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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Colombo

Minister of Justice and National Integration

Profession: Attorney-at-Law

Roster profile ↗
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
  • 8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara moved that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara presided. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 April 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration moved that the Bill be read a Second time and also moved an Order under the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act listed as Item No. 2 on the Order Paper. He stated that Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra would open the debate on behalf of the Government, after which proceedings were suspended for lunch until 1.00 p.m. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 April 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the Ministerial Consultative Committee report on regulations made under Section 7(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act, No. 2 of 2013. The regulations had been published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2418/28 of 8 January 2025 and referred to the Committee, and the report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Reports: Justice and Governance Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the Government is reviewing over 60 Bills and laws, including the matter raised, and has decided to refer it to the Law Commission. He said the administration is establishing the necessary process within its first four and a half months in office and intends to implement proposals in its policy statement over its remaining term. Oral Question No. 3 - 276/2024: Safe Medical Termination of Pregnancy Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 21 March 2025 AI summary The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara responded to Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s question regarding a Bill that is included in the Government’s policy statement. He stated that the Government intends to proceed with it through the required process, not as a delaying tactic, and that implementation cannot be done by a Minister alone. He assured the House that the matter would be expedited, with Parliament kept informed. Oral Question No. 3 - 276/2024: Safe Medical Termination of Pregnancy Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 March 2025 AI summary The Minister said earlier proposals to amend the Penal Code to permit safe medical termination of pregnancy on medical grounds, based on a 2012/2013 Law Commission report, received Cabinet approval in 2017 subject to consultations with religious leaders, but failed after majority opposition. He noted that the Ministry of Justice revisited the issue in 2022, including the need for Health Ministry data and recommendations, but successive reform attempts over nearly 30 years had faced social and religious resistance. He stated that any renewed legislation should follow broad public discourse and that the matter is expected to be referred again to the Law Commission before further action. Oral Question No. 3 - 276/2024: Safe Medical Termination of Pregnancy HealthcareReligion & CultureJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 19 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question raised. The question was ordered to stand down accordingly. Oral Question: Question No. 4 - 514/2025 (Stand Down) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 March 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the Government remains committed to abolishing the Executive Presidency and introducing a new Constitution, but will do so according to its five-year mandate and planned sequence rather than an Opposition timetable. He stated that the Government’s immediate priorities are economic stabilization, reducing waste and corruption, pursuing accountability for alleged fraud and corruption, and holding Local Government and then Provincial Council elections. He added that constitutional reform would resume from earlier drafting work and proceed after those steps, while inviting the Opposition to submit proposals. Adjournment Motion: Necessity of Drafting a New Constitution Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on the Prevention of Terrorism Act, noting its history, previous amendments, and attempts to replace it, including the 2023 Bill challenged before the Supreme Court. He said Cabinet had approved the appointment of an expert committee chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice to study the Bill and recommend whether to repeal the PTA and introduce new legislation or take other action. He tabled CTID figures showing 4,327 arrests under the PTA, 1,418 charges filed, 2,909 not charged, 1,734 referred for rehabilitation, and 144 acquitted. He added that the 2022 amendment limited pre-process detention to 72 hours and that the Government intends to restrict the PTA and present a new Bill based on the committee’s recommendations. Ministerial Statements Justice & Human RightsParliamentary ProcedureLaw & Order Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that Sri Lanka’s prisons have capacity for about 10,700 inmates but currently hold around 30,000, including approximately 19,000 remand prisoners, creating overcrowding problems in Polonnaruwa, Colombo, and elsewhere. He said funds have been allocated this year to address sewerage issues, including in Polonnaruwa, after no allocations in the previous two years, but emphasized that infrastructure measures alone are insufficient. He added that a committee appointed three months earlier is working to reduce the remand population and that the Ministry intends to act expeditiously. Oral Question: Prison Guard Vacancies (Q.125/2024) Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary Public servants’ salaries have been increased this year, and the Minister stated that the relevant group’s salaries will also rise accordingly. He added that further discussions could be held to consider additional allowances and relief measures. Oral Question: Prison Guard Vacancies (Q.125/2024) Public Finance Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary The Minister provided figures on the approved cadre, current strength, and vacancies for male and female Prison Guards, noting 729 male and 117 female vacancies. He said recruitment is underway through a competitive examination, internal recruitment from the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force to the Prisons Emergency Response Tactical Unit, and limited competitive recruitment from junior departmental employees. He also stated that Cabinet-approved increases to allowances, expanded overtime eligibility, uniform provision, and training programmes have been introduced to address staffing pressures and improve prison service capacity. Oral Question: Prison Guard Vacancies (Q.125/2024) Law & OrderEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
  • 10 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Integration covering the 2023 reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections, the Superior Courts Complex Board of Management, the Law Commission Department, and the Attorney General’s Department. The reports were ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers Presented and Ministerial Consultative Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 March 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara called for stronger gatekeeping in child protection, arguing that admission to orphanages should be properly assessed by probation officers and used only as a last resort, particularly where poverty is the main reason. He urged funding for supervision, transport and victim support, and emphasized zero tolerance for violence against children, family-based alternative care, reunification, adolescent mental health services, drug rehabilitation and vocational training for convicted youth. He welcomed the allocations for child protection and welfare and said amendments to the outdated Children and Young Persons Ordinance, 1939, would be expedited. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenPublic Finance Read →
  • 8 March 2025 AI summary The Minister marked International Women’s Day by emphasizing that legal protections for women must be accompanied by changes in social attitudes beginning in childhood, including challenging gendered expectations and the notion that “boys will be boys.” He linked the Budget and justice reforms to Sri Lanka’s obligations under the UNCRC, citing allocations for maternal nutrition and preschool meals, and said he would expedite a Bill to outlaw corporal punishment while maintaining non-violent discipline. He also outlined plans for child-friendly courts, rehabilitation-focused juvenile justice, and safer transport for children in institutional care, including a Rs. 250 million Budget allocation for vehicles. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Women & ChildrenEducationJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration stated that the Government is committed to protecting the independence of the Judiciary, the Attorney-General, and the Judicial Service Commission, and to strengthening the rule of law. He said the matters raised should first be examined through the Ministerial Consultative Committee, with further action to be considered if necessary. Adjournment Debate: Select Committee on Administration of Justice Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said a Cabinet Paper is being submitted to appoint a committee to establish an independent Prosecutor’s Office, guided initially by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda. He stated that the policy direction is to decentralize prosecutions to the provinces, with possible new recruitments and legal amendments to be considered by experts. He also said the Government Analyst’s Department may be decentralized to reduce administrative delays, emphasizing that professional expertise should guide justice-sector reforms. Adjournment Debate: Select Committee on Administration of Justice Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara welcomed proposals to reduce court delays but argued that a Select Committee would be premature until the Attorney-General’s Department, Judiciary, Government Analyst’s Department and related institutions are given adequate staffing, resources and allowances. He emphasized the independence of the Attorney-General and Judicial Service Commission, citing major cadre shortages, heavy prosecutorial workloads, and the need to restore public trust amid political interference and unfair public attacks. He said the Government would strengthen these institutions, recruit staff, consider special treatment for salary structures, provide training, and introduce amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, including audio-visual witness testimony, to address delays caused by witness non-appearance and security concerns. Adjournment Debate: Select Committee on Administration of Justice Public FinanceLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara moved an amendment to Expenditure Head 232 to revise the allocation for Programme 01, Operational Activities, to Rs. 15.773 billion in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 4.607 billion in capital expenditure. The stated effect is to increase the capital provision by Rs. 100 million to implement Budget Proposal No. 52. Committee of Supply: Ministry of Justice and National Integration (Head 110, Heads 228-236, Head 326) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment to page 16, line 19, replacing the existing wording with “Capital Rs. 16,145,600,000.” The proposal seeks to revise the stated capital allocation in the relevant provision under consideration. Committee of Supply: Ministry of Justice and National Integration (Head 110, Heads 228-236, Head 326) Parliamentary Procedure Read →