Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Badulla

Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

Profession: ---

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Speeches 176 #23 of 225·#11 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

176 speeches

19 August 2025 AI summary The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure presented the 2022 Annual Report of Kurunegala Plantations Limited and the 2024 Performance Report of the Rubber Development Department. He moved that the reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the House agreed. Papers: Annual Reports and Sectoral Committee Reports Parliamentary ProcedureAgriculture Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that, following the President’s Budget policy that uncultivated cultivable land should be treated as an offence, the Government is preparing to lease underutilized lands for cultivation. He said Janawasama and the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation have identified such lands, surveys and legal preparations are underway, and notices calling for proposals are expected to be published within about one and a half months. Oral Question: Land Granted to Private Plantation Companies from State-Owned Lands (Q.9/2025) Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that estate agreements vary in type and permit certain companies to cultivate other estate crops within categories such as tea or rubber. He acknowledged that past oversight had been insufficient and said the Government would strengthen monitoring and review, including re-entry where appropriate and action against fallow lands and misuse. Oral Question: Land Granted to Private Plantation Companies from State-Owned Lands (Q.9/2025) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Provided answers to a parliamentary question on plantation lands, stating that 8,410.28 hectares are held across named estates, with 4,488.80 hectares cultivated and further details on estates, crops, and uncultivated cultivable extents placed in the Library. He said lease agreements between the Government and companies are under review and confirmed that lease rentals due had been paid, including specified 2025 first- and second-quarter payments by Mathurata, Namunkula, and Thalawakelle Plantations. Oral Question: Land Granted to Private Plantation Companies from State-Owned Lands (Q.9/2025) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Accepted three public petitions for presentation to Parliament: from Mr. Amith Lasantha Gammanpila of Diyatalawa, Mrs. B. M. Indrani Gunaratne of Bandarawela, and Mr. P. Abeyrathna Pathirana of Welimada. No substantive issue or policy matter was discussed beyond the formal receipt of the petitions. Tabling of Reports and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna defended the Government’s energy and labour policies, arguing that it is ending corruption, accelerating development, and making structural changes to increase electricity generation and improve the CEB’s efficiency. He contrasted current wage increases with past treatment of public servants and workers, presenting the Government as protecting workers’ rights. He also supported regulations under the Tea (Export Duty and Control) Act to levy Rs. 3 per kilogram of exported tea, with proceeds credited to the Sri Lanka Tea Board for fertilizer support, cultivation promotion, and market development. He said the Government aims to restore and modernize the tea industry, including the standing of “Ceylon Tea,” and requested support for the amendments and regulations. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformEmployment Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill as part of necessary structural reforms to generation, transmission, distribution and operations, arguing that past governments failed to ensure reliable and affordable electricity despite long periods in office. He said the Government’s new legal framework is intended to support economic growth and social welfare, though results may take time to become visible. He contrasted current Opposition criticism with the former Opposition’s stance on projects such as Uma Oya, stating that they opposed developments only where environmental and social harm was alleged, citing court action and compensation related to damaged houses, dried wells and affected farmland. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the former Ministry of Water Supply and Rural Infrastructure Development. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management, which was agreed to. Papers: Annual Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the matter required further study and that the necessary details were not currently available. He informed the House that a response would be provided to the Member in due course. Oral Question: Tea Replanting and Infilling (2014-2018) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, funded by a World Bank loan of about USD 48.6 million from 2017 to 2024, required further study before a detailed answer could be given. He reported alleged irregularities, fraud and misuse of funds for projects linked to former Ministers, noting that some beneficiaries are now in loan default lists. He said about USD 5 million had effectively been wasted due to unsuccessful implementation, and that legal action and a Cabinet memorandum for further action were being prepared. Oral Question: Tea Replanting and Infilling (2014-2018) Public FinanceAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna provided a written response on tea replanting targets and achievements from 2014 to 2018 under the Smallholder Tea Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tea Board. He stated that payments had been made, with per-hectare assistance of Rs. 500,000 by the Tea Board and Rs. 630,000 by the STDA, disbursed in five instalments linked to stages of land preparation, soil rehabilitation, planting, and maintenance. He clarified that the queried remaining part was not applicable. Oral Question: Tea Replanting and Infilling (2014-2018) Agriculture Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded that existing laws under the Ministry address concerns about refuse tea, while acknowledging public perceptions and alleged irregularities. He outlined the current legal processes for transporting, reprocessing, auctioning, and using purified refuse tea for instant tea production, and stated that the Ministry is focusing on reducing refuse tea output and improving tea quality for export and domestic markets. Oral Question: Refuse Tea Production in Tea Factories Agriculture Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Responding to a supplementary question, the Minister provided monthly figures for January to May 2025 on refuse tea received and used by the instant CTC tea factory, which reprocesses refuse tea, along with instant tea output. He stated that receipts ranged from 533,333 kg to 758,700 kg per month, while instant tea production increased from 162,512 kg in January to 276,122 kg in May, with May usage including carryover stocks. Oral Question: Refuse Tea Production in Tea Factories Agriculture Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to questions on refuse and reprocessed tea, stating that removal from factories is permitted only with Sri Lanka Tea Board approval for reprocessing or instant tea manufacture, and that exports of refuse tea are not legally permitted. He said the Tea Board allows export only of tea identifiable under Code 115 after testing, while Colombo Tea Auction lots are sampled and unsuitable tea is barred from sale. He further stated that possession, transport and sale of refuse or reprocessed tea require licences under the Tea Control Act, No. 51 of 1957, and illegal activity is addressed with the Police and Special Task Force. Oral Question: Refuse Tea Production in Tea Factories Agriculture Read →
30 June 2025 AI summary The Annual Report of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority for 2023 was presented to Parliament. It was proposed and agreed that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability. Papers: Presentation and Tabling of Reports and Annual Reports Agriculture Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary The Minister said past approvals for tea factories were often granted without proper feasibility studies, harming nearby operations, and stated that the new Government will require such studies before approving new factories. He identified inadequate green leaf supply as a central problem and outlined a strategic plan to raise finished tea production from 262 million kilograms last year to 400 million kilograms by 2030. He said the Ministry plans to replant marginal tea lands, revive closed factories, and transparently allocate some to suitable investors through partnerships involving underutilized lands and public assets. He also said he would meet factory owners within a week to discuss their issues and possible Ministry relief. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions AgricultureInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary The Minister rejected media reports claiming that hundreds of tea factories had closed under the NPP Government, stating that the remarks had been misreported and later corrected by officials. He said 213 factories had closed since 1986, including six in 2025, and attributed closures to longstanding issues such as management deficiencies and inadequate leaf supply rather than recent government action. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Tea smallholders account for about 75 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total tea production, and there were 662 registered tea factories as of 2015, of which 567 were producing, with the highest numbers in Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Matara districts. The Minister stated that the Sri Lanka Tea Board inspects factories for new registrations, reactivations and renewals, and conducts monthly inspections covering production, processes and fair prices. He also said active factories may cease production temporarily or permanently due to management weaknesses, inadequate green leaf supply, ownership disputes, disasters, environmental issues or Tea Board suspensions under the Tea Control Act. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Agriculture Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Government is working with the Coconut Research Institute and the Coconut Development Authority to raise average coconut yields from about 45 nuts per tree to 60–70 within five years through fertilizer use, moisture conservation and water supply. He said replanting is being undertaken for long-term national demand, while short-term gains are expected by rehabilitating neglected large estates in areas such as Kurunegala and Puttalam through owner engagement, inputs, training, credit and equipment support. He added that the Coconut Estate Rehabilitation Program aims to increase output from existing trees within one to two years toward a target of 4,200 million nuts, supported by detailed planning based on tree counts and required numbers. Questions by Private Notice: Coconut Industry and Northern Provincial Health Service (Q.27(2)) Agriculture Read →
3 June 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the amendments to the data protection law as necessary to correct deficiencies in the earlier framework while strengthening safeguards for sensitive personal data and preventing misuse by institutions, political actors, or foreign interests. He argued that public funds and property misuse must be exposed, distinguished this from private matters, and linked the legislation to the Government’s wider programmes on digitization, Clean Sri Lanka, and poverty alleviation. He also responded to Opposition criticism on staffing and governance, citing approved recruitment for essential services and claiming improved economic indicators, including export growth, while stating that the Government would implement lawful administration in local authorities. Debate: Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →