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- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Chandana Thennakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Thennakoon supported regulations enabling vehicle imports for tourism, arguing they align with the sector’s recovery and the Government’s targets of three million tourist arrivals and US$ 5 billion in revenue. He emphasized expanding tourism beyond coastal areas into inland, community- and environment-based destinations, particularly in the North Western Province and around reservoirs, heritage sites, and rural attractions. He identified poor rural roads and infrastructure as a key constraint and said the Government intends to address this while developing sites such as Yapahuwa, Haththikuchchi, Rasvehera, and areas in Galgamuwa. He also linked tourism growth to wider economic stabilization and welfare measures, while defending the Government’s first year in office against Opposition criticism. Debate Continuation: Vehicle Import Regulations Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K. Ilankumaran JJB AI summary K. Ilankumaran supported the Import and Export (Control) Act regulations, arguing that the NPP Government had maintained economic and exchange-rate stability despite Opposition predictions of shortages and currency depreciation. He highlighted tourism development in the North, including proposed zones in Poonakary and diaspora investment, as well as plans for a northern coconut cultivation programme with free saplings, fertilizer subsidies and per-acre support. He urged northern Opposition Members to support the Government’s development agenda and said those violating the law or reviving “old political culture” would be dealt with under the law. Debate Continuation: Vehicle Import Regulations Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir supported concessions for tourism under the Import and Export (Control) Act but argued that benefits should reach local landowners, workers, fishing and farming communities rather than only large tourism businesses. He called for better organization of tourist areas such as Arugam Bay and Pasikuda, local sourcing of seafood, improved wages and opportunities for trained hotel-sector workers, and expanded fruit exports including star fruit and Karuthakolumban mangoes. He also urged the Government to release war-affected lands for cultivation, housing and livelihoods, particularly for Tamil-speaking Muslim and Tamil communities. He commended Nintavur schools for winning national Kabaddi titles and requested the Sports or Education Ministry to provide indoor facilities and continued support. Debate Continuation: Vehicle Import Regulations Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva disputed the Government’s claims on inflation, growth and economic recovery, arguing that stabilization began under the previous administration and that official growth projections remain inconsistent. He said poverty remains high, citing a CEPA survey, and questioned how the Government intends to reduce poverty and achieve high growth without private investment or fiscal space. He criticized the reversal of power sector reforms, warning that retaining full CEB ownership without private investment would undermine tariff reduction and energy planning. On rice imports and Paddy Marketing Board stock milling, he alleged that tender conditions disadvantage small and medium millers, questioned the reduced milling outturn standard, and argued that rice should not be imported while domestic stocks are being handled in a way that could create private gains. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal defended the Government’s economic management, citing increased revenue, export earnings, Customs income, port profits, reserves, foreign direct investment, and tourism earnings in 2025. He criticised previous administrations for neglecting export sectors, particularly coconut estates in Puttalam, and said the Government is expanding coconut cultivation and fertilisation across over 500,000 acres. He highlighted Kalpitiya’s tourism potential and said measures are being taken to improve safety, transport, and investor interest, while also supporting anti-drug operations in Puttalam in line with the President’s policy. He further referred to Government programmes on poverty reduction, education, public servant pay increases, and allowances for students and senior citizens. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Lalith Kumara JJB AI summary Chaminda Lalith Kumara supported the regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, arguing that facilitating vehicle imports would strengthen transport services needed for tourism. He said the Government is rebuilding and promoting tourism, including community-based tourism in villages, so that benefits extend beyond large hotels and reach rural communities. He highlighted initiatives in districts including Gampaha and stressed the need for reliable transport, accommodation, promotion, and a peaceful environment to sustain rising tourism indicators. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, he tabled a reply on Sri Lanka’s salt requirement, production sources, producers, and storage capacity. The reply stated that annual demand is about 180,000 MT, normally met through local salterns in areas including Hambantota, Puttalam, Elephant Pass, Mannar and Trincomalee, with storage capacity sufficient for more than a year and harvests generally adequate under normal weather. It also noted that imports rose from 1,282 MT in 2024 to 142,549.3 MT up to 10 September 2025 due to adverse weather and heavy rainfall disrupting production in late 2024. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated through the Tea Board and the Ministry for a QR-based fertilizer support scheme for tea smallholders, to be launched at Walipanne. Registered growers are being verified through a dedicated app and factory leaf-supplier lists, with disbursement from October 1 through multiple suppliers using QR codes. The scheme will provide a Rs. 4,000 subsidy per 50-kg fertilizer bag and will allocate support based on leaf supply volumes rather than acreage, with further field-level briefings to follow. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary Nishantha Perera welcomed the QR code mechanism for providing subsidized fertilizer through the open market, noting significant per-ton relief for farmers. He asked the Government to clarify the criteria used to select beneficiaries for nursery assistance, arguing that previous allocations lacked clear standards and contributed to the current crisis. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera questioned why tea nurseries funded in 2022–2023, including unregistered nurseries around Elpitiya, are no longer operating and in some cases are derelict. He argued that nursery development should follow Tea Research Institute varieties and standards, and asked what action would be taken regarding alleged politically motivated allocations that distorted varietal adoption and harmed the tea industry. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister provided details of financial assistance given to registered tea nurseries in the Galle District by the Sri Lanka Tea Board in 2020 and 2024, including grant amounts to multiple nurseries, with detailed schedules tabled in the Library. He also stated that the Tea Smallholdings Development Authority assisted 17 nurseries in 2022–2023, of which 13 remain active and four are inactive. Among Sri Lanka Tea Board-assisted nurseries, two were reported inactive, and the remaining part of the question was stated to be not applicable. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary The Minister said the fisheries and aquaculture sector is being refocused through expansion in the North and East and renewed attention to Puttalam’s contribution. He stated that past political interference had damaged the sector, and that the Ministry will convene exporters and engage stakeholders in producing districts to address issues. He also outlined plans for modernisation, including breeding centres and hatcheries, aimed at sectoral transformation. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Asked whether the Government has clear programmes to support the dollar-earning industry by upgrading hatchery technology to improve quality post-larvae, reducing farmers’ production costs, and resolving practical bottlenecks faced by exporters. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that the Puttalam District, which contributes around 70 per cent of shrimp production, has been affected by disease risks linked to imported shrimp. He said the Government has identified risks to local farms and Sri Lanka’s export reputation, and therefore prohibits imported shrimp from being sold domestically or exported under the Sri Lankan name while seeking solutions within those controls. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan raised concerns that EU and Western market restrictions could increase shrimp re-exports through Sri Lanka, creating risks of disease entering local aquaculture zones and damaging Sri Lanka’s export reputation if products are sold under the Sri Lankan name. He also asked how the Government would prevent imported shrimp from entering the domestic market and depressing prices for local producers. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Accepted parts of the question while rejecting one sub-part, stating that shrimp re-exports are allowed only under strict SOP-based controls and that 1,187 metric tons were re-exported in 2024. He said NAQDA is promoting domestic shrimp farming through disease-control measures, expansion of SPF P. monodon hatchery capacity, encouragement of larger “Sri Lankan Jumbo Shrimp” for niche export markets, and planned removal of sand and silt bars in key lagoon and canal systems. He added that lands in the North and East are being identified for environmentally friendly shrimp farms to increase export volumes and support processing centres. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister explained that a nationwide survey, excluding only Delft Island, had established baseline data on relevant animal populations, with provisions for people who missed official forms to submit information separately. He said the exercise was low-cost, would support work by ministries and researchers, and was being discussed jointly with relevant agencies. He clarified that no decision had been made to cull or harm animals, and that any population management would be lawful and guided by expert recommendations. He also noted that the survey relied on public reporting, applied a correction factor for possible over-reporting, and was intended to inform management rather than provide exact census figures. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne stated that the national animal census was conducted on 15 March 2025 at a total cost of Rs. 3,916,314, rejecting claims that over Rs. 70 million had been spent. He said the survey aimed to assess wildlife causing crop damage, covering toque macaques, purple-faced langurs, giant squirrels and peafowl, with verification reducing reported monkey and langur figures by 50% for planning purposes. The finalized public report maps species distribution and risk areas, with official figures of 5,197,517 langurs, 1,747,623 monkeys, 2,666,630 giant squirrels and 4,285,745 peafowl. He added that the census covered all Grama Niladhari Divisions except six in Delft Island, where the surveyed species do not occur. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation for details on Sri Lanka’s animal census, including its date, cost, objectives, implementation measures, progress, and separate counts of deer, monkeys, giant squirrels and peacocks. He also requested information on the Grama Niladhari Divisions covered or excluded from the census and the reasons for any exclusions. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned why Samurdhi lending rates remain at 12–14 per cent when commercial banks lend to agriculture at 6–8 per cent, arguing this is unfair to borrowers and asking what steps can reduce the rates. He also urged that Samurdhi banks be brought under Central Bank oversight in the context of IMF engagement and the upcoming tranche, noting that the 2013 Act cited in the response may be an obstacle. Oral Answers to Questions Read →