Topic
Corruption & Governance Reform
2,708 speeches · 349 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. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 91 |
| 2 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 86 |
| 3 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 80 |
| 4 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 70 |
| 5 | Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri, M.P. SJB | 68 |
| 6 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 68 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 67 |
| 8 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 65 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 64 |
| 10 | Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 64 |
Speeches
2,708 on this topic- 7 February 2025 The Hon. M. S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M. S. Uthumalebbe supported Hon. Rauff Hakeem’s Private Member’s Motion to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the compulsory cremation of COVID-19 victims under the Rajapaksa administration. He argued that there was no medical justification for cremating Muslim Janazas, citing WHO guidance that allowed burial or cremation and noting appeals from religious leaders against the policy. He described the decision as a grave injustice to Muslims, thanked opposition figures who opposed it at the time, and alleged that the policy was politically motivated against Muslims. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe said the COVID-19 “cremation only” policy was not technically justified but resulted from political decision-making and anti-Muslim sentiment under the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government. He cited the initial March 2020 clinical guidelines allowing burial or cremation in line with WHO guidance, followed by an April circular and Gazette mandating cremation, and argued that a later expert committee’s groundwater-contamination hypothesis helped entrench the policy. He also referred to broader COVID-19 management failures caused by political interference, and supported further inquiries into the matter. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman seconded Rauff Hakeem’s motion calling for a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the former Government’s COVID-19 forced cremation policy, which he said ignored WHO guidance and infringed the burial rights of several religious communities. He argued that both political leaders and public officials involved in promoting claims such as groundwater risk should be examined, including whether they acted knowingly or under political pressure. He urged Parliament to establish facts, assign accountability and make binding recommendations to prevent such decisions recurring. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake thanked Members across Government and Opposition for supporting his proposal, stating that its purpose was implementation rather than further discussion. He emphasized restoring public trust and dignity in Parliament and elected representatives, and called for the Tenth Parliament to act jointly beyond party lines. He supported the Prime Minister’s remarks and urged cooperation toward fiscal discipline, institutional reform, and a new political direction, invoking Singapore as a comparative model. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister supported Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Motion, stating that reform of parliamentary privileges, including pensions, is necessary to rebuild public trust in Parliament and change a political culture associated with entitlement and abuse of power. She said Sri Lanka could aspire in future to models such as Singapore, but only after demonstrating public service and correcting past wrongs, noting that her movement had advocated such reforms since 2001 and 2003. She also addressed the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder investigation, saying the Government had reopened the case, would support further evidence-gathering and reinvestigation, and was committed to pursuing justice despite past witness intimidation and destruction of evidence. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi supported the Motion to abolish a policy-based privilege for public representatives, arguing that public anger stems from broader economic hardship and the misuse of public wealth rather than the loss of pensions alone. He said similar proposals had been made by his movement in 2001 and 2018, rejecting claims that they were motivated by personal benefit. He urged Parliament to implement the reform as part of changing the political culture and noted that the Government agreed such measures should have been taken earlier. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to a motion on establishing a proper methodology for appointing Labour Welfare Officers, acknowledging past politically influenced and ad hoc appointments to foreign missions and welfare posts. He said the Government has recalled unsuitable officers, is reviewing mission postings through a committee, and will coordinate with relevant ministries to address specific welfare cases and country-level gaps. He stated that future appointments will be based on competency assessments, competitive examinations, structured interviews, transparent criteria, and pre-departure training, with the aim of improving protection for Sri Lankan workers overseas. Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Sarath Kumara supported the private member’s motion to establish a clear procedure for appointing Labour Welfare Officers, citing Sections 21 and 22 of Act No. 21 of 1985 as having allowed ministerial discretion and politically influenced appointments. He argued that past failures to follow criteria within the Foreign Employment Bureau damaged Sri Lanka’s reputation and harmed migrant workers. He called for faithful implementation of appointment procedures, effective state regulation of foreign employment, accountability for officers who neglected duties, and the use of ILO and IOM guidelines to standardize practice. Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the motion calling for a proper procedure to appoint Labour Welfare Officers responsible for Sri Lankan migrant workers’ welfare. He said past governments had allowed ad hoc contract appointments without standardized criteria, citing Hansard records from 2007 and Cabinet instructions in 2021 that were not implemented. He stated that the Government is reviewing and regularizing the recruitment process to ensure merit, transparency, and improved service at Sri Lankan missions abroad. Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri supported Hon. Rohana Bandara’s motion as a potential means to curb the dominance of large rice millers, but questioned whether the Government had the capacity to implement it. He challenged inconsistent claims about paddy production costs and fertilizer subsidies, asking how costs could have fallen when inputs, machinery, and land preparation costs had increased. He called for a practical, time-bound plan for purchasing paddy, maintaining a rice buffer, and milling paddy into rice, arguing that concrete implementation would reduce miller dominance and build public confidence. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 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. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the co-operative sector’s main crisis is not procurement rules but fraud, misuse of co-operative structures, and a shift by many societies from consumer service to deposit-taking and lending. He cited investigations into financially distressed and allegedly corrupt co-operatives, while noting successful examples such as Medawachchiya, Akurassa, and Walasmulla. He said the Government will recover misappropriated co-operative assets, reform procurement and recruitment, prevent misuse of the co-operative name, and use the 2025 International Year of Co-operatives to support revival efforts. He outlined plans to strengthen consumer and producer co-operatives, expand up to 10,000 Co-op City-type outlets, revive MARKFED and COOPFED, and link co-operative distribution with Sathosa to improve access to essential goods. 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. 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. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary D.V. Chanaka urged the Minister not to justify the issue, stating that authorities were aware the percentage was high when it arrived. He called for a proper investigation and for steps to be taken to return the item in question. Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka questioned the handling of a hydrated lime consignment for water purification, stating that although the tender specified a 10 mg limit, successive tests allegedly showed higher values that gradually declined over repeated testing. He raised concerns that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board had asked the Sri Lanka Standards Institution to raise the permissible limit to 12 mg, despite Sri Lanka’s existing standard being based on local water conditions. He alleged possible irregularities, claimed some containers had already been distributed, and called for a proper investigation, rejection of the consignment if necessary, and clarity on how water purification would continue without a new tender. Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam asked the Prime Minister to respond to a letter from Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter calling for the impeachment of the Attorney-General over alleged abuse of power and neglect of duty. He argued that, despite the Government’s position that the Attorney-General’s Department is independent, allegations by a victim’s family against its head require Government attention, and sought clarification on any action being considered. Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem criticized the previous administration’s handling of Muslim COVID-19 burial issues, citing an attempt to send Janazahs to the Maldives for burial. He asked whether the Government would conduct an administrative inquiry and take action against officials involved in those decisions who remain in responsible positions. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary The Minister of Energy said energy projects have not been arbitrarily halted, but some are delayed because previous approval processes ignored grid capacity, land, environmental constraints, and wildlife considerations, with some permits allegedly traded. He said Cabinet approval has been sought to regularize existing issues and introduce a transparent, structured process while engaging current permit holders to correct deficiencies. He noted that solar power remains important but must be supported by firm generation, and said the Ministry expects progress within two to three months, including clearing unwarranted approvals based on national need. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi questioned the Ceylon Electricity Board’s reliance on outsourcing despite its large salary expenditure, noting that core functions such as line stringing and service connections are contracted out. He alleged long-standing management and integrity problems within the CEB, including issues in Jaffna where diesel generation continues despite the viability of solar power. He asked whether the Minister would continue outsourcing as policy or undertake reforms. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →