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

8 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified the Government’s position on plantation workers’ wages, noting that waiting for the existing Collective Agreement process would delay any increase by about one and a half years. He said that, following discussions with planters’ associations and in line with the President’s Budget commitment, Rs. 200 will be added to the basic salary and a further Rs. 200 paid as an attendance incentive, with the Government reimbursing the latter amount. He stated that the measure is funded in the Budget and will take effect from 1 January after the Budget is passed, amounting to an additional Rs. 10,000 per month for workers completing 25 days of work. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Public FinanceEmployment Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe criticized other members for engaging in improper or undignified language in Parliament. His remarks did not raise a specific policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe objected to a word used in the chamber and called for it to be withdrawn. He stated that members who do not know the proper manner of speaking in Parliament should learn it. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that language used in Parliament carries significance and urged Members to safeguard each other’s dignity when speaking in the House. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe rose on a Point of Order, indicating an intention to raise a procedural matter before the House. No substantive issue or argument is included in the provided excerpt. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified, on a Point of Order, the Government’s role in increasing plantation workers’ daily wages despite an existing collective agreement. He stated that employers had agreed to add Rs. 200 to the daily wage after Government-facilitated discussions with stakeholders, and that the Government would provide a further Rs. 200 for 14 days, not 28 days. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 EmploymentParliamentary ProcedureCost of Living Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary The Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development stated that he had received Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Standing Order 27(2) question only the previous day. Noting that it contained nine questions on the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and the current status of ETCA, he requested one week to provide a proper response reflecting Government policy and the current context. Question by Private Notice: Benefits of Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and Negotiations on ETCA Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary The Minister submitted a petition to Parliament on behalf of Mr. D.G. Somaratna of Wijayapura, Anuradhapura, and sixteen others. No further details of the petition’s subject matter were provided in the statement. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Nuwara Eliya Economic Centre reported a wholesale purchase price of Rs. 200 per kilogram for potatoes and a selling price of Rs. 220. He noted that recent heavy rains had reduced potato digging, while those holding stocks were selling at Rs. 200 per kilogram. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Cost of Living Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that recent import figures for potatoes and onions were within average levels, citing 17,108 metric tons of potatoes and 29,354 metric tons of onions in the previous month, with onions around 30,000 metric tons the month before. He rejected claims of a sudden increase to 50,000 metric tons as false and requested that proceedings move on to the next item due to the scheduled Adjournment Debate. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Agriculture Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly rejected a preceding statement or assertion, saying it was not correct. No further argument, proposal, or policy detail was provided in this intervention. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified the procedural chain for decisions on levies, stating that the Food Policy and Security Committee makes recommendations to the Fiscal Policy Committee, which decides on levies before the matter goes to the President. He rejected a prior interpretation of the process as incorrect. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the increase of the Special Commodity Levy on imported big onions and potatoes as a measure to support local farmers during the Yala supply period, citing import and consumption data to reject claims that large stocks had been pre-positioned before the levy. He also addressed the earlier salt import issue, stating that consignments outside the permitted Bill of Lading dates or failing quality standards would not be released and would be handled under Customs procedures. Responding to concerns about the Dambulla cold storage facility, he said remaining construction and technical defects, as well as required racking and handling equipment, were being addressed with Indian grant project stakeholders, with operations targeted for early December under a mixed public-private model. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) AgriculturePublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe explained the Government’s paddy procurement and milling arrangements, stating that 50,000 MT was procured in the Yala season, with 20,000 MT subject to a services tender and another 20,000 MT planned for allocation to small and medium millers through co-operatives on a rotational basis. He rejected claims that the tender was intended for 50,000 MT or restricted to large millers, saying the process follows capacity and technical criteria. He also addressed criticism of Sri Lanka’s participation in the WTO Trade Policy Review in Geneva, describing it as a technical engagement involving multiple state institutions and warning that legal action would be taken against alleged misrepresentations. He concluded that the Government had made progress over the past year and would continue its programme with public and international support. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Multiple Speakers AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe objected to members of the Committee on High Posts publishing officials’ confidential answers on social media, calling for inquiries, warnings, and possible removal of offending members, and requested directions from the Deputy Speaker to prevent such disclosures. Responding to the Opposition’s Adjournment Motion, he said the Government had restored proper accounting in institutions such as Lanka Sathosa and the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, strengthened state machinery, and addressed corruption and administrative failures. He highlighted public sector salary and pension revisions, stating allocations had been made through 2027, the minimum public salary had been raised, and discussions were continuing to secure higher estate worker wages. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Government and Opposition Speeches Public FinanceParliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question raised. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down. Second Round Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 October 2025 AI summary Accepted a petition from Mr. R.P. Newton Ratnayake of Mangala Road, Mankadawala, Saliyapura, Anuradhapura, for presentation to Parliament. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe criticised Opposition Members for leaving the Chamber during a debate they had requested, arguing that this undermined parliamentary proceedings. He called for debates to be conducted according to parliamentary traditions and urged Members to stop insulting new and women MPs, wasting parliamentary time, and misusing public resources. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Opposition had wasted parliamentary time during the morning despite time being allocated to them. He referred to two reports mentioned by Gayantha Karunathilaka and alleged that the SLPP and SJB were acting together, while questioning why Ravi Karunanayake was not given time the previous day, possibly due to a scheduled question under Standing Order 27(2). National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe objected to what he described as misuse of parliamentary time during adjournments. He argued that if the Opposition wished to make statements and leave without engaging, a separate day should be allocated for that purpose, emphasizing that such conduct was not consistent with parliamentary procedure. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →