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- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary The Hon. Hesha Withanage questioned delays in fertilizer subsidies while cultivation is underway and asked why the minister’s advocacy for farmers is not more evident. He also raised concern that privatization or private actors may again gain influence over rice pricing, asking whether policy is moving in that direction. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that the Government has not taken a final decision on plans for idle or overgrown farms, but is considering how to revive them, increase income, and return land to cultivation. He said the Government would intervene directly and, if necessary, work with domestic investors or stakeholders, while safeguarding national interests and not relying on foreign involvement. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the previous Government attempted to lease significant NLDB assets, including land, milk collection centres and dairy factories, to entities linked to the Amul model on low terms, an initiative opposed by farmers’ organizations, trade unions and civil groups and challenged in the Supreme Court. He stated that the plan has now been abandoned and that NLDB lands will not be transferred to those organizations. He said the Government intends to develop farms profitably for public benefit, with possible local private participation after discussion, and no decision to hand them to foreign companies. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary For 2023, a loss of Rs. 3,091,574 was recorded in the relevant annex, as stated in the context of Agriculture and Livestock matters. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Asked for clarification on whether the entity in Hambantota, located in the former Agriculture Minister’s district, made a profit or loss in 2023. The question sought a specific financial outcome for the previous year. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary For Ambalantota, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock provided financial figures indicating a profit of Rs. 8,296,547 in 2022 and a loss of Rs. 1,633,648 in 2021. He stated that the financial values from 2015 onwards are included in an annex. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Requests the relevant data for the Ambalantota farm, without providing further context or argument in the recorded speech. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock stated that complete details relating to all 78 farms had been provided in the annexes. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary The Hon. Hesha Withanage requested specific figures for two farms as examples, seeking detailed data to support discussion or scrutiny of the matter before Parliament. The intervention was a procedural request for illustrative farm-level information rather than a broader policy argument. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister, replying on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, provided details on State-owned farms under the Department of Agriculture, Mahaweli Authority, and National Livestock Development Board, numbering 29, 17, and 32 respectively. He stated that farm names, locations, functions, extents, and year-wise profit or loss data from 2015 have been tabled in annexes placed in the Library. He said there is no specific agreement to privatize these farms, and that government policy is to improve and develop them, with possible domestic stakeholder involvement under government oversight but no decision to hand them to foreign companies. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to provide details on Government-owned farms, including their number, names and addresses, and annual profits or losses from 2015 to date. He also requested information on future measures concerning these farms in line with Sri Lanka’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, presented the 2021/2022 Annual Report of Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd. and the 2023 Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Irrigation. He moved that the reports be referred to the relevant Committees, and the House agreed. Papers: Annual Reports of Government Institutions Read →
- 17 December 2024 STOCKS OF PADDY MAINTAINED BY INSTITUTIONS/PERSONS: DETAILS — The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka on behalf of the Hon. Kins Nelson AI summary A question was raised to the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development seeking details on the President’s requested report on existing paddy stocks. It asked for the date of the request, the institutions or persons holding paddy stocks, the quantities held by each, and the measures taken to control rice prices. Oral Questions: Paddy Stocks, Fuel Price Revisions, and Teacher Scarcity (Q.11, Q.12, Q.10/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Hon. Namal Karunaratne said the Government had considered international experience and developed measures suited to Sri Lankan agriculture, including expanding insurance coverage for all farmlands, ensuring timely compensation, and providing concessional credit to farmers and affected persons. He referred to the suspension of the farmers’ pension fund from August 2012 to January 2014 under the previous Government, noting that court action was needed to restore it and that unpaid pensions caused hardship. He said the current pension remains inadequate, with a Rs. 50 deduction, and that the Government would address these issues through a programme to protect and improve farmers’ welfare. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about the collapse and ineffectiveness of the Farmers’ Pension Scheme, noting the scale of paddy cultivation and the number of farmers affected. He asked the Deputy Minister whether the Government would study international models from India, Brazil, South Korea, and China and implement a stronger pension scheme, referring to a promise in the Government’s policy statement to replace the current weak system. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Rs. 25,000 per hectare is being paid as fertilizer support, while the crop-loss compensation framework introduced after the 2016 drought provides up to Rs. 100,000 per hectare for total losses in three stages. Namal Karunaratne said many farmers had not received dues in recent years, citing unpaid or partially paid obligations to potato farmers in Welimada, seed onion farmers in Matale, and outstanding amounts of Rs. 334.34 million in Ampara and Rs. 160 million in Monaragala. He assured that compensation for current crop losses would be paid and that compensation rates would be reviewed for possible revision. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara urged the Government to complete current-season disbursements before starting the next cycle and raised concerns about farmers affected by heavy rains and flooding. He said existing compensation provisions per acre are inadequate and that officials have not assessed many damaged fields, asking the Deputy Minister to amend relevant circulars or rules quickly to provide fair loss-based compensation and support replanting. He also sought a timeline for completing these measures. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary Rs. 25,000 per hectare is being paid to farmers as a fertilizer subsidy, although the matter was raised outside the original question on farmers’ pensions. The Deputy Minister acknowledged delays in payments, said their causes had been identified, and stated that Rs. 2 billion had already been released with a further Rs. 1 billion due by Friday. He assured that all eligible farmers, including those cultivating more than the usual 800,000 hectares in the Maha season, would receive payments within the next few days and that delays would be addressed before the next season. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara asked for details on the purpose, benefits, promotion, funding sources and efficiency measures relating to the Farmers’ Pension Scheme and the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board. In a supplementary question, he congratulated the newly elected Speaker and then raised concerns about delays and uneven delivery of the fertilizer subsidy during the current cultivation season. He asked the Deputy Minister why the subsidy was being delayed and whether the Government would ensure full payment within the next few days. Oral Question: Farmers' Pension Scheme Details (Q.77/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe said he could not yet provide a definitive answer on compensation, describing the matter as complex, long-standing and sensitive. He stated that the Ministry is working toward sustainable solutions for cattle-rearing and grassland issues, not only in Batticaloa but also in areas such as Hambantota and Anuradhapura, within the Government’s broader policy goal of a production economy with support for the livestock sector. Oral Question: Ungazetted Livestock Grasslands in Batticaloa District (Q.64/2024) Read →