Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Anuradhapura

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 402 #9 of 225·#4 in party

Attendance 3/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

402 speeches

9 June 2026 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the People’s Bank authorization connected to co-operative pawning licences had lapsed on 07.06.2024, and that three rounds of discussions had been held with the bank to restore it. He said the Government was also taking steps to protect the co-operative sector from asset misappropriation while restoring the facility. Oral Questions 1-10 Public Finance Read →
9 June 2026 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the co-operative banking sector, including rural, SANASA and other co-operative banks, has faced serious audit, reporting and pawning-related irregularities, with some reports overdue for several years and pledged items missing. He explained that People’s Bank discontinued the pawning licence due to these issues, but said the Government is taking steps to strengthen the sector through amendments to the Co-operative Societies Law, regulation under a Banking Regulatory Authority, and restoration of pawning facilities under proper oversight. Oral Questions 1-10 Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
9 June 2026 AI summary The Minister answered Question No. 10 (2039/2026) regarding a People’s Bank pawning agency, stating that its authorization had been suspended by letter dated 7 June 2024, correcting the year mentioned in the question. He said the agency has not yet been assigned to another institution and that no reports had been received about the alleged difficulties caused. He added that officials discussed the matter with the Chairman and officers of People’s Bank on 6 May 2026, resubmitted a request, and expect a detailed report from the bank. Oral Questions 1-10 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary The Minister noted that the debate concerned amendments to the Inland Revenue Act, while also referring to forthcoming import and export control regulations, including on rice imports. He outlined Government action on paddy procurement and rice market supply, stating that the Paddy Marketing Board holds about 135,000 MT, with stocks being milled through CWE and released via Sathosa, cooperatives and private channels, and further Cabinet approval sought to mill an additional 45,000 MT before the next harvest in key regions. He also referred to war commemoration events, housing allocations for war-displaced people in the North and East, and said the Government is pursuing anti-corruption measures and improved tax compliance, claiming revenue rose significantly by end-2025 without new taxes. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage AgricultureCost of LivingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
6 May 2026 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe moved that Hon. Upul Kithsiri take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha left the Chair and Hon. Upul Kithsiri assumed it. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 May 2026 AI summary The Minister said potato farmers in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla-Bandarawela are facing downward price pressure during the harvesting season, while Lanka Sathosa is already buying local potatoes at about Rs. 235 and the Rs. 80 duty on imported potatoes remains in place. He stated that the Ministry would meet with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, and Lanka Sathosa to establish a purchasing mechanism, including a fixed farmer price, and would also engage private retail networks. He added that the Government plans to purchase more than 100 metric tons of local potatoes per day to support farmers. Oral Question: Laggala Bus Station Facilities (Q.1/885/2025) AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
6 May 2026 AI summary The Minister said agricultural marketing centres previously managed by multiple authorities and landowners have been brought under a single fully state-owned entity with a unified legal and procedural framework. He rejected claims that a private company was being created, and said the objective is to improve facilities such as packaging, help farmers bring produce to market, reduce post-harvest losses, and stabilize consumer prices. Oral Question: Laggala Bus Station Facilities (Q.1/885/2025) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
6 May 2026 AI summary The Minister answered that no prior entity existed, but all Specialized Economic Centres had been amalgamated into a fully state-owned company, National Agri-Marketing Services Limited, established under the Companies Act on 9 October 2025 with shares held by the Secretary to the Treasury. He detailed the nine-member Board appointment structure and the Governance Committees to be set up for each centre, including district officials, local authorities, police, agriculture officials, trader and farmer representatives, and ministerial representatives. He said the expected benefits include stabilising agricultural markets, improving leasing and infrastructure for storage, sale and distribution, ensuring regulatory compliance, providing common services, and establishing market information systems on prices and quantities. Oral Question: Laggala Bus Station Facilities (Q.1/885/2025) AgriculturePublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary A petition from Mr. Samantha Dissanayake of Kahatagahdigiliya, Anuradhapura, was presented and accepted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development. Petitions: Citizens' Petitions (Four Petitions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary During an electronic division in Parliament, the vote concluded with 47 Members voting in favour and 152 against, with no abstentions. Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe was recorded as voting against. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe rejected the no-confidence motion over coal procurement, arguing that Cabinet acts collectively and that tender decisions were made through technical and procurement procedures rather than by the Minister alone. He said alleged corruption claims and loss estimates, including the cited Rs. 22 billion figure, should be properly examined, while noting that about USD 15 million had already been withheld from the supplier over performance and quality issues. He stated that if alternative generation such as diesel is required due to coal shortfalls, the Government will calculate and seek recovery of the additional cost from the supplier, while ensuring uninterrupted power supply without passing extra costs to the public. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government had stabilized public finances after the 2022 bankruptcy by widening tax compliance, controlling expenditure and reducing the budget deficit without introducing new taxes. He argued that this fiscal management enabled major relief allocations, including Rs. 270 billion in 2025, Rs. 500 billion in 2026 for cyclone-affected people, and a Rs. 100 billion economic package for fishers, Aswesuma beneficiaries and low-electricity users. He rejected Opposition claims that compensation and relief had not been provided, stating that most payments had been made and that remaining cases were due to administrative issues. He framed these measures in the context of recent cyclones and the economic risks from the Middle East conflict and disrupted supply chains. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said fertilizer procurement for the Yala season was underway, with MOP available and TSP and urea tenders and consignments being managed for proportional allocation. He defended the Government’s relief package as planned and sustainable, including direct assistance to affected groups and measures to contain inflation without increasing money supply growth. He stated that the Government had engaged producers, importers and distributors on essential goods, fuel, gas and construction materials to limit festive-season price increases, while acknowledging possible pressure from the dollar, oil prices, tourism and remittances. He rejected Opposition claims on shortages, prices and coal quality, saying such matters should be debated on facts and handled through contractual and procedural mechanisms. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe rejected claims that the Government was unprepared for the impacts of the Israel-US attacks on Iran, stating that Cabinet committees had been established on transport, food security and continuity of public services, with QR-based fuel controls used where needed. He said fiscal discipline and increased revenue had enabled additional relief expenditure, including Rs. 50 billion this year for Cyclone “Michaung” victims, bringing relief allocations to about Rs. 150 billion with the latest Rs. 100 billion. He also dismissed concerns over fertilizer shortages, saying availability had been reviewed with relevant companies, departments and ministries through regular inter-ministerial coordination on production, transport and essential supplies. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) Public FinanceCost of LivingAgriculture Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe explained that Paddy Marketing Board stocks from the Yala season, totaling 50,000 MT with an additional 4,000 MT bought by Sathosa, are being milled through registered service providers and mills. He stated that around 5,000 MT per month is being released to Lanka Sathosa, Triposha, the Food Commission, private sector buyers, and co-operatives, with over 8,000 MT released in the previous two months. He said PMB warehouse stocks are issued under agreements requiring mills to process and return rice, and that the process is continuing. Oral Question: Consumer Affairs Authority Rice Raids (Q.640/2025) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said Keeri Samba production remains limited relative to rising demand, particularly from middle-class consumers and the tourism sector, while Nadu accounts for most rice consumption. He stated that cultivation has been expanded, including 78,000 hectares for the 2026 Maha season and planned increases in seed allocation and Yala cultivation, with the aim of bringing supply slightly above demand. He explained that temporary shortages arise because Keeri Samba is best milled after around six months of storage, and said limited imports/substitutions were allowed to bridge gaps. He added that big mills have been registered with the Paddy Marketing Board and that the Consumer Affairs Authority will conduct raids against sales above the guaranteed price of Rs. 260. Oral Question: Consumer Affairs Authority Rice Raids (Q.640/2025) Agriculture Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary In response to Question 640/2025, figures were provided on Consumer Affairs Authority rice-related raids: 4,266 in 2024, 4,850 in 2025, and 359 up to February 2026, with fines totaling Rs. 244.8 million. He stated that nationwide inspections are continuing and that approval has been obtained to recruit 120 Investigation Officers this year to strengthen investigations and raids. Oral Question: Consumer Affairs Authority Rice Raids (Q.640/2025) Cost of Living Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that measures are being taken to ensure market stabilization in line with current conditions. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Public Finance Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Food Security Committee and Cabinet had taken short-term measures to curb food price increases by normalizing transport and supply chains. He said discussions were held with importers, producers, distributors, and the Pettah Traders’ Association to assess stocks and logistics, with fuel shortages and transport continuity identified as key constraints. He noted that the President had directed priority fuel allocation for health and essential goods transport, and cited current market prices for sugar, lentils, onions, and rice as evidence of easing prices. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) AgricultureCost of LivingInfrastructure Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe objected that the other Member was reading a questionnaire rather than posing a specific question. He stated that he would respond if a proper question was asked. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →