Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P.
Minister of Justice and National Integration
Profession: Attorney-at-Law
Speeches 338 #12 of 225·#6 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 179 speeches
Last spoke 9 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
96 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
338 speeches- 24 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Debt Conciliation Board. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, and the House agreed to the motion. Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the Ministry’s Performance Report for 2024. He proposed that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Public Administration, Justice and Civil Security, and the House agreed. Papers: Annual Reports and Performance Reports Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 July 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the matter would be considered and affirmed the Government’s support for freedom of religion. He indicated that, depending on the circumstances, the Ministry would intervene to the fullest extent possible. Oral Question: Mosque at Mahara Prison Premises Religion & CultureJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 22 July 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that he could address the issue concerning the five perches of land because it falls under the Ministry of Justice, while broader proposals would require a feasibility assessment. He said the Ministry could mediate, upon receiving an official request, to support community needs within its mandate of promoting inter-ethnic cooperation, but could not specify the exact intervention at that stage. Oral Question: Mosque at Mahara Prison Premises Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 22 July 2025 AI summary The Minister replied that a mosque on Mahara Prison Department land had originally served Muslim prison officers but was later used by outsiders, creating security risks due to its location near the prison wall, staff quarters, and internal access routes. He stated that prison authorities had repeatedly refused reopening the old site to outsiders, citing risks of contraband entry and large gatherings near a prison housing high-risk inmates, and tabled related annexes. He said the old mosque cannot be reopened, but an alternative five-perch site on Prisons Department land has been identified and may be considered once mosque management submits a formal request. Oral Question: Mosque at Mahara Prison Premises Religion & CultureLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Community Based Corrections and the 2024 Performance Report of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and moved that they be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection. He also presented regulations made under the Judicature Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2439/34 of 4 June 2025, and moved their referral to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Integration. Both motions were agreed to. Tabling of Annual Reports - Ministers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara raised a point of order and objected to being lectured by Members whom he said had remained silent during former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure. He stated that he had previously addressed the Member respectfully but no longer intended to do so, and asserted that the Government would proceed with its work. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law, stated that the matter under discussion must proceed according to the established procedure. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the Office on Missing Persons is re-examining the matter carefully and is present in an observer capacity. He indicated that action or attention is triggered when a complaint is made, though his remarks were interrupted. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law, characterized the matter under discussion as effectively an inquiry into the government’s own failures or misconduct. The remark was a pointed procedural intervention, suggesting that those responsible were being called to account for their own actions. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the matter is progressing well and that all necessary assistance is being provided. He added that committees would be appointed if the need arises. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara stated that information regarding Chemmani had been provided to court. He assured the Member that the relevant work was being carried out. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara argued that the Office on Missing Persons was necessary to uncover and verify details related to missing persons cases. He implied that without the OMP’s involvement, Parliament and the public would lack access to such information. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara briefly intervened to assert that a preceding statement was factual, correcting the wording from “may be” to “it is true.” The remark appears to have been a clarification or affirmation within an ongoing exchange rather than a substantive policy argument. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the Chemmani mass grave excavations are proceeding under court orders without obstruction, with work having commenced on the 26th. He said the Office on Missing Persons is observing and providing necessary support, including financial assistance, and that personal security has been deployed to the site. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the Easter Sunday attacks occurred under the previous Yahapalana Government and argued that former ministers now making proposals could have acted when in office. He emphasized that victims included both those killed and injured in the attacks and the Muslim community affected by subsequent anti-Muslim hostility. Addressing the motion’s call for a special prosecutor with international assistance, he said an investigative-prosecutorial model is incompatible with Sri Lanka’s adversarial legal system, but the Government is moving to establish an independent Prosecutor’s Office to avoid perceived conflicts involving the Attorney-General. He stated that investigations can be conducted by the CID, international assistance may be sought where appropriate, and prosecutions should proceed through Sri Lankan courts to deliver justice and closure. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Security & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara informed the Chair that he would allocate part of his speaking time to the Minister. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in this intervention. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Official Languages. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, and the House agreed to the motion. Papers: Annual Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the 2024 Performance Report of the Attorney-General’s Department to Parliament. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Presentation and Tabling of Reports and Annual Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara requested two weeks to respond, stating that reports from ongoing committees, including the Arjuna Abeysekera Report, must first be obtained. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Proceedings Deferred (Q.224/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →