Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, M.P.

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK)· Trincomalee

Profession: Administrator

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 41 #112 of 225·#8 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

41 speeches

21 October 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan noted that the matter before Parliament was being taken up for its Second Reading. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan noted that the matter was being taken up at the Second Reading stage. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided extract. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan discussed the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, outlining proposed changes to timelines for data subject requests, fees, Data Protection Officers, impact assessments, cross-border transfers, guidelines, and the definition of public authorities. He noted that the amendments aim to reduce administrative burdens, align with international practice, and provide clarity for investors, while raising concerns about extending response times and reducing some mandatory oversight requirements. He asked whether the Data Protection Authority has sufficient expertise, infrastructure and funding, how its independence, accountability and reporting to Parliament will be ensured, and whether cross-border transfers, national databases, digital identity systems, penalties, redress mechanisms and implementation timelines are adequately addressed. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
25 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan outlined the sequence of import-control measures on motor vehicles introduced during the foreign exchange crisis and later relaxed through Gazette No. 2421/04 of January 2025, including limits on individual imports, registration deadlines, penalties, and re-export requirements for violations. He explained the March 2025 amendments requiring stronger authentication of vehicle import documents through banks, online verification, and Customs scrutiny. He noted that Bureau Veritas has been designated to issue inspection certificates for vehicle imports from all countries, presenting the regulations as a move to improve document integrity, reduce clearance delays, and support digitized trade procedures. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Public FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan outlined Sri Lanka’s recovery from the 2022 economic crisis, citing improved exports, remittances, reserves, inflation, debt levels, employment and GDP growth in 2023-2025 under reform and IMF-supported stabilization measures. He warned that trade deficits, domestic imbalances, possible US tariffs on apparel, skill shortages and brain drain could threaten the recovery. He called for stronger export contributions from the Northern and Eastern Provinces, export diversification, reduced reliance on narrow markets, restructuring of loss-making SOEs, promotion of PPPs, and stronger social protection. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Cost of LivingEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan supported the temporary exemption of edible salt imports from licensing requirements to address shortages, while attributing the crisis to inadequate planning, climate-related disruptions and lack of contingency measures. He urged a national salt production and storage strategy, investment in harvesting infrastructure, climate-adaptive methods, stronger quality control, price oversight and support for local producers. He also called for transparent, regularly reviewed import-export regulations that balance consumer needs, domestic industry protection, SME stability and Sri Lanka’s broader shift toward industry-led exports. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Salt Import Regulations (Gazette No. 2437/04) AgriculturePublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
6 June 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan paid tribute to the late Mavai Somasundaram Senathirajah, outlining his family background, education, and long involvement in Tamil political activism from the 1960s, including opposition to standardization and language policies, repeated imprisonment, and leadership roles in youth movements. He recalled Senathirajah’s parliamentary career from 1989 to 2020, his leadership of ITAK, and his decision in 2013 to step aside as a Chief Ministerial candidate for Justice C.V. Wigneswaran. He conveyed condolences, on behalf of the people of Trincomalee District and ITAK, to Senathirajah’s wife, children, and relatives. Debate: Votes of Condolence for Four Former MPs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 May 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan raised concerns that large areas of farmland in Trincomalee District have been demarcated or taken over by the Forest Department, Wildlife Department, Department of Archaeology, and as “Pooja Bhoomi,” preventing farmers from cultivating land used before and during the war years. He cited specific affected areas and acreage in Muttur, Seruwila, Verugal, Kuchchaveli and Thiriyaai, arguing that these restrictions cover over 236,000 acres and significantly reduce paddy production. He urged the relevant Ministry and Government to halt further demarcations, release the lands for cultivation, and support farmers’ livelihoods and domestic rice production. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and Disposal of Property Act Resolutions Land & HousingAgriculture Read →
18 March 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan welcomed the increased 2025 Budget allocation for the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development but argued that it remains insufficient, citing the Rs. 26 million allocation for reviving the Kantale Sugar Factory as inadequate. He called for Sri Lanka to become industry-led by allocating at least 5 percent of the Budget to industry and entrepreneurship, with emphasis on R&D, technology upgrading, SME finance, digitization, renewable energy, export diversification, and skills development. He also identified weaknesses in State-Owned Enterprises and proposed reforms including public-private partnerships, restructuring, digitization, stronger audits, and cost controls. Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-third Allotted Day - Committee Stage: Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Youth Affairs and Sports) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan welcomed the increased overall allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Resources, Lands and Irrigation in the 2025 Budget, but criticized reductions to agriculture, livestock and irrigation development allocations as inconsistent with rice self-sufficiency goals. He argued that unreleased pre-1985 cultivated lands, unrepaired tanks and anicuts, encroachments, and restrictions by the Forest, Wildlife, Archaeology and related authorities in Trincomalee District are significantly reducing paddy production. He urged the Minister to implement earlier decisions to release former farmlands, rehabilitate irrigation assets including Yan Oya-linked tanks, address departmental obstruction, and resolve restrictions on traditional pasture lands in Verugal. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Land & HousingPublic FinanceAgriculture Read →
10 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan called for reforms to curricula, teaching methods, teacher recruitment, and higher education to make learning more student-centred and employment-oriented, including the introduction of polytechnic-style diploma programmes for students not entering universities. He noted that the 2025 Budget increases education allocations to Rs. 271 billion but argued that the sector’s share should rise to at least 10 per cent, while expressing concern over reduced funding for primary school facilities. He highlighted infrastructure, research funding, staffing, and teacher deployment problems, particularly in the North and East, and proposed recruiting teacher trainees locally for appointment to underserved areas. He also detailed shortages and facility needs in Trincomalee District, including 1,875 teacher vacancies, schools without principals or watchmen, dilapidated buildings, lack of technology labs, and flood and elephant risks, and urged urgent funding and appointments. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Seventeenth Allotted Day – Committee Stage EducationInfrastructureEmployment Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan argued that women’s representation in politics, higher education and public employment remains inadequate despite women comprising over half the population, and called for legal reforms to guarantee at least 50 per cent representation and access. He highlighted the economic vulnerability of female-headed households, especially in the North and East, and urged expanded training and self-employment support. He criticized reductions in the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs allocations, including cuts to women’s development and child development programmes, and called for substantially increased funding. He also noted that most children in care homes are there due to family poverty rather than orphanhood, proposing income support to families as a way to reduce institutionalization. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs EducationWomen & ChildrenPublic Finance Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan urged greater investment in Trincomalee’s port infrastructure, including development of the Ashraff Jetty, better use of oil tanks for bunkering, possible SLPA management of private jetties, and resolution of land disputes by granting titles to long-standing residents. He called for improvements to public transport in the district, including additional and repaired SLTB buses, staffing, and depot rehabilitation. He also requested urgent bridge projects at Kattaiparichchan, Iralu, Punnaithivu and Kokkilai Lagoon, and raised concern that road development allocations had fallen and remained focused mainly on major RDA roads rather than local and secondary roads. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) InfrastructureEmploymentLand & Housing Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan argued that the 2025 Budget allocation for fisheries is insufficient, particularly the reduced capital allocation, given the dependence of Trincomalee and the Eastern Province on the sector. He called for stronger action against Indian trawlers, dynamiting, small-mesh nets and especially purse seine fishing, proposing a full ban and joint monitoring teams with fishermen. He urged government intervention over alleged land encroachment by the Raigam salt project affecting inland fishers, strengthening of fishermen’s cooperatives, ice plants, value addition, completion of Oluvil harbour, concessional credit and multiday fishing centres. He also requested housing support for fishers and assistance for aquaculture through free fingerlings and development of inland water bodies in Trincomalee. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Public FinanceInfrastructureAgriculture Read →
4 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan argued that powers removed from Provincial Councils after the 13th Amendment, including in cooperatives, education, health, agriculture and irrigation, should be restored and further devolution pursued. He called for Provincial Council elections to be held without delay and said the Eastern Province’s 2025 capital allocation, though increased, was inadequate for its needs. He requested action to fill staff vacancies in the Eastern Provincial Council and Local Authorities, provide waste-collection vehicles, fire engines and heavy machinery, and broaden Local Authority powers. He also referred to the Mahinda Deshapriya Delimitation Commission recommendation to reduce Local Authority members from 8,356 to 4,714 by a future election. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan welcomed the 2025 Budget’s focus on economic transformation, digitalization and expanded welfare, but argued that many proposals lack implementation details and measurable outcomes. He called for transparent plans on FTAs, PPPs, state land leasing, digital infrastructure, cyber security, startup support, revenue sustainability, and public sector salary financing. He also urged more targeted and sustainable welfare measures, increased support for female-headed households, stronger agricultural modernization and rural infrastructure, and greater capital allocation to industry. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) EmploymentCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
17 February 2025 AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan supported holding the delayed local authority elections and welcomed increased representation for women and youth, while urging that this representation be matched with real powers. Citing increased membership and allowance costs after 2018, he requested the Minister to conduct the election on the basis of the 2022 committee recommendation to reduce councillors to about 4,714, which he said would save about Rs. 750 million annually and improve stability. He also called for greater powers and resources for local bodies, noting examples from India and Toronto and pointing to service limitations such as waste collection in Trincomalee. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Women & ChildrenCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan argued that rising rice prices are partly linked to the loss of cultivated paddy lands in Trincomalee due to acquisitions or restrictions imposed by state agencies, especially the Department of Archaeology. He cited several areas where hundreds or thousands of acres of long-cultivated land, including temple-linked agricultural lands, have been gazetted, boundary-marked, or taken over as archaeological sites, preventing farmers from cultivating. He also said the Defence Ministry, Forest Department, and Port Authority are restricting agricultural land use, and urged the Government to provide redress. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Land & HousingAgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 December 2024 AI summary Hon. K.S. Kugathasan stated that he would table his speech. No substantive arguments, proposals, or questions were presented orally. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2024 AI summary Hon. K.S. Kugathasan highlighted flood-related damage in the Trincomalee District during comments on the Government’s policy statement. He said 23,463 acres of paddy were fully damaged, 10,525 acres partially damaged, 12,994 farming families affected, and 28 irrigation tanks breached fully or partially. He also noted income losses for 23,178 fishing families and flood impacts on 4,250 households, and requested necessary relief for all affected groups. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) AgricultureEnvironmentCost of Living Read →