Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Badulla

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 29 #138 of 225·#78 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

29 speeches

8 April 2026 AI summary The motion was seconded and agreed to without debate. Following the decision, Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj left the Chair and Hon. Upul Kithsiri took the Chair at 4.49 p.m. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel spoke in support of the Adjournment Motion marking International Women’s Day, emphasizing women’s achievements beyond household roles and the need for equal opportunities in all sectors. She highlighted the economic and professional contributions of plantation Tamil women and noted increased Tamil women’s representation in Parliament, local bodies, public administration, education, law, and medicine. She stated that sustainable development requires women’s participation and referred to the government’s measures, including a minimum 5% women’s participation in civic and social protection bodies. Adjournment: National Care Policy and International Women's Day Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionWomen & Children Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary The Member asked who would be responsible for maintaining estate access roads that were previously outside the jurisdiction of local authorities or the RDA/PRDA. She sought clarification on whether the Ministry had discussed maintenance responsibilities with estate companies and managers following recent repairs. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Infrastructure Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel raised concerns about verbal harassment of women estate workers, including by supervisory staff. She requested ministerial attention to establish or enforce legal and administrative remedies to ensure effective action. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Women & ChildrenJustice & Human RightsEmployment Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure whether the Government is aware of hazards faced by plantation workers, including wild animal attacks, snake and wasp bites, and chemical exposure, and requested complaint statistics for the past five years by category. She also sought details of measures taken to protect workers from these risks and asked whether the Ministry is aware of workplace harassment by employers, whether legal action has been taken to prevent it, and if not, whether such action will be taken in future. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Justice & Human RightsHealthcareEmployment Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the Government is initiating mini-government service centres and programmes to improve livelihoods and provide dignified work for Hill Country communities, including recognizing rubber tapping as a profession. She stated that tourism and industrial development programmes would be used to raise living standards and that national programmes are treating Hill Country people equally. She argued that these measures represent meaningful freedom for the community and would create pathways for greater political representation at all levels. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Cost of LivingEmploymentInfrastructure Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the Hill Country community’s loss of citizenship and franchise after independence had led to decades of exclusion in education, land, housing, wages and political representation. She argued that the National People’s Power Government had begun addressing these issues since 2024, citing increased representation of Hill Country women, progress on land and housing rights, salary issues, road development, an e-library, a mini-government service centre, and planned vocational training. She said further shortcomings remain but maintained that the Government has laid the foundation for integrating the Hill Country community into the national mainstream and ensuring a dignified life. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) EducationLand & HousingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel raised concerns that certificates issued through the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre and Hatton Norwood Stadium are often from unrecognized bodies and that institutional activities are limited. She asked whether NVQ certificates awarded there will be officially recognized by the Government and what employment prospects upcountry youth can expect from them. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives EducationEmployment Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel questioned the Government on the administration of a government-established foundation named after a particular family, alleging that it promotes a family political legacy in the upcountry. She raised concerns about appointments linked to CWC affiliation and family representation, inadequate auditing, salaried personnel despite limited operations, and asked what measures the Government has taken to address these issues. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel requested detailed financial and operational information from the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure regarding the Saumyamoorthi Thondaman Memorial Foundation and its affiliated institutions. She asked for income and expenditure reports for 2020–2024, 2025 income details, Board of Management meetings and decisions in 2025, the current performance and 2025 student enrolment of the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre in Hatton, and whether an income-generating programme exists for Norwood Stadium. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Public Finance Read →
20 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said discrepancies in the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Payment Scheme, including exclusion of eligible plantation communities and inclusion of ineligible recipients, are being corrected by the Government. She noted increases in elderly, disability and CKD payments, support for children from low-income families, and argued that welfare should help families recover from poverty rather than create dependency. She also linked poverty reduction to education reform, defending the Government’s reform programme against calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation and stating that promised measures, including a Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers from the 10th of the next month, would be implemented. Debate - Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme EducationEmploymentCost of Living Read →
6 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel questioned the administrative responsibility for floriculture, noting that although the subject was moved from the Ministry of Agriculture to Environment after 2018, growers still depend largely on the Department of Agriculture due to implementation gaps. She cited areas including Haputale, Diyatalawa, Bindunuwewa and Kegalle District where growers lack adequate technical advice and local officer support, and asked whether floriculture would be returned to Agriculture or an effective programme established under Environment. Oral Question: Import of Cut Flowers and Plants - Details (Q.1463/2025) Agriculture Read →
6 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel raised concerns about the floriculture sector in Badulla District, citing staff shortages in areas such as Welimada, Haputale, Diyatalawa and Bandarawela, where only 39 of 79 required workers are in place and research capacity is limited to two researchers. She asked whether there is a recruitment plan to fill these gaps and whether support mechanisms can include growers who are retirees or government employees, who she said are often excluded from assistance. Oral Question: Import of Cut Flowers and Plants - Details (Q.1463/2025) EmploymentAgriculture Read →
6 January 2026 AI summary The Hon. Ambika Samivel asked the Minister of Environment to provide details on cut flowers and plants imported into Sri Lanka, including the types, annual quantities by type, and annual import costs. She also sought clarification on whether these imported varieties could be cultivated locally and, if so, what programme has been prepared to support such cultivation; if not, she requested the reasons. Oral Question: Import of Cut Flowers and Plants - Details (Q.1463/2025) EnvironmentAgriculture Read →
6 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel presented a petition from Mr. T.A. Maithripala of Udammitiya, Veyangoda. The petition was ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel raised concerns that many NYSC courses are conducted only in Sinhala, causing difficulties and dropouts among Tamil students, especially in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya. She asked whether Tamil-medium sections in institutions such as NAITA, VTA and NYSC would be strengthened, and proposed establishing centres to provide language training and direct students into new agriculture and tourism-oriented courses in areas such as Bandarawela and Neluwa. Oral Question: National Youth Services Council Training Centres in Tamil Medium (Q.2/2025) AgricultureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEducation Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel raised a supplementary question on training centres in Badulla, citing inadequate meal and facility allocations for students attending courses. She said the newly started course at the Bandarawela Neluwa Centre had only Rs. 300 per student allocated for meals, while some centres had no allocation, causing students to bear costs and leading to the course stalling. She asked whether funds could be allocated this year or next year to continue such courses with proper facilities. Oral Question: National Youth Services Council Training Centres in Tamil Medium (Q.2/2025) Public FinanceEducation Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel asked the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports for details on National Youth Services Council Training Centres operating in the Tamil medium. She requested the number of such centres, the centres in Badulla District, which of them operate in Tamil, the courses conducted there, and whether the allocated provisions are sufficient, with reasons if not. Oral Question: National Youth Services Council Training Centres in Tamil Medium (Q.2/2025) Education Read →
14 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel formally posed a question to the House. No substantive details of the question or related policy issue are included in the provided excerpt. Oral Questions: Q.1-Q.5 (Questions stood down) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the 2025 Budget provides a plantation workers’ wage increase without the pre-Budget protests seen in previous years, with Rs. 200 from the Government and Rs. 200 from companies based on attendance, as part of efforts to reach a Rs. 1,750 daily wage through negotiations. She rejected Opposition claims that infrastructure and housing in the hill country were neglected, citing road carpeting projects in Badulla, Haputale, Bandarawela–Poonagala and Thampetenna, and housing work in Poonagala. She argued that the National People’s Power Government is using public funds for the welfare of Upcountry communities and addressing longstanding needs. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Public FinanceEmploymentInfrastructure Read →