Topic
Employment
1,754 speeches · 310 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. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 84 |
| 2 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 78 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P. JJB | 60 |
| 4 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 45 |
| 5 | Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe, M.P. JJB | 41 |
| 6 | Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, M.P. JJB | 32 |
| 7 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 31 |
| 8 | Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe, M.P. JJB | 30 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 29 |
| 10 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 23 |
Speeches
1,754 on this topic- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Welcoming the planned recruitment of about 8,000 doctors, the member said this reflects training decisions made by previous governments five to seven years ago. He urged the Government to further increase medical faculty and nursing intakes from Advanced Level qualified students, sought clearer action on bringing back health professionals who have gone abroad, and reiterated the need to improve facilities at Primary Medical Care Centers. Adjournment: Issues in Health Sector Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni said the Health Ministry is implementing a ten-year plan and Strategic Plan covering infrastructure, recruitment, equipment, prevention, treatment, and post-care services. He acknowledged shortages across all health workforce categories and said 8,133 doctors and 13,000 nurses are planned for recruitment, while a scientific cadre revision by the Health and Finance Ministries is nearing completion to determine hospital-level staffing needs. On medicines, he said shortages have reduced, a new procurement procedure is being developed with Asian Development Bank support, weekly Medicines Review Committee meetings are being held, and the SWASTHA software system is being expanded to improve distribution and stock management. Adjournment: Issues in Health Sector Read →
- 10 June 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe said the Government is rebuilding the health system through a 10-year plan focused on human resources, infrastructure, technology, and adaptation to disease and climate changes. He highlighted an ongoing cadre revision to align staffing with new health units, noting that around 22,000 doctors are currently in service and that nearly 8,000 doctors have been appointed or are in the appointment pipeline within the past 18 months. Adjournment: Issues in Health Sector Read →
- 10 June 2026 Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad moved an Adjournment Motion on strengthening Sri Lanka’s free healthcare system, citing shortages of doctors, nurses, medicines, equipment, and qualified pharmacists, and calling for updated cadre assessments, measures to retain and re-engage health professionals, and expanded medical and nursing training. He questioned the effectiveness of Primary Medical Care Centres, the handling of equipment shortages including at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, and the basis for medicine and supplier constraints. He also sought clarification on alleged irregularities in hospital support-staff recruitment and urged equal opportunity in filling vacancies. He further raised concerns over Suwaseriya ambulance staff working conditions, including unpaid salary increments, insurance, uniforms, disciplinary issues, administration, transfers, supplies, and facilities. Adjournment: Issues in Health Sector Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Minister Upali Pannilage said the Central Bank regulation is not a new export control but a revision requiring exporters, after legitimate offshore deductions, to convert repatriated proceeds into rupees within one month instead of the previous longer period. He argued it does not impose new taxes or discourage exporters, but is a temporary measure to manage exchange-rate volatility while supporting export growth, citing record 2025 export earnings of USD 17.25 billion. On the Essential Public Services Act resolution, he said its current use was limited to recovery operations after the “Didva” cyclone and not intended to suppress workers, unlike past uses of the law. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha criticized Government economic measures, arguing that mandatory dollar conversion by exporters signals a foreign exchange crisis and that higher duties on imported edible oils will undermine value-added coconut exporters who generate significant foreign exchange. He opposed the planned reduction of the VAT registration threshold from Rs. 60 million to Rs. 36 million from 1 July, saying it would burden SMEs and traders already facing high costs and weak demand. He urged the Government to halt the threshold reduction, engage practically with the business community, and improve public access for grievances in electorates. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman questioned the Government’s sudden decision to require exporters to convert foreign currency earnings into rupees within 30 days, arguing that it reverses earlier liberalization commitments to the IMF and indicates a domestic dollar shortage. He said ad hoc controls and Central Bank directions to prioritize essential import payments would not restore market confidence, despite higher reserves and IMF disbursements. He urged immediate relief for fruit and vegetable exporters affected by the Middle East conflict and port demurrage charges, and called for action on fabric importers and local producers facing higher costs after the replacement of the CESS with 18 per cent VAT. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe rejected Opposition claims of large-scale job losses and economic deterioration under the Government, challenging them to table statistics and institutional evidence. He said the Labour Ministry had intervened in industrial disputes, including at Hela Clothing, to protect jobs and maintain industrial peace, while the Government had increased reserves, remittances and tourism despite reopening vehicle imports and external pressures such as the Middle East conflict. He also cited reductions in fuel and essential goods prices, cyclone relief allocations, recruitment to essential services, public sector salary increases, teacher recruitment and regularization of casual workers as examples of Government action. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala argued that the Government’s economic management had led to factory closures, job losses, rising inflation, increased poverty, and a weakening rupee. He cited the closure of MAS Holdings in Thulhiriya, Hirdaramani in Nivitigala, and other small and medium factories, and questioned whether the Acting Labour Minister was aware of the scale of job losses. Referring to Rules under the Central Bank Act, he warned that tighter controls on exporters’ foreign exchange earnings resembled measures seen in 2002 and during the end of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration, indicating further economic strain. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. R.M. Gamini Rathnayake JJB AI summary R.M. Gamini Rathnayake defended the Government’s economic management and rejected the Opposition’s claim that the economy is collapsing, citing a reported Budget surplus of Rs. 116 billion in the first quarter of 2026 after earlier deficits and referring to Bloomberg’s recognition of the Sri Lankan rupee as the strongest in South Asia. He argued that past factory closures occurred under previous administrations and criticized the Opposition’s record on employment and apparel-sector policy. He supported the proposed Central Bank rules as legal tools to stabilize the foreign exchange market and maintain rupee strength, contrasting them with what he described as the Opposition’s preference for bans and rigid controls. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concern over closures in the apparel sector, asking how many of the 200 apparel factories have shut down and stating that hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost. He said he would table in Parliament a list of the factories that have closed. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa asked how many Brandix factories have closed, seeking specific information on closures within the company’s manufacturing operations. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa asked how many MAS Holdings factories had closed or relocated out of Sri Lanka, seeking a specific answer on the scale of factory closures or departures. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned whether the relevant member was aware of how many Hirdaramani factories had closed. The remark raised concern about factory closures and their potential implications for employment and the industrial sector. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa criticised the Government’s economic management, arguing that revenue and primary balance gains have been achieved mainly through higher taxation while poverty, job losses, business closures and cost-of-living pressures have worsened. He questioned why cigarette taxation had declined relative to WHO benchmarks while other taxes increased, claiming this had caused Rs. 17.3 billion in annual revenue loss that could fund relief measures. He also called for action against Sri Lanka becoming a “cyber-fraud hub” due to regulatory relaxations, and urged the restoration of the higher interest rate previously provided to senior citizens’ deposits. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister explained that new rules under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act reduce the period exporters may retain export proceeds in foreign currency before converting balances into rupees, while allowing deductions for specified foreign currency obligations such as inputs, debt service, wages, dividends, Treasury investments and supplier payments. He said the measure responds to rupee volatility caused by higher dollar demand from Middle East-related import costs and increased vehicle imports, while noting improved remittances, exports and expected tourism recovery. He also stated that replacing the CESS on imported textiles with VAT would not disadvantage exporters because VAT paid through domestic suppliers is refundable under the SVAT system. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary S.M. Marikkar criticised the Government’s economic management, saying it had failed to apprehend wrongdoers or stabilise the economy. He stated that national debt had increased from US$ 93 billion to US$ 107.28 billion since Anura Kumara Dissanayake became President, and urged the Government to take credible measures to increase dollar earnings, reduce debt, restore investor confidence, and remove unnecessary barriers. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran argued that foreign exchange policy should focus on incentives for those bringing foreign currency into Sri Lanka, rather than placing constraints on traders. He called for stronger domestic production and import substitution to reduce dollar demand, as well as measures to attract diaspora investment. He also urged investment in school-level infrastructure, including classrooms, computers and reliable internet, to build capacity in knowledge-intensive export sectors such as IT and artificial intelligence. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Read →
- 10 June 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi stated that the Ministry of Environment and Department of Wildlife Conservation have completed or initiated recruitments to improve wildlife administration and electric fence maintenance. He said examinations have been held for 149 Wildlife Range Assistants and 381 Wildlife Guards, and that new recruits, electric fence assistants, and 5,000 Civil Security personnel will be organized under a specific system to address human-elephant conflict and fence maintenance shortcomings. He also noted procurement of vehicles and equipment, including 100 cabs, 181 bicycles and hand tractors, to address physical resource gaps. Procedural: Points of Order and Oral Question - Human-Elephant Conflict, Kurunegala District (Q.4) Read →
- 10 June 2026 Hon. Chandana Thennakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Thennakoon asked about measures to manage the escalating human-elephant conflict, noting recent ministerial interventions including absorbing unlawfully recruited multipurpose workers as electric fence maintenance assistants and deploying about 5,000 Civil Security personnel. He sought clarification on whether there is a programme to overcome practical and legal constraints and use these officers more effectively. Procedural: Points of Order and Oral Question - Human-Elephant Conflict, Kurunegala District (Q.4) Read →