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- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Polgolla National Co-operative Development Institute. He moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Opening and Announcements Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure presented the Coconut Cultivation Board’s Annual Report for 2022. He moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Opening and Announcements Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Government’s current fiscal approach is intended to protect reserves, stabilize the currency, and support economic recovery while providing relief as growth improves. He cited record first-quarter tourism revenue in 2025 and the plantation sector’s best first-quarter production and income in 11 years, and defended the increase in vehicle-related revenues from 20 to 30 per cent as a necessary decision within available means. Debate: Customs Ordinance - Resolution on Import Duties on Motor Vehicles Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that maximum retail prices for rice and guaranteed prices for paddy are intended to protect both consumers and farmers. He said market opening with duties would be limited to what is necessary, noting that current stocks are adequate, farmers have received good prices, and the Government will ensure an uninterrupted rice supply. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued from the consumer perspective that rice pricing should reflect paddy costs, noting that a retail price of Rs. 260 per kilogram can be assessed by dividing by 1.6 to estimate the paddy cost. He suggested imposing an excise if necessary to address concerns over end use, while allowing market forces to determine the sector’s direction. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that rice import policy is aimed at protecting paddy farmers, noting that around 27% of the population depends on paddy cultivation. He said imports are being allowed where necessary, including permits for 200,000 MT of maize for poultry and other industries, and arrangements for beer producers to import their own annual rice requirement. He attributed current pressure on the rice market, particularly Kakulu rice, to animal feed and industrial demand, and said the Government would import required Kakulu quantities directly for those sectors to protect both consumers and industry. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Argued that productivity should be improved and markets opened with appropriate tariffs to promote competition. Proposed levying a tax to cover production costs, suggesting that this would remove the need for minimum guaranteed prices and benefit consumers. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Maha 2024/25 harvest is estimated to be about 200,000 metric tons below expectations and that the matter has been referred to the Food Security Committee to maintain uninterrupted market availability of rice. He said around 65% of stocks comprise Nadu, Samba, Keeri Samba and Red Rice, and noted that while other varieties have adequate verified stocks, the Government may import the required quantity of Keeri Samba if a shortfall arises. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister tabled a written reply to Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Standing Order 27(2) question on rice supply, prices and imports. The reply stated that the Maha 2024/25 paddy harvest is forecast at 2.6 million metric tons, with reduced Nadu cultivation and possible Samba/Keeri Samba shortages, while 103,409.8 metric tons of rice were imported in the first quarter of 2025. It noted that intermediaries and high private purchase prices may affect market prices, and said the Government is using guaranteed paddy prices, monitoring by the Consumer Affairs Authority, and selective short-term private imports under maximum retail prices to stabilize supply and prices. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) - Land Acquisition in North and East; Ministry Statements on Rice and Finance Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure presented the Sri Lanka Tea Board’s Annual Report for 2023. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister of Health and Mass Media, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, presented the 2020 Annual Report of MILCO (Private) Limited and the 2023 Annual Report of the Land Reforms Commission. He moved that the reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake submitted a question seeking detailed information on rice supply, including Maha paddy production figures, regional yields, rice import volumes and costs, remaining stocks, storage locations, and carrying costs. He asked the Government to clarify current rice consumption trends, projected shortages, the role of major mill operators in any market distortion, and the criteria for deciding further imports. He also requested assurances on safeguards for local paddy farmers if imports continue, and on longer-term measures for food security, farm gate prices, and maximum retail rice prices. Procedural: Adjournment Motions Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer stating that no acute rice shortage has been reported and that adequate stocks are available, though large-scale millers account for a major share of market activity. The response outlined Government measures to stabilize supply and prices, including Food Policy and Security Committee monitoring, possible future rice imports if needed, gazetted maximum wholesale and retail prices, Consumer Affairs Authority enforcement, collection of stock and market data, and sales through Lanka Sathosa and the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment. Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions (Tabled) Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna on behalf of the Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri AI summary Asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development to state whether there is a current rice shortage, identify its causes, and confirm whether sufficient rice stocks exist for national consumption. The question also sought an admission on whether major rice mill owners maintain a monopoly and requested measures to release rice stocks to the market in a manner that benefits both paddy farmers and consumers. Second Round of Oral Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions (Tabled) Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Anton Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Anton Jayakody said human-elephant conflict cannot be eliminated but is being minimized through multisectoral action involving Wildlife officials, District and Divisional Secretariats, village officers, farmer organizations, local committees, multipurpose workers, and the Civil Security Department. He said fencing alone is insufficient, and that the Government is addressing habitat issues by removing invasive plants such as Indian myrrh and cactus and improving food and water availability for elephants to reduce ranging and crop-raiding. He identified immediate priorities as completing and maintaining fences, strengthening night patrols, augmenting staff, regularizing multipurpose workers, recruiting more officers, and reallocating underused government vehicles for patrol operations. Oral Question 572/2025: Elephant Management Reserves in Hambantota District Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Athula Welandagoda JJB AI summary Asked whether, beyond Government measures, there is a defined long-term plan to involve local farmers and residents in maintaining fences. The question sought clarification on community participation in sustaining such infrastructure. Oral Question 572/2025: Elephant Management Reserves in Hambantota District Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Anton Jayakody JJB AI summary About 1,665 km of electric fencing has been built, including 165 km recently, with 85 km remaining and 10 km ready to begin. Hon. Anton Jayakody said the remaining work in Hambantota would be completed quickly with support from civil and farmers’ organizations, CEB concrete poles, and Budget funds. He emphasized that maintenance is essential and said around 3,531 multipurpose workers would be regularized after the elections and deployed through the Department of Wildlife Conservation to maintain and protect the fences. Oral Question 572/2025: Elephant Management Reserves in Hambantota District Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Athula Welandagoda JJB AI summary Athula Welandagoda raised concerns about the worsening human-elephant conflict across five Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Tissamaharama electorate of Hambantota. He asked what concrete interventions, including electric fencing, would be implemented to protect people, property, and wildlife through sustainable measures involving technology and community participation. Oral Question 572/2025: Elephant Management Reserves in Hambantota District Read →
- 9 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Moved approval of the 2022 Annual Report of the National Institute of Post-Harvest Management, including the Auditor-General’s observations for the year ended 31 December 2022, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. He noted that the report had been presented under the Finance Act and considered by the relevant Ministerial Consultative Committee before being submitted to Parliament. The motion was agreed to. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Read →
- 9 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, approval was sought for the 2021/2022 Annual Report of Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Limited, including the Auditor-General’s observations for the year ended 31 March 2022. The report had been presented under Section 14(3) of the Finance Act, No. 38 of 1971, considered by the relevant Ministerial Consultative Committee, and was approved by Parliament. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Read →