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

7 February 2025 AI summary Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Government accepts responsibility for addressing long-standing rights and infrastructure issues in plantation communities, including roads, housing, land, documentation, education and health-related deprivation. He outlined planned measures such as rehabilitating 75 line-rooms under Clean Sri Lanka, providing legal addresses, birth certificates and NICs on-site, constructing 5,400 houses with Indian assistance using need-based criteria, and establishing 60 smart classrooms for Tamil-medium plantation children. On the proposal to vest plantation roads in the Government, he noted legal obstacles because many roads lie within private or leased estate lands under agreements extending to around 2045, but stated that the Government would pursue a systematic solution without waiting until then. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLand & Housing Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to remarks about the Uma Oya project, accusing the other member of failing to assist affected constituents while he pursued Supreme Court action to obtain relief including housing grants, water supply, and crop compensation. He alleged that the member had supported the project at Provincial Council level and later sought help to stop protests, and he rejected claims about sinkholes as false. He proposed holding a separate televised debate on the issue. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Land & HousingInfrastructureEnvironment Read →
6 February 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to allegations by stating he was prepared to answer and asserted that complaints involving the Hon. Member, including alleged fraud linked to fundraising for school bags and other matters, were before the Bribery Commission and would be pursued. He referred to a past letter of demand seeking Rs. 500 million, saying he had replied inviting legal action and that no case had been filed. He also stated that an alleged fraud relating to Eppawala phosphate stocks was under CID investigation, with part of the remarks expunged by order of the Chair. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said tea cess has been remitted to the Treasury since 2011 and that the Government is prepared to discuss with the Finance Ministry a support programme for both smallholders and large estates. He noted that smallholders now produce over 75 per cent of national tea output, but many lands require costly replanting or infilling, while 21 Government-leased estates include fallow and under-replanted sections that the Government intends to revitalize. He also stated that fertilizer backlogs affecting the sector have been cleared, and that assistance from Russia, including 27,500 MT of MOP allocated to his Ministry, will be used for tea and coconut lands, including Government coconut estates that had lacked fertilizer for five years. Oral Question: Cess Levied on Finished Tea - Income Earned in 2024 (Q.8/2025) Agriculture Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that previous governments and the Ministry of Finance had decided to credit cess revenue to the Treasury. He noted that, as a result, the Tea Board had not received any cess allocations since 2011. Oral Question: Cess Levied on Finished Tea - Income Earned in 2024 (Q.8/2025) Public Finance Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Minister provided a written reply on tea cess, confirming current rates on bulk tea, value-added packs, exports, and imports. He stated that total tea cess revenue collected in 2024 was Rs. 1.618 billion, almost entirely from exports, and that Customs remits these proceeds to the Consolidated Fund rather than transferring them to the Tea Board, Tea Research Institute, or Tea Small Holdings Development Authority. Oral Question: Cess Levied on Finished Tea - Income Earned in 2024 (Q.8/2025) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded to a reference to his name, stating that his earlier remarks had been misinterpreted. He clarified that the intention was to remove certain elements and establish the proposed order, and expressed regret that the point had not been understood. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna appears only to address or yield to Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, with no substantive remarks, policy position, question, or proposal recorded in the provided excerpt. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna rose on a point of personal reference, requesting permission to respond because his name had been mentioned in the debate. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Minister defended the Government’s Clean Sri Lanka programme as a structured national initiative to transform the country’s political and social system, citing the establishment of a Presidential Task Force, district and local committees, office facilities and funding since its launch on 1 January. He rejected Opposition claims that the programme lacked a plan and argued that systemic change required lawful action against corruption and abuse rather than merely changing political leaders. He also referred to alleged past misconduct, including the Badulla school principal incident and financial irregularities involving Eppawala phosphate exports, stating that related files had been referred for investigation and that decisions would be taken according to law. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said declining coconut yields are a national concern, citing the lack of fertilizer application on about 39,883 acres of state-owned coconut land over five years and climate impacts. He stated that the Government is responding with Russian-assisted MOP fertilizer supplies, including 27,500 MT allocated for coconut, and plans to provide free fertilizer to smallholders with under five acres. He also said the Government intends to begin cultivation on 40,000 acres in the Northern Coconut Triangle, with Rs. 1,437 million requested in the Budget, while noting that results will take three to four years. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Agriculture Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Illegal mining activity is under investigation and has been stopped, with authorities assessing the extent of extraction beyond permitted volumes. CCTV monitoring of truck movements has been introduced, revealing frequent removal of loads and attempts to avoid or disable surveillance. Legal action will be taken after the over-extraction is quantified. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) EnvironmentPublic FinanceLaw & Order Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna raised concerns over alleged large-scale fraud in sand mining and sales by CPL, despite recorded tender-based sand income of Rs. 132.8 million from 2021 to 2023. He cited audit findings and inquiries indicating a Rs. 746.6 million loss at Mukkutoduwawa and a further estimated Rs. 400 million loss from unauthorized excess mining at Palai estate. He stated that investigations are ongoing and alleged involvement of prominent politicians and contractors. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Sand extraction and sale took place on Chilaw Plantations Limited lands to generate income and supply potting sand for coconut cultivation, but the Minister said the activity caused environmental harm, failed to meet its objectives, and involved irregular transactions, leading the Ministry to suspend operations and order investigations. He provided annual coconut income and production figures for 2019-2023, noting a decline in 2023 yields due to rainfall and climate factors, fertilizer shortages linked to COVID-19 and the economic crisis, high input costs, management weaknesses, and malpractices. Measures proposed to improve yields include proper fertilizer use, water conservation and harvesting, pest and weed control, mulching, cover crops, organic manure, intercropping, erosion control, micronutrients, stronger agronomic supervision, better estate management, and reduced harvest losses. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) AgricultureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna presented the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation’s Annual Reports for 2019 and 2020. He moved that the reports be referred to the relevant Committees, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Annual Reports and Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 December 2024 AI summary The Minister stated that the National People’s Power was elected with support across ethnic and regional lines and argued that the Government has a mandate to pursue inclusive national development. He emphasized the need to address plantation community issues and strengthen infrastructure and services for historically underserved communities. He framed these priorities within the new Government’s broader commitment to unity, equality, and accountable governance. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →