Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna, M.P.
Profession: ---
Speeches 16 #192 of 225·#130 in party
Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 8 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Committee report
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 On behalf of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation, Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna presented the Committee’s report on several referred annual reports. The documents covered the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Sri Lanka Standards Institution, Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology, and SLINTEC (Pvt) Ltd., and the report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Reports: Public Finance and Sectoral Oversight Committees Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 February 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna presented the Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation covering the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the 2022 Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Technology, and the 2023 and 2024 Performance Reports of the Department for Registration of Persons. The reports were ordered to lie upon the Table. Sectoral Oversight Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna defended the 2026 Budget health allocations, detailing funding for salaries, medical supplies, hospital development, Triposha, Suwa Seriya, staff accommodation, and capacity building, while disputing Opposition claims on doctors’ salaries and health indicators. He outlined Cabinet decisions on compensation for patients affected by contaminated eye drops at Nuwara Eliya Hospital, local production of assistive devices, medicine price reductions, restored pension rights, specialist postings, transfers, allowances, and recruitment across health cadres. He said procurement reforms would include new guidelines, e-procurement, framework agreements, and government-to-government sourcing, and tabled WHO indicators and a 2025 research article linking doctor migration to the economic crisis. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
- 12 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Janaka Senarathna defended the 2026 Budget, stating that half of the Rs. 8,980 billion expenditure is required for debt servicing due to past borrowing, leaving limited space for capital spending. He highlighted allocations for health, education, public service salaries, hospital development, medical supplies, Suvaseriya, nutrition, primary healthcare, and specific projects including upgrades at Ratnapura Hospital and the National Cardiac Unit. He supported the proposed National Pay Commission to address public service salary disparities and noted plans to complete abandoned public construction projects through public-private partnerships. He also cited allocations for dairy, fisheries, Thriposha, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, youth from probationary homes, roads, and the Ruwanpura Expressway. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Public FinanceHealthcareEducation Read →
- 21 October 2025 AI summary Dr. Janaka Senarathna noted that the objectives of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015, including fair pricing and access to medicines and devices, have not yet been fully realized after ten and a half years. He emphasized strengthening health system inputs—financing, workforce, infrastructure, and governance—citing renewed nurse recruitment, the rollout of Primary Medical Care Units, and the need to reduce catastrophic household health expenditure. He called for continued investment in the health system alongside full implementation of the NMRA pricing framework to protect households and improve access. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
- 21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna presented the Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation covering annual reports of ICTA, TRCSL, the Industrial Technology Institute, the National Science and Technology Commission, the National Engineering Research and Development Centre, and the National Research Council. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Presentation of Papers and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna raised a point of Order responding to Hon. Hesha Withanage’s allegation that he had made an untrue statement. He cited Central Bank, National Gem and Jewellery Authority, and EDB reports, stating that gem exports earned USD 168 million last year and about USD 100 million annually over two decades, while operating about 8,000 mines costs around USD 200 million a year. He asked that relevant research on the sector’s economic and environmental impacts be reviewed and suggested holding a separate debate on the matter. Private Members' Motion P.41/2025: Ruwanpura Expressway Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna said the Ruwanpura Expressway has not been abandoned, noting that the Kahatuduwa–Ingiriya section is proceeding with land acquisition while the Ingiriya–Ratnapura section requires a new feasibility study and redesign due to riverine alignments, landslide risks, and the planned Kelani Valley Railway extension. He cited the 2018 feasibility study’s projected economic benefits and linked delays to the 2022 financial crisis, while also alleging past irregularities in road development and “paper” road projects in Ratnapura. He further stated that the Government intends to restore the Kelani Valley Railway to Ratnapura and address losses in the gem sector, where export earnings are lower than estimated annual mining costs. Private Members' Motion P.41/2025: Ruwanpura Expressway InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 7 October 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna formally seconded the motion before the House. The question was then put to the House and agreed to. Motion to Amend Standing Orders of Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna paid tribute to the late Hon. Abeyratne Pilapitiya, recalling his long political service as MP for Kalawana, Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, first Provincial Minister and Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa, Governor of Uva, and UNP organizer. He highlighted Pilapitiya’s education, family background, plantation work, and contributions to public life, while conveying condolences to his family following his death on 22 February 2023 at the age of about 97. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 3 June 2025 AI summary Dr. Janaka Senarathna noted that recent incidents, including the Dr. Shafi case, reports of crocodiles in the Kelani River, and alleged salt shortages, illustrate how distorted or sensationalized information can mislead the public. He raised this point in relation to broader concerns about data accuracy, though he acknowledged it was not directly addressed in the Bill under discussion. Debate: Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Public Finance Read →
- 3 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna explained that the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill contains 13 amendments intended to phase implementation and strengthen the Personal Data Protection Authority, with commencement of most provisions to be appointed by the Minister by Gazette and extendable to allow public and private sector readiness. He outlined the background to the 2022 Act, its precedence over conflicting laws on personal data protection, and the gazette notifications and Cabinet decision leading to the amendments. He also noted implementation challenges including staffing, public awareness, connectivity gaps, and the need for responsible handling of personal data by media and social media, linking these issues to the Government’s wider digitalization policy. Debate: Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Law & OrderPublic Finance Read →
- 3 June 2025 AI summary The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation on the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill was tabled in Parliament. The House ordered that the report lie upon the Table. Papers Presented: Orders, Regulations, Reports and Gazette Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 March 2025 AI summary The Government accepted the Adjournment Motion on creating an intermediate medical cadre as timely, citing specialist doctor shortages after the economic crisis and the loss of experienced non-specialist doctors from high-demand fields. The proposal was supported in principle as a way to address service gaps, especially outside Colombo, but it was noted that implementation requires consultation with specialists, legal consideration, and approval from relevant academic and professional bodies. The Ministry had already begun technical discussions on the concept and is also considering prompt relief for postgraduate trainees facing accommodation and transfer-related financial difficulties. Adjournment Motion: Challenges Faced by Medical Specialists (Postgraduate Trainees) HealthcareEmployment Read →
- 6 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna highlighted the shortage and emigration of doctors, citing Sri Lanka’s low doctor-to-population ratio, recent departures of about 1,800 doctors, and the risk of further migration by around 5,000 more. He argued that the Budget addresses pressures on health and related sectors by reducing overall state expenditure, increasing development allocations, and raising public sector salaries, with emphasis on improving doctors’ basic pay rather than relying on allowances. He also referred to the effects of PAYE tax after the 2022 bankruptcy declaration and said the Government aims over future Budgets to create structured working hours, adequate leave, and improved professional conditions to retain and attract medical professionals. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Public FinanceHealthcareEmployment Read →
- 17 December 2024 AI summary During debate on a Supplementary Estimate for education, Janaka Senarathna argued that education is a right and a core public investment, citing Sri Lanka’s free education history, low education spending at about 1.8 percent of GDP, falling school attendance, and UNICEF data on child food insecurity and malnutrition. He supported the proposed allocation of about Rs. 6,000 per child for school supplies for low-income families. He also tabled documents on his own medical qualifications and challenged Opposition MP Kavinda Jayawardana to produce proof within one month of registration as a medical practitioner, citing provisions of the Medical Ordinance on use of the title “Dr.” Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) EducationParliamentary Procedure Read →