Hon. K. Kader Masthan, M.P.

Sri Lanka Labour Party (SLLP)· Vanni

Profession: Businessman

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 88 #55 of 225·#1 in party

Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

88 speeches

22 August 2025 AI summary K. Kader Masthan supported the adjournment motion on human rights issues affecting Tamils in the North, East and Malaiyaha region, linking longstanding minority grievances, disappearances, PTA-related abuses, torture allegations and lack of accountability to the need for urgent government action. He called for swift repeal of the PTA, release of lands held or gazetted by the military and state departments in the Vanni, relaxation of restrictions on NGO activity, and improvements to women’s rights, equal pay, education and health infrastructure. He also urged the Government to allow the importation of 16,000 Tamil translations of the Holy Qur’an and hold responsible those who blocked them. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary K. Kader Masthan urged the Minister to ensure the prompt release of Qur’an copies that had been detained in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks. He said the Muslim community, also affected by those attacks, expects a transparent and fair approach, setting aside past pretexts used to withhold the copies. Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Tamil Qur'an Translations Religion & CultureJustice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) regarding Tamil translations of the Holy Qur’an detained by Sri Lanka Customs since 16 May 2024. He asked for details on the number of copies imported, released and still held, and the reasons for the reported National Security Council decision to return them to the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex for amendments with explanatory footnotes. He also requested information on any government committee reviewing the texts or Islamic publications, including its membership, legal basis, payments, recommendations, and whether similar review processes apply to other religions’ holy texts. He urged the Government to take urgent steps to release the detained copies. Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Tamil Qur'an Translations Justice & Human RightsReligion & Culture Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised concerns during the debate on the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill about delays in electricity connections in the Vanni District due to shortages of poles, insulators and wires, and frequent power cuts in Mannar despite the presence of wind power projects. He said residents oppose wind plants on Mannar Island because of impacts on fisheries, flooding and land use, and proposed relocating such projects to other areas of Mannar District, urging that these matters be addressed at a scheduled meeting with the Minister. He also objected to CEB-related land allocations to companies in Muthunagar, Trincomalee, affecting long-standing farmers, and requested that remaining land be formally given to them. He further asked for free or affordable electricity connections for low-income households, noting that about 2,500 families are waiting for assistance. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading EnvironmentInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan moved for leave to present a Bill to incorporate the Institute of Facilities Management Sri Lanka. The motion was seconded, agreed to, and the Bill was read a First time, ordered to be printed, and referred under Standing Order No. 52(6) to the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing for a report. Procedural: First Reading of Institute of Facilities Management Sri Lanka Bill Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan urged the Government, citing its anti-racist and equality-based mandate, to provide housing assistance to the 308 affected families. While affirming acceptance of the Supreme Court judgment and respect for judicial independence, he claimed the outcome was driven by legal technicalities and racist actors, and requested that justice be ensured for those affected. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLand & HousingJustice & Human Rights Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan said Saudi-funded houses intended for tsunami-affected families should first be allocated to the 308 identified beneficiaries, in light of the court decision based on equality in the distribution of public resources. He argued that the litigation had been pursued on ethnic grounds and asked the Prime Minister to ensure justice through a Parliamentary Committee and the Attorney-General’s assistance. He proposed that any remaining houses be distributed according to district-level ethnic ratios and sought the Government’s position. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Justice & Human RightsLand & HousingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised questions about 500 tsunami housing units in Akkaraipattu, built with Saudi Arabian assistance, which have remained undistributed for 20 years due to litigation over ethnic-ratio-based allocation. He asked whether the Supreme Court had issued directions following the Attorney-General’s reference to the Ampara District Coordinating Committee’s allocation decision, and noted that the donor was prepared to rehabilitate the project and build 500 additional houses. He further stated that 308 tsunami-affected families had been identified for allocation and requested consideration of a Parliamentary Committee to study the matter and take steps to resolve it while supporting bilateral relations. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Land & HousingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan urged the Deputy Minister to provide answers within two weeks on an urgent land-related matter, noting that National Committees had already met. He requested that the relevant lands be released and formally Gazetted without delay. Question by Private Notice: Land Issues in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya (Q. Private Notice 1) Parliamentary ProcedureLand & Housing Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary K. Kader Masthan raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Minister of Environment regarding alleged arbitrary land gazettes and demarcations by the Departments of Wildlife Conservation and Forests in Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu since 2009. He sought detailed information on gazetted protected areas, affected private lands and families, demarcations made without gazettes, consultations or surveys conducted, and action taken following a 2025 Vanni coordination meeting that recommended releasing specific extents of land. He urged the Government to expedite the release and gazetting of lands to address impacts on displaced persons, farming, livestock and fishing livelihoods. Question by Private Notice: Land Issues in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya (Q. Private Notice 1) Justice & Human RightsEnvironmentLand & Housing Read →
11 July 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government on long-standing issues in the Government Translators’ Service. He cited constitutional and policy commitments to official languages and multilingual communication, and argued that failures to recruit, promote, train, and resolve salary anomalies have weakened the service. He questioned why a proper Service Minute has not been prepared despite circular requirements, asked whether the Ministry accepts responsibility for nearly two decades of delay, and sought remedies including recognition of past salary structures and justice for officers who had to seek Supreme Court relief for promotions. Points of Order and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Public FinanceEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionParliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary K. Kader Masthan said the Muslim community had suffered continuing consequences from the 2019 Easter attacks and called for expedited investigations to identify and disclose the true mastermind, rather than continued political blame. He argued that post-attack fear and suspicion had damaged communal harmony, with Muslims facing collective punishment, arrests over Arabic materials, and other restrictions, while also acknowledging the Cardinal’s role in preventing reprisals. He raised concern over Customs obstacles to 20,000 Qur’an copies imported from Saudi Arabia and urged the Government to uphold its promises on justice, human rights issues, and repeal or reform of the PTA, citing the detention of a youth named Suhail. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Religion & CultureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human Rights Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Welcoming the debate on the dairy cow import scandal, K. Kader Masthan called for punishment of those responsible for alleged fraud involving the planned importation of 20,000 cows from Australia, of which he said only about 5,000 arrived. He urged that anti-corruption commitments not be undermined in local authority arrangements and that corrupt individuals not escape accountability. He also cited a Human Rights Commission finding that a PTA arrest over a pro-Palestinian sticker was wrongful, asked that such action not recur, and criticized the refusal of an adjournment debate on the Israel-Iran conflict. He condemned Israel’s attack on Iran, questioned Sri Lanka’s lack of condemnation, and called for the safe repatriation of Sri Lankans working in Israel, including after reports that a Sri Lankan nurse was injured. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan requested expedited rehabilitation of railway tracks and signalling to enable the full resumption of the Sri Devi and Uttara Devi services. He also urged that the Rajarata Rejini service, which currently terminates at Anuradhapura, be extended back to Vavuniya, noting passenger difficulties and the availability of facilities there. Ministerial Statements Infrastructure Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary K. Kader Masthan noted that transport issues had been raised at District Coordinating Committee meetings, leading the DCC Chairman, Government Agent and officials to hold special meetings to streamline related decisions. He highlighted severe transport shortages in parts of the adjacent Anuradhapura District, including Welikollawa, Mugiriyaawa and Tanakawaewa, affecting farmers and students, and requested special SLTB bus services for those areas. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading InfrastructureAgriculture Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan said transport issues affecting schoolchildren had been discussed at DCC meetings and with the relevant chairman, with information already forwarded to ministries for action. He requested recruitment of drivers and conductors for the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu SLTB depots, noting specific shortages, and called for mechanics to be recruited after nearly 20 years to repair unusable buses and restore services. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading EducationEmployment Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill, citing road accident deaths and arguing that stricter laws, higher fines, and technology-based traffic monitoring could improve road safety. He highlighted inadequate road infrastructure in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, and Mannar, noting that many projects begun under previous programmes remain incomplete after the economic crisis. While welcoming the Budget allocation of Rs. 5,000 million for rural roads and bridges in the Northern Province, he said it is insufficient and urged a special programme to complete half-finished works. He specifically requested funding for suspended or needed bridge works, including Vattuvagal, Sivapuram Kuththu, Kalingku at Thaniyankulam, and Kalladi at Erukkalampiddy. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading InfrastructureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionPublic Finance Read →
4 June 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised questions under Standing Order 27(2) to the Minister of Transport regarding the restoration and expansion of Northern Province railway services. He requested the resumption of the suspended Sridevi and Uthradevi Colombo–Kankesanthurai services, the extension of Rajarata Rejini back to Vavuniya, weekday operation of the air-conditioned Colombo–Kankesanthurai express with possible extension to Kalutara, and restoration of Yal Devi services up to Kalutara. He argued that these services had generated revenue and that regularizing them would reduce inconvenience for passengers following suspensions caused by COVID-19 and track development. Question by Private Notice: Colombo–Kankesanthurai Train Service and Tourism Promotion Infrastructure Read →
23 May 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment), stating that allowing accused persons to appear digitally in specified proceedings would improve safety and reduce transport and security costs, while also noting the Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill. He used the debate to raise the continuing closure of the Puttalam–Ilavankulam–Marichchikatti–Mannar road, arguing that it imposes major travel and economic burdens and should be resolved without undermining judicial independence. He requested discussions among the Ministers of Justice and Environment, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Road Development Authority, and proposed a Cabinet-backed solution to reopen or redesign the road without environmental or wildlife harm. Debate: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading InfrastructureJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported the VAT (Amendment) Bill’s objective of strengthening revenue administration but urged broader direct taxation, reduced indirect taxes on essentials, removal of taxes on basic food items, and effective safeguards against malpractice in VAT refunds. He raised concerns about overcrowding and inadequate facilities at Meelad School in Dehiwala, urging the Government and Education Minister to provide a permanent solution rather than transferring pupils to a distant school. He also criticized the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act against a youth arrested over a pro-Palestine sticker, called for his discharge, and urged the Government to honour its commitment to repeal the PTA. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) EducationJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →