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

Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi, M.P.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Ratnapura

Profession: Company Director

Roster profile ↗
Speeches 82 #61 of 225·#20 in party
Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 26 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Oral question

Activity by sitting

32 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.

Speech history

82 speeches
  • 10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi questioned the Prime Minister on the Government’s stated policy that politicians should not enter schools for political purposes. Citing an incident where MP Ambika reportedly visited a school with a band and laid a foundation stone for a toilet, he asked whether the policy had been withdrawn or whether the MP had acted contrary to it. Oral Question: School Dropouts Since 2010 (Q.3) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 10 June 2026 AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised concern that reliable data on out-of-school children are not maintained despite Sri Lanka’s free education system. He asked whether the Ministry of Education would introduce a targeted welfare mechanism for children who leave school due to economic hardship, noting problems in the administration of the Aswasuma welfare programme. Oral Question: School Dropouts Since 2010 (Q.3) Cost of LivingEducation Read →
  • 10 June 2026 AI summary Asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide detailed data on school dropouts from 2010 to the present, including annual numbers, age groups, district-wise figures, and common causes. He also sought information on Government measures to address the issue and whether a formal study is being conducted, or, if not, whether the Government accepts the need for an urgent study. Oral Question: School Dropouts Since 2010 (Q.3) Education Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised concerns about alleged unequal treatment within a union, stating that its General Secretary faces charges and that an inquiry by Wasantha Jayaratne made observations without subsequent action. He alleged that politically connected individuals are being protected while others have been sent home without cause and are receiving only part of their salaries, and called for the authorities to investigate. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage EmploymentCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi marked War Heroes’ Day by questioning why the President did not use the term “war hero” while acknowledging that Sri Lanka’s freedom was secured by them. On the Bill under debate, he raised concerns about Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, arguing that the profitable State entity should not be moved toward stock market listing without explanation. He alleged political interference by the SLIC Chairman, including the removal of senior officials and improper recruitment influence, and called on the Government to remove political appointees from key State posts and clarify its policy on SLIC’s future. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 8 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi supported a proposal to create a dedicated educational pathway for high-performing athletes, beyond merely adding 0.5 to the Z-score for university admission. He argued that athletes who represent Sri Lanka nationally or internationally should be able to pursue diplomas and degrees despite academic disruption, especially given limited university places for qualified A/L students. He also urged consideration of past international medal winners, including Susanthika Jayasinghe, and called on the Sports Minister and relevant Deputy Ministers to advance the proposal. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.17/2024 - School and Higher Education Frameworks for Sportspersons EducationEmployment Read →
  • 8 May 2026 AI summary Moved a Private Member’s Motion calling for national-level sportspersons and record-holders to be allowed access to sports-related degree programmes based on demonstrated sporting competence, rather than only academic qualifications or Z-score. He argued this would help address the shortage of qualified school sports coaches, citing problems with the 2017–2018 recruitment of coaches as non-academic staff, including low pay, lack of job security and attrition. He urged the Prime Minister, as Minister of Higher Education, and the Minister of Sports to develop a framework, and also commented on the need for proper governance and qualified appointments in Sri Lanka Cricket. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.17/2024 - School and Higher Education Frameworks for Sportspersons Corruption & Governance ReformEducationEmployment Read →
  • 6 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi welcomed the new insolvency legislation as a comprehensive reform of an outdated framework, noting its creation of an Independent Insolvency Regulatory Authority and new procedures for personal bankruptcy and MSMEs, while acknowledging contributions by current and former ministers. He urged the Justice Minister to proceed with delayed criminal and civil law reforms. He also raised concerns about stalled annual transfers in the public service, naming several officials and citing a specific case of non-compliance, and requested that they be summoned before the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised a scheduling conflict affecting University of Colombo BA Faculty students, whose convocation on 22 May coincides with the Law College Evidence and Procedure examination. He requested the Minister of Education to discuss the matter with the Vice-Chancellor and make a slight adjustment to the convocation date so students are not forced to choose between the two. Committee Reports: Sectoral Oversight Committee Reports Education Read →
  • 5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi tabled two reports of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour and Human Resources. The reports covered annual reports, accounts, performance reports, and financial statements of several education and higher education institutions, including the Sri Lanka Bhiksu University, University Grants Commission, University of Moratuwa, University of Colombo institutes, Department of Educational Publications, National Institute of Education, and related bodies for years between 2021 and 2024. The reports were ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Reports: Sectoral Oversight Committee Reports EducationParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide details on current non-academic vacancies in State universities. He requested information on non-academic staff recruited since 2019, including their names, posts and addresses, and asked what measures would be taken to ensure future recruitment to such vacancies is conducted transparently. Oral Question: Non-Academic Staff of State Universities (Q.25/2024) EmploymentEducation Read →
  • 6 March 2026 AI summary Asked whether the proposed upper age limit of 75 years for Justices of the Peace is fair, given that the role is honorary and comparable public or legal functions, such as lawyers appearing in court and Governors serving, have no similar age bar. The question sought clarification on the rationale for imposing an age restriction on JPs. Oral Question: Justices of the Peace (Q.23/2024) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 6 March 2026 AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi asked whether the Ministry could extend regulation of Justices of the Peace beyond appointments made after 2025 to review all existing appointees, given concerns that many past appointments were political and that the total number may approach one million. He proposed a robust verification mechanism to confirm qualifications, capacity, and authenticity of current JPs, citing difficulties in verifying JP stamps on documents at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Oral Question: Justices of the Peace (Q.23/2024) Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 6 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration for details on the appointment and training of Justices of the Peace in Sri Lanka. He sought confirmation on whether some JPs lack adequate training, requested figures for Whole Island and jurisdiction-specific appointments and annual new appointments, and asked what compulsory qualifications and formal training apply to new appointees, including reasons if such training is not provided. Oral Question: Justices of the Peace (Q.23/2024) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 6 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi informed Parliament that he accepted three petitions from individuals residing in Parakaduwa, Gilimale in Ratnapura, and Kahangama in Ratnapura. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi criticized the Government’s handling of proposed education reforms, alleging they were advanced for political purposes rather than children’s needs and without adequate consultation with the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education. He said prior committee processes could have identified issues such as the “Grade 6 error,” and urged the Government not to mislead the public. He stated that the Opposition would support further work in the committee to develop non-partisan education policy. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process EducationParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi said education reform is necessary but must be carried out transparently, with expert input and proper public awareness, noting that even the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee had not been briefed. He questioned the Government’s handling of the Grade 6 English module controversy, alleging that the inclusion of an inappropriate website reference was not accidental and urging that it not be dismissed as a minor error. He also linked the need for reform to structural problems in access to science and mathematics education, graduate unemployment and skills mismatches, while warning against reforms that could harm children’s education and public trust. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Education Read →
  • 22 January 2026 AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi ceded his remaining speaking time to Hon. O.S.B. Kaviratne, MP, without making substantive remarks on the matter under debate. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi said education reforms were necessary but should be clear, evidence-based, socially sensitive, and suitable for children in rural and disadvantaged areas, citing reversals on the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, debates on History, longer school hours, and uncertainty over pre-school reforms. He urged the Government to clarify its reform programme and honour campaign commitments, particularly removing VAT on school supplies and addressing tuition culture. He also raised concerns over unemployed graduates, Development Officers teaching in schools without regularization, and unresolved salary anomalies among education and teacher educator administrative officers. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) EducationCost of Living Read →
  • 15 November 2025 AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi briefly rose to pose a question to the House. No substantive details of the question or related policy issue are included in the provided excerpt. Oral Question: Finance Question 20/2024 (1) and 119/2024 (1) - Stand Down Requests and Point of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →