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 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the government has decided to provide a Rs. 6,000 grant to every child in schools with fewer than 300 students. He noted that this policy will apply to more than 6,000 schools. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices EducationPublic Finance Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary The Minister outlined additional sources of rice demand, including ornamental fish feed, rice flour milling, beer production, poultry, and fisheries, noting that these uses contributed to perceived market shortages. He said the Government had inspected miller stocks in several provinces and, from 8 December, arranged the daily release of 350 MT of rice through Sathosa to stabilize supply and maintain the controlled price. He also stated that data discrepancies among relevant agencies were being reconciled and that PMB and Sathosa would be integrated for procurement, with guaranteed prices for farmers and fair prices for consumers to prevent future shortages and avoid imports. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Cost of LivingAgriculture Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the shortage of red rice was partly due to distribution to people who did not need it. He pointed to the poultry industry’s use of about 300,000 metric tons of paddy annually and called for government departments to reduce reliance on domestic harvests for poultry feed. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Cost of LivingAgriculture Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe rejected Opposition claims that the Government was inactive on cost-of-living issues, saying its public-sector pay policy would be announced in the forthcoming Budget and challenging allegations about salary increases in state boards. He said the Government was using the 448-outlet Sathosa network to intervene in essential goods markets, including potatoes, onions, sugar, dhal, rice and canned fish, and cited a reduction of the controlled price of a 425g canned fish tin to Rs. 380 after consultations with local producers. Addressing rice prices and imports, he said Sri Lanka should have sufficient domestic production based on recent output and consumption figures, and argued that the issue lay in market governance rather than an inherent production shortfall. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Cost of LivingPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to concerns about a “rice mafia” and explained that the Sathosa rice tender, now in its fourth round, is being evaluated under standard government procurement criteria. He said rice import restrictions were relaxed from 21 December and extended until 10 January 2025, with about 40,000 metric tons expected to arrive, so there was no general rice shortage, though red raw rice remained tight. He attributed the red rice tightness partly to pre-election rice distribution and stated that the Paddy Marketing Board, Sathosa, and co-operatives would buy Maha season stocks sufficient for about one and a half months to stabilize supply and protect consumers. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act AgricultureCost of Living Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that complaints are being pursued not for political retaliation but to address wrongdoing and protect the public interest. He emphasized efforts to provide essential goods at affordable prices, citing salmon at Rs. 380 and eggs at Rs. 32, and said the objective is to dismantle market “mafias” and prevent past exploitative practices. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Corruption & Governance ReformCost of Living Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to allegations about rice imports and pricing, saying previous election-period distribution of red raw rice had distorted the market and caused supply issues. He said Cabinet had approved importing 70,000 MT through Sathosa and the State Trading Corporation, outlined the status of Sathosa and STC tenders, and stated that 116,000 MT had been imported by 6 January with further consignments arriving. He asked D.V. Chanaka to table the report underlying claims of excess costs and said imported rice was being distributed through Sathosa and cooperatives at Rs. 220 per kilo. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that, in response to concerns raised by a Member, the management board of the relevant society would be urgently summoned to review its decisions and current status. He assured Parliament that the Government would intervene to ensure depositors are not disadvantaged and would report back on the matter. Oral Question: Maharagama Multi-purpose Co-operative Societies (Q.233/2024) EducationParliamentary Procedure Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Ministry is receiving many complaints about lending co-operative societies, including cases in several areas where large deposits have not been repaid, and identified legal gaps in accountability when deposits are misused. He stated that the Commissioner is using existing powers to appoint boards, manage assets and make limited repayments, but that stronger legal reforms are needed. He announced that no further lending societies will be registered under the Co-operative Development Department and said urgent inquiries, audits and legal action will be pursued to protect affected depositors, many of whom are pensioners and retirees. Oral Question: Maharagama Multi-purpose Co-operative Societies (Q.233/2024) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary The Minister provided figures on financial co-operative societies, stating that 4,981 are operating under Provincial Councils and line ministries, including 1,244 in the Western Province. He confirmed that the Maharagama Co-operative Rural Bank is under the Western Provincial Co-operative Development Commissioner and said depositors have faced withdrawal difficulties due to a financial crisis, with inquiries underway under the relevant Western Provincial statute and by the FCID. He outlined remedial steps including appointing departmental officers to the Board, taking legal action to recover loans, approving the disposal of 12 properties, arranging sales of two lands, and releasing Rs. 100 million to depositors, including full payment of accounts below Rs. 5,000 and 10 per cent payments to others as at 31 August 2024. Oral Question: Maharagama Multi-purpose Co-operative Societies (Q.233/2024) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government was addressing rice shortages through immediate imports, noting that over 7,000 metric tons had already arrived and that more than 100,000 metric tons were expected, with further decisions to be reviewed if supplies remained insufficient. He stated that importers were being consulted on volumes and that the Government would use the cooperative movement, the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation, and Sathosa to purchase paddy and help control prices. He also referred to available storage capacity, inspections of stores, and the need for proper drying and moisture control to preserve paddy stocks. Adjournment Questions AgricultureCost of Living Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe explained the basis for setting rice prices, stating that a Rs. 5 retail margin over the Rs. 215 wholesale price was fixed after Consumer Affairs Authority calculations and evidence from traders, given the low margins on rice and costs such as transport, storage, interest and stockholding. He reported that Nadu stocks stood at 40,795 metric tons as of 17 December, with CAA monitoring mills and daily supplies being sent to Sathosa, which was selling about 300 metric tons of locally procured rice per day. He said Sri Lanka produces enough rice in normal conditions but shortages arise due to stock management issues, animal feed use and disaster-related crop damage, and assured that, barring emergencies or natural disasters, the current round would be the last rice importation. He added that a Cabinet-appointed food security committee and government paddy purchasing would support domestic rice management while protecting both farmers and consumers. Adjournment Questions Cost of LivingAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the immediate priority was ensuring the availability of essential goods, noting that retailers at least retained a Rs. 5 margin despite concerns over transport and packaging costs. He stated that prices were determined by the Consumer Affairs Authority based on surveys and evidence, not arbitrarily by the Government. Adjournment Questions Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister replied to an adjournment question on rice price controls, explaining that the Rs. 5 margin between wholesale and retail prices was set after considering inelastic rice demand, the absence of government buffer stocks, shortages, market supply issues, and Consumer Affairs Authority analysis. He said the Government set wholesale and retail prices after consulting millers and importers, noting that large millers control about 30–35 percent of the market while small and medium millers supply the rest, and that creating multiple price layers for intermediaries was not practicable. Adjournment Questions Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly intervened to ask a fellow Member what issue they wished to raise. No substantive policy position, proposal, or demand was presented in this remark. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that rice imports are being handled through an orderly tender process, with arrivals expected from 19 December and clearance of imported rice having begun from 12 December. He said permits were issued from 4 to 20 December to allow importers sufficient time and space to bring in required stocks, and argued that awarding the tender to Sathosa does not obstruct private sector imports. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the relevant measure should be phased out in an orderly, systematic manner rather than removed abruptly. He argued that sudden removal could disrupt the supply of rice to the market and harm farmers, and said the approach should protect both farmers and consumers. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) AgricultureCost of Living Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe corrected another Member, stating that the tax in question was not newly imposed but had already been in effect since 2023. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Public Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the price quoted in the previous tender was Rs. 212. The remark appears to reference a procurement or tender-related discussion, highlighting the prior tender price for comparison. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Public Finance Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe asked the Hon. Member to explain the basis or methodology used to determine the figures being cited. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Parliamentary Procedure Read →