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- 23 July 2025 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe criticised the Leader of the Opposition for raising questions without, in his view, having read the relevant Cabinet paper. He said the Cabinet proposal concerning economic centres was intended to regularize operations and protect stallholders amid disorder, missing lease agreements, and fragmented administration across ministries. He also stated that proposed beneficial ownership amendments to the Companies Act target theft, black money, and misappropriated assets, not legitimate companies. On Trincomalee, he said disputes involving the Port, companies, and farmers stem from earlier decisions and that the Government intends to protect farmers and provide compensation where injustice has occurred. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over the proposed 33-year lease of state-owned assets and lands in Thambuttegama to a private company, including provisions allowing sub-leasing. He requested that all stakeholders be consulted and that the process be conducted transparently, stating that the issue was raised in good faith to obtain answers and solutions. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe challenged the Opposition to identify when and by whom disputed lands were granted to companies, arguing that earlier governments had allocated them on maps despite long-standing cultivation by farmers and that the current process is constrained by court orders. He said the Government is seeking solutions for affected families, including in the Trincomalee dispute, where he attributed the origins to a previous administration and stated that farmers living there for decades should be protected and compensated if necessary. He also addressed economic centres, saying many of the 18 centres suffer from irregularities, unclear leases, and past payments taken for stalls, and urged the Opposition to read the relevant Cabinet paper before raising questions. He added that proposed Companies Act amendments on beneficial ownership are intended to address theft, black money, and misappropriated assets, not to impose arbitrary limits on companies. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the amendment would strengthen Sri Lanka’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist and proliferation financing framework, in line with FATF recommendations and its APG obligations. He said it would help prevent asset concealment and laundering through companies, and requested support from all Members for its passage. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Foreign companies registering in Sri Lanka would be required to make beneficial ownership disclosures to the Registrar of Companies in line with FATF standards and regional practice. Wasantha Samarasinghe said delays since 2017 reflected reluctance to ensure transparency, and argued that the amendments would prevent individuals using proxies or unexplained wealth to acquire major stakes without declaring funding sources and taxes paid. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that questions from another Member could be raised during the debate and would be answered then. He said measures concerning offshore incorporations in jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands would improve transparency regarding their use by Sri Lankans, and noted that investigations were ongoing. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim asked whether, beyond the Right to Information framework, the Government intends to establish a separate platform for accessing beneficial ownership information. The question sought clarification on the mechanism for public or institutional access to such data. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Moved the Second Reading of amendments to the Companies Act to introduce beneficial ownership requirements, citing fraud, shell companies, money laundering risks, and Sri Lanka’s obligations under FATF Recommendation 24. He said the Registrar of Companies would be empowered to obtain and maintain records identifying the natural persons who ultimately own or control all types of companies, with companies required to submit this information within six months of enactment. He argued that the reforms are needed to avoid future FATF grey-listing or blacklisting and to improve transparency over assets, share acquisitions, sources of funds, and tax compliance. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana) SJB AI summary A question was raised to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development seeking details on vehicle imports for public servants after the previous Government suspended vehicle importation. It asks for the suspension date, the number and cost of vehicles imported since then, how many have been allocated, the names, institutions and designations of recipients, how many remain unallocated, and the reasons for any non-allocation. Oral Question: Second Round Questions (Q.1, 2, 3/2025 – Second Round) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe said complaints indicate that some parties obtain land by submitting project proposals but fail to implement the promised industries, effectively misusing land allocations. He stated that committees have been established to facilitate genuine investors, expedite procedures, identify misused lands and “paper” proposals, and reallocate such lands to real investors and viable projects. Oral Question: Grant of LRC Lands for Factory Establishment (Q.10/2025 – 997/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera raised concerns that allocated project lands are being obtained, allegedly through political connections, and then sub-leased without implementing the intended projects. He asked whether such sub-leasing is permitted and what action would be taken against it. Oral Question: Grant of LRC Lands for Factory Establishment (Q.10/2025 – 997/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera raised a supplementary question about state land leased for factories, citing the Betons Group factory in Elpitiya, which he said remains closed despite about Rs. 30 million being allocated in 2019–2020 for refurbishment following a Coordinating Committee decision. He alleged that such leases and reallocations are influenced by political patronage and asked what action would be taken regarding the closed factory and related land allocations. Oral Question: Grant of LRC Lands for Factory Establishment (Q.10/2025 – 997/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe addressed recurring concerns over Land Reform Commission lands, noting problems such as missing files, poor record management, and underuse of land. He said the Government is developing an orderly process to allocate LRC lands for industries, agro-industries and investment, and to grant ownership to current residents where appropriate. He proposed that District and Divisional Coordinating Committees oversee and question LRC officers on land matters in each district to improve implementation. Oral Question: Transfer of LRC Lands to Private Individuals (Q.7/2025 – 869/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Raised a supplementary question regarding a warehouse constructed by Lanka Phosphate Limited in the Warakapola cemetery area at a cost of over Rs. 200 million. He stated that the warehouse had reportedly been taken over by another party, affecting the company’s operations, and asked whether the authorities were aware of the matter and what action would be taken. Oral Question: Export of Rock Phosphate (Q.5/2025 – 857/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe stated that Lanka Phosphate Limited’s former Chairman and Board had allocated phosphate exports to three companies outside the procurement process, with 29,000 metric tons allocated out of a planned 30,000 metric tons. He said D.M. Traders exceeded its 10,000 metric ton quota by obtaining 24,357 metric tons, while exports also exceeded the stipulated 28% P2O5 grade limit. He informed Parliament that the Ministry of Industry is conducting a special audit and inquiry, and that the financial loss has not yet been calculated. Oral Question: Export of Rock Phosphate (Q.5/2025 – 857/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Lanka Phosphate Limited is stated to have sold phosphate for export to three companies without following a formal procurement procedure. The remarks frame this as part of alleged past frauds and indicate that the parliamentary question is intended to raise those irregularities. Oral Question: Export of Rock Phosphate (Q.5/2025 – 857/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to provide details on Lanka Phosphate Limited’s rock phosphate exports in 2023 and 2024 and to clarify whether exports from Eppawala complied with the Bulankulama case Determination and the Cabinet Decision of 02.11.2012 requiring value addition. He sought information on procurement procedures for selecting export buyers, the names of any companies selected without formal procurement, whether permitted export limits were exceeded, and the quantities involved. He also asked whether phosphate with a higher-than-stipulated 38 per cent content had been exported despite a 28 per cent limit, and what loss, if any, resulted. Oral Question: Export of Rock Phosphate (Q.5/2025 – 857/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake alleged that individuals linked to violence, including a bomber, had contested under the United National Party, and invoked the 1988-89 period to accuse UNP leaders of responsibility for mass killings and torture chambers. He challenged any attempt to deny or ignore that history in the parliamentary debate. Procedural: Points of Order and Interjections on Historical Matters Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that relevant documents were in their possession and that work had been carried out at a village house. He suggested that certain individuals were reacting defensively because these matters had been exposed. Procedural: Points of Order and Interjections on Historical Matters Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti said Lanka Sugar Company was inherited as a loss-making entity with large unsold stocks of ethanol and sugar, and argued that current sugar and ethanol price issues stem from decisions made under previous administrations, including VAT on sugar and ethanol import controls. He stated that the Government has paid cutting and transport charges, recently paid Rs. 460 million to farmers, and secured a further Rs. 1 billion Treasury allocation to settle remaining payments. He rejected allegations that state-produced ethanol contained urea or that the Government planned to import ethanol, tabling Excise Department and quality inspection documents, and said the state-linked sugar factories would not be sold, closed, or allowed to sell ethanol below Rs. 800 per litre. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Read →