Hon. D. V. Chanaka, M.P.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)· Hambantota

Profession: Parliamentarian

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 119 #40 of 225·#1 in party

Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

119 speeches

12 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka urged the Health Ministry to address safety and accommodation deficiencies for doctors, especially female on-call staff, following the Anuradhapura incident, calling for immediate security measures and repairs while noting that he was not justifying strike action. He also clarified that reports of a ban on politicians attending school functions were inaccurate, saying the Prime Minister had instead called for schools not to be politicized. On agriculture and rice prices, he questioned the Government’s management of controlled rice prices and paddy purchasing, arguing that a Rs. 10 increase had imposed a significant financial burden on consumers and asking who benefited from it. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Cost of LivingHealthcareAgriculture Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka said that action against Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella occurred under the previous Government, noting that he was impeached and remanded then. He questioned the decision to raise the chromium limit for hydrated lime to 12 mg/kg, arguing that repeated test failures, including foreign tests, and inconsistent laboratory results required standardisation, supplier blacklisting where appropriate, and a thorough investigation. He warned that chromium is carcinogenic and said public safety in water treatment must be safeguarded, while also asking why ministerial and chairman statements differed. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Justice & Human RightsHealthcarePublic Finance Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka notes that the Leader of the Opposition has granted him an additional two minutes to speak. No substantive policy position, question, or proposal is presented in the excerpt. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka questioned why failed stocks remained in the plants after four months. He alleged that a new tender may be called with relaxed specifications, allowing the same company to re-enter the process and reuse the stocks, and raised this as a concern requiring attention. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Asked the Government to specify the exact location where the failed stocks are being stored. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Public Finance Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka raised concerns about imported hydrated lime used in drinking water treatment, alleging that recent consignments exceeded the chromium limit and questioning changes to the Sri Lanka Standards specification from 10 mg/kg to 12 mg/kg. He challenged inconsistencies between the Minister’s and NWSDB Chairman’s statements on when the standard was amended, disputed claims about higher international limits, and argued that global drinking water standards have generally tightened due to health risks. He asked why failed stocks remain in stores, whether a new tender with relaxed specifications could permit the same supplier to use them, and called for a transparent investigation, standardized testing, and action against unreliable suppliers or laboratories. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Corruption & Governance ReformHealthcarePublic Finance Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka rejected claims that he opposed support for Hon. Sugath Vasantha de Silva and asked that adequate time be given for line Ministers to respond to questions in debates. He disputed government statements on the Chandrika Wewa and Kiriibbanwewa floating solar projects and the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, saying these initiatives had already begun or progressed earlier and should not be presented as new. He said the Government must resolve doctors’ pay and structural salary concerns without encouraging strikes or vilifying doctors, and argued that Sunday and holiday work should be compensated differently from ordinary monthly pay. He also welcomed fisheries plans but urged timely payment of the promised Rs. 25 per litre diesel subsidy, noting delays since November and hardship to fishing communities. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 HealthcarePublic FinanceEmployment Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka rose on a Point of Order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was recorded in the excerpt provided. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka argued that recent fuel and electricity issues were caused by management and implementation failures rather than actual shortages, citing the previous administration’s handling of fuel queues, CPC profitability, demurrage reductions, and non-political appointments. He rejected claims that Ministers protected filling stations, explaining the COPE-related recovery of Rs. 37 billion and the related court proceedings, and requested clarification on delays in connecting solar systems installed at 5,000 religious sites under an Indian credit line. He also discussed the Trincomalee oil tank and Hambantota refinery processes, stating that earlier EoIs and RFPs led to current negotiations, and urged the Government to introduce tariffs for solar-plus-battery systems to address grid balancing and reduce reliance on imported coal. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) InfrastructureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary D.V. Chanaka said he agreed with many points made by the Leader of the House and noted that, during his tenure, the 3 per cent tax component paid to dealers had been removed. He asked the Minister of Power and Energy to clarify fuel dispatch volumes for the day and whether special Sunday distribution would be arranged, warning that panic buying could create temporary shortages despite sufficient stocks. He added that, if necessary, the President had authority to ensure an operational distribution plan. Debate: Fuel Supply and Energy Crisis (Discussion under Standing Order 27(2)) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary D.V. Chanaka raised a point of order challenging allegations against him or his family, asking that any such claims be made outside Parliament without relying on parliamentary privilege. He stated that he would respond through legal action and referred to a previous defamation case against Ranjan Ramanayake in which he said an apology was made in court. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka raised a point of order disputing a prior statement about fisheries harbours, stating they were built during the Yahapalana Government and designed by the Fisheries Ministry. He asserted that the projects were not design-build and urged that factual accuracy be maintained in the debate. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka criticized the Budget as departing from the Government’s manifesto, arguing that promised VAT removals and tax cuts had not materialized while revenue targets, withholding tax, excise measures, vehicle taxes, and import restrictions would burden ordinary people. He said support promised to fishers, farmers, unemployed graduates, and older job seekers was inadequate or absent, and alleged that paddy pricing decisions favoured millers over farmers. He urged the Government to allow previously granted vehicle permits for executive-grade and medical officers to be used. He also condemned an alleged threat made by a Government State Minister against Hon. Namal Rajapaksa and said the Opposition would not be intimidated. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) AgricultureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
21 February 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of Mr. A.D. Premathilaka of Imbulgoda. The intervention was procedural and did not include substantive debate or policy proposals. Petitions Presented by Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2025 AI summary D.V. Chanaka questioned the Government on the postponement of local government elections, recalling that the Treasury Secretary had cited lack of funds and alleging that JVP MPs supported the postponement despite a Supreme Court judgment. He also alleged an improper appointment of a current local election candidate, Tiron Silavansa, as Secretary to the Kalawana Pradeshiya Sabha, arguing that neither the Provincial Commissioner nor the Minister had legal authority to do so. He asked how many similar appointments had been made and called for the alleged illegal appointments to be corrected. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Law & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary D. V. Chanaka supported the Motion on reducing privileges and argued that Alliance MPs and Ministers should renounce salaries and fuel allowances if they claim to serve voluntarily, in line with electoral pledges to abolish perks. He again raised concerns over imported hydrated lime for drinking-water treatment, alleging chromium levels above permitted standards, inadequate segregation of stock, and repeated testing, and called for immediate segregation, re-export, compliant procurement or tested local sourcing. He also requested that any compensation for property damaged during the Aragalaya be accompanied by a list of perpetrators and that recovery be made from those responsible, rather than from taxpayers. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament HealthcareLaw & OrderPublic Finance Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary D.V. Chanaka urged the Minister not to justify the issue, stating that authorities were aware the percentage was high when it arrived. He called for a proper investigation and for steps to be taken to return the item in question. Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka questioned the handling of a hydrated lime consignment for water purification, stating that although the tender specified a 10 mg limit, successive tests allegedly showed higher values that gradually declined over repeated testing. He raised concerns that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board had asked the Sri Lanka Standards Institution to raise the permissible limit to 12 mg, despite Sri Lanka’s existing standard being based on local water conditions. He alleged possible irregularities, claimed some containers had already been distributed, and called for a proper investigation, rejection of the consignment if necessary, and clarity on how water purification would continue without a new tender. Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary No substantive speech content is provided beyond the form of address to the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, so there are no policy points, proposals, questions, or arguments to summarize. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary D.V. Chanaka pressed for a response from Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe regarding a report alleging carcinogens and harmful heavy metals in the country’s tap water. He urged that the matter not be treated lightly, stressing the public health risk and indicating he would wait for the Minister’s answer. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) EnvironmentHealthcare Read →