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

5 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe questioned the disparity between benefits received by Members of Parliament and those provided to the public. He argued that MPs receiving large sums through political power while people receive comparatively little amounts to misuse of power for personal benefit. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the item or service in question was not provided at a higher price. The remark appears to respond to a query or allegation concerning pricing, without further details provided. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe challenged a claim made in the debate, questioning whether the Minister’s position was being rejected and accusing the other member of misleading the House. He insisted that members should not make false statements in Parliament. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe challenged another Member’s assertion by questioning whether only that Member’s statement was correct. He asked what the Minister was saying in response, seeking clarification on the Minister’s position. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe disputed another member’s characterization of a tender award process, stating that the Minister had already explained the relevant procedure. He asserted that the opposing claim was incorrect. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Asked why the relevant point or information was not being stated in the debate, seeking clarification from those addressing the matter. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe argued that part of the account regarding a tender decision was being omitted. He said the Power and Energy Minister had explained that, after an appeal to the relevant Appeal Board and Cabinet consideration of the Cabinet Paper, awarding the tender to the company saved more than Rs. 2 billion, and questioned why that fact was not being stated. Debate: Regulations on Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Foreign Exchange Act Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary The Minister requested that an Order under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, previously referred to his Ministry’s Consultative Committee, also be referred to the Committee on Public Finance because it contains fees in its Second Schedule. He cited the Committee on Parliamentary Business decision of 9 May 2024 as the procedural basis, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said heavy rains in the North and East had damaged paddy crops and that the Government had directed pledge loans to small millers, cooperatives and major millers to enable immediate purchases, including wetter paddy with moisture levels up to about 27 per cent. He identified the absence of proper crop insurance as a systemic problem and stated that the Government would compensate verified crop losses despite past misuse of crop insurance funds. He said he would convene cooperative insurance officials the following week to finalize a crop insurance mechanism to protect farmers against cultivation losses. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to issues raised in the debate on import and levy regulations, stating that any coconut imports should be limited to raw material for export industries due to reduced local harvests, while protecting jobs and foreign exchange. He said investigations were ongoing into bar permit allocations and defended the Government’s cost-cutting measures on ministerial vehicles, fuel and phone facilities. On rice, he rejected claims that one million metric tons of paddy were being hidden, citing national storage capacities and production figures, and said misinformation would be investigated. He also outlined recent rice import volumes, restrictions on using rice for animal feed, and broader food security pressures involving wheat, coconuts, potatoes and onions. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Public FinanceCost of LivingAgriculture Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe corrected a prior statement, asserting that Sri Lanka has never recorded a 4.9 million metric ton Maha harvest. He affirmed that the referenced figure was incorrect. Committee Report: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 Agriculture Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to concerns raised by Hon. Harsha de Silva regarding rice data, stating that some figures cited were inaccurate, including the claim that one million metric tons of rice were missing. He acknowledged that the Maha harvest was lower than previously stated and said he would provide factual details and outline Government measures to address data-related issues during the debate. Committee Report: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe informed the House that the Director General of Customs would provide, within an hour, details on imports by five companies, including quantities refined and exported under SVAT eligibility, quantities sold locally, and any identified fraud. He stated that he would update Parliament later that evening. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Public Finance Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Minister said that the issue raised by Hon. Marikkar had been referred to the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs. He undertook to provide a detailed response the following day on whether tax evasion had occurred and on matters relating to the companies mentioned. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Public Finance Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified the status of Sathosa rice procurement tenders for 5,200 metric tons, stating that the first tender was not rejected but could not proceed because the two bidders did not individually meet the requirement to supply the full quantity under government procedure. He added that the second tender received no bids and the third was rejected on quality grounds, disputing claims that tenders had been repeatedly rejected. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified that the tender in question had not been rejected four times, responding to a claim or query raised by another Member. He indicated willingness to provide further explanation despite the other Member’s limited time. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe objected to repeated claims in Parliament about an alleged controversy without evidence. He urged members making such claims to identify the specific issue or place and provide information, arguing that unsubstantiated references are unfair. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a matter raised by Hon. Chamara Sampath, stating that no supporting information had been submitted despite a request to do so. He said any allegation or controversy should be substantiated with properly founded information before it can be considered. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Minister presented Orders issued under specified sections of the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, as published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2407/04 of 22 October 2024. He moved that the Orders be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 January 2025 AI summary The Minister spoke during Votes of Condolence for former MPs Kumara Welgama, H. Nandasena and Tudor Gunasekera. He recalled working with Welgama after entering Parliament in 2004 and described his political activism and public role, and also noted his association with Nandasena in the North Central Provincial Council and Parliament despite political differences. He conveyed condolences to their families and colleagues, particularly on behalf of Anuradhapura representation for Nandasena. Votes of Condolence: Hon. Kumara Welgama, Hon. H. Nandasena, and Hon. Tudor Gunasekera Parliamentary Procedure Read →