Hon. (Dr.)(Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne, M.P.
Deputy Minister of Mass Media
Profession: Attorney-at-Law
Speeches 65 #77 of 225·#34 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 27 speeches
Last spoke 9 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
39 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
65 speeches- 25 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne outlined Budget allocations for education under the theme “Quality, Equity and Excellence in Education,” highlighting Rs. 704 billion for the sector and planned expansion of teacher deployment and training. She focused on National Colleges of Education, noting the operationalization of the Korean-supported Kuliyapitiya facility, increased trainee admissions and allowances, curriculum revision, trainer recruitment, and higher allocations for infrastructure. She also cited funding for in-service teacher training, education digitalization, and measures to expedite examination results and scheduling. She called for stakeholder support for education reforms aimed at addressing inequality, learning outcomes, workforce readiness, and youth delays. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) EducationPublic Finance Read →
- 14 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne described the 2026 Budget as an inclusion-focused and “feminist” Budget aimed at supporting historically excluded groups through welfare, education, housing, nutrition, pensions, eldercare, disability support and targeted subsidies. She highlighted allocations for school kits, daycare centres, children with disabilities, wage top-ups for employers hiring persons with disabilities, MSMEs, women’s livelihoods, rural economies, water schemes and farmer support. She defended the Rs. 200 attendance incentive for estate workers, rejected certain Opposition objections as procedurally misplaced, and said the Government’s ideological basis is equity and leaving no one behind. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Women & ChildrenPublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
- 10 October 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government supports improving citizens’ practical legal knowledge, including civil and everyday law, and is considering the inclusion of Law in the school curriculum. She noted that advisory discussions had identified gaps in current legal content, while the specific scope, grade levels, and implementation details were still being finalized. Private Members' Motion P.43/2025: Integrating Law and Ethics to School Curriculum EducationJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne raised a point of order objecting to serious allegations made against the Judicial Service Commission and the Chief Justice. She asked whether the Member was taking responsibility for the claim that the Chief Justice was politically partisan and engaged in bench-fixing, stressing the gravity of such an accusation. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 September 2025 AI summary Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne supported the amendment prohibiting corporal punishment, arguing that psychological humiliation must be included because Article 11 of the Constitution, the CRC, international guidance, and Sri Lankan case law recognize degrading treatment beyond physical harm. She rejected proposals for exceptions such as “loving punishment,” stating that such language would create ambiguity and undermine the legislative objective. She emphasized that discipline can be maintained through non-violent methods and linked childhood violence to broader social violence, torture, and normalized humiliation in society. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →
- 11 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne raised a point of order under Standing Order 92(2)(a) to clarify remarks made by another Member, referring to Standing Order 83(1) on restrictions against raising the personal conduct of specified officeholders except by substantive motion. She said inappropriate remarks had been removed from Hansard after interventions by herself and the Prime Minister, and noted that Hon. Rohini Wijerathna had thanked the House for that action. She also stated that newly elected Members without political dynastic backgrounds should be able to challenge more experienced MPs. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 September 2025 AI summary A clarification was made that government officials may take private leave to travel abroad. It was argued that an official’s participation in such travel does not by itself make the visit government-sponsored, as it may still be a private tour. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne rejected calls to sever diplomatic relations with Israel, noting that the journalists’ visit was privately sponsored by Israel and that around 20,000 Sri Lankans work there. She supported the new bilateral investment treaty, arguing that it improves on earlier agreements by recognizing sustainable investment, the State’s right to regulate, environmental protection, narrower definitions of investor and investment, safeguards during balance-of-payments crises, and investor obligations. Citing past arbitration awards against Sri Lanka, she said the treaty better protects public welfare while attracting investment, and proposed further measures such as dispute-prevention mechanisms and developing Sri Lanka as an arbitration venue. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
- 21 August 2025 AI summary Before the next speech, the presiding Member asked whether any Member would move that she take the Chair, indicating a procedural transition in the sitting. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne rejected an allegation that a Minister interfered in judicial transfers, stating that such transfers are handled by the Judicial Service Commission chaired by the Chief Justice. She argued that Hon. Archchuna’s claim was therefore incorrect. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne argued that gambling, including shipboard, onshore and online operations, already exists in Sri Lanka and that the Bill seeks to regulate rather than introduce it. She outlined the historical and policy background, citing earlier laws, failed attempts since 2010–2013, and the 2022 Committee on Public Finance recommendation for a dedicated authority modelled on international practice such as Singapore. She said weak regulation had led to lost tax revenue, money remittances, and risks of money laundering, and highlighted clauses on supervision, revenue collection, responsible gambling, AML/CFT enforcement, online gambling regulation and licence suspension. She urged Members to support the legislation as a mechanism to control an existing unregulated market and collect due revenue. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Public FinanceLaw & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne presented a petition to Parliament from Mrs. K.A. Renuka Priyadarshani Pothuwila of Battaramulla. No details of the petition’s subject matter were stated. Petitions Presented by Members (Citizens' Petitions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne presented a petition to Parliament from Mr. A.H.L. Martin of No. 208/A, Seelvimala Mawatha, Poré, Athurugiriya. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 25 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne paid tribute to the late Hon. Malini Fonseka, noting her service as a UPFA National List Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2015 and her role in the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and at the Asian Women Parliamentarians’ Conference. She highlighted Fonseka’s influence as a pioneering actress who expanded representations of women in Sri Lankan cinema and inspired women and girls beyond Colombo. She conveyed condolences to Fonseka’s family and relatives present in Parliament. Condolence Debate: Late Hon. Members (R. Sampanthan, A. Pilapitiya, W. B. Ekanayake, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka) Women & Children Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne formally seconded the motion under consideration. The House then put the question and agreed to it, after which the presiding Member changed from Hon. Chanaka Madugoda to Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne framed the proposed education reforms as a historic effort to move beyond Sri Lanka’s colonial education legacy while continuing the principle of free education as a State responsibility and public right. She said the National People’s Power’s reform framework was developed through consultations since 2019 and is guided by principles including equal access, relevance to development and employability, social responsibility, sustainability, innovation, and lifelong learning. She urged that the reforms be viewed as a comprehensive structural transformation, not reduced to individual subject choices, and called for resource alignment, increased education funding beyond the current Rs. 619 billion allocation, and constructive input from the Opposition, civil society, parents, teachers, and educationists. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Education Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne seconded the Adjournment Motion moved by Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera. No further substantive remarks or policy positions were stated. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 July 2025 AI summary A petition was presented on behalf of Mr. B.A. Prem Naseer of Sesen Housing Complex, Ihala Bomiriya, Kaduwela. Petitions: Citizens' petitions presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne was proposed to take the Chair during the proceedings, and the House agreed. The Deputy Chairperson of Committees then left the Chair, and Hon. Ariyarathne assumed the Chair. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne asked what measures would be taken to ensure an orderly and adequate supply of aluminium raw materials to small and medium domestic manufacturers producing items such as cookware for the local market. She also requested a clear contact point for follow-up on the issue. Oral Questions - First Round EmploymentPublic Finance Read →