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

21 February 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment responded to questions on forest cover, elephant habitat and human-elephant conflict, citing the 2020 Forest Inventory and the 2011 elephant survey estimate of at least 5,879 wild elephants. He provided conflict figures for 2020–2024, showing annual human and elephant deaths, and stated that no national study has established whether Sri Lanka’s elephant population exceeds ecosystem carrying capacity. He outlined current mitigation measures, including electric fencing, deployment of Civil Security Department personnel, elephant drives, compensation payments, GPS-collar research, removal of problem elephants, securing elephant corridors, community awareness programmes, habitat enrichment, and trials of deterrent technologies. Oral Question: Compensation for Natural Disaster Damages (Q. First Round) EnvironmentLaw & Order Read →
19 February 2025 AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi defended the 2025 Budget as aligned with the NPP’s policy of economic democracy, productive growth, and fair distribution, rejecting Opposition claims that it is either insufficiently socialist or neoliberal. He argued that Opposition references to past open-economy policies and comparisons with Adam Smith, Ronnie de Mel, and Deng Xiaoping were historically inaccurate and outdated. He said the Budget sets out its macroeconomic principles and goes beyond fiscal measures by allocating funds for national reconciliation, religious and cultural activities, Northern and Eastern development, the Jaffna Library, and improved living standards for the Malaiyagam Tamil community. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Public FinanceEnvironmentEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
19 February 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment presented, under Standing Order 119(4), the Ministry’s report on observations and actions taken regarding matters in a Committee on Public Accounts report. He proposed that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the House agreed. Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Ministry Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment presented the 2022 Annual Report of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. He moved that the report be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment, and the House agreed. Papers: Ministerial Reports and Annual Reports Parliamentary ProcedureEnvironment Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi stated that the concerns raised would be noted and that special interventions would be undertaken, particularly in areas where conditions are worsening. The remark was made in the context of a discussion on rice price control and related details. Oral Question: Price Control of Rice Cost of Living Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi addressed the human-elephant conflict, noting that both people and elephants are being lost and that reports had been received on the incident raised by the Member. He said the Government is implementing immediate measures in affected areas while developing longer-term solutions, despite staffing and logistical constraints faced by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and other agencies. He stated that adequate funding would be allocated in the forthcoming Budget, with inter-agency coordination and new research to support sustainable responses. Oral Question: Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.3/2024) EnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi responded to a question on human-elephant conflict, reporting that both elephant deaths and human deaths increased in 2020–2024 compared with 2015–2019. He outlined current mitigation measures, including 5,612 km of electric fencing, deployment of Civil Security personnel, elephant-driving operations, compensation payments, GPS-based research, problem-elephant management, and steps to gazette identified elephant corridors. He also cited zonal management, habitat enrichment, village awareness, lighting, and trials of deterrent technologies such as drones, ultrasonic devices, bee sounds, chilli-based methods, and spiked rubber mats. Oral Question: Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.3/2024) EnvironmentLaw & Order Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi formally proposed that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair during proceedings. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara assumed it. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the human-elephant conflict had been worsened by successive governments over many years and said the current Government aims to protect both elephants and human lives through scientific short- and long-term measures. He noted that, although the Government had been in office for only about two months, it was conducting a detailed study to provide sustainable solutions while implementing immediate interventions in affected areas. Oral Question: Wild Elephant Detention Centre in Lunugamwehera (Q.1/2025) Environment Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that past policy failures had worsened the human–elephant conflict and placed both communities and elephants at risk. He said the Government is consulting experts, collecting information, and preparing a systematic programme for elephant conservation and urgent intervention to restore balance between humans and elephants. Oral Question: Wild Elephant Detention Centre in Lunugamwehera (Q.1/2025) Environment Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi replied that Rs. 431.89 million had been spent on the Lunugamwehera National Park elephant detention centre, including tanks, roads, culverts, vegetation clearance, fencing, and railway sleeper transport. He stated that funding came from the World Bank’s Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project and the Wildlife Conservation Fund. He acknowledged allegations regarding the project and said a preliminary ministerial inquiry is underway, with further action to depend on its findings. Oral Question: Wild Elephant Detention Centre in Lunugamwehera (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceEnvironment Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment presented the 2023 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management. He proposed that the report be referred to the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of Environment, and the House agreed. Papers: Annual Reports Tabled (Sri Lanka Institute of Policy Studies, Ministry of Health, Department of Coast Conservation) Parliamentary ProcedureEnvironment Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi said Clean Sri Lanka is a central NPP Government programme built on environmental, social and ethical development, not merely a sanitation or environmental campaign. He outlined plans for safer roads, public sanitation, food safety, disability-friendly cities, low-noise zones, anti-corruption enforcement, behavioural change, and ecological restoration, implemented through a Presidential Task Force and State administrative structures down to village level. He argued that the programme reflects the public mandate received at the recent elections and is intended to mobilize the State, civil society, volunteers and citizens toward social reform and environmental protection. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Religion & CultureCorruption & Governance ReformEnvironment Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi presented the 2022 Annual Reports of the Central Environmental Authority and GSMB Technical Services (Private) Limited. He moved that the reports be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 January 2025 AI summary The Minister of Environment requested two weeks’ time to respond to the question before the House. The question was ordered to stand down. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister supported the Supplementary Estimate presented by the Prime Minister as Minister of Education, stating that it provides Rs. 6,500 million for Rs. 6,000 grants to eligible students for stationery and school supplies in 2025. He argued that the measure offers relief during economic recovery, prioritizes education, and will be implemented through coordination between the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. He urged the Opposition to support the proposal and criticized attempts to divert the debate from its subject. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Public FinanceEducation Read →
18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi, briefly requested Hon. Ajith P. Perera to allow him to proceed. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in this excerpt. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary The Minister of Environment presented the 2023 Performance Reports of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Department. He proposed that both reports be referred to the relevant Committees, and the House agreed. Papers: Auditor-General's Report and Reports Tabled EnvironmentParliamentary Procedure Read →
6 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Dammika Patabendige said the National People’s Power Government had already begun implementing its mandate despite Parliament being convened less than a month earlier. He said the Ministry of Environment’s initial step was to consolidate previously fragmented institutions under one system, and cited the Government’s policy programme, “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life,” particularly its environmental commitments. He stated that digitalization and the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme are directly linked to environmental restoration, including protection of seas, water, soil, wildlife and the atmosphere. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Cost of LivingEnvironment Read →
6 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Dammika Patabendi thanked voters in Kegalle and said the NPP’s mandate reflected both public disillusionment with past governance and expectations for national recovery. He argued that successive post-independence administrations had damaged the economy, livelihoods, and the environment, citing forest loss, the X-Press Pearl disaster, human-elephant conflict, and water pollution. As Minister of Environment, he said the Government’s initial step was to bring fragmented environmental institutions back under the Ministry to strengthen centralized environmental protection and restore balance between people, wildlife, and nature. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Environment Read →