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- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Kins Nelson thanked Members who contributed to his motion on revitalizing cooperatives and said the Opposition had raised these concerns across successive Parliaments to restore an institution important to rural communities. He called for investigations into past fraud and illegal occupation of cooperative property, while urging the Government to address institutional gaps and modernize cooperatives with technology, supermarket-style services, debit card facilities, and improved consumer convenience. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran supported the motion for a proper procurement programme for co-operatives and urged the Government to revive dormant multipurpose co-operative societies. He cautioned against reclaiming powers devolved under the 13th Amendment, including areas related to co-operatives, arguing that this would especially affect the North and East. He requested controlled-price goods, concessional supplies, and working capital or credit lines through local administration to strengthen co-op outlets and enable local paddy purchasing, milling, and fair-price rice distribution in areas such as Thirukkovil, Navithanveli and Karaitivu. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe supported Hon. Kins Nelson’s motion, arguing that corruption and irregularities in procurement affect the wider State sector as well as cooperatives and require a proper mechanism. He said the Government views the cooperative movement as important for restoring livelihoods and empowering communities, while noting that political interference and misuse have weakened it over decades. He cited the Gampaha SANASA-type deposit issue, claiming over Rs. 3 billion in public deposits are at risk, and urged the Minister to revive cooperatives while establishing programmes to compensate and assist affected depositors. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri supported the motion on cooperatives, arguing that past mismanagement, land grabs, and unlawful decisions had undermined institutions originally built from members’ savings. He noted that cooperatives are a devolved subject under the 13th Amendment and urged the Government to pursue legal or regulatory changes through provincial mechanisms if it intends to revive the sector. He also questioned whether cooperative financial institutions issuing loans and accepting deposits have Monetary Board approval, calling for action to address banking-like activities without proper authority. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri supported the motion for a proper procurement programme for co-operatives, arguing that the co-op sector historically strengthened rural livelihoods and supplied quality essentials before declining after the 1977 open economy. He said procurement malpractice and corruption had weakened public trust, and criticized previous governments for failing to revive the sector. He stated that the Government intends to use co-operatives, including through the Clean Sri Lanka programme and Sathosa stores in Polonnaruwa, to support paddy purchasing, reduce rural poverty, and provide quality essentials at fair prices. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara supported the motion on strengthening the co-operative network, arguing that politicization and lack of capital have weakened many societies despite their grassroots reach and potential to provide goods and services at lower prices. He proposed integrating co-operatives with Sathosa for bulk procurement and imports, digitizing operations, and ensuring accountable divisional-level oversight. Citing Horowpothana in Anuradhapura, he requested ministerial support for capital and facilities, and suggested piloting a programme in Anuradhapura to enable co-operatives to purchase paddy directly, manage drying and storage, revive co-operative rice mills, and supply affordable rice to villages. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson moved a motion urging the Government to create a proper procurement mechanism for co-operative societies, arguing that the sector has declined due to politicization, weak purchasing standards, substandard goods, and lack of modernization. He proposed investigations into co-op purchasing practices, introduction of digital payment facilities, rotation of senior co-operative officers, and renovation of unused or dilapidated buildings and warehouses. Citing Polonnaruwa and national co-operative assets, he called for co-ops to be used to buy, store, mill, and sell paddy through small and medium mills, thereby reducing price control by a few major millers and improving outcomes for farmers and consumers. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka challenged the Government’s handling of a question on paddy prices, referring to Standing Order 92(2)(a) but emphasizing that the substantive issue was more important than procedure. He said the Deputy Minister, who had stated that Rs. 150 per kilo should be paid for paddy, was evading the question, and urged the Government to provide an answer on what he described as an urgent issue affecting farmers. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara sought clarification from the Deputy Minister on the methodology used to fix the price in question. He specifically asked what yield per hectare had been assumed in the cost calculation. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara questioned the basis for the Government’s paddy price calculation, noting that farmers claim a production cost of Rs. 114.50. He asked whether the price was determined using farmers’ actual per-hectare yields and requested clarification on the assumed yield per hectare used to fix the price. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that the Government would purchase paddy from farmers at the stipulated fair price and avoid practices he alleged occurred under the previous Government, such as selling state-held paddy as animal feed. He said all purchased paddy would be milled and released as Government-branded rice to consumers at prices below prevailing market rates. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Ministry would intervene if specific farmer details were provided, acknowledging past procedural failures including issues with non-remittance of premiums. He stated that arrears from the previous government had been cleared, all Yala-season compensation paid, Rs. 86 million already disbursed in 2025 for November damages, and remaining Maha payments targeted for completion within the month. He added that flood damage in Ampara and other areas was being assessed for compensation. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara raised concerns about delayed crop insurance compensation for farmers who paid about Rs. 6,400 per acre in premiums and suffered flood damage. He cited the Nuwara Wewa command area, where compensation for the 2023/24 Maha season remains unpaid despite field inspections conducted a year earlier. He urged the authorities to expedite payments and ensure fairness, noting that indebted farmers are asking at least for their premiums to be returned. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, answering for the Minister, outlined the agricultural insurance framework, identifying three main categories: crop, livestock and general insurance, including the National Crop Insurance Scheme for selected crops, loan-linked and voluntary crop insurance, and cover for equipment, health, accidents, warehouses and movable assets. He listed a wide range of covered crops and provided annual compensation figures for crop damage from 2015 to January 2025, with funding for the national scheme coming from the State Budget and the Crop Insurance Levy Fund, while other schemes are premium-funded. He said proposed measures to strengthen the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board include expanding contributory schemes, improving financial stability, digitizing damage assessment and compensation, equipping field officers, using modern loss-monitoring technologies and introducing market-responsive insurance products. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara raised a question to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation regarding the insurance coverages provided by the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board. He sought information on the scope and implementation of these insurance schemes for the agricultural sector. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera urged the Deputy Minister to take note that land acquisitions for the Millaniya Investment Promotion Zone had been completed, though much of the land had since reverted to rubber cultivation. He said about Rs. 360 million had already been spent on the 460-acre project and called for it to be prioritized as a strategic initiative that could be completed within the current Government’s term. Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development for details on recruitment to the Sevanagala Sugar Factory between 1 January 2022 and the 21 September 2024 Presidential Election. He requested figures on excess employees, the resulting additional monthly expenditure, and the Government’s planned measures for developing the factory. Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that applications or eligibility under the matter being considered must be by a group of producers, such as an association, rather than by individuals. He added that any necessary corrections to the relevant form would be made, after which the question was put and agreed to. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government had set a support price for paddy and was procuring through SATHOSA and the Paddy Marketing Board to prevent a price drop during harvesting, while also examining storage-related issues. He rejected claims that the NPP Government had newly increased MPs’ medical insurance and addressed allegations relating to the Lasantha Wickrematunge case, Eppawala Phosphate Company, imported lime for water purification, and the CEB WindForce wind farm tender, stating that legal or procedural processes were being followed. On the main business, he said the geographical indications regulations under the Intellectual Property Act were needed to meet WTO/TRIPS obligations and protect Sri Lankan producers by enabling registration and better market value for local products. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran welcomed the debate on regulations under the Intellectual Property Act but focused on agricultural policy, urging the Government to announce guaranteed paddy prices and distribute fertilizer earlier so farmers, particularly in the North and East, can benefit before harvest. He argued that the current paddy prices of Rs. 120, 125 and 130 are insufficient given cultivation costs and requested an increase to Rs. 140. He also asked the relevant Minister to intervene to return two paddy stores in Aalaiyadivembu, formerly managed by the Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, alleging they are being retained by the Army without proper cooperative or departmental approval. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →