Topic
Agriculture
1,763 speeches · 318 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Namal Karunaratne, M.P. JJB | 104 |
| 2 | Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 93 |
| 3 | Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna, M.P. JJB | 83 |
| 4 | Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 48 |
| 5 | Hon. Kins Nelson, M.P. SJB | 39 |
| 6 | Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha, M.P. JJB | 37 |
| 7 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 32 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 32 |
| 9 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 32 |
| 10 | Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, M.P. JJB | 30 |
Speeches
1,763 on this topic- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Condolences were expressed for those affected by recent disasters, and urgent relief was requested for flooded paddy lands, damaged canals, and bunds following earlier unrest among potato and onion farmers. Attention was drawn to Ambalantota residents in Liyanagastota and Punchi Heneyagama who face removal due to new Irrigation Department surveys beyond the earlier 66-foot reservoir contour, with a petition to be submitted seeking intervention. The speech also requested action on a disease affecting thousands of coconut trees in Matara and Hambantota, rehabilitation of Lunugamwehera canals, and additional pasture land near Lunugamwehera reservoir to support Hambantota dairy farmers and preserve the “Ruhuna milk” industry. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. 1.13. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply AI summary The Deputy Minister addressed the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Votes, first noting the Government’s disaster response to adverse weather and saying the President had discussed emergency measures before deciding to mobilize the armed forces, Police, disaster officials and District Secretaries rather than declare a State of Emergency. He rejected Opposition claims on agricultural spending and potato self-sufficiency, and argued that current guaranteed prices for big onions and paddy are fair relative to production costs, citing current and past cost and price data. He said the Government’s policy is to improve farmer incomes mainly by increasing yields, with a target of raising per-acre paddy yields by 2028, including expanded Keeri Samba cultivation to stabilize prices. He also stated that flood compensation had been paid within the season, that rice would be imported if necessary to prevent market manipulation, and that the Government aims to end rice imports by 2028. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha reported severe flooding in the Kurunegala area, including inundation from Wariyapola and overflow of the Deduru Oya. He urged the Government to treat the situation as a disaster and act quickly to restore damaged fields, reissue seed and fertilizer where necessary, and provide urgent assistance to highland vegetable farmers, citing losses of up to 90 percent in some areas. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha expressed condolences over the ongoing emergency and questioned whether the Government was responding under an adequate emergency framework, particularly given widespread agricultural damage. He urged immediate support for affected farmers, including assistance to reprepare and resow paddy fields and replace fertilizer where needed. He criticized the Government’s handling of rice, crop damage by wildlife, agricultural imports during harvest periods, and the lack of progress on export agriculture and collective farm market initiatives. He also called for faster implementation or funding of key irrigation projects, including Lower Malwathu Oya, the North Western Canal, Lower Uma Oya spurs, and Hada Oya, while emphasizing better coordination between Trade and Agriculture to protect farmers. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply JJB AI summary The Minister expressed sympathy to disaster-affected communities and outlined major 2026 irrigation allocations, including over Rs. 77,000 million overall and specific funding for the Lower Malwathu Oya, Mundeni Aru, Kivul Oya, and Maduru Oya projects. He argued that irrigation infrastructure must be paired with planned agriculture, noting problems of low farmer incomes, inadequate yields, weak adherence to sowing schedules, and continued dependence on imports for essential crops. He said the Government is seeking to improve paddy yields from about 80 to at least 100 bushels per acre through a technical package and timely cultivation, while coordinating agriculture, trade, and industry through an integrated pilot programme in Anuradhapura District to stabilize production and markets. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth expressed condolences for deaths caused by severe flooding and outlined damage to roads, bunds, anicuts and irrigation infrastructure in the Ampara District, urging immediate rehabilitation and support for affected farmers. He requested expedited review and release of lands in Pottuvil, Lagugal and related areas that had been gazetted as forest or scrub forest after wartime non-cultivation, including specific lands recommended by district committees and cultivated paddy lands at Palliadi Vattai. He also called for expansion of Radella tank, repairs to irrigation schemes and roads, additional staff and machinery for the Pottuvil Central Irrigation Office, consideration of converting some sugarcane lands in Irakkamam to paddy cultivation, and land arrangements to enable development of Pottuvil Base Hospital. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged the Minister to prioritize irrigation management and rehabilitation in the East. He proposed improving water distribution from Senanayake Samudraya’s right bank to Rubus Kulam to enable cultivation on over 4,500 acres for two seasons, and requested attention to the Kandiyanaru and Panichenkeni tanks in Batticaloa, noting that studies on Kandiyanaru had already been submitted. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam criticized the Government’s preparedness for flood-related disasters, citing delays in reimbursing local relief efforts such as food distribution. He warned that farmers in Batticaloa District could face serious losses from flooding and said past crop insurance assessments were inconsistent and often based on blanket judgments rather than proper field inspections. He urged the Government to be prepared at least to provide fair compensation to farmers affected by floods. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Rasamanickam marked Maaveerar Naal by acknowledging the Government’s current allowance of commemorations in the North and East, while urging that participants not later face arrests or harassment under laws such as the PTA. In the Committee Stage debate on Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, he argued that state-backed irrigation and Mahaweli-related schemes had contributed to demographic change and land alienation in the North and East, linking this to the origins of the conflict and the need for a political solution. He criticized the Mahaweli Authority’s role in land allocation, citing Batticaloa’s Mayilathamadu–Mathavani pasture issue and the need for at least 7,000 acres for livestock farmers, as well as concerns over settlement and projects in Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Kivul Oya. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Funds have been allocated for four crops, including potato, big onion, finger millet and chili. The Deputy Minister stated that further discussions will be held to determine how these allocations can best benefit farmers. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Asked the Deputy Minister whether a subsidy could be provided for imported seed potatoes on this occasion. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne expressed condolences over the ongoing disaster and said the Agriculture Ministry had taken account of suggestions and criticisms raised during the Estimates debate. He argued that recent interventions in the paddy and rice sectors, including minimum prices, procurement and reopening stores, had stabilized farmer prices and consumer supply, while plans were in place to address issues in big onion, potato, finger millet and other crops. He rejected claims that farmers had left cultivation or harvests had fallen, citing increased production in mungbean, big onion and paddy, and urged farmers to continue cultivation with government safeguards. He also said the Government had prevented the sale of NLDB and Milco and was working to stabilize those institutions and settle farmer-related issues. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena raised urgent flood-related concerns in Moneragala, including submerged areas, trapped residents, blocked roads and the risk of collapse of the Kumbukkan Oya and Nakkala anicuts, and requested immediate intervention by the Irrigation Department and verification of relief arrangements. He urged expedited compensation for affected farmers and residents, noting shortages of Agricultural Research and Production Assistants and asking that reports be accepted from officers covering vacant divisions. He also called for faster issuance or return of land permits and deeds, including documents taken under the “Urumaya” programme, and proposed land kachcheris to reduce disputes. On livestock, he requested a pasture-land allocation programme using suitable reservoir reservations and open shrub lands, and asked that budget allocations for milk production be used to support traditional dairy farmers. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan expressed condolences for recent weather-related losses and urged the Government to strengthen measures to reduce disaster impacts. He welcomed the increased allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Resources, Lands and Irrigation, but called for action on land distribution in the North and East, including stopping unnecessary forest gazetting and resolving disputes over tanks, pastures and farmlands. He asked that paddy prices be fixed by January 1 and procurement carried out through the Paddy Marketing Board, while also addressing staff shortages, transport allowances for agricultural instructors, and vacancies in district agricultural director posts. He further requested the resumption of livelihood programmes such as black gram, green gram and goat distribution, and the urgent issuance of pending land deeds. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage JJB AI summary During the debate on the 2026 Expenditure Head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Deepthi Wasalage raised unresolved land-title and housing issues in the Rattota electorate, including uncertainty over land ownership, unremitted housing loan deductions by estates, and an abandoned housing project in Matale with beneficiaries living in incomplete houses. She highlighted Rattota’s vulnerability to natural disasters and argued that livelihood support must be linked to climate resilience and ecosystem protection. She outlined the “Dumbara Green Empowerment Project” funded through the Green Climate Fund and Government allocations, noting activities in Matale such as invasive-plant-based paper production, home-garden support, and assistance to tea smallholders and farmers in sloping areas. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir urged priority action on flood-related infrastructure in the East, particularly the Mavadippalli and Kittangip bridges, citing repeated tragedies and recent loss of life during heavy rains. He called for the release of lands gazetted as forests after the conflict period so they can be used for cultivation, and proposed using vacant state lands for livestock development to reduce milk powder imports and create employment. He also requested resolution of the Vattamadu pasture dispute, faster completion of land deed distribution under the “Himikama” programme, better use of idle land and rainwater, and public safety awareness in light of disaster risks including tsunami alerts. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan supported the 2026 Budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Resources, Lands and Irrigation, highlighting planned irrigation and water supply projects in the Vanni, including the Paliyaaru reservoir, Lower Malwathu Oya, and Kivul Oya projects. He said these projects would address drinking water scarcity, irrigation needs, flooding, pasture shortages, and kidney disease-related groundwater issues, while also noting tank rehabilitation and the release of lands previously brought under the Forest Department or Mahaweli system back to farmers and livestock rearers. He outlined livestock and dairy measures, including Milco’s reported profit, profit-sharing with dairy farmers, district-level dairy development support, funding for NLDB farms, and the phased release of pasture land at Mayilathamadu–Mathavani. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera argued that agriculture remains in difficulty despite government commitments on paddy procurement and crop support, citing farmer protests, poor prices, market problems, uncultivated land, and farmers leaving the sector. He called for a long-term agricultural plan covering paddy, vegetables, big onions and potatoes, and requested immediate action on wild animal damage, including disclosure of the results and follow-up from the animal census and “Cultivation Drive” programme. He urged the Minister to stop recovery of the increased Rs. 1,000 travel allowance paid to Agricultural Research and Production Assistants and to continue it in line with the 2024 Cabinet decision. He also requested improved and digitized Land Registry services and clarity, compensation or alternative land for families affected by the long-delayed Yatiyantota reservoir proposal. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns about the D-Channel of Parakrama Samudraya, noting that it narrows and falls into disrepair despite major allocations for the project, including Rs. 2,000 million for 2025 and Rs. 6,500 million for the current year. He urged the Minister to allocate funds to remaining tanks, improve water conservation, and ensure water is released to farmers. He also appealed for Ministers to be more approachable to the public and expressed hope that the Ministry’s 2025 allocations would produce visible results. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Kins Nelson highlighted 2025 Budget allocations for the irrigation sector, noting Rs. 78,000 million overall and specific funding for cascade systems including Gal Oya, Rajanganaya, Huruluwewa and Minneriya. He said Rs. 500 million had been allocated to Minneriya tank, with 85 per cent of the project completed, and referred to the importance of Parakrama Samudraya to Polonnaruwa. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →