Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala, M.P.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Kurunegala

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 62 #81 of 225·#26 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

62 speeches

20 May 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala raised the hardship faced by pensioners following the economic downturn and pointed to the disparity between cost of living allowances paid to serving public officers and pensioners. He asked what steps had been taken to fulfil the pre-election promise to equalise those allowances, noting that both groups face the same prices for essential goods. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Asked for specific timelines and details on how the proposed staged payments would be made. The intervention sought clarification on the payment schedule and implementation process. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Public Finance Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala raised a supplementary question on pension anomalies affecting retirees from 2016 to 2020, noting that they had been informed the correction would be added from January 2020 but that it was later deferred by circular under the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. He asked what action the Government has taken, given earlier statements by the President and Hon. Wijitha Herath that resolving this anomaly was a priority. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Public Finance Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala raised Question No. 3519/2025 to the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government regarding pension discrepancies affecting government servants who retired before 31 December 2015. The question sought clarification on the issue and any measures being taken to address disparities in their pension entitlements. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Public Finance Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala supported Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Private Member’s Motion on providing a house for every family, citing severe housing shortages affecting nearly half a million families and over 60,000 low-income families in Colombo living in slum conditions. He argued that, given high land prices and limited land availability, Sri Lanka needs a well-designed, accelerated high-rise housing programme for low-income, middle-income and upper-middle-income groups, building on past initiatives associated with President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Private Members' Motion (P.25/2024): Providing Housing for Every Family in Sri Lanka Land & Housing Read →
15 March 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister to adopt a consultative approach and consider constructive Opposition proposals, given the importance of these sectors to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. He noted that war, the Easter attacks and COVID-19 severely affected tourism and remittances, but highlighted the recovery of tourism earnings from 2022 to 2024 and over two million arrivals in 2024. He argued that resolving structural issues in tourism and foreign employment is essential to secure sustainable foreign exchange inflows, especially ahead of increased external debt servicing from 2028. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Foreign AffairsCost of LivingEmployment Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala sought clarification from the Minister on the 2025 work plan and budget allocations for several expressway projects. He asked whether work would proceed on the Kurunegala–Dambulla corridor despite no visible allocation, and requested updates on restarting the stalled Kadawatha–Meerigama section, including the role of the Chinese contractor. He also asked for timelines for the Pothuhera–Galagedara section, particularly the Rambukkana–Galagedara stretch, emphasizing its importance for access to Kandy and wider North–South connectivity. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Infrastructure Read →
4 March 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Government to focus on delivering promised change rather than engaging in personal attacks. He raised public service salary anomaly issues, including proposals from the Joint Trade Union Alliance of Management Service Officers to amend the 2025 Budget at Committee Stage and grant the 1111/3 salary scale in line with Public Service Commission recommendations. He also tabled documents on resolving long-standing salary issues affecting graduate appointees in substitute or temporary service, and the documents were placed in the Library. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
4 March 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala briefly indicated that he had more points to raise and requested an additional five minutes from Hon. Gayantha to continue his remarks. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 March 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala briefly requested additional time to speak. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the statement. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 March 2025 AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala called for major reforms in public administration institutions, from Grama Niladhari offices to District Secretariats, to improve efficiency and service delivery. He urged the Government to hold local authority elections and then proceed promptly to Provincial Council elections, arguing that unelected administrators cannot meet public expectations. He disputed claims about unprecedented public sector salary increases, citing the 2015-2020 period, and said current pay rises are insufficient against rising living costs and pensioner hardship. He said the Opposition would support constructive reforms, including restructuring the enlarged public sector, while criticizing hostile responses to Members raising public issues. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Cost of LivingPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
4 March 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala moved a customary cut motion to reduce by Rs. 10 the allocations under specified programme heads of the Appropriation Bill 2025. Opening debate on the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, he noted its Rs. 573.5 billion allocation and wide administrative responsibilities, including District and Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladhari offices, Provincial Councils, and 341 local authorities. He highlighted the long-delayed local government elections, noting that nominations had been called, a court had directed the elections to be held within three months, and 8,355 councillor positions were at stake. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
19 February 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala argued that the Budget marks a major shift from the JVP’s past policy positions and largely continues the former Government’s IMF-aligned economic path. He questioned how the Rs. 2,200 billion deficit and non-tax revenue targets would be financed, warning that many proposals may remain unimplemented as in previous years. He said public sector salary and welfare increases are inadequate given rising living costs, and welcomed higher education expansion involving the private sector while criticizing earlier opposition to domestic private education options. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Cost of LivingPublic FinanceEducation Read →
19 February 2025 AI summary Four petitions were presented to Parliament on behalf of Mr. D.M.R. Rajasinghe, Mr. M.P. Gunaratna, Mr. M.R.S. Rahman, and Mrs. R.M. Anulawathi, with their respective addresses recorded for referral under parliamentary procedure. Petitions Presented by Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
14 February 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala seconded the motion under consideration. The question was then put to the House and agreed to. Motion: Privilege Matter Referral to Ethics Committee Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala supported the motion, emphasizing that embassy and consulate Labour Welfare Officers must act promptly and effectively to assist more than one million Sri Lankan migrant workers, whose remittances are a major source of foreign exchange. He cited the difficulties faced during COVID-19 as evidence of past neglect and called for suitable appointments, greater resources, and stronger funding for labour sections. He also urged missions, particularly in places such as Dubai, to protect Sri Lankan employment opportunities and remittance potential by addressing issues around visit visas, foreign agents, and job quota allocations, citing the Philippines as a model for migrant worker support. Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers EmploymentForeign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala supported Hon. Hesha Withanage’s Private Member’s Motion on estate roads, noting that such roads are now used not only for estate produce but also for daily transport by residents. He said estate companies do not maintain these roads for community needs and urged the Government to give special attention to unmanaged internal estate roads, particularly in areas such as Mawathagama and Dodangaslanda with large Tamil estate populations. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Land & HousingInfrastructure Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala formally seconded the motion before the House. The question was then put and agreed to. Notice of Motions and Procedural Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. J. C. Alawathuwala supported the Votes of Condolence for Rukman Senanayake, A. A. Reginald Perera, Sirinal de Mel and Dr. I. M. Ilyas, recalling their parliamentary and public service. He highlighted Senanayake’s role in the 1973 Dedigama by-election, later ministerial and party service, and commitment to the environment; de Mel’s long trade union role in the JSS and National List service; Perera’s local government and parliamentary career; and Ilyas’s representation of displaced Jaffna voters from Puttalam and his later presidential candidacies. He conveyed condolences to their families and noted their contributions in different political and social contexts. Votes of Condolence: Rukman Senanayake, A.A. Reginald Perera, Sirinal de Mel, and Dr. I.M. Ilyas Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 January 2025 AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala paid tribute to late former Members Kumara Welgama, Tudor Gunasekara, and H. Nandaseena, recalling their parliamentary service and contributions to Kalutara, Gampaha, and Anuradhapura respectively. He highlighted Welgama’s long parliamentary career, local development work, and decision to oppose Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s candidacy on principle; noted Gunasekara’s service as a UNP MP and diplomat; and described Nandaseena’s progression through local, provincial, and national politics. He conveyed condolences to all three families and wished strength to their successors in public life. Votes of Condolence: Hon. Kumara Welgama, Hon. H. Nandasena, and Hon. Tudor Gunasekera Parliamentary Procedure Read →