Hon. Jagath Manuwarna, M.P.
Profession: Film Artist
Speeches 16 #192 of 225·#130 in party
Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 7 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
11 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
16 speeches- 10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna rejected an allegation that he had used unparliamentary language. He stated that the Member making the accusation habitually speaks in a more indecent manner. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna sought permission from the Presiding Member to respond to a point raised during the debate. No substantive policy argument, proposal, or question is included in the excerpt. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna’s recorded intervention consists only of the salutation “Hon. Presiding Member,” with no substantive remarks, proposals, questions, or references to legislation or policy included in the provided text. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna rejected claims of a continuing national medicine shortage, saying the Government is addressing official inefficiencies and urging reports of any local shortages. He criticised the Fort protest and Opposition parties, linking their actions to attempts to undermine the Government and to sensitivities around renewed investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, including matters related to Suresh Sallay and Channel 4 allegations. He argued that global conflicts are affecting fuel prices and supply, but said the Government has maintained services and welfare support, including compensation of Rs. 500,000 for fully damaged houses after the “Dittachchi” cyclone, with officials instructed to process claims without political bias. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Read →
- 4 March 2026 AI summary Jagath Manuwarna supported the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill, arguing that regulation is necessary because thousands of unregistered lenders operate in villages while only a few are Central Bank-registered. He said poor borrowers, especially women, plantation communities, farmers, and war-affected people in the North and East, have faced severe distress, harassment, and suicides linked to abusive microfinance practices. He assured that voluntary village societies such as death-benefit societies and farmer organizations would not be targeted, and said the Bill aims to formalize the sector and protect both borrowers and legitimate lenders. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna defended the Government’s 2025 and 2026 Budgets, arguing that delays in implementing 2025 projects were partly due to the Budget being passed only in March and to shortages of technical and administrative staff at village level. He highlighted proposals to recruit about 75,000 public servants through proper procedures, improve digital access in government institutions, and regularize certain appointments to strengthen delivery of development funds. He also rejected media reports that he had evaded court due to a warrant, stating that he had appeared through proper legal procedure and that the warrant had been recalled. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 10 November 2025 AI summary A petition was presented on behalf of Mrs. Jayami Sanjana de Silva of Ritigala GN Division. The petition was ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna discussed COPE’s Fourth Report, emphasizing the need to pursue corruption investigations and strengthen COPE’s legal capacity to summon all 457 institutions under its purview. He highlighted alleged irregularities in Airport and Aviation Services expansion projects, including costly design changes, major consultancy payments, contract extensions, and politically driven alterations to the airport concourse roof design. He also referred to issues at the LRC, National Youth Services Council, and NMRA, stating that COPE would protect honest officials while pursuing accountability based on Auditor General reports and written submissions. Adjournment Debate: Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 23 September 2025 AI summary Jagath Manuwarna presented two petitions from residents of Matale and Elkaduwa. The petitions were ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions Presented by Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna said the Government rejects attempts to revive racist or chauvinist war-time politics and cited recent election results as a mandate to end such politics. He accused Opposition parties of seeking “impure alliances” and having historical links with organized crime figures, while stating that the National People’s Power Government would not rely on corrupt actors. He argued that the local government mandate should be used to address village-level needs such as drinking water, roads, canals and bus services, and said the Government would work with those able to serve the public. Debate: Finance Act Order and Notification on Luxury Tax on Motor Vehicles - Continued (Afternoon Session) Law & OrderCorruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
- 21 May 2025 AI summary Jagath Manuwarna said the Opposition was exaggerating issues such as salt supply concerns and criticised its political positioning, including references to Ranil Wickremesinghe and claims about control of local authorities. He asserted that his party would secure majorities in many local councils, including the Colombo Municipal Council and Hewahata, naming Vraye Kelly Balthazar as their mayoral candidate for Colombo. He also criticised the Opposition Leader in relation to recent war commemorations, urging practical remembrance of fallen and disabled service personnel from villages. Debate: Finance Act Order and Notification on Luxury Tax on Motor Vehicles - Continued (Afternoon Session) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 17 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna rejected allegations linking the JVP to violence during the 1983 July riots, arguing that false claims were being used to undermine the Government’s mandate and recalling the riots’ damaging impact on Sri Lankan cinema. He said many cinemas and cultural venues, including in Kandy and rural electorates such as Hewaheta, have closed, limiting public access to film, theatre and music. He proposed reviving cinema through discussions on a cinema academy, possible Indian assistance for an internationally reputed theatre, islandwide tours for selected drama festival productions, and development of village cultural centres to secure cultural rights. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment EnvironmentReligion & Culture Read →
- 6 March 2025 AI summary Jagath Manuwarna criticised past misuse and underfunding of state media institutions, particularly Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, citing unpaid government advertising, loss of cricket broadcast revenue, overstaffing, outdated technology, and arrears to producers as causes of continuing financial losses. He argued that public media should be revived through internal reform, staff retraining, technological upgrades and reduced dependence on Treasury support, rather than closure. He said the Government intends to introduce a National Media Policy and establish a Chartered Institute of Media Professionals to improve standards, ethics and professional capacity across state and private media. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 20 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna defended the Government’s Appropriation Bill, arguing that national security should be assessed not only by defence allocations but also by investments in policing, justice, identification systems, social integration, women and children, prisons, and culture. Referring to the Aluthkade court shooting, he said similar incidents had occurred in the past, accused previous political cultures of enabling crime, and noted that the alleged gunman was arrested within hours. He also supported the proposed digital ID system as a measure to prevent misuse of identity in secure places, and highlighted cultural funding, including renovation of the John de Silva Memorial Theatre, as part of building a safer and more humane society. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Security & DefenceLaw & OrderPublic Finance Read →
- 18 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna presented three public petitions from residents of Digana and Thalatuoya. The petitions were ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Jagath Manuwarna said the Government had been in office for about 50 days and could not resolve long-standing poverty and economic problems within that period. He criticized political and media actors for using shortages and poverty for spectacle, and referred to past misinformation and communal allegations, including the case of Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen. He clarified that “Clean Sri Lanka” was broader than traffic-law enforcement, noting discussions with bus operators and a three-month grace period to regularize vehicles, and urged police to act calmly while asking the Opposition and public to allow the Government time to address inherited crises. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Cost of LivingCorruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Read →