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

19 March 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly intervened to state that the matter being discussed was the other Member’s proposal. No substantive argument, demand, or policy position was presented in this remark. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Aswesuma welfare benefit scheme is under review, including both past benefit allocations and new applications. He said beneficiaries will be reselected according to the relevant criteria and that the process is expected to be completed within the next few months. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Public Finance Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Asked another Member to obtain the allocated speaking time before addressing the House. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that, under Election Commission instructions, a general meeting may be held but an election may not. He noted that the relevant election had already been held in February. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that while a general meeting could be held, an election could not be conducted. He characterized the opposing party’s response as agitation rather than a procedural basis for holding an election. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified the date of a General Meeting, stating that it was held on March 16. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the General Meeting was held on 16 March. He informed Parliament that the relevant document had been placed in the Library. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Plans are underway to establish 150 new Sathosa outlets this year and expand the network from about 450 to 1,000 outlets within three years, including through large, medium, regular and franchise-type small outlets where viable. The Minister also said recruitment and training will resume for the Department of Co-operative Development, which had previously been earmarked for closure, with efforts to strengthen cooperative banks and consumer societies and integrate them into the national retail network while safeguarding depositors. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) InfrastructureCost of Living Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that he would convey the Hon. Member’s message to the Minister of Justice and National Integration. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe addressed allegations or concerns regarding taxes on coconut oil imports, citing Customs data over four months across several HS codes with a total customs value of about Rs. 36.6 billion. He stated that import duties are collected at entry and VAT applies when refined products are sold domestically, and said the issue has also been referred to Plantation Industries due to food security concerns linked to imports equivalent to about 200 million coconuts. He invited details of any company alleged to have committed fraud, noting that the Prime Minister has referred the matter to relevant agencies and that investigations are proceeding. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that reports of conditions being imposed were incorrect. He said discussions had been held with the Indian High Commission, including the High Commissioner and trade attaché, and clarified that no conditions had been set by their side. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Foreign Affairs Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said rice supply remains strained because government stocks were empty when the administration took office and the Maha harvest is now expected to fall from 2.98 million to about 2.4 million metric tonnes due to weather and floods. He stated that although the Government’s policy is not to import rice except in a natural calamity or disaster, imports may be required if shortages affect the market, while prices will be kept within controlled levels. He outlined measures to stabilize the market, including State bank loan facilities of Rs. 10 billion for small and medium millers and Rs. 15 billion, potentially rising to Rs. 45 billion, for large millers, alongside government purchasing of paddy as harvesting begins in major producing districts. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Rs. 5 billion had been allocated to the Paddy Marketing Board, which does not fall under the speaker’s Ministry. He stated that he would obtain the relevant details and provide them later. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Agriculture Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe tabled details of proposed essential food packs, outlining three variants containing combinations of rice, flour and other staples. He stated that a standard pack would weigh about 15–17 kg and include items such as Nadu rice, onions, potatoes, dhal, salmon, sugar, wheat flour, Samaposha and soya meat. He said Sathosa would sell the packs at cost while absorbing Rs. 751 from its margin, with the Government covering about Rs. 1,800 per pack from a Rs. 1,500 million allocation, enabling distribution of around 833,000 packs. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Cost of Living Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the matter raised would also be resolved. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified that the Government will provide a relief goods pack to over 800,000 applicants awaiting Aswesuma assessment, offering items worth over Rs. 5,000 for Rs. 2,500. He stated that Cabinet had increased the allocation from Rs. 1,000 million to Rs. 1,500 million on the Food Security Committee’s request, with the Finance Minister to present the amendment, and that Lanka Sathosa had completed supplier and tender arrangements pending a Treasury advance. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Government would consider the proposal but preferred to build domestic institutional capacity through coordination among the Department of Commerce, the Ministry, the Treasury, and the Foreign Ministry rather than hiring paid foreign consultants. He noted that discussions with the United States, Sri Lanka’s largest single export market, had already been initiated for September, and said Parliament would be kept informed while welcoming cross-party support. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that the lapse of the US GSP on 31 December 2020 affected all beneficiary countries and has not been renewed by the US Congress. He said Sri Lanka plans joint discussions with the United States in September, including on apparel sector issues, and welcomed constructive Opposition support. He added that the Government is reviewing existing trade agreements and exploring new arrangements, including with Vietnam and Iran, with the aim of using trade policy to reduce prices and ensure supply. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Cost of LivingForeign Affairs Read →
19 March 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to issues raised during the Committee Stage debate, outlining reforms across institutions under the Trade Ministry, especially Lak Sathosa, including closing or relocating loss-making outlets, opening 150 new shops based on surveys, recruiting staff transparently, investigating past malpractices, and enforcing supplier quality controls. He said the Government retained the rice import duty imposed by the previous administration to balance farmer protection and consumer interests, and cited price reductions at Sathosa compared with March 2024. He also highlighted savings from revised STC ammonium nitrate procurement, a 50 per cent increase in the Mahapola scholarship from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500, and the need to address the status of SLIIT in relation to Mahapola land and prior Cabinet decisions. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Cost of LivingPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
6 March 2025 AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer on rice imports, stating that 49,621.6 metric tons were imported by the private sector during the queried period, while no government imports occurred in that overall period. He further stated that from 21 September 2024 to 26 February 2025 the Government imported 10,400 metric tons and the private sector 180,653.5 metric tons, with imports used as a temporary measure in late 2024 due to lack of buffer stocks, market concentration, reduced production, weather impacts, and diversion of rice to other uses. The response also cited controlled consumer prices under Gazette No. 2414/04 of 9 December 2024 and listed applicable duties and levies on imported rice categories. Oral Questions (Q.1-4) Cost of LivingAgriculture Read →