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- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Chandana Sooriyaarachchi asked whether graduates recruited as Development Officers and attached to national and provincial schools after 2012 under the Unified Service could be given a special opportunity for absorption into the Teachers’ Service. He noted that earlier cohorts attached in 1999 and 2005 as Development Assistants, Development Programme Assistants and Finance Assistants had been directly absorbed by 2007 under previous ministerial arrangements. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Chandana Sooriyaarachchi asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education for details on Development Officers attached to national and provincial schools, including total numbers and year-by-year appointments. He sought clarification on whether these officers could receive relief or consideration in filling teacher vacancies, and asked about the status and outcome of the Supreme Court case concerning the competitive examination for recruiting teachers to government schools. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan highlighted severe flood and cyclone damage in Trincomalee, citing affected families, damaged homes, destroyed paddy lands and livestock losses, and called for urgent filling of Grama Niladhari vacancies, temporary deployment of other officers to support relief work, and emergency health measures to prevent disease outbreaks. Turning to the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry’s Budget 2026 allocations, he noted fiscal consolidation measures, support for Aswesuma, SMEs, tax administration and digital economy initiatives, while raising concerns about inadequate targeted provision for post-war recovery in the North and East and insufficient support for female-headed households. He also cautioned that increased taxes could worsen living costs and that large allocations to Finance and Defence may constrain social programmes. Debate: Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Heads) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary After conveying condolences over a fatal vehicle accident in Sainthamaruthu, M. Nizam Kariapper thanked the Minister for prompt action on a longstanding Kalmunai land-permit issue affecting businesses on state land, including alleged fraud linked to promises under the “Urumaya” programme. Supporting the motion on three-wheelers, he said regulation is necessary but must recognize that three-wheelers are essential transport for poorer and rural families where buses are limited. He proposed fair safety measures such as improved indicators, enclosed or EV three-wheelers, ventilation, and passenger protection, while avoiding undue hardship for drivers and users. Adjournment Motion: Three-Wheeler Industry Development Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Samanmali Gunasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasinghe moved an Adjournment Motion calling for regulation of three-wheelers used for private and commercial transport, citing accidents, overloading, poor vehicle condition, unsafe night operations, and risks in transporting preschool and schoolchildren. Referring to a recent fatal accident involving an overloaded three-wheeler carrying preschool children, she urged a regulatory framework covering vehicle fitness, passenger limits, safety equipment, and shared oversight by schools, principals, parents, organizations, the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities. She also noted the ongoing national disaster situation, expressed sympathy to those affected, and appealed for unified public and institutional support for relief efforts. Adjournment Motion: Three-Wheeler Industry Development Read →
- 27 November 2025 Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla outlined planned investments and development projects in Mahiyanganaya and surrounding areas, including fruit cultivation and processing, allocation of land to landless married farmers, investor-led use of former turmeric lands, and new industries on abandoned sites. He said the Government plans to build the Pullgasyaya tank in 2026 to improve irrigation for downstream tanks and enable two-season cultivation, and to construct a permanent market for 1,000 vendors. He defended low-cost housing through voluntary labour and argued that the National People’s Power’s development approach focuses on a production economy, value addition to agricultural produce, exports, and rural employment. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) to the Minister of Finance on creating an independent Employees’ Provident Fund Authority. He argued that the EPF’s administration by the Central Bank creates a conflict of interest under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, and questioned the fund’s concentration in Government securities, equity holdings in regulated banks, returns, audits, digitization, and governance. He requested the Government’s position on establishing an autonomous authority with professional management and parliamentary oversight, and asked whether EPF and ETF amalgamation had been considered. Standing Order 27(2) Question and Procedural Matters Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan said Northern and Eastern fisheries once contributed a major share of national fish production, but fishers now remain economically vulnerable due to debt, dependence on boat owners and private financiers, lack of price support, and limited cold-chain facilities. He urged the Ministry to establish a government fish purchasing scheme, restore or support insurance premium sharing, and provide compensation mechanisms for losses such as nets destroyed by Indian trawlers or rough seas. He also called for improved education facilities, including nurseries and schools, in fishing communities as part of broader livelihood upliftment. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan urged the Fisheries Minister to address Batticaloa fishers’ needs by restarting the idle Kallady ice factory, ensuring non-partisan distribution of fishing gear, providing relief during flood-affected periods, and constructing landing jetties in coastal areas including Vakarai, Kaluvankerny, Navalady and Kallady. He also called for fisheries issues in the district to be handled promptly and beyond party lines. He further urged the Ministers responsible for education, vocational training, science and technology, and the digital economy to embed science and technology in schools, universities, factories and farms, modernize institutions such as the Valaichchenai Paper Mill and Karadianaru Farm, and use skills training to create employment for unemployed diploma holders, graduates and engineers. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad questioned the Government’s progress toward its ICT workforce and university expansion targets under the “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” policy, and asked for clarification on proposed science and mathematics universities. He urged digital regulation and safety improvements for the fireworks industry, tax concessions for R&D imports, and updates on the Eppawala phosphate and Paranthan sulphuric acid projects. He also called for digitization of Customs and Excise to improve transparency and raised concerns about an alleged conflict of interest involving companies linked to the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy receiving government digitalization contracts. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu JJB AI summary Kanthasamy Prabu supported Budget 2026 allocations for developing the Valaichchenai Fisheries Harbour, noting earlier requests for expansion, lighting, and facilities, and asked the Fisheries Minister to consider a feasibility study for a new harbour at Palchenai in Vakarai to assist deep-sea fishers facing long travel, rough seas, low incomes, and inadequate berthing space. He also requested safety measures for inland fishers affected by crocodile and elephant attacks, increased support for fingerling production, livelihood assistance, and fishing gear. Addressing science, technology, and the digital economy allocations, he urged district-level vocational and multidisciplinary training, improved Vidatha Resource Centres, and support for youth inventors, entrepreneurs, and researchers, while also calling for protection of Batticaloa antiquity sites to promote tourism. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah welcomed the Rs. 350 million allocation in the 2026 Budget for expanding the Valaichchenai Fisheries Harbour, noting its importance to fishers in Batticaloa and Ampara, and urged continued investment in fisheries safety, equipment, inland fisheries support, housing, water, education, and healthcare. He requested specific facilities including an ice factory at Oluvil, anchorage and fishermen’s village facilities around Ullai and Kattukalai, surveys and support for fishing areas in Pottuvil, a jetty at Manchanthoduwai, and a bund across Meeravodai in Ottamavadi. He also urged the Digital Economy and Science and Technology Ministries to prioritize the Eastern Province by improving broadband and fibre connectivity, establishing innovation and advanced technology centres in Batticaloa, and expanding startup incubation, ICT training, BPO, and IT service centres to create employment. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana argued that the Government has failed to support fishing communities, particularly in Negombo and surrounding areas, citing unpaid X-Press Pearl compensation, high fuel and operating costs, and reduced boat activity. He called for alternatives before banning winches in madal operations, stronger action against illegal offshore gear, consultation before expanding VMS/transponder requirements, and a programme to support fisher families during weather-related fishing bans. He also urged investment in coastal school resources and implementation of a Negombo lagoon development programme to support both fisheries and tourism. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam marked Prabhakaran’s birth anniversary and argued that political actors, including the JVP, have had to acknowledge Tamil nationalist history to engage with the North and East. He criticized fisheries policy in the North and East, saying post-war revival has been inadequate, Mayiliddy Harbour development has not benefited local small-scale fishers, Indian bottom trawling remains unresolved, and sea cucumber leases should prioritize local communities over politically connected outsiders. He urged the Fisheries Minister to ensure development first benefits war-affected local fishers and called for stronger action with India. He also proposed a holistic digital economy strategy for the North and East, citing Jaffna’s IT graduates, diaspora links, lower costs, land availability, and potential for tech parks, startups, and cross-border partnerships with South India. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa called for a comprehensive new fisheries policy focused on sustainable stock management, fisher livelihoods, anti-IUU enforcement, digital monitoring systems, aquaculture, infrastructure, export value addition, and blue economy financing. He said the sector contributes only 0.9 per cent to GDP despite Sri Lanka’s large maritime and inland water resources, and urged the Government to deliver promised fuel relief to fishing communities while offering support for a successful national policy. He also outlined proposals to build a US$ 25–30 billion digital economy by 2030 through upgraded connectivity, cloud and data infrastructure, AI and IT skills development, district-level IT investment zones, digital ID, digital public services, and inter-agency data sharing. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa criticized the Government’s fisheries policy, arguing that promised growth through the ocean economy has not materialized while imports of dried fish and Maldive fish have increased and exports of sea cucumber, crab and tuna have declined. He questioned the utilization of previous Budget allocations, including Rs. 200 million for sea cucumber farming, and said technology initiatives such as satellite-based fish locating systems have not been implemented despite available solutions. He argued that more than two million people dependent on fisheries are facing a worsening crisis due to reduced support, lack of engagement with small-scale and multi-day fishers, and politicization of cooperative structures, and called for clearer action to protect livelihoods and local production. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi emphasized that achieving a US$15 billion digital economy requires moving beyond basic digitization to full digitalization of state processes, with all ministries aligned under a common vision. He specifically urged end-to-end digitization of public procurement within the next year to address corruption concerns, and cited stalled digital initiatives in the justice and railway sectors as evidence that ministerial interest is not translating into administrative action. He also called for capacity building across ministry IT units, procurement rules that allow capable SME technology firms to bid, stronger commercialization support for startups, and a targeted strategy with tax incentives to attract foreign venture capital and entrepreneurs to Sri Lanka. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake outlined the Government’s digital transformation agenda during the Budget Head debate, emphasizing the need to align policy, infrastructure and human capital with global technological change. He cited initiatives including GovPay, rural connectivity expansion through 100 communication towers annually, data protection reforms, Digital Economy Month, and a target of a US$15 billion digital economy by 2030. He also referred to power sector reforms to support data centres, startup and fintech events, the planned rollout of Sri Lanka’s Unified Digital Identity by Q3 2026, and digital systems for transport payments and President’s Fund access through Divisional Secretariats. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana recalled the President’s campaign pledge to provide fishers with SMS alerts on fish aggregation zones, sea temperatures and weather conditions, similar to systems he said were used in India. He asked the Fisheries Minister whether such alerts are being sent and to identify the harbours or multi-day vessels receiving them, asserting that fishers have not received the promised service. He argued that the fisheries community, like farmers and other groups, had been misled by unfulfilled election promises. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister outlined the Digital Economy Ministry’s 2026 Budget-related programme, citing over Rs. 25.5 billion in investment and a Cabinet-approved Digital Economy Blueprint to coordinate digitization across government. He highlighted expanded GovPay services, proposed removal of payment gateway commissions for government e-payments from 1 January 2026, a LankaQR relaunch with temporary zero merchant fees, and use of digital payment histories for credit scoring. He also reported progress on government cloud modernization, digitized civil certificates for overseas Sri Lankans, President’s Fund applications, the JICA-supported digital terrestrial television transition, rural connectivity towers, school connectivity and broadband support for low-income students. He announced a 5G spectrum auction scheduled for 23 December targeting over Rs. 9 billion, with measures to support competition and infrastructure sharing. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →