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- 12 March 2025 Department of Agrarian Development (Head 281) AI summary Parliament approved the allocations under Head 281 for the Department of Agrarian Development. The agreed provisions included recurrent and capital expenditure for Operational Activities of Rs. 854 million and Rs. 73 million respectively, and for Development Activities of Rs. 10.421 billion and Rs. 4.183 billion respectively, all ordered to stand part of the Schedule. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 Mr. Chairman AI summary The Chair announced the expenditure heads for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. The recurrent allocation was Rs. 83.894 billion and the capital allocation was Rs. 124.828 billion. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha – Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation AI summary Minister Lal Kantha thanked Members, ministry officials, provincial and district bodies, and parliamentary staff for their contributions, while saying the Opposition had offered limited substantive input apart from some points raised by Hon. D.V. Chanaka. He urged health-sector workers to end strike action linked to security concerns, arguing that government intervention was underway and the public should not be inconvenienced. He said allocated funds for agriculture, livestock, land, irrigation and Mahaweli responsibilities would be managed efficiently and accountably over the eight-month Budget period, with support from provincial structures, Cabinet and the President as Finance Minister. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka urged the Health Ministry to address safety and accommodation deficiencies for doctors, especially female on-call staff, following the Anuradhapura incident, calling for immediate security measures and repairs while noting that he was not justifying strike action. He also clarified that reports of a ban on politicians attending school functions were inaccurate, saying the Prime Minister had instead called for schools not to be politicized. On agriculture and rice prices, he questioned the Government’s management of controlled rice prices and paddy purchasing, arguing that a Rs. 10 increase had imposed a significant financial burden on consumers and asking who benefited from it. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa – Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government had provided farmer relief within its first 100 days without resorting to borrowing, excessive taxation or money printing, citing Rs. 952 million paid to 53,511 farming families for flood damage and Rs. 12.28 billion paid in Ampara for the 2024-2025 Maha season. He rejected claims that the Eastern Province was neglected, listing allocations for Gal Oya, Mundeni Aru, Maha Oya, potable water, flood control and reservoir fisheries, as well as measures to reduce wildlife-related crop damage. He also noted that decisions on the Heda Oya project had been taken by the Ampara and Monaragala District Coordinating Committees and called for coordinated implementation. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe welcomed the guaranteed price for paddy but said it was announced too late in Ampara and other Northern and Eastern districts, after much of the harvest had been sold, and requested that future prices be declared before harvesting begins. He urged the Government and the Chair to uphold parliamentary decorum, prevent racist or personal remarks, and promote inter-communal unity in the post-war context. He also called for the commencement of the Heda Oya irrigation scheme to improve Yala cultivation in Ampara and Monaragala areas, and requested action to reclaim flood-affected Gal Oya paddy lands by utilizing allocated World Bank funds for drainage improvements. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka JJB AI summary Hon. E.M. Basnayaka supported the Appropriation Head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, describing it as central to food security and national development, while criticizing the Opposition for lacking constructive proposals. He highlighted the need to survey and productively allocate Land Reform Commission lands, citing alleged past misuse and political land grabs, and urged an expedited programme for using available lands for enterprises and industries. He also raised the issue of wildlife-related crop damage, estimating losses at 35–40 per cent, and noted ongoing efforts involving the University of Peradeniya and State agencies to develop data-based mitigation measures. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof raised land and livestock-related issues in the Trincomalee District, urging the Government to allocate suitable pastureland, including part of the Kanthalai Sugar Factory estate during the dry season, to reduce pressure on cattle farmers and prevent communal tensions. He sought clarification on the distribution of Kanthalai Sugar Factory lands and called for a proper plan to protect and allocate those lands. He also highlighted divisional boundary disputes, overlapping land claims by state agencies, human-elephant conflict, and land issues affecting long-term residents and farmers in areas such as Kappalthurai and Kuchchaveli, requesting solutions and the issuing of land permits where appropriate. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof criticized the Government’s handling of paddy purchasing, arguing that mill owners are buying and hoarding paddy directly from fields despite official commitments to pay farmers higher prices, contributing to rice shortages, imports from India, and higher retail prices. Referring to the previous Government’s fertilizer policy failure and its impact on the agriculture sector, he urged the Minister to prioritize farmers’ needs and adopt sustainable agricultural policies. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to criticisms on fertilizer allocations, rice import duties, controlled rice prices and the guaranteed paddy price, arguing that budget figures reflected past loan servicing and that pricing decisions were based on official, academic and farmer-organization cost assessments. He said the Government had maintained the Rs. 65 per kilogram rice import duty, revived the Paddy Marketing Board, ensured farmers received about Rs. 130–140 per kilogram for paddy, and paid outstanding crop insurance, procurement and MILCO dues. He also stated that planned sales of state plantation and livestock assets had been halted, MILCO’s loans were being serviced, and productivity targets such as Rs. 3 million per acre were average benchmarks to be pursued through soil testing, better inputs, technology and coordinated agency programmes. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that the Budget’s agricultural support is inadequate and uneven, citing limited disbursement of the Rs. 35 billion fertilizer subsidy and exclusion of many non-paddy farmers. He questioned the Government’s paddy procurement and buffer stock plans, rice imports, price controls, and handling of millers, while calling for fertilizer support to all crops and a guaranteed price for maize amid import licences and falling local prices. He also contrasted past irrigation and agricultural development with current policy, rejected a return to all-organic farming, and urged urgent action to address the crisis in the sugar sector, including blocked ethanol and sugar sales and unpaid workers. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Riyas Farook JJB AI summary Hon. Riyas Farook welcomed the Minister’s commitments to address wild elephant issues and flooding in Akurana, arguing that the Akurana problem stems from decades of canal-bank encroachment enabled by successive governments and political patronage. He said the current Government, in office for three months, is pursuing action through multiple agencies, including seeking University of Peradeniya engineering input and allocating Rs. 22 million to the SLLDC for a feasibility study, after earlier reports were not implemented. He also stated that the Government is addressing drinking water shortages in Delthota and would proceed as quickly as possible. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper highlighted recurrent flooding and irrigation failures affecting the Karavakuvattai paddy lands in Kalmunai, which he attributed to changes following the Gal Oya Dam, road reconstruction, altered drainage, and increased climate-related inflows. Citing agricultural and income data for Ampara and specific acreages of affected cultivation, he argued that the district’s farming economy is being significantly damaged by man-made infrastructure problems. He urged the Government to adopt as policy a long-term proposal, previously reflected in a JICA plan, to build a secondary downstream dam to regulate Gal Oya overflow, support irrigation and hydropower, and protect about 3,000 acres of paddy land. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB AI summary Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala emphasized the importance of restoring soil health and microbial activity, arguing that excessive synthetic fertilizer use has degraded soil organic matter and reduced yields. He outlined the Government’s Soil Health Card programme, noting initial implementation in the Mahaweli “H” area, a 2025 target of 15,000 cards, and the use of soil testing to guide precise fertilizer recommendations. He said fertilizer subsidies have been liberalized to support organic and integrated approaches, and provided figures on farmer compensation and insurance payments for 2024 and early 2025, including flood-related support. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary K. Kader Masthan rejected allegations tabled in Parliament that he obtained fuel station licences after entering politics, stating that the relevant licences predated his parliamentary career and requesting verification before such claims are made. He cautioned against communal or religiously sensitive rhetoric, opposed MMDA amendments that he said would contradict Sharia principles, and urged the Government to act fairly toward religious communities. On the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Budget Head, he welcomed allocations for the Lower Malwathu Oya/KCM scheme but called for the release of agricultural lands gazetted as forest after wartime displacement, funding for the Pali Aru project, and further support for tanks, canals and farm roads in the war-affected North and East. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla addressed the Appropriation debate on the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, focusing on land management, soil restoration and the need to increase agricultural productivity within Sri Lanka’s limited land area. He urged scientific soil testing and rehabilitation, restoration of farmer-organization lands in Mahiyanganaya allegedly transferred under previous administrations, and the issuance of long-delayed land grants to genuine Mahaweli settlers. He also called for rehabilitation of minor tanks in Mahaweli “C”, better use of underutilized public assets, and renewed investment in infrastructure, value addition and productivity for farming communities. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary M.A.M. Thahir raised concerns that Muslims had been excluded from senior public service positions and economically harmed, including through attacks on traders’ shops and past government policies. He urged the Minister to prevent further injustice, specifically citing the need to rehabilitate bunds and tanks to protect agriculture, and called for proper development of the area. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to prioritize irrigation development and rehabilitation in the Ampara District, noting its major contribution to national paddy production through the Gal Oya scheme and Senanayake Samudraya. He called for deepening and upgrading Senanayake Samudraya, speedy technical assessments for flood-damaged bunds, canals and roads, rehabilitation of minor tanks, and implementation of the long-delayed Clan Oya project to expand cultivation and address drinking water shortages in Pottuvil. He also requested urgent action to fill vacancies in Tamil-language Agrarian Service Centres and Agricultural Research and Production Assistant posts, arguing that inadequate staffing hampers farmer support and national food production. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam urged the release of farmlands and small irrigation tanks in Vavuniya and the Vanni that have become inaccessible due to boundary demarcations by the Forest and Wildlife Departments after resettlement. He requested Budget-funded restoration of long-neglected and breached small tanks, raised concerns about settlement practices under the Mahaweli “L” Zone and Lower Malwathu Oya Project causing demographic changes and tensions, and asked that such practices not continue. He also called for government support to manage whitefly infestations through shared spraying equipment, an increase in the fertilizer subsidy to Rs. 20,000 per acre preferably supplied through Agrarian Service Centres, compensation for flood-damaged black gram cultivation, and free or expanded crop insurance for subsidy recipients. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe — Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government has appointed a nine-member expert committee, with Cabinet approval, to review the “Urumaya” freehold title programme and recommend whether it should continue, be reformed or halted, including how to handle permits already issued. He outlined Budget allocations to regularize and complete stalled irrigation projects, citing Yan Oya, Uma Oya, Ellewewa, Lower Malwathu Oya and the North Central Province Canal, with about Rs. 60,000 million allocated overall for reservoir, canal, rehabilitation and related works. He also said land administration delays have left many people without deeds or permits, and that the Ministry intends to streamline titling processes while pursuing a national land policy and land-use plan. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →