Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Mahanuwara

Deputy Minister of Health

Profession: Medical Doctor

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 81 #62 of 225·#27 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

81 speeches

19 December 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni stated that Dr. Bellana’s interdiction was based on two complaints—leaking sensitive patient information and making statements that caused public unrest—and that the Public Service Commission had approved the action. He said the interdiction was unrelated to the allegations raised by the Member. Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara disputed the basis for removal, noting that former hospital directors had previously provided information to the media, and requested that Dr. Bellana’s submissions and the related issues be properly investigated. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Justice & Human RightsHealthcare Read →
18 December 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni reported on the health-sector response to a recent disaster affecting districts including Kandy, noting restoration of essential services with support from the CEB, NWSDB, security forces, engineers and local authorities. He said three hospitals had become non-functional, with Mahiyanganaya and Halawatha restored, Wattegama temporarily operating from the MOH office pending relocation, and eight other facilities also planned for relocation; estimated health-sector damage was Rs. 2,113.5 million. He emphasized preventing disease outbreaks in relief camps, developing AI-assisted rapid warning and inundation systems for areas such as the Mahaweli basin, and expediting NBRO site assessments using external geologists and engineers. He also clarified that an operating bed was temporarily moved from Padaviya to Thambuttegama and said pharmaceutical matters were being handled legally and systematically. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah InfrastructureHealthcareEnvironment Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Health Ministry has prepared a National Strategic Plan for eye diseases aligned with WHO Vision 2030, targeting increased cataract surgery coverage, reduced waiting lists, diabetic retinopathy screening, refractive error correction, prematurity screening, and school vision programmes. He outlined measures including President’s Fund support, private-sector referrals where appropriate, post-surgery spectacle provision, strengthened referral pathways, and improved direct provision of spectacles through hospitals. He noted progress in corneal graft surgery, acknowledged shortages of ophthalmologists and administrative concerns, and said allegations of improper patient referrals and unanswered ministry correspondence would be investigated. Adjournment Motion: National Strategic Plan for Eye Health Healthcare Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Health formally seconded the motion under consideration. The House then agreed to the question, after which the presiding Chair changed from Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran to Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni defended the Budget as a reinvestment of recent economic gains, highlighting Rs. 543.1 billion for health-related spending, including Rs. 516.7 billion for the Ministry of Health. He outlined planned reforms to make hospitals more accessible, complete delayed infrastructure, expand digitization, address medicine shortages through Rs. 34 billion in decentralized purchases, and replace or repair ageing medical equipment with new allocations and service contracts. He also said health worker salaries, allowances, overtime arrears, and other entitlements were being improved in stages, framing the measures as part of strengthening essential services and citizens’ access to a dignified life. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
10 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Health stated that some MRI scanners and angiography systems are malfunctioning because they have exceeded their typical 15–20-year service life. He said the Ministry is repairing equipment where possible and has begun procurement to replace obsolete units. Private Members' Motion P.46/2025: National Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory Healthcare Read →
10 October 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni said the Government supports strengthening the NMRA laboratory and is already implementing measures to improve testing capacity, including doubling tests and staff in the past year and pursuing ISO 17025 international accreditation. He stated that local pharmaceutical production would be encouraged only under proper standards, while imports and batch releases are subject to pre-shipment, warehouse, post-distribution and complaint-based sampling through NMRA and other recognized laboratories. Responding to concerns about shortages and procurement, he said major hospital supplies, including antibiotics and cardiac surgery needs, were available, while some smaller items are procured at institutional level rather than through national bulk procurement. Private Members' Motion P.46/2025: National Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni stated that no donated equipment from the hospital has been or will be transferred to other institutions, following confirmation with the relevant Director. He said the main impediment is approval of cadre positions for doctors, nurses, and support staff, which has been requested from the Ministry of Finance. Once approvals are granted, staffing will be expedited for the modern ward complex intended to provide specialized infertility-related investigations and treatment not available in major Colombo hospitals. Oral Question 4: Special Schools and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni stated that the needs of Kilinochchi District General Hospital are being addressed and that no equipment from its specialized Gynaecology Unit will be transferred to other hospitals. He said the unit was built under the Netherlands-funded DRIVE project, with EUR 7.2 million for construction and EUR 8 million for equipment, and was handed over on 8 August 2024. He added that staff expansion is underway subject to cadre approval through the Northern Provincial Council, and that recruitment and service expansion will proceed once approvals are obtained. Oral Question 4: Special Schools and Standing Order 27(2) Questions HealthcareInfrastructure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that while local authorities remain responsible for maintaining maternity clinic buildings, the proposed “Arogya Suwatha” primary care centres will provide a wider range of services. He said these centres will incorporate existing clinic functions while adding screening, health education, rehabilitation, and palliative care, with nationwide implementation expected to take several years. Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District Healthcare Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary A status report has been sent to the Ministry regarding the hospital development matter. Funding is expected through the Southern Provincial Council, and the District Director has been asked to submit a full action plan so the Council can consider allocations. If funding constraints arise, support may be provided through an upcoming multi-year project to develop similar hospitals. Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister provided details of health institutions in the Galle District, stating that there are two Line Ministry hospitals and 49 Provincial Council hospitals, and tabled annexes listing them. He confirmed that Baddegama District Hospital was inspected on 1 September 2025 with relevant provincial and local officials, and that the District Director of Health Services, Galle, has been assigned to implement remedial measures. The tabled actions include addressing sanitation, accessibility, ambulance facilities, dental surgery expansion, drainage repairs, building repairs, re-roofing, and staff quarters, to be incorporated into 2025–2026 development plans. He also stated that hospitals, MOH offices, and field clinics are mapped and integrated into a data system. Oral Question 2: Hospitals in Galle District HealthcareInfrastructure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media requested one week to provide an answer. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question 1: Oil Tanks and Pipeline in Kankesanthurai (Cement Corporation) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that there is no circular preventing the external purchase of rarely used or urgently needed medicines, provided procedures are followed. He defended COPE’s role as identifying irregularities and corruption, rejecting allegations that it is targeting particular individuals or officials. He also questioned Members’ advocacy regarding certain power plants and companies, and noted that COPE had identified serious irregularities, including election-period recruitments, at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital for rectification. Adjournment Debate: Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) HealthcareCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Deputy Minister requested two weeks to provide the answer to the question. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni responded to concerns raised about medicine supplies, stating that human immunoglobulin is subject to NMRA safety review when adverse concerns arise and that use is resumed only after independent evaluation. He rejected media claims that cardiac surgeries would stop due to Papaverine shortages, saying units had not reported such a crisis and that limited local purchases were being allowed to manage low stocks. He argued that procurement reforms and NMRA price regulation were reducing excessive prices, citing Papaverine price comparisons and stating that government-to-government and other procurement routes would be used to secure supply while maintaining quality verification. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country HealthcarePublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that appointments issued before the 2019 Presidential Election were later cancelled by circular by the subsequent government, and said there was no proper basis for that cancellation. He affirmed agreement with the member’s position and said the policy position being pursued is that the affected persons should be appointed. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary Approval had been granted in 2019 to fill health assistant vacancies in the Northern Province, but appointments issued to 454 candidates were suspended after a Presidential Secretariat directive halting recruitments following the 2019 Presidential Election. Subsequent efforts to obtain approval were affected by DMS Circular No. 02/2020 assigning primary grade recruitment to the Multi-Purpose Development Task Force, and the matter is also before the Provincial High Court in Jaffna. The Deputy Minister said staff shortages affect services but patient care continues uninterrupted, and recruitment will be expedited if the Department of Management Services and Ministry of Finance grant approval. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) EmploymentHealthcarePublic Finance Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary Requested that specific references be provided, stating that the matter would then be inquired into and a response given. Adjournment Debate: NMRA Medicine Supply and State Land Leasing Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni stated that shortages remain in two lifesaving medicines and about 50 priority medicines due to supplier and registration issues, but hospitals have been given expanded authority and higher financial limits to make local purchases to prevent stockouts. He said 2025 local supply orders have been placed with Cabinet approval, expressions of interest for 2026 local supplies have been called, and 2026 import orders were submitted to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation by 31 January 2025 through procurement procedures. He emphasized that no preference is given to foreign manufacturers, while local manufacturers receive registration and procurement support, including multi-year purchase assurances. He also said the NMRA has reduced registration backlogs, particularly for local producers, approving 217 new local medicine registrations over the past year while continuing to address delays in import registrations. Adjournment Debate: NMRA Medicine Supply and State Land Leasing HealthcarePublic Finance Read →