Hon. Chathura Galappaththi, M.P.
Profession: Software Engineer
Speeches 33 #131 of 225·#33 in party
Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 16 speeches
Last spoke 19 May 2026 in Papers
Activity by sitting
21 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
33 speeches- 5 August 2025 AI summary The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi formally seconded the motion under consideration. The motion was then put to the House and agreed to. Privilege Motion: Suspension of Live Telecast Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi informed Parliament that he accepted two petitions: one from Mr. H.W. Wijesinghe of Kajugaswatta, Pathegama North, Kottegoda, and another from Mr. M. Abdul Rauf of Bathutha Road, Matara. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Chathura Galappaththi criticized the Government’s handling of successive shortages in rice, coconut and salt, arguing that import decisions have been reactive and lacked foresight. Citing RTI-obtained data, he said imported salt cost about Rs. 75 per kilogram when released to private distributors, yet retailed at Rs. 200–400, and questioned why the Government and Consumer Affairs Authority had not imposed price controls or acted against excessive profiteering. He also rejected claims linking the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to privatization of Lanka Salt Ltd., and said production at Hambantota had nearly doubled after 2015 due to expansion of salt pan areas, urging swift action to address the current shortage. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi supported digitalization as essential to reducing corruption and improving public service efficiency, while noting past failures under ICTA and previous administrations. Focusing on the proposed digital ID, he raised national security and privacy concerns about centrally storing biometric data, citing international and local cyber incidents and the growing value of personal data. He proposed completing a robust cybersecurity framework first, strengthening SLCERT and data protection institutions, enacting the planned cybersecurity Bills, collecting biometric data only after safeguards are in place, avoiding unnecessary centralization, and rolling out the project in phases. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Security & DefenceCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi presented two petitions to Parliament on behalf of constituents from Palatuwa, Thalhahagoda, and Chalagama Meda, Matara. No details of the petitions’ subject matter were provided in the statement. Citizens' Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 28 February 2025 AI summary Chathura Galappaththi argued that national security should be understood broadly, including food, energy, health, economic, environmental, technological and data security, citing the 2022 shortages as evidence of interconnected risks. He said the Budget lacks adequate focus on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, despite earlier moves to establish a National AI Centre and strategy, and raised concerns about the security of biometric, fuel QR, vaccination, education and NMRA-related data. He called for investigations into data breaches and proposed requiring wind power investors to establish data centres in Sri Lanka to securely host national data. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Continued (Afternoon) EnvironmentSecurity & DefencePublic Finance Read →
- 24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi argued that the 2025 Budget largely continues the existing IMF-aligned economic programme and does not fully reflect the “system change” mandate received by the Government after the 2022 crisis. He rejected the view that Sri Lanka’s problems stem from a “76-year curse,” citing post-independence gains in education, health, irrigation, hydropower, exports and industrialization, and instead attributed the 2022 crisis mainly to policy failures from around 2004 and the immediate decisions of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He said earlier reform efforts on the public service, CEB, CPC, revenue administration and State-owned enterprises were blocked, and urged the Government, with its two-thirds majority, to present a clear economic and development model through the Budget. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Corruption & Governance ReformEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
- 20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi presented five public petitions to Parliament on behalf of constituents from Talalla South, Weligama, Badalgama, Tissamaharama, and Kurunegala. No further details of the petitions’ subject matter were stated. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 17 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi urged the Government to promptly restore the previous law with youth and women quotas, arguing that its strong public mandate enables swift action. He stated that enacting this reform would be a significant service to the country. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureWomen & Children Read →
- 17 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi argued that the issue before Parliament should be not only the timing of local government elections but also the defects of the current ward-based electoral system. He said the system creates practical problems for chairmen and members, weakens leadership development, and can produce unfair or unrepresentative outcomes through ward results and proportional lists. He urged the Government, given its two-thirds majority, to hold elections promptly while reforming the system by restoring the former proportional preference model with youth and women’s quotas and stronger campaign finance rules. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
- 7 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi supported the proposal to maintain a government buffer stock of rice but argued that storing paddy alone is insufficient because emergency rice supply depends on milling capacity, which he said is limited and contributes to market concentration. He proposed that the Government maintain buffer stocks of milled rice as well as paddy, citing a 2012 pilot project near Veyangoda using mechanical aeration that reportedly stored rice for over 15 months at low cost. He said such a system would support national food security, bridge seasonal supply gaps, enable emergency access to rice, and help stabilize retail prices. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi said he supported the objectives of the Clean Sri Lanka programme but questioned the absence of a concrete implementation plan, follow-up mechanisms, and clear operational targets. He proposed practical measures such as sustained monitoring of illegal dumping points using school environmental brigades, scouts, and environmental police, and argued that implementation should rely on existing local authority structures rather than new ad hoc village committees. Citing Singapore’s Green Plan and India’s Swachh Bharat Mission, he said successful cleanliness programmes require structured plans, targets, and statutory grounding. He also raised concerns about the local government electoral system, supported a return to proportional representation, and urged action on the cost-of-living and rice supply issues, including reviving a low-cost mechanized rice storage system piloted in 2012. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Corruption & Governance ReformEnvironmentParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi thanked his constituents and recalled his family’s political service before focusing on digitalization during the Interim Appropriation debate. He argued that digital systems are essential to reduce corruption, fraud and inefficiency in the public service, referenced ICTA’s establishment and later neglect, and pledged Opposition support for the Government’s digitalization efforts. He also highlighted the Opposition’s Smart Classroom initiative as a means of expanding ICT knowledge and entrepreneurship among students. He rejected references to a “74-year curse,” arguing that Sri Lanka made progress after independence and that responsibility for recent governance should not be attributed to his political camp. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters EmploymentCorruption & Governance ReformEducation Read →