Hon. Jeevan Thondaman, M.P.

United National Party (UNP)· Nuwara - Eliya

Profession: ---

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Speeches 58 #85 of 225·#1 in party

Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

58 speeches

5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman described flood and cyclone damage in Kotmale and other hill-country areas, requesting urgent assistance for displaced families, including those at Nuwara Eliya Gamini Vidyalaya, and raising concerns about local administrative support. He reported relief efforts supported by private donors and said accounts for funds collected would be submitted to Parliament. While noting doubts about the Budget’s feasibility and reserving detailed comment on plantation wages, he urged the Government to consider granting land titles to plantation communities as a practical response where housing for all is unaffordable. He said the Opposition and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress would support the President and Government at this stage, emphasizing national cooperation beyond party, ethnic, or religious divisions. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Continued Budget Debate and Amendments Land & HousingEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Jeevan Thondaman stated that estate workers would attend work if companies provided 25 days of employment, addressing the Minister directly. He implied that the issue lies with the availability of sufficient work days rather than workers’ willingness to work. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Employment Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman stated that estate wage increases can be implemented not only through Collective Agreements, but also through the Wages Board and Parliament, as done previously. He expressed support for the Minister’s efforts to secure the increase and said he would back action against companies if they obstructed it, while rejecting calls for his resignation over the issue. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 EmploymentParliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman urged the Government to closely monitor plantation companies over wage commitments, warning that firms may reduce workdays or impose conditions while appearing to grant increases. He argued that repeated daily wage hikes are not a sustainable solution and called for a shift to productivity-linked income models, including pilot outgrower or revenue-sharing schemes, while addressing the future of JEDB and SPC. He questioned the sustainability of the Rs. 5,000 million allocation for a Rs. 200 attendance incentive, asked that it be tabled in Parliament at the final stage, and suggested legislating an annual Rs. 200 increase if the policy is to continue. He also highlighted infrastructure gaps in Upcountry schools, hospitals, roads and housing, and questioned the allocation and relocation of housing resources intended for Nuwara Eliya. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Cost of LivingEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman welcomed the Budget proposal allocating Rs. 5,000 million for plantation worker wage increases but sought clarity on whether the proposed Rs. 200 is an attendance incentive or an increase to the basic daily wage. He questioned what discussions had been held with plantation companies, whether they had agreed, and urged that any basic wage increase be formalized through a Gazette amendment from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,550. He rejected calls for his resignation for raising these questions, citing past unfulfilled promises on plantation wages, housing, and land titles. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Public FinanceEmployment Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Jeevan Thondaman sought to question the Minister on whether the basic wage would be increased and, if so, by what amount. He objected to interruptions and asked that he be allowed to finish his question, referring to the time and courtesy given to another speaker. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Parliamentary ProcedureEmployment Read →
10 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman supported the Motion on the Ruwanpura Expressway and emphasized the importance of road development in estate areas, citing road rehabilitation and funding allocations made during his period in government. He raised procedural concerns about his microphone being cut off in the Chamber and criticized alleged misstatements regarding housing, asking how many houses the current administration had built and distinguishing between completed houses and land or ownership certificates. He also questioned progress on estate workers’ wage increases, referring to earlier proposals for a Rs. 1,700 wage and competing demands for Rs. 2,138. Private Members' Motion P.41/2025: Ruwanpura Expressway InfrastructureEmploymentParliamentary Procedure Read →
10 October 2025 AI summary Jeevan Thondaman accused the Minister of misleading Parliament about housing delivery and asked how many houses had been built during the year. He also demanded a timeline for preparing and issuing 2,307 deeds and pressed the Minister to state whether estate wages could be increased. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) EmploymentLand & Housing Read →
10 October 2025 AI summary Jeevan Thondaman raised a point of order challenging a minister’s claim that 2,056 houses would be provided on the 12th, arguing that only certificates were being issued and that the beneficiaries had not received houses. He alleged that the government had been in office for a year without building any houses. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Land & HousingParliamentary Procedure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman reviewed the Government’s first year against the President’s “Hatton Declaration” commitments to plantation communities, questioning progress on housing, land rights, public services, education, health, and plantation company accountability. He argued that planned housing “entitlement” certificates do not amount to legal land grants, urged land titles for all residents where they live, and criticized moves affecting the Norwood Divisional Secretariat and the possible closure of the New Villages Development Authority. He also raised concerns about halted or incomplete initiatives such as Grama Niladhari divisions, government takeover of estate medical assistants, STEM teacher training, creche breakfast provision, and scrutiny of plantation companies, while requesting action after a fire at Lakshapana Estate tea factory. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Continued Discussion Land & HousingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Jeevan Thondaman questioned the Minister about claims of misinformation on social media, citing a letter received by Mano Ganesan from the Presidential Secretariat indicating that certain institutions were among those to be closed. He sought clarification on the apparent discrepancy between the Government’s position and the contents of that communication. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Continued Discussion Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was recorded in the provided excerpt. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Continued Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman asked for the Government’s timeline for holding the Provincial Councils Election. The intervention was a brief procedural question seeking clarification on when the elections would take place. Ministry Statements and Clarifications on Independent Commissions and Provincial Council Elections Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman sought clarification on the Government’s position and timetable for holding Provincial Council Elections, including the proposed delimitation process referenced in Geneva. He also asked about the composition of the Office for Reparations, specifically whether its membership consists only of ex-servicemen, whether others are included, and whether additional members will be appointed. Ministry Statements and Clarifications on Independent Commissions and Provincial Council Elections Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman rose on a point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is recorded in the provided excerpt. Ministry Statements and Clarifications on Independent Commissions and Provincial Council Elections Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman began raising three questions about an appointment referenced by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekera. He stated that the Governors who provided recommendations had not done so in a personal capacity, indicating a challenge to how those recommendations were being characterized. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Jeevan Thondaman rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was stated in the excerpt provided. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman offered condolences to the families of late former Members Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka, W.B. Ekanayake, and R. Sampanthan. He recalled their respective contributions to public service, culture, regional representation, and national engagement on the Tamil question, noting Sampanthan’s emphasis on service and equality among communities. He conveyed condolences on behalf of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, the United National Party, and the up-country community. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman suggested that the Minister withdraw a specific Gazette that is subject to a court case due to a wording issue and issue a fresh Gazette to resolve the matter. He stated that this approach had been indicated by the Attorney-General’s Department. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Justice & Human Rights Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman argued that the “Ceylon Tea” brand should not depend on exploitation and called for greater state intervention to address long-standing inequities in the plantation sector. He supported proposed education reforms but said implementation must account for plantation communities’ limited access to quality education, teacher shortages, and historical disadvantages, including by considering alternative teacher recruitment and training models. He urged the Government to implement a previously approved Cabinet decision on estate medical offices and to address the lack of drugs, doctors, and services in 456 such facilities. He also requested revival of a World Bank/ADB-supported programme that provided morning meals and repairs for plantation crèches and daycare centres serving around 22,000 children. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) EmploymentEducationEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →