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- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Labour provided a detailed reply on the handling of complaints by the Department of Labour in 2025, stating that 18,708 complaints were resolved and 9,125 remained pending at year-end, with most complaints resolved within six months. He noted that 23,429 related court cases were pending as of 11 September 2025, with litigation delays dependent on court processes. Measures outlined to reduce delays included filling vacancies, deploying new Labour Officers, training staff, digitizing processes, improving workplace dialogue with ILO support, modernizing labour laws through a Cabinet-approved committee, and strengthening monitoring mechanisms. Oral Question: Labour Complaint Resolution and Child Labour (1748/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga asked the Minister of Labour for details on the functioning of the Complaints Division of the Department of Labour, including the average time taken to resolve complaints and the number of unresolved cases currently pending. She further requested information on whether measures are being taken to resolve these complaints more quickly and effectively, and if so, what those measures are. Oral Question: Labour Complaint Resolution and Child Labour (1748/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath said the Government is implementing its policy to accelerate production by allocating suitable LRC and other State lands for cultivation and development. He stated that some lands have already been allocated and that further allocations to youth entrepreneurs and others will follow a transparent process informed by Regional Coordinating Committees. Oral Question: LRC Lands in Kalutara District: Details (1664/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister said the government is addressing longstanding land and housing insecurity in the estate community by granting 10 perches of land to families without land rights and expanding housing construction. He cited temporary hut settlements, landslide-displaced families, and delays caused by terrain reassessments after the “Ditsa” cyclone, while noting ongoing delivery of houses for affected families. He stated that the Indian-assisted 10,000-housing project is progressing with Sri Lankan funding for infrastructure, with 2,026 grants issued in 2025 and more than 2,600 houses planned in 2026. He also said Rs. 500,000 has been approved for fully damaged houses from “Ditsa” and that discussions are underway to extend support to estate residents without land titles. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister stated that complaints regarding violations of workers’ rights or harassment fall under the authority of the Ministry of Labour. He added that, in relation to the plantation sector, his Ministry refers reported incidents to the relevant legal authorities and engages estate management to take appropriate action. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel raised concerns about verbal harassment of women estate workers, including by supervisory staff. She requested ministerial attention to establish or enforce legal and administrative remedies to ensure effective action. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel - Question to the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure whether the Government is aware of hazards faced by plantation workers, including wild animal attacks, snake and wasp bites, and chemical exposure, and requested complaint statistics for the past five years by category. She also sought details of measures taken to protect workers from these risks and asked whether the Ministry is aware of workplace harassment by employers, whether legal action has been taken to prevent it, and if not, whether such action will be taken in future. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Read →
- 17 February 2026 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary During debate on the Bill to abolish MPs’ pensions, the Member supported ending pensions for current MPs but urged a special mechanism to assist former MPs and families in genuine need, citing war-related deaths and former Members dependent on pensions for essential expenses. He also conveyed condolences over the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Mannar youth in Colombo and requested presidential compensation for the family. He raised fisheries issues in Puttalam and Kalpitiya, arguing that restrictions on trawling are being applied unevenly while similar practices continue in northern areas. Referring to the 1991 Gazette, NARA demarcations, and cyclone damage to boats, he asked the Fisheries Ministry to intervene, review the restrictions affecting the 23 permitted Kalpitiya boats, and provide relief to affected fishing families. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 17 February 2026 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran argued that repealing parliamentary pensions could discourage civil servants and professionals from entering politics, and proposed either a contributory pension scheme for MPs or reabsorption into previous civil service posts after political service. He said equality in the Vanni requires fair resource allocation rather than repeated aid deliveries, and questioned the absence of a proper transfer policy for Development Officers, including excess staffing in Jaffna. He also raised concerns about the 02.02.2026 graduate teacher recruitment Gazette, stating that Northern Province applicants were excluded for Hindu Civilization and Karnatic Music despite shortages in several districts and education zones, and requested urgent correction of the imbalance. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 17 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne - Deputy Minister of Mass Media JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Government receives complaints from journalists about private media outlets, including closures, piece-rate work, non-payment, and lack of EPF/ETF benefits. She noted that private media companies fall under the Companies Act and labour law, limiting the Ministry’s direct authority over their employment practices. She said the Director General of Government Information issued a letter on 7 January 2026 requesting private media institutions to pay journalists properly and safeguard their professional dignity. Oral Question: Media Institutions and Support for Journalists (Q.9/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam opposed the extension of the Emergency and said he would call for a Division, arguing that emergency powers and the PTA are being used to suppress political activity and protests in the North and East, including over the Thayyiddi vihara issue. He rejected the Government’s justification that the Emergency was needed for cyclone relief, citing past unaddressed cyclone damage in the North and asking why relief had not been provided without emergency powers. He also criticized the Government’s handling of Indian trawler incursions, questioned the low number of seizures and prosecutions, and asked whether affected Northern fishers would be compensated. He further raised concern over the cremation of a Buddhist monk at McHeyzer Ground in Trincomalee and appealed to the Government to stop action against Rajkumar Rajeevkanth over a Facebook post expressing Tamil cultural concerns. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa referred to a recent parliamentary committee presentation on government programmes for MSMEs and said the responses given there should inform related loan schemes. He asked whether the data and implementation of those MSME loan programmes are centrally coordinated. Private Notice Questions: MSMEs and Kalmunai Massacre Site Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s claim of economic stability, arguing that MSMEs are under severe pressure from NPL classifications, restructuring fees, penalty interest, unpaid State dues, and rising input costs. He requested detailed data on MSME contributions to GDP and exports, business closures and job losses, loan relief and grant disbursements, rejection rates, and the level of MSME loans classified as NPLs. He also asked whether the Government would address banking and legal barriers, set timelines for State payments to MSME suppliers, reduce import-related taxes and regulations, assist firms affected by Cyclone Ditwah, and suspend or restrict Parate Law asset seizures until genuine debt restructuring is carried out. Private Notice Questions: MSMEs and Kalmunai Massacre Site Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary The Member asked what measures the Government is considering to address transport difficulties faced by staff in Divisional Secretariats, particularly field and development officers in remote areas who struggle to report on time due to limited public transport. He specifically sought the Government’s position on establishing or strengthening a common vehicle pool for these officers. Oral Question: Divisional Secretariats Vehicle Requirement (Q.1571/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara referred to a previous court case he and others pursued to raise the upper age limit to 45, noting that the Gazette date had not been discussed at that time. He requested the Deputy Minister to decide on the Gazette date and, if issuing a new Gazette, to include the small number of Archaeology and Sociology graduates to resolve their concerns without creating further categorization issues. Adjournment: Adjournment Questions and House Closure Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna — Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education AI summary According to the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey 2025, there are an estimated 50,786 unemployed graduates, while Cabinet has approved recommendations to fill 105,367 public service vacancies, including 38,571 graduate posts. The Deputy Minister said 5,250 graduates had been recruited by 15 October 2025 and that most approved graduate posts are in the teacher service, with 23,344 teacher vacancies being expedited. He outlined delays to the graduate teacher recruitment examination arising from Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings, noting that new gazettes issued on 2 February 2026 raised the upper age limit to 45 for this occasion and that the exam is planned before the end of February with recruitments to be completed by end March and all recruitments within 2026. He also said the Ministry is consulting the Attorney General and Public Service Commission on cut-off dates, eligibility of education degrees, private degree-granting institutions, and subject-credit requirements for applicants. Adjournment: Adjournment Questions and House Closure Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education for data on unemployed graduates, graduate employment under the Government, Development Officers working as teachers, and plans to absorb them into the teacher service. He cited the NPP policy pledge to provide employment for unemployed graduates and questioned the Government’s recruitment process, particularly a 2026 Gazette requiring qualifications as at 2025.06.30, arguing that the eligibility date and omitted subject areas should be revised to include more graduates. He also requested that appointment letters be issued for about 500 candidates who passed the Education Service Exam and urged broader Government intervention for graduates remaining outside Development Officer or other employment schemes. Adjournment: Adjournment Questions and House Closure Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported the Bills to license container depot operators and regulate shipping agents, freight forwarders, NVOCCs and container operators, stating that they would streamline the sector. He welcomed the Minister’s response on the Mannar–Puttalam road, clarifying that the court matter was a settlement rather than a judgment barring use, and urged cooperation to reopen and develop it as a main highway. He also endorsed the President’s Independence Day call to acknowledge past errors and correct them, and requested a special Cabinet paper to grant permanent appointments to 253 volunteer teachers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces who had served in difficult post-war conditions. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the Government is initiating mini-government service centres and programmes to improve livelihoods and provide dignified work for Hill Country communities, including recognizing rubber tapping as a profession. She stated that tourism and industrial development programmes would be used to raise living standards and that national programmes are treating Hill Country people equally. She argued that these measures represent meaningful freedom for the community and would create pathways for greater political representation at all levels. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake supported the Licensing of Container Depot Operators Bill, arguing that it would legalize and professionalize an important logistics sector while promoting fair competition, revenue generation, and digital connectivity. He said Sri Lanka must align depot operations with international standards such as ASYCUDA and strengthen its logistics performance if it is to become a regional hub. He also raised concerns over shipping lines extracting value without adequate returns to local operators, Customs clearance delays causing demurrage costs, and revenue from foreign-operated terminals leaving the country, and asked that the relevant Minister or Deputy Minister respond to these issues. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →