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 September 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on potato and big onion cultivation, stating that domestic production in 2024 met about 20% of potato demand and 3% of big onion demand, while imports in January-August 2025 totalled 128,898 MT of potatoes and 217,736 MT of big onions. He said Special Commodity Levy adjustments during harvest periods are used to protect farm-gate prices from import surges and that detailed import, levy and revenue data will be tabled after obtaining information from Inland Revenue and Customs. He outlined the approval process under the National Tariff Policy and Cabinet decisions in August 2025, and said the Government intends to introduce seasonal taxation for selected food items to balance farmer protection with consumer prices during off-harvest periods. Oral Question: Government Schools in Eastern Province - Teacher Vacancies (Q.1112/2025) Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Sathosa is procuring paddy despite lacking functioning mills, using accredited suppliers for milling and selling rice at controlled prices, with allocations of Rs. 10 billion to the Paddy Marketing Board and Rs. 5 billion to Sathosa to expand purchases. He detailed production costs, stating that 1.6 kg of paddy is needed for 1 kg of rice, with conversion costs around Rs. 35 per kg, and said Nadu rice is sold at about Rs. 230 per kg. He also stated that casino entry fees will be US$50 per person and that a 14 percent tax on winnings will be withheld at payout. He added that the Government aims to raise reserves to US$7 billion through tourism, FDI and other inflows, while strengthening state enterprises and maintaining a state role in supply chains to stabilize prices. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations AgriculturePublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that rice imports had been liberalized and were carried out by private entities. He clarified that Sathosa did not divert imported rice for animal feed, and that all rice purchased by Sathosa was sold for human consumption. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Agriculture Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the regulations under the Public Debt Management Act and Foreign Exchange Act and the proposal to establish a Gambling Regulatory Authority, arguing that formal regulation is needed to replace informal political control. He reported fertilizer subsidy payments of about Rs. 13.8 billion, ongoing Yala paddy harvesting of over one million metric tons, and government paddy/rice procurement through the Paddy Marketing Board, Sathosa, and bank-backed working capital facilities for millers. He also outlined broader government measures, including capital spending on development works, recruitment to fill public service vacancies, salary and pension adjustments, a higher private sector minimum wage, and action on estate worker wages. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Cost of LivingAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary A petition from Mr. H. Mervin Wimalasuriya of Yasasiripura, Anuradhapura, was presented to Parliament by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development. Petitions Presented by Members (Citizens' Petitions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe rejected claims that the President had spoken without data, saying the government had presented economic statistics and made progress in recent months. He clarified that BOI figures on SupremeSAT showed total revenue of Rs. 342.8 million, not the much larger amounts circulated in media, and called for corrections. He questioned discrepancies in SupremeSAT’s records, including a Rs. 12.104 billion satellite asset and related liability that later disappeared from accounts, and asked who financed the project. He said the government would investigate the satellite matter, alleged land transactions, and other suspected misuse of public funds through due process. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the Department of the Food Commissioner’s Performance Report for 2024. He proposed that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management, and the proposal was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Annual and Performance Reports AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Moved approval of regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, No. 2 of 2018, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2429/32, to operationalize investigations and procedures for anti-dumping, countervailing duties, and price undertakings following Cabinet approval. He said the measures are intended to protect domestic producers from dumped or subsidized imports while requiring assessment by the Department of Commerce, an Inter-Ministerial Committee, and the Treasury of industry harm, consumer interests, and wider market impacts. He noted the duties would be temporary safeguards to allow affected industries to adjust and compete, with complaints handled through the Department of Commerce in line with WTO-related fair trade principles. Debate: Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Regulations AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to a claim made by Chamara Sampath regarding veteran artist Mahinda Pathirage, stating that the remarks were false. He clarified that the house and family-owned land in question belonged to Pathirage, located near Tissa Wewa road, and urged Members to use Parliament to present facts rather than make inaccurate allegations. Debate: Resolution to Remove Inspector-General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe made a brief reference to “Siddhalepa marketing.” No substantive argument, proposal, question, or policy position was presented in the provided excerpt. Debate: Resolution to Remove Inspector-General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon Public Finance Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary The Minister said domestic red onion production has fallen from about 58,000 MT in 2019 to around 29,000–30,000 MT in 2024, with 35,000–40,000 MT estimated for 2025, despite fertilizer and seed subsidies. He identified the main issue as the lack of a state mechanism to purchase, store, and release produce according to market demand, noting that the CWE formerly performed this role before its assets were sold. He said the Government is preparing, with relevant ministries and Treasury agreement, a programme to buy part of farmers’ onion output, provide storage, and support price management amid market volatility. Ministerial Statements: Trade and Commerce Issues in Jaffna District Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on red onions, potatoes, and onion imports, stating that the Government has imposed a Rs. 50 per kilogram Special Commodity Levy on imported red onions to protect local farmers amid reduced domestic production. He said insured farmers affected by rainfall can receive compensation through the insurance mechanism, but there is no compensation system for uninsured farmers. He added that Jaffna potato cultivation is mainly privately funded, with arrangements to provide suitable seed at a 50% subsidy by November 2025, and that imported big onions are tested by health authorities for human consumption while local onions use approved pesticides. Ministerial Statements: Trade and Commerce Issues in Jaffna District Cost of LivingAgriculture Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The Presiding Member put the adjournment question to the House. Adjournment: Questions at Time of Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe moved amendments to Clauses 19 and 20 of the Bill, including setting a fine not exceeding Rs. 80 million and revising wording on transfers of money or property linked to profit distribution. The amendments were agreed to, the remaining clauses and schedule were approved, and the Bill was reported with amendments. He then moved the Third Reading and sought leave to correct linguistic, typographical, grammatical, numbering, and consequential errors, after which the Bill was passed. Committee Stage: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Clauses and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary An amendment was moved to Clause 14 of the Bill, amending section 471 of the principal enactment, to replace the wording on page 16 with a reference to service “as the Additional Registrar General of Companies or as an Assistant Registrar of Companies.” The amendment was agreed to, Clause 14 as amended was ordered to stand part of the Bill, and Clauses 15 to 18 were also approved. Committee Stage: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Clauses and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe moved several amendments to the Companies (Amendment) Bill concerning disclosure of beneficial ownership, including definitions of residents and persons exercising authority, a three-month disclosure requirement for existing companies, and public access to specified beneficial ownership information through the Registrar. He also proposed provisions for certified copies on request with a prescribed fee, penalties including fines or imprisonment, and technical wording changes to the registration system. The amendments were agreed to, Clause 7 was passed as amended, and Clauses 8 to 13 were ordered to stand part of the Bill. Committee Stage: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Clauses and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe moved an amendment to Clause 4 of the Bill to state that a share certificate shall not be required and to require records to include the persons to whom shares were issued and their addresses. The amendment was agreed to, and Clause 4 as amended, along with Clauses 5 and 6, was ordered to stand part of the Bill. Committee Stage: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Clauses and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe proposed that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. Following the proposal, Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne left the Chair and Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara assumed it. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe criticised the Leader of the Opposition for raising questions without, in his view, having read the relevant Cabinet paper. He said the Cabinet proposal concerning economic centres was intended to regularize operations and protect stallholders amid disorder, missing lease agreements, and fragmented administration across ministries. He also stated that proposed beneficial ownership amendments to the Companies Act target theft, black money, and misappropriated assets, not legitimate companies. On Trincomalee, he said disputes involving the Port, companies, and farmers stem from earlier decisions and that the Government intends to protect farmers and provide compensation where injustice has occurred. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe briefly referred to the existence of fourteen economic centres. No further argument, proposal, or question is provided in the excerpt. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Infrastructure Read →