Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Kegalle

Minister of Environment

Profession: Medical Practitioner

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 120 #39 of 225·#20 in party

Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

120 speeches

26 September 2025 AI summary Kandy’s air-quality indicators do not show persistent severe pollution aside from occasional transboundary events. The government will examine hospital-reported respiratory cases, considering other factors such as temperature and humidity, and take action if warranted. Oral Question: Air Quality in Kandy City (Q.2/2025) EnvironmentHealthcare Read →
26 September 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Central Environmental Authority monitors ambient air quality and that Kandy is currently within national standards, with real-time data available through a new national air quality web portal launched on World Blue Sky Day. He noted that short-term air quality reductions between October and March can occur due to transboundary fine particulates and meteorological conditions, but said these are episodic rather than persistent local pollution sources. He outlined measures under the National Environmental Act, including vehicle and fuel emission standards, industrial emission controls, open-burning regulations, continuous monitoring, public advisories, the National Environmental Action Plan 2022–2030, and efforts through SACEP to revive regional cooperation on transboundary pollution. Oral Question: Air Quality in Kandy City (Q.2/2025) Environment Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the Second Reading of the Bill to establish the National Building Research Institute, stating that it would give legal status to the National Building Research Organization, which had operated under a circular since 1984. He argued that the proposed law would make the institution more orderly, regulated, and efficient, and contrasted the Government’s action within its first year with the previous lack of legislation. He also cited major landslide disasters in Kegalle in 2016 and national landslide deaths in 2017 to underline the need for a stronger institutional framework. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Public FinanceInfrastructureEnvironment Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that no specific decision has been made to amend relevant laws, but the Ministry has begun identifying and conserving water sources. He said proposed areas in Kalutara could be included in the conservation programme, and noted that a Water Resources Board project is preparing groundwater maps to support future conservation measures. Oral Question Q.1/2025: Natural Streams and Stream Reservations Protection Public FinanceEnvironment Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that a national policy on protecting water sources, catchments and reservations was gazetted in 2014, with implementation involving the Central Environmental Authority, Irrigation Department and District Secretariats under relevant environmental and land laws. He detailed measures such as declaring Environmental Protection Areas, regulating river basin activities, preventing harmful land use and waste discharge, conserving stream reservations, and conducting awareness and enforcement activities. He also outlined reservation widths under the State Lands Ordinance and said confirmed encroachments are removed by the Divisional Secretary after joint inspection. Oral Question Q.1/2025: Natural Streams and Stream Reservations Protection EnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary A committee has been appointed with approximately six months to provide decisions, but the Minister indicated that the Government intends to intervene and offer solutions sooner. He also undertook to examine the issue concerning sand, noting that it falls under a different category of ownership, and said action would be taken expeditiously. Ministerial Statement: Private Lands in Vanni Electoral District and Leader of House Announcement Land & Housing Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary In response to a question on land reservations in the Northern Province, it was stated that no archaeological reserves have been declared in Mannar District, while one site in Vavuniya and two sites in Mullaitivu have been gazetted as archaeological protected areas, all on government land. Details were also provided on lands used by the Tri-Forces under annual permits and on forest and wildlife reserves, including the position that settlements did not exist at the time of forest reserve declarations. The response noted that 9,123.78 hectares in Vavuniya have been identified for possible release from forest reservation, while any release of wildlife lands requires Environmental Sensitivity Assessments and Department of Wildlife Conservation approval. Ministerial Statement: Private Lands in Vanni Electoral District and Leader of House Announcement EnvironmentLand & Housing Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to Hon. Kader Mastan’s question on private lands acquired in the Vanni Electoral District, citing information from wildlife, forest, defence, archaeology and public security authorities. He tabled details of gazetted wildlife reserves in Mullaitivu and Mannar, noting that no wildlife reserves have been gazetted in Vavuniya, and provided district-wise extents and Gazette references. He also stated that forest reserves were marked and gazetted after post-war resettlement-related clearing, with 41,049.45 hectares in Vavuniya, 73,199.74 hectares in Mannar and 40,030.53 hectares in Mullaitivu, while noting difficulties in confirming private ownership where legal title has not been established. Ministerial Statement: Private Lands in Vanni Electoral District and Leader of House Announcement Land & HousingEnvironment Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi said the Government views human rights as linked to economic stability, equitable regional development, and environmental protection, including a commitment to increase forest cover to 32 per cent by 2030 through the “Vanaspathi” programme. He stated that GPS-based reserve demarcations after the war had wrongly included private lands and public buildings in the North and East, and announced plans for a Cabinet paper to appoint a special committee to verify and recommend land releases, with over 100,000 acres already identified in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya. He also referred to resolving forest and wildlife management issues, improving drinking water access through schemes including Pali Aru, and bringing legislation to recognize and protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEnvironmentLand & Housing Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment requested two weeks’ time to respond to the question raised. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down, relating to LRC lands allocated for industries in the Galle District. Procedural Item: Speaker Directions and Questions Stood Down Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of National Zoological Gardens and the 2024 Performance Report of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. He moved that both reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resources, and the House agreed. Papers: Reports and Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi said he would personally inspect the matter in coordination with the Coast Conservation Department. He committed to preparing a prompt action plan and stated that maximum intervention would be made to resolve the issue. Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) InfrastructureEnvironment Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment responded to a question on coastal erosion in Puttalam District, identifying affected areas including Iranavila, Ambakandavila, Ilanthadiya, Alankuda, Kudaawa, Kandakkuliya and Karukapane, with erosion worsened by monsoons and storms and affecting property, livelihoods and access routes. He stated that while beach nourishment using deep-sea sand is the preferred scientific solution, current economic constraints have led to priority being given to lower-cost coastal protection structures. He outlined ongoing and planned 2025 works amounting to Rs. 62.5 million and proposed 2026 works amounting to Rs. 73 million, including revetments, groynes and emergency protection measures in several locations. Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) Public FinanceEnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi briefly concluded his remarks and thanked the Deputy Speaker. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was raised in this excerpt. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi said a recent cluster of gunshot injuries to elephants suggested a possible organized effort to generate media attention and political agitation, and urged that elephants not be used for narrow political purposes. He thanked veterinary, security, local government, community, and Indian medical teams involved in the “Bhathiya” elephant case, while noting the animal died before the foreign veterinarians arrived. He said the Government would establish a wildlife hospital and mobile veterinary unit, and had requested a CID investigation into possible organized activity, including trade union actions linked to mortality spikes, while citing recent forest reserve declarations as evidence of its conservation efforts. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict EnvironmentLaw & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi raised concerns about the limited capacity of Sri Lanka’s wildlife veterinary service, noting that only 12 veterinarians are responsible for treating all wildlife species nationwide. He emphasized that, unlike in other countries, they lack support staff such as nurses, technical assistants, or handlers and often have to work alone in the field. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Environment Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Dr. Dammika Patabendi briefly indicated that he would conclude his remarks quickly, addressing the Deputy Speaker. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary The Minister replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question on human-elephant conflict, stating that the 2024 elephant survey data are still under scientific analysis and that the last published nationwide figure from 2011 was at least 5,879 elephants. He outlined the status of the 2020 National Action Plan, relevant agencies, fatality figures from 2020 to 2025, compensation levels, and legal protections under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, with annexes placed in the Library. He said the Government would appoint a stakeholder committee on the Animal Welfare Bill, investigate recent elephant shootings through the CID, and address veterinary capacity constraints through recruitment, a planned wildlife hospital, and a mobile veterinary unit. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict AgricultureEnvironmentJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment presented the Ministry’s Annual Performance Report for 2024 to Parliament. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment tabled the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of National Botanic Gardens. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Use of Resources, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Regulations, Annual Reports and Ministerial Consultative Committee Reports EnvironmentParliamentary Procedure Read →