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

25 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Rs. 65 per kilogram duty on imported rice is intended to protect domestic rice market prices and farmers’ paddy prices during the harvest period, noting the Government’s guaranteed paddy prices of Rs. 120 for Nadu and Rs. 125 for Samba. He said the Consumer Affairs Authority is monitoring mills and retailers for compliance with controlled prices, with 38 shops raided for overpricing. He added that one Polonnaruwa mill with substantial state bank loans was found to be dictating higher prices, and that special action would be taken to ensure prices do not exceed controlled levels. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) AgricultureCost of Living Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary The Minister provided year-by-year data on rice imports from 2015 to January 2025, including quantities, CIF values, source countries, and noted that the full list of importers had been placed in the Library as a soft copy. He said major import volumes occurred in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022, and explained that some specialty rice imports were made for diplomatic missions and specific restaurants with official authorization. He stated that 169,470 metric tons were imported between December 2024 and January 2025 in anticipation of shortages, while Government policy remains to promote domestic production, minimize imports, coordinate with relevant ministries to prevent shortages, and purchase paddy stocks to stabilize prices. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) AgricultureCost of Living Read →
22 February 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that projects funded through Indian assistance, whether grants or loans, are recorded within Sri Lanka’s State finances and implemented through State systems. He stated that it is inaccurate to suggest such projects fall outside the Government’s fiscal framework. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Public Finance Read →
21 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe objected to another Member’s intervention, arguing that it was not a genuine point of Order but an attempt to initiate an unnecessary debate. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 February 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the Budget’s public sector wage reforms, stating that they preserve a 1:4 wage progression while addressing long-standing salary anomalies and pension-related issues. He said Rs. 325 billion would be allocated over three years, raising the minimum basic salary to Rs. 40,000 and increasing wages across grades, with phased implementation due to fiscal constraints. He rejected claims that overtime and allowances for doctors, nurses, and university academics were being reduced, arguing that revised calculations and higher basic salaries would increase earnings, and invited further proposals on medical trainees’ hours during the Health Ministry debate. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
18 February 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe defended the Budget’s wage proposals, rejecting Opposition claims that the increases are minimal and describing them as the largest wage increase in Budget history. He said the private sector minimum basic wage would be raised from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000 from 1 April and to Rs. 30,000 from 1 January through amendments to the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, increasing related benefits such as EPF, ETF, gratuity, bonuses and overtime. He also said plantation sector wages had been negotiated to a daily minimum of Rs. 1,350 with additional productivity incentives, while efforts continue to raise monthly incomes closer to Rs. 40,000. Responding to concerns about funding 30,000 recruitments, he stated recruitment would be phased through examinations and interviews and that allocations would be sufficient for an estimated 15,000 recruits over six months. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
17 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe urged support for the Special Provisions Bill to facilitate the holding of local government elections following the election of a new President and Government and a subsequent Supreme Court judgment. He argued that elected local authorities are necessary to implement the Government’s first Budget development and welfare proposals, and called on the Opposition to cooperate in completing the election process. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
17 February 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, arguing that local government elections must be held promptly to restore services handled by local authorities. He criticized the previous postponement of the 2023 elections, alleging that funds were withheld, the Election Commission was pressured, and attempts were made to challenge judicial intervention through Parliament. He said the Government is acting in line with the Supreme Court’s direction to hold the elections expeditiously, while addressing the technical issue of rejecting outdated nominations and allowing new candidates, including youth and women, to contest. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Government is implementing a programme to maintain rice availability and price stability through guaranteed paddy prices, state procurement, and market intervention via the Paddy Marketing Board, SATOSA, and cooperatives. He stated that Rs. 5 billion has been allocated to the PMB, with additional bank-backed financing including a planned Rs. 10 billion pledge loan for SATOSA, and that the Government aims to procure about 10 per cent of the season’s paddy, store it mainly as paddy, and mill and sell rice below market prices. He also outlined plans to use private and state mills, reopen storage and milling capacity, and increase Yala production to offset flood-related Maha shortfalls and prevent further market instability. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Cost of LivingPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the co-operative sector’s main crisis is not procurement rules but fraud, misuse of co-operative structures, and a shift by many societies from consumer service to deposit-taking and lending. He cited investigations into financially distressed and allegedly corrupt co-operatives, while noting successful examples such as Medawachchiya, Akurassa, and Walasmulla. He said the Government will recover misappropriated co-operative assets, reform procurement and recruitment, prevent misuse of the co-operative name, and use the 2025 International Year of Co-operatives to support revival efforts. He outlined plans to strengthen consumer and producer co-operatives, expand up to 10,000 Co-op City-type outlets, revive MARKFED and COOPFED, and link co-operative distribution with Sathosa to improve access to essential goods. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Corruption & Governance ReformEmployment Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that applications or eligibility under the matter being considered must be by a group of producers, such as an association, rather than by individuals. He added that any necessary corrections to the relevant form would be made, after which the question was put and agreed to. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Agriculture Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Government had set a support price for paddy and was procuring through SATHOSA and the Paddy Marketing Board to prevent a price drop during harvesting, while also examining storage-related issues. He rejected claims that the NPP Government had newly increased MPs’ medical insurance and addressed allegations relating to the Lasantha Wickrematunge case, Eppawala Phosphate Company, imported lime for water purification, and the CEB WindForce wind farm tender, stating that legal or procedural processes were being followed. On the main business, he said the geographical indications regulations under the Intellectual Property Act were needed to meet WTO/TRIPS obligations and protect Sri Lankan producers by enabling registration and better market value for local products. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe made a brief interjection, stating that “only Sri Lanka would need that.” The remark appears to respond to a preceding point in the debate, but no further policy position, proposal, or question is stated in the excerpt. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that allegations had been raised by another Member with purported evidence. He undertook to inquire into the matter and provide a response before the debate concluded. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe moved for parliamentary approval of regulations made under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, as published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2407/04 of 22 October 2024 and presented on 21 January 2025. He noted that Cabinet approval had been intimated, after which the question was proposed and the debate was opened for Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe explained that co-operatives are governed both by the Ministry and by devolved provincial authorities, and said he would examine the member’s concerns and respond. He noted that some co-operatives have not formed general councils even after elections were fully won, and said the Ministry is intervening to strengthen and guide the co-operative movement. He also undertook to look into the issue raised regarding Bingiriya, in the context of the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone factories. Oral Question: Price Control of Rice Land & Housing Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said traders had exploited a perceived rice shortage to sell above the maximum retail price, and noted that the Consumer Affairs Authority had conducted raids in several districts and would prosecute violations. He explained that the Government’s paddy purchasing price of Rs. 120 per kilogram was based on Hector Kobbekaduwa Institute costings, fertilizer subsidies, and an added component to cover farmers’ overheads. He argued that, considering milling conversion costs and by-product income, rice could be maintained at an MRP of Rs. 230 per kilogram, with Government intervention and Sathosa tenders aimed at protecting consumers while ensuring fair returns to farmers. Oral Question: Price Control of Rice AgricultureCost of Living Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that maximum retail and wholesale prices for local and imported rice had been imposed by the Consumer Affairs Authority following an artificial price increase, with compliance monitored by the CAA. He said the Government had allowed public and private rice imports and directed Lanka Sathosa to release rice to cooperatives and the open market after discussions with millers chaired by the President. He also said the Paddy Marketing Board, with Sathosa and relevant ministries, had begun purchasing the 2024–2025 Maha season paddy harvest to build a Government buffer stock, with storage facilities being prepared and repaired. Oral Question: Price Control of Rice AgricultureCost of Living Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development concerning regulations under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2407/04 of 24 October 2024. He also presented the Committee’s report on the 2023 Performance Report and Annual Accounts of the Measurement Units, Standards and Services Department, both of which were ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development presented the Department of Commerce’s Annual Performance Report for 2022. He proposed that it be referred to the relevant Ministerial Consultative Committee, and the House agreed to the motion. Papers Presented Public Finance Read →