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- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara urged the Government to move beyond assurances and take practical steps to protect paddy farmers, particularly in light of plans to expand cultivation by 50,000 hectares during the Maha season. He questioned the strategy for balancing rice varieties, citing the recent over-cultivation of Kekirisamba that depressed prices, and asked what safeguards would be provided if this recurs. He called for procurement and storage to be diversified beyond major millers to prevent price crashes, while stating that the Opposition would support a workable programme to assist farmers. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne supported the Motion, highlighting recent hardships faced by farmers and outlining government measures on cultivation expansion, fertilizer and interseasonal crop support, export crop grants, irrigation rehabilitation, soil testing, and high-yield varieties. He said the Government aims to raise paddy yields above 7,000 kg per hectare by 2028 while improving market access, value addition, and agro-industry linkages. He noted ongoing crop insurance for six crops, plans to expand insurance to other crops and livestock, a new farmer pension scheme, and increased ex-gratia payments for deaths from human–elephant conflict from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 1,000,000. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran supported the Motion proposing an insurance scheme for farmers, arguing that the State has a duty to protect those who sustain the country’s food supply. He called for a robust free insurance and pension scheme, timely and adequate compensation for crop damage, and guaranteed fair prices for paddy. He also raised concerns about high-interest farm loans and exploitative microcredit practices that leave farmers indebted and vulnerable. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka JJB AI summary Hon. E.M. Basnayaka supported the Motion and said the Government had taken measures to protect farmers by safeguarding reservoir lands and water resources, including surveying and demarcating tank reservations to prevent encroachment. He cited an increase in cultivation support from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 and said the Government had introduced a guaranteed paddy price aligned with production costs to stabilize markets and strengthen farmer confidence. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan welcomed the Private Member’s proposal by Hon. Rohana Bandara to establish an insurance scheme for farmers, highlighting the hardships faced by farmers in the North and East after war, displacement, poor harvest-time prices, debt, and natural disasters. He noted that existing insurance compensation is often delayed and called for a practical, timely scheme covering losses and risks such as elephant attacks, pesticide exposure, machinery accidents, and deaths. He argued that strengthening agriculture and fisheries as key livelihoods would support national progress and help affected farming families maintain dignity. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla supported the Motion and argued that farmers require comprehensive protection beyond life insurance, including seed insurance, crop damage cover, and safeguards against hazards such as elephant attacks. He said key foundations of agriculture—seed, water, land, and fair harvest prices—have weakened, citing high seed prices, flood-related soil erosion in Mahiyanganaya-Ulhitiya, lack of irrigation affecting 1,750 acres before the Badulu Oya dam project, and market failures causing produce to be dumped. He contrasted past benefits for MPs with the unmet needs of farmers and called for a practical programme to secure farmers’ basic agricultural conditions and provide crop and life insurance. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary The Member supported Hon. Rohana Bandara’s motion to introduce a farmer insurance scheme, noting that existing crop insurance and pension arrangements have low participation and limited coverage. He urged a comprehensive scheme covering crops, life, health and marketing risks for paddy, vegetable and other farmers, citing hazards such as lightning, snakebites, machinery injuries, leptospirosis, kidney disease and human-elephant conflict. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara moved a resolution calling for a comprehensive insurance scheme for the farming community, arguing that existing crop-damage cover is limited in value, scope, and eligibility. He said farmers face risks from crop failure, accidents, illness, death, loss of income, and inadequate retirement protection, while current pension and insurance arrangements do not cover most needs. He proposed expanding insurance to cover cultivation risks, the period from harvest to payment, life and disability, and retirement for all categories of farmers. Private Members' Motion P.47/2025: Insurance Scheme for Farming Community Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka supported Hon. T.K. Jayasundara’s proposal to develop inland tourism zones in Galle District, highlighting areas such as Neluwa, Pitigala, Niyagama, Nagoda, Udugama and Thawalama for their biodiversity, waterfalls, villages, religious sites and rural character. He emphasized the tourism and educational value of Sinharaja and nearby attractions, while noting the need to connect coastal tourism in Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Ahangama with inland natural destinations. He also referred to the Dedduwa Tourism Project in Bentota and urged bipartisan support to operationalize such initiatives to strengthen Sri Lanka’s competitiveness as a regional tourism destination. Private Members' Motion P.42/2025: Sinharaja Tourism Zone Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Seconding Hon. T.K. Jayasundara’s Motion on tourism, Hon. Lal Premanath highlighted the tourism potential of Deniyaya, Kotapola, and Pitabeddara in Matara District as a cool rural zone suited to ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure travel, and agro-based tourism. He cited Sinharaja Rainforest access via Lankagama, Getabaru Rajamaha Viharaya, Patna Sliding Rock, waterfalls, tea factories, spice gardens, viewpoints, and hiking trails as key attractions. He urged focused development and further identification of tourism assets in the area to strengthen it as a pillar of the tourism industry. Private Members' Motion P.42/2025: Sinharaja Tourism Zone Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary T.K. Jayasundara moved a motion urging the Government to designate and develop the ecosystem spanning Pitigala, Udugama, Neluwa, Deniyaya and Ratnapura as a tourist zone. He argued that tourism is important for increasing domestic income and highlighted the Sinharaja World Heritage Forest, Kanneliya forest, and Hiniduma Kanda as internationally significant wet-zone natural assets with high biodiversity and tourism potential. Private Members' Motion P.42/2025: Sinharaja Tourism Zone Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Moved a motion urging the Government to continue and implement the Ruwanpura Expressway in phases, arguing that it would benefit Ratnapura, Badulla, Hambantota, Monaragala and sectors such as tourism, gems, tea and cinnamon exports. He called for clarity on financing, credit arrangements and a commencement timeline, and criticized the Government for making broad development promises without time-bound delivery. He also referred to Indian-credit housing, the Kelani Valley Railway extension proposal, and other infrastructure commitments, asking Ministers to provide direct and specific answers. Private Members' Motion P.41/2025: Ruwanpura Expressway Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), called for reforms to make Sri Lanka’s gem industry more export-oriented and better able to generate foreign exchange and employment. He argued that despite Sri Lanka’s historic reputation for gems, the sector is constrained by limited mining access, weak value addition, poor market access, inefficiencies, and irregularities in oversight and stock handling. He questioned whether high taxation, excessive licensing, and over-regulation are discouraging small miners and traders and pushing activity into informal channels, and urged steps to revive and relaunch the industry. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded to questions on the tea industry, stating that some factory closures were due to accidents or management and workforce shortages, and affirmed the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the sector. He said the Kahagalla facility processes waste tea and is operating below capacity because only 20 workers are available out of the 155 needed. He also outlined a housing deed programme for the Malaiyaha community, saying 2,056 houses built with Indian assistance, each with basic infrastructure and 10-perch plots, will receive ownership deeds, with 237 ready for initial distribution at Bandarawela under the President’s leadership. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake said his question on tea factory closures had been submitted six months earlier after a former Tea Small Holdings Development Authority Chairman claimed 225 factories had closed in a year, a statement later corrected, and he also noted that a Minister’s claim about Sri Lanka winning a Nobel prize for tea was inaccurate. He welcomed the planned issuing of deeds in Bandarawela to people connected to estates, but asked whether estate workers, who have long sought a wage increase, would receive one this year given the government’s time in office. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister reported that Sri Lanka received international recognition at a tea auction in Osaka, where New Vithanakanda Tea Factory won a gold award and set a Guinness record with black tea priced at USD 860 per kilo. Responding to Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, he stated that 662 tea factories are registered and 567 are producing in 2025, and rejected as false a claim that about 225 factories had closed this year. He said only six factories had closed in 2025 while ten previously closed factories had reopened, and added that the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Tea Small Holdings Development Authority and Tea Research Institute are carrying out programmes to support sustainability and productivity. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said cultivated land and the number of farmers have increased, prompting Cabinet approval of an additional Rs. 5,000 million for fertilizer assistance. He noted that many new cultivators may lack awareness despite media campaigns and said the Government would consider using private media to strengthen farmer guidance. He stated that doxycycline stocks are sufficient for three months, with a further nine months’ supply expected shortly, and emphasized the need to inform farmers entering fields and ensure prompt prophylactic treatment. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Read →
- 10 October 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara noted that leptospirosis admissions were rising ahead of the Maha cultivation season, when farmers are entering fields, and urged stronger promotion and wider implementation of doxycycline prophylaxis. He proposed using private media as a public service alongside state media and integrating prophylaxis prompts into fertilizer subsidy registration processes. He asked what immediate steps would be taken during the short preventive window, warning that severe cases require limited ICU capacity and can lead to avoidable deaths. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Read →
- 9 October 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna highlighted government cost-cutting measures, including auctioning luxury vehicles, reducing MPs’ insurance benefits, limiting ministerial vehicles and fuel allocations, and proposing legislation to abolish MPs’ pensions. He said the Government’s five-year manifesto was only at its first milestone and claimed progress in establishing a new political culture and enforcing the law against previously influential figures. He also cited higher export earnings in January-August 2025 compared with the previous year, including increases in tea and coconut export revenue. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Continued Discussion Read →
- 9 October 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister rejected claims that trade unions had undermined the plantation collective agreement, stating that negotiations with employers were continuing to secure a livable income for workers and that the government would take necessary measures. He highlighted increases in education and welfare allowances, including Mahapola, student stipends, Grade 5 scholarship support, vocational training payments, and assistance for low-income and vulnerable children. He also noted expanded fertilizer support, including raising the general subsidy to Rs. 25,000 and providing coconut fertilizer at a reduced price following a 55,000 MT shipment. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Continued Discussion Read →