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

20 August 2025 AI summary Investigations into the matter are ongoing, with the case currently before the court. The Ministry has submitted its inquiry reports to assist the judicial process, which is expected to determine those responsible. Oral Question: NMRA Data Deletion Incident (Q.1/2025) Justice & Human Rights Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni, answering on behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, stated that data deletion connected to the NMRA occurred on 9 July 2021 and that two EPIC Lanka officers were arrested in relation to it. He said a case is ongoing in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court following an NMRA complaint, with the CID Digital Forensics Laboratory investigating and one suspect having given a handwritten statement admitting the deletion resulted from his actions. Digital devices and system snapshots have been sent to the Government Analyst’s Department and University of Moratuwa experts, and investigations remain incomplete pending their reports. Oral Question: NMRA Data Deletion Incident (Q.1/2025) Justice & Human Rights Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary A petition was presented on behalf of Mr. S.R.A.M.T.B. Rathnayake of Bodhiyangana Mawatha, Medabowala, Kandy. Tabling of Reports and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni noted that a question had been submitted for answer later that evening. Oral Question: Hospitals Governed under Central Provincial Council (Q.1/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni indicated that a detailed answer would be provided later that evening. Oral Question: Hospitals Governed under Central Provincial Council (Q.1/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister outlined two health infrastructure programmes: a World Bank-supported upgrade of district and rural hospitals due to begin within two to three months, and an Asian Development Bank-supported programme to resource base hospitals, including planned implementation in the Central Province. He said hospital services, resources, and patient loads had been analysed to guide specialization and acknowledged gaps from earlier rural hospital upgrades. He also stated that post-intern medical officers would be recruited and deployed soon after applications close, while recruitment of X-ray Technicians is currently impeded by a court interim order. Oral Question: Hospitals Governed under Central Provincial Council (Q.1/2025) HealthcareInfrastructure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister provided figures on hospitals in the Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya Districts, stating that there are 159 institutions in total and that detailed lists and vacancy data have been placed in the Library as annexes. He said measures to address resource gaps include prioritizing needs, using project allocations to improve physical facilities, and implementing recruitment and training programmes for health staff at institutional, provincial and national levels. Oral Question: Hospitals Governed under Central Provincial Council (Q.1/2025) Healthcare Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary SPC officials inspected a proposed building in Mannar on 15 July 2025 and found it suitable for a Rajya Osusala, but the financial assessment indicated that a full outlet would incur significant losses even with minimum staff. Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said officials have been instructed to reassess a lower-cost pharmacy window or branch model under the district SPC head office to reduce administrative and staffing costs while maintaining patient access, with establishment expected as soon as possible. Question by Private Notice: Rajya Osusala Outlet in Mannar Town (Q. Private Notice 2) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that the NMRA’s pending files had been reduced from over 2,400 in June to around 200. He said local manufacturers’ applications receive priority processing, but noted that applications still require assessment time, with the NMRA’s 300-day timeframe aligning with international practice. He added that efforts are underway to reduce this period further and that there is no significant overdue backlog for local manufacturers beyond the stated timeframe. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Employment Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that discussions with the President involved Health Ministry officials and Ministers, not the Government Medical Officers’ Association, and focused on improving the medicine supply chain, procurement processes, and use of State Pharmaceutical Corporation funds. He said there was no major overall medicine shortage at Maharagama, noting that temporary gaps are being addressed through local purchases authorized to the hospital Director and through the Named Patient approval process for high-cost medicines. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Apeksha Hospital, stating that 6,700 new patients were registered from January to 30 June 2025, 36,000 patients were on clinic rolls, and 950 to 1,000 patients attended clinics daily. He said the hospital accepts only in-kind donations directly, while monetary donations are held through the National Health Development Fund, with the balance increasing to about Rs. 478 million by May 2025. He stated that no funds had yet been utilized from the donation account, but procurement was underway for a new CT scanner, after which remaining funds would be used for essential medical equipment. Oral Question: Apeksha Hospital Treatment and Medicines (Q.1) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said National Health Promotion Fund figures had been presented and noted that individual hospital funds must operate within an approved framework. He stated that receiving funds into personal bank accounts is improper and, if complaints arise, legal inquiries should be conducted through the Ministry. He added that emergency donations of medicines or equipment may be accepted, but must be documented, accounted for, and reported to the Ministry by hospital administrations. Oral Question: Ministry of Health and Affiliated Institutes - Financial and Non-Financial Assistance Received (Q.192/2024) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government is developing infrastructure and zones, including Bingiriya, to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports while attracting investors. Addressing the immunoglobulin procurement issue, he stated that existing testing and procurement procedures should prevent such incidents if followed, and that new measures and regulations have been introduced to avoid recurrence. Oral Question: Ministry of Health and Affiliated Institutes - Financial and Non-Financial Assistance Received (Q.192/2024) HealthcareInfrastructure Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that the National Health Promotion Fund received LKR 3.11 billion from 2015 to 31 December 2024, with details tabled in annexures placed in the Library. He said cash assistance through the Fund is accounted for, while hospitals and institutions also receive donations such as medicines, consumables, food, buildings and equipment directly, making full central compilation difficult. He added that a Ministry committee has been established to coordinate donated medical supplies, equipment and building assistance, and that formal procedures are being followed. Oral Question: Ministry of Health and Affiliated Institutes - Financial and Non-Financial Assistance Received (Q.192/2024) HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni tabled a written answer on the National Health Development Fund. The response set out the Fund’s objectives, including supporting health institutions, research and education, disease prevention, and procurement of medical equipment and essential drugs, and stated that donations from 2015 to 31 December 2024 totalled Rs. 3,111,258,902.89. It noted that payments were made in 2017 and 2018 for bone marrow transplants for children under 12 with thalassemia on humanitarian grounds, and that since 2018 the Fund has not been used outside its stated objectives. Oral Question: National Health Development Fund (Tabled Answer) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni stated that the individuals concerned are legally recorded as volunteers, a situation seen in other Northern and Eastern hospitals, though not on the same scale as in Jaffna. He said any payments made to them were outside the Government’s authority and may have come from an NGO or another body. He indicated that they would be prioritized in future recruitment but that there is no legal basis to pay arrears or past salaries. Oral Question: Jaffna Teaching Hospital Voluntary Workers (Q.668/2025) EmploymentHealthcare Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni said a group facing employment hardship had met officials at the Ministry and that he had explained the current legal position. He noted that many had been promised permanency, that their full list was obtained in January 2025, and that no national recruitment in their category has occurred since then. He stated that they had been given a written assurance that they would receive priority when recruitment resumes. Oral Question: Jaffna Teaching Hospital Voluntary Workers (Q.668/2025) Employment Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that inquiries into non-cadre staff found that some individuals had been serving voluntarily at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, reportedly with permission granted in 2021 for a three-month period. He said they worked a few hours under a roster on duties outside direct patient care, were not government appointees, and therefore no labour law violation arose. He added that the Ministry’s Emergency Raids Unit is examining complaints, but no complaint on this matter has been received so far. Oral Question: Jaffna Teaching Hospital Voluntary Workers (Q.668/2025) Healthcare Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary The Ministry of Health and Mass Media, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation and other stakeholders, has held several meetings in 2025 on dog population control. The member said a committee is expected to prepare a concrete action plan and propose any necessary legal amendments or new regulations, with decisions anticipated in the near term. Oral Question: Sand Mining Permits and Stray Dog Control (Q.7/2025) HealthcareAgriculture Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni stated that rabies control is a priority for the Ministry of Health, noting that annual deaths in Sri Lanka have fallen from about 300 two decades ago to 20–30 but remain higher than in comparable countries. He said current spending includes about Rs. 280 million on human post-exposure treatment, Rs. 180 million on animal vaccination, and Rs. 200 million on sterilization, and called for a review of the cost-effectiveness and outputs of these programmes. He proposed streamlining vaccination and developing a more systematic national programme for stray dog management that extends beyond the Health Ministry’s remit. Oral Question: Sand Mining Permits and Stray Dog Control (Q.7/2025) HealthcarePublic Finance Read →