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

9 May 2025 AI summary The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure presented the Coconut Cultivation Board’s Annual Report for 2022. He moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Opening and Announcements Agriculture Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Government’s current fiscal approach is intended to protect reserves, stabilize the currency, and support economic recovery while providing relief as growth improves. He cited record first-quarter tourism revenue in 2025 and the plantation sector’s best first-quarter production and income in 11 years, and defended the increase in vehicle-related revenues from 20 to 30 per cent as a necessary decision within available means. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Cost of LivingAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the Resolution under Section 235 of the Customs Ordinance, arguing that higher import duties on certain vehicles are necessary to manage foreign reserves, contain inflation, and meet revenue targets aligned with the IMF programme. He said vehicle imports had been reopened in phases for public transport, business, and tourism needs, and that lowering duties too quickly could trigger excessive imports and renewed external pressure. He also cited the 2025 Budget’s capital expenditure, targeted relief measures, public sector salary increases, and the Government’s local authority election results as part of a broader case for economic and governance stability. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
8 May 2025 AI summary The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure presented the Sri Lanka Tea Board’s Annual Report for 2023. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents Parliamentary ProcedureAgriculture Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna argued that the Batalanda Commission material and related records should be made public and used to pursue justice, not revenge, for abuses and killings during 1971 and 1988-89. He alleged that state-linked groups and political actors were responsible for torture centres, killings, and the Sapugaskanda Police Station attack, citing the report as contradicting Ranil Wickremesinghe’s claim that the JVP carried it out. He also criticized the use of presidential pardons and political power to protect criminals, referring to Gonawala Sunil and comparing such actions to later instances of abuse of power. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna, speaking during the debate on the Batalanda Commission Report, characterized the abuses examined by the Commission as state terrorism involving torture, killings and death squad activity against youth and professionals. He linked the Batalanda site to the former urea factory and alleged responsibility of political leaders of the period, including Ranil Wickremesinghe, while naming several district-level figures he said were associated with similar camps and squads. He called for the truth recorded in the report to be translated into justice and for safeguards to prevent such structures from re-emerging. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
17 March 2025 AI summary The Minister argued that Sri Lanka’s environmental crises, including landslides, floods and forest fires, are linked to past politically driven misuse of natural resources and cannot be addressed separately from economic and social policy. He said the Government aims to pursue environmentally friendly development through integrated planning across ministries, contrasting this with previous approaches he described as environmentally harmful development. He outlined the National People’s Power environmental policy, based on 13 principles and 80 actions, highlighting environmental justice, balancing development with conservation, sustainable resource use, and soil conservation in the central highlands. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment EnvironmentCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
17 March 2025 AI summary Rs. 451 million has been recovered in lease rentals from 12 Fund-owned factories leased to operators, after the Fund had previously declined to a very low balance. Defaults by some lessees are being addressed through notices and engagement, with legal or administrative action proposed if payments do not resume. The Minister said the Fund will be comprehensively reviewed, and non-viable operators may be replaced with parties able to continue operations. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.504/2025, Q.510/2025, Q.483/2025, Q.493/2025) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
17 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Fund, established in 2000 with Rs. 781 million from the Treasury, shareholders, and member insurance contributions, remained profitable until 2008 but subsequently recorded losses. He attributed the decline to poor management and alleged fraud and corruption noted in audit reports, and said inquiries would be conducted with appropriate action to follow. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.504/2025, Q.510/2025, Q.483/2025, Q.493/2025) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
17 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Tea Shakthi Fund was established in 2000 under Act No. 47 of 2000 and currently has about 140,000 members, including 94,425 share members. As of 1 February 2025, the Fund held Rs. 451.85 million in fixed deposits and bank balances. Planned uses include settling Rs. 208 million in shareholder liabilities, maintaining a Rs. 135 million welfare insurance fund for small tea holders, releasing Rs. 33 million in retained initial deposits when needed, and seeking Cabinet approval for concessional revolving credit schemes for tea replanting. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.504/2025, Q.510/2025, Q.483/2025, Q.493/2025) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Moved a series of motions to approve annual reports and Auditor-General observations for plantation and tea-sector institutions under the relevant statutory provisions. The reports covered Elkaduwa Plantation Limited for 2012–2017, the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation for 2017–2020, Kalubowitiyana Tea Factory Limited for 2020/2021, and the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka for 2020 and 2021, all previously considered by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on the Promotion of Trade and Export of Goods and Services. The motions were put to the House and agreed to. Annual Reports under Companies Act (Elkaduwa Plantation Limited) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary A procedural motion was moved for the Committee to report progress and seek leave to sit again. The motion was agreed to, and the Committee reported progress, with proceedings scheduled to continue on 15 March 2025. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary An amendment was moved at the Committee Stage 2025 under Head 135, Programme 02. The statement was procedural and did not include further argument or detail on the substance of the amendment. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary An amendment was moved on behalf of the Minister of Finance during the 2025 Committee Stage under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. It proposed replacing the relevant line on page 26 to set capital expenditure at Rs. 12,038,000,000. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Public Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that no immediate decision had been made on the issue under consideration, citing differing stakeholder views, macroeconomic implications and a possible Treasury burden, and said consultations would continue. He welcomed the increased allocation to the new Ministry in the Government’s first Budget debate and linked the Ministry’s work to the target of 3–3.5 per cent GDP growth in 2025. He thanked Ministry and parliamentary officials, plantation sector institutions, smallholders and workers, noting the sector’s foreign exchange contribution and the role of tea, coconut and rubber smallholders. He said the Ministry would pursue its national and strategic targets and that the sector was showing signs of recovery. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board is not being closed and that no employees have been terminated, though unprofitable outlets were shut and staff were directed to report to Colombo amid reported losses and irregular past recruitment. He said factory fires and the Batalanda issue raise questions of compensation, rebuilding, and accountability, emphasizing that punishment must occur through courts and not extra-legal detention. He also stated that coconut cultivation plans are constrained by current seed capacity, with about 2.568 million quality seed nuts targeted, and said proposals raised during the debate would be considered in the Ministry’s future work. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna clarified that the delay in distributing the blended fertilizer was not caused by elections but by the need to obtain Russian concurrence because MOP is being blended with phosphate and urea and issued at a subsidized price. He stated that approval was received about two weeks earlier, blending and bagging are underway at the Fertilizer Corporation, and distribution is expected to begin at the end of the month in time for application. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Agriculture Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the matter is not confined to Lak Pohora and that discussions are ongoing to extend the arrangement or measure to other companies as well. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Public Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded to issues raised by Hon. P. Digambaram and Hon. Mano Ganesan, indicating that he wished to clarify the matters they had brought before the House. The available excerpt does not include the substance of those clarifications or any specific proposals, demands, or policy details. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Government would investigate the matters raised and take action against corruption regardless of rank, while allowing investigations and courts to determine responsibility, including among officials and Opposition members. He undertook to trace any Ministry recommendation relating to chilli cultivation and stated that 400,000 kg of fertilizer had been allocated to Batticaloa, to be sold at Rs. 4,000 per bag with a Rs. 5,000 subsidy. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculture Read →