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

12 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly objected to a statement made by another Member, saying it presented an incorrect notion. No further argument, proposal, or policy issue was elaborated in the excerpt. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary The Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, rose on a point of order. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was included in the recorded speech. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe moved that Hon. Mrs. Sagarika Athauda take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara left the Chair and Hon. Mrs. Sagarika Athauda assumed it. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government had intervened in potato and onion markets by imposing duties from 25 August, raising the duty from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50, and setting an onion purchase price of Rs. 130 per kilo through the private sector and Sathosa based on cost calculations. He said prices had fluctuated due to weather, but the Government was monitoring the situation and preparing long-term measures, including storage facilities, a purchasing programme funded by a Rs. 1,000 million Budget allocation, and pre-announced farm-gate prices based on production costs plus a margin. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Ministerial Clarifications Public FinanceCost of LivingAgriculture Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Standards Council on Compliance Assessment and the 2024 Performance Report and Annual Accounts of the Department of Measurement Units, Standards and Services. He moved that the reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Sri Lanka Standards Council and Institution Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said economic centres currently operate under inconsistent arrangements and noted unresolved audit queries relating to Rs. 1,100 million in government funds. He stated that the Government has begun regularising the centres and proposed a company structure to bring all 18 economic centres under one framework. He rejected claims that the centres were “encircled,” saying only Dambulla had such a situation due to farmers bringing produce, and added that Dambulla and Keppetipola were functioning well, citing current onion and potato prices. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe raised a point of order objecting to a reference by Hon. Chamara Sampath to a Ministry Secretary’s ethnicity. He requested that Members refrain from referring to public officials by ethnicity or religion during debate. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government would continue strengthening the economy during 2026–2028 while reducing the cost of living and supporting farmers. He noted that implementation of the 2025 Budget had been limited to about six months due to late passage and elections, and that pending capital projects were at tender, procurement, or negotiating committee stages, with efforts planned to maximize execution in the next two months. He urged the Opposition to engage substantively in the Budget debate and argued that the Budget was intended to benefit the whole country. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe defended the 2026 Budget as aligned with six strategic pillars including inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, production, rural-urban equity and digitalization, while citing measures implemented in 2025 under economic stabilization constraints. He detailed proposals and allocations for public sector pensions, salary increases, regularization of temporary workers, housing and disaster loans, pension anomaly corrections, EPF/ETF and gratuity arrears in semi-state entities, and allowances for difficult schools and railway gatekeepers. He also highlighted private sector and plantation wage increases, including a proposed Rs. 5 billion allocation for a plantation attendance incentive, and referred to ongoing priorities in renewable energy, green hydrogen, government digitalization and social assistance. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceEmploymentEducation Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe began to speak on the strategic objectives of the 2026 Budget and requested that his remarks be kept on record. The exchange was interrupted when the Chair addressed another Member, ruling that Hon. Archchuna’s point of order was not valid. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public Finance Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary The exchange occurred during discussion of the 2026 Budget, with Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe making a brief remark referring to someone having written books and questioning what further there was to discuss. The Speaker intervened to ask Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe to sit down and not disturb proceedings. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly stated that individuals are implicated or “get caught” when details of an incident are disclosed. No specific legislation, proposal, or policy demand was raised in the excerpt. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Law & Order Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that he had not named any individual, arguing that describing an incident was sufficient for those involved to identify themselves. The exchange occurred amid disorder, with a warning from the Chair that members obstructing proceedings could be removed from the Chamber. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe interjected to state that he had not named anyone during the proceedings. The Speaker responded that the Member himself had not been named and directed him to sit down and refrain from disrupting the debate. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe questioned why others reacted angrily when he referred to alleged vehicle assembly-related cases and books written about the bond scam. His intervention implied that these matters were already documented or subject to public allegations and should not provoke agitation in the debate. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to reactions in the chamber, stating that he had not named anyone while making a remark. The Speaker then instructed Members to allow proceedings to continue without disturbance. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Minister would provide a name later in the evening and criticized the Opposition for protesting in Parliament without a clear course of action. The Speaker intervened to note that no Member had been named and asked the Member to sit down. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to Opposition criticisms of the Government’s economic programme, development plans, and second Budget, arguing that some claims were unfounded. He said the Government had modified and was implementing IMF-related understandings, and noted that a U.S. travel-related statement on Sri Lanka had been corrected. He invited the Opposition to debate the Budget’s policy points and proposals substantively, while rejecting allegations relating to corruption campaigns, vehicle sales, and other claims. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly opened his contribution on the second day of the Budget Debate, stating his intention to participate. The Chair indicated that he could be granted an additional ten minutes if required. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public Finance Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that after years of disagreement between unions and planters over a Collective Agreement, the Wages Board settled on a daily wage of Rs. 1,350 for plantation workers. He said Rs. 200 would be added to the basic wage and a further Rs. 200 provided by the Government, amounting to an additional Rs. 10,000 per month for 25 working days. He called for collective action if plantation workers do not receive the promised increase. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Public FinanceEmployment Read →