Samudraya in Ampara, noted prior concerns over the reservoir bund, and said the Irrigation Department and disaster authorities were taking action, with District Disaster Management Committees to meet nationwide from the next day. Responding to Opposition points, he said travel allowances for Agricultural Research and Production Assistants were being addressed, Rs. 352 million of the Rs. 500 million allocated for Young Agri-Entrepreneurs had already been disbursed, and reiterated the Government’s position that past development projects were associated with corruption. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) EnvironmentAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa defended the Praja Shakthi programme as a lawful, grassroots development mechanism and rejected Opposition criticism by attributing administrative delays and economic collapse to shortcomings of previous governments. He said the Government had intervened in the Hingurana Sugar Factory dispute between Gal Oya Plantation Company and cane farmers, including discussions on temporary paddy cultivation for interim farmer income, though the Board had not approved the proposal. Outlining his Ministry’s welfare work, he cited increased elderly allowances for 800,000 low-income beneficiaries, disability allowances for 162,588 persons, skills training for youth with disabilities, and new service-access systems for persons with speech impairments. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Public FinanceAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister defended lawful action against illegal entry while outlining the Ministry’s household empowerment programme targeting two million low-income families over five years, supported by central government, World Bank and ADB funding. He said the Samurdhi amendment is needed because Rs. 250 billion in 1,097 Samurdhi banks and related community organizations have lacked adequate audit, discipline and accountability, enabling misuse and corruption. The amendment would insert Section 28A to apply the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, to Samurdhi Community-Based Bank accounts, and he linked it to the government’s broader anti-corruption and economic stabilization efforts. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Cost of LivingCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister recounted the closure, privatization and subsequent revival of the Hingurana Sugar Factory as Gal Oya Plantations under a 51 per cent Government and 49 per cent private partnership, arguing that earlier privatization and mismanagement had damaged Ampara’s economy. He said current operations still disadvantage sugarcane farmers through low prices, unfair agreements, poor infrastructure, alleged intimidation of protests, unpaid dues to the Government and private control despite majority State ownership. He called for accountability for those responsible for the factory’s collapse and stated that the Government would take measures to ensure benefits reach farmers rather than only management. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Public FinanceAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported amendments to the Employees’ National Minimum Wage and related Bills, stating that they would legally implement Budget relief for over five million private sector workers. He defended the Government’s development agenda, citing programmes on irrigation rehabilitation, agriculture, dairy production, rural roads, housing, education reform, digitalization, and poverty reduction through family development plans and cooperatives. He also criticized the Opposition’s claims and said the Government was pursuing fiscal discipline and legal action against misuse of public property as part of its broader reform programme. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Public FinanceEmploymentAgriculture Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa defended the Budget’s use of existing lawful data systems and said a fuller scientific database on vulnerable groups had not been developed by previous governments. He outlined the Ministry’s 2025–2029 community empowerment programme targeting two million families, with circulars issued and officers briefed to prepare family development plans. Citing data on elderly persons, persons with disabilities, informal workers, drug addiction, mental health issues and families of prisoners, he argued that welfare spending such as Aswasuma must shift from dependency relief to economic and social empowerment through locally based livelihoods, youth employment and coordinated field work by ministry and Samurdhi officers. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Public FinanceEmploymentCost of Living Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa informed Parliament that he accepted a petition from Mr. S.H.N.R. Samarathunga, residing at No. 54/B, BHM, BR Factory Area. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa criticized disruption of the debate as disrespectful to persons with disabilities and supported Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s proposal to ensure they can live without impediments. He said Sri Lanka has failed to provide adequate accessibility in transport, workplaces, towns and public facilities, leaving many persons with disabilities confined at home despite existing laws and regulations. He stated that the government and the relevant Ministry have prepared plans and a special programme to implement the proposals. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa objected to an interruption during a half-hour debate allocated for issues affecting persons with disabilities, saying it disrespected and took time away from that community. He stated that the present government had given unprecedented attention to persons with disabilities, including before the election and in its party commitments. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Women & Children Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa briefly thanked Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva for presenting the Adjournment Motion concerning persons with disabilities. He noted that the matter was important to the wider community of persons with disabilities, following a prior response by Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma to a related query. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Women & Children Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister reported flooding along both banks of the Gal Oya in Ampara due to high storage at the D.S. Senanayake Samudraya, spill gate releases, and additional inflows, with a bund breach at Nehinnaikadu inundating about 3,000 acres of paddy. He said around 1,000 acres had been saved, another 1,000 acres might still be protected subject to weather, but more than 1,000 acres were damaged, while several roads and irrigation structures were also affected. He stated that temporary sandbagging and emergency work were being carried out by district officials, irrigation engineers, the tri-forces and Police, and that estimates and special DCC committees were being prepared for permanent flood control and Gal Oya river conservation measures. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) AgricultureEnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa reported extensive cyclone and flood damage in Ampara District, including 11 deaths, 46,766 affected families, major crop losses, damaged houses, irrigation works, roads, bridges, and fisheries assets. He said the Government would move beyond short-term disaster responses by preparing plans, regulations and preventive measures to manage recurring floods, while acknowledging that flooding cannot be eliminated entirely. He called for expedited and improved assessment procedures for agricultural losses, warning that delays by officials are unacceptable, and cited estimated compensation and reconstruction needs running into several billions of rupees. Adjournment Motion: Compensation for Damaged Crops and Victims of Adverse Weather (Cyclone Fengal) AgriculturePublic FinanceEnvironment Read →
3 December 2024 AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa clarified that he had not expressed the view attributed to him by another Member. He stated that the public had rejected the previous political culture and ethics and were aligning with a new political culture and policy, with changing political behaviour and preferences in those areas. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →