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- 21 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha defended the National People’s Power Government’s first Budget, arguing that current economic difficulties resulted from previous governments’ failed policies, fiscal mismanagement, corruption, and reliance on IMF-led recovery after bankruptcy. She said the Budget aims to stabilize the economy, prevent further restructuring, strengthen domestic production and exports, and allocate development support across regions and sectors including agriculture, fisheries, industry, infrastructure, and urban issues. She highlighted proposals such as Rs. 11.3 billion for agricultural and agro-industrial productivity, including cinnamon, tea smallholders, coconut, and rural women’s participation, while rejecting Opposition criticism that the Budget is merely a “handout” budget. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister defended the National People’s Power Government’s inaugural Budget as the first step in a five-year economic programme within IMF-related constraints following the debt crisis. He said the Budget prioritizes a production- and export-oriented economy through allocations for rural roads, fisheries, livestock, plantations, SMEs, tourism and industry, and referred to a planned National Export Development Plan. He also highlighted welfare increases for senior citizens, elderly persons, students and chronic kidney patients, arguing that the Government is directing resources to previously neglected groups while asking the public for patience as economic reforms are implemented. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir supported the 2025 Budget’s increased allocations for some regions but asked whether it includes specific funding for Eastern Province priorities in agriculture, fisheries, water, transport, health, education, and tourism. He called for better use of Senanayake Samudraya water, rehabilitation of the Oluvil fisheries harbour and coastal erosion measures, release of lands held by state agencies and security forces, implementation of the Heda Oya drinking water project, and revival of freshwater fisheries through tank cleaning and fingerling supply. He also requested road and bridge repairs in Ampara District, improvements to hospitals and older school buildings, establishment of Medicine and Agriculture Faculties at South Eastern University, and improved tourism connectivity including a Batticaloa-Arugam Bay rail extension and SLTB bus links. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara defended the Government’s Budget, citing foreign investment agreements signed during the President’s visit to China and criticizing Opposition claims over credit. He welcomed pension increases, particularly alignment with 2020 salary scales and the implementation of “One Rank, One Pension” for retired Tri-Forces personnel. Representing Kurunegala and Kuliyapitiya, he highlighted allocations for agriculture and irrigation rehabilitation, including neglected tanks, and called for upgrades to Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital, including equipment, ambulances, and ward expansion. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Budget against Opposition claims that it was an IMF or capitalist Budget, arguing that it begins a programme of economic democracy and social justice through allocations for health, education, housing, agriculture, and environmental initiatives. He highlighted measures including fuel price reductions, school supply assistance, pension increases, a higher fertilizer subsidy, and a guaranteed paddy price of Rs. 120 per kilogram with a consumer rice price ceiling of Rs. 230 per kilogram. He also referred to action on rice pricing, rehabilitation of electric fences to address human-elephant conflict, plans to expand big onion cultivation to reduce imports, and proposals for youth and cooperative farmer villages. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu JJB AI summary Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu said the Budget’s allocations for rural economic development, education, health and agriculture should be implemented through public participation and directed to Batticaloa District priorities. He outlined proposals on hospital and preschool facilities, libraries, human-elephant conflict mitigation through 83 km of electric fencing, coconut development, tank rehabilitation, grain cultivation, aquaculture, social protection, rural transport, and mangrove conservation. He also called for improved feasibility studies, supervision, quality control and accountability in road and bridge projects, particularly after recent flood damage, and said development should be routed through District and Divisional Development Committees with public input. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson argued that the Budget should be assessed against the Government’s election promises, including public sector salary increases and a guaranteed paddy price of Rs. 154 per kilogram. He questioned the absence of relief on consumer prices and taxes affecting food items, citing the State’s constitutional duty to ensure basic needs. He urged cooperation between Government and Opposition MPs, proposed a post-Budget parliamentary workshop to improve coordination, and called for farmers to receive quality fertilizer at an affordable price, lower agrochemical costs, and a fair paddy price rather than politically driven free-fertilizer promises. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Agalakada JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Agalakada defended the NPP Government’s Appropriation Bill as consistent with its campaign commitments to build a productive economy, link working-age people to it, and distribute generated wealth fairly. He cited allocations for roads, dairy, innovation, coconut cultivation, youth agri-entrepreneurship, digitalization, job creation, social protection, nutrition, autism and neurological treatment, and support for Malaiyagam communities, while also referring to a planned Chinese-backed refinery investment. He rejected opposition characterizations of the Budget as a continuation of previous policies and argued that its spending priorities reflect the Government’s stated economic programme. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Priyantha Wijerathna, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Priyantha Wijerathna supported the 2025 Appropriation Bill, stating that it was prepared under the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, within limits on primary expenditure, and framed around a national productive economy. He rejected Opposition claims that the Eastern Province had been neglected, citing Budget provisions for Eastern development and allocations for youth agro-entrepreneurship, dairy production, and human-elephant conflict mitigation. He argued that the Government aims to reduce inter-provincial economic disparities and protect citizens’ economic rights following the Aragalaya. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera criticised the Government’s inaugural Budget as lacking a transformative national vision, comparing it unfavourably with recent Indian and Singaporean Budgets. He argued for an “entrepreneurial State” approach to revive collapsed SMEs, restore investor and entrepreneur confidence, attract tourism and investment, and create youth aspiration, saying the allocation to the Industry and Entrepreneurship Ministry was inadequate for the scale of SME distress. He also questioned whether the welfare measures and campaign-style policy branding would be felt at grassroots level, describing the Budget as largely conventional and closer to neoliberal continuity than a new economic direction. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Thilina Samarakoon defended the 2025 Budget, arguing that it is consistent with the Government’s policy direction and balances limited fiscal space with increased allocations for health, education, agriculture, industry, welfare, and basic infrastructure. He highlighted specific measures including higher stipends and allowances, support for child suspects’ transport to court, modernization of nutrition and food storage facilities, SME and dairy sector funding, and measures to address human–elephant conflict. He also rejected claims that the Government would undermine religion, citing allocations for religious affairs and places of worship, and said entrepreneur support would be channelled through existing state banks and Regional Development Banks rather than a new development bank. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Ilayathamby Srinath AI summary Hon. Dr. Ilayathamby Srinath welcomed the Budget’s allocations to health, education, the North, and the estate sector, but urged comparable attention to Batticaloa and the Eastern Province, particularly war-affected and underdeveloped areas such as Paduvaankarai. He requested increased funding for irrigation, tank rehabilitation, permanent bridges, flood mitigation, and the long-discussed Kithul–Rugam tank linkage, arguing it could reduce flooding, expand cultivation by 8,000–10,000 acres, and help address future drinking water shortages. He also called for dredging and cleaning the Batticaloa Lagoon, reconstruction of Kiraan Bridge, and clearer development strategies for agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and tourism to improve the district economy. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha argued that the Budget is based on “economic democracy,” aimed at ensuring that workers, pensioners, plantation communities, farmers and other groups who contributed to the economy receive a fairer share. He said wage and pension increases were designed to address past social injustices, with larger relief directed to groups that had suffered greater disadvantage. He cited the Government’s intervention in the paddy and rice market, including a Rs. 120 per kilo floor price for Nadu paddy and a Rs. 230 per kilo ceiling price for Nadu rice, as an example of calibrated state action to protect both farmers and consumers. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Minister briefly stated that he would explain the relevant system shortly. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara urged the authorities to ensure fair treatment for farmers in paddy procurement. He specifically objected to requiring farmers to bear additional transport costs to deliver paddy to cleaned warehouses. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy described severe post-war social and economic challenges in the Northern Province, particularly Jaffna and Kilinochchi, including unemployment, poor infrastructure, land issues, weak agriculture and fisheries, and drug-related problems among youth. He attributed these conditions to the civil war and past failures in development planning, while welcoming 2025 Budget allocations for Northern development, including funding for the Vattuvagal Bridge, Jaffna Public Library rehabilitation, rural roads and bridges, digital initiatives, and youth-focused programmes. He urged effective implementation to revive key sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, tourism, Kankesanthurai harbour and cement, Paranthan chemicals, Chunnakam power, and island tourism, noting that past allocations had been returned or diverted. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage supported the 2025 Budget as the Government’s first budget, arguing that it advances a production economy with public participation and fair distribution. He highlighted allocations and measures for agriculture, fisheries and food supply, including Rs. 35 billion for paddy cultivation, Rs. 5 billion for paddy procurement, Rs. 78 billion for irrigation, a proposed rail-based harvest transport system, Rs. 500 million for the Northern Coconut Triangle, and an increased fisheries allocation of Rs. 11.4 billion. He also outlined plans for cooperative village-level paddy harvesting, milling and distribution, and cited increases to welfare and education-related allowances such as pre-school meals, scholarships, university bursaries, kidney patient support and elderly assistance. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa — Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment AI summary Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa defended the Government’s first Budget against claims that it lacked vision or was externally driven, stating that it was prepared by officials, professionals and the new administration to promote clean and people-centred governance. He highlighted public sector salary increases, higher disaster loan limits, export targets of about USD 19 billion, use of underutilized state lands, tourism development, and plans to connect rural producers and youth entrepreneurs to markets. Responding to criticism that the Eastern Province had been neglected, he cited allocations and assistance for provincial development, agriculture, irrigation, youth cooperatives, dairy, fisheries and schemes such as Gal Oya, saying these measures would benefit communities across the East. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB AI summary Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage supported the Budget as a historic and fiscally disciplined measure, highlighting increased Mahapola, student, and TVET allowances and allocations for plantation youth vocational training, youth agri-entrepreneurs, and the Clean Sri Lanka programme. Drawing on his own experience in agriculture, he emphasized the need for transparent land and finance procedures, efficient implementation by public officials, and use of decentralized funds in Gampaha for agri-industrial development and flood management. He also welcomed salary increases and planned recruitment in the public service, arguing these should create merit-based opportunities for youth, and called on the Opposition to offer constructive scrutiny rather than focus on issues such as the removal of vehicle permits. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam argued that the 2025 Budget’s aim of “economic democracy” cannot be achieved in the North and East without resolving political marginalization, land issues and long-standing regional inequities linked to the war and poor governance. He highlighted the Northern Province’s low GDP contribution and called for timely fertilizer subsidies, fair market access, disaster compensation, restoration of tanks, release of lands held by the military and State agencies, and allocation of pasture for livestock. He also criticized delays faced by diaspora investors in obtaining land and approvals, urging a genuine one-stop mechanism to facilitate investment in the region. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →