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- 23 October 2025 WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AI summary A written answer addressed the status of Ceylon Electricity Board employees who applied for voluntary retirement in the context of the Board’s restructuring. It indicated that the matter was being handled under the relevant restructuring process and provided information in response to question 1460/2025. Written Answer: Restructure of Ceylon Electricity Board (Q.1460/2025) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa supported the Government’s Adjournment debate on eradicating drugs and crime, arguing that drug use has spread among youth, students and women and has harmed the economy, culture and public wellbeing. He alleged political links to drug importation and distribution, urged cross-party support for the President’s national anti-drug programme, and rejected what he described as attempts to politicize or undermine it. He called for identifying and punishing traffickers, including underworld and international networks, while providing rehabilitation, counselling and employment opportunities for affected youth. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Thilina Samarakoon asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development about SLTB bus insurance coverage, whether third-party cover is adequate, and whether alternative cover is planned. He also questioned staffing and training in SLTB depot technical sections, including recruitment procedures for trained technicians and trainees from technical education institutions. In supplementary questions, he raised concerns about tyre and tube procurement, requested consideration of qualified domestic manufacturers, and asked whether spare-parts purchasing and inventory control could be centralized, including matching engine sets with existing bus bodies to increase the operable fleet. Oral Question: Insurance Coverage for SLTB Buses (Q.10/2025) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary In reply to a question, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa provided recorded figures on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani student admissions and stated that 1,990 graduates who completed studies and internships are awaiting employment. He said the Sri Lanka Ayurveda Medical Service has 502 vacancies out of an approved cadre of 2,567, with Cabinet approval to recruit 304 medical officers from specified academic years, whose appointments are scheduled for 03 November, while further approvals will be sought to fill remaining vacancies after required training. He also said proposals to develop the Mullaitivu District Siddha Hospital and link Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani services with tourism would be considered in consultation with area MPs. Oral Question: Students Admitted to Government Universities for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (Q.9/2025) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media for annual admissions to Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medical education since 2021, the number of qualified graduates awaiting employment, current approved cadre, actual cadre and vacancies in Siddha and Ayurveda hospitals, and obstacles to appointing unemployed indigenous medicine graduates. He highlighted severe staffing shortages in Mullaitivu, stating that only one of 14 sanctioned community medical officer posts is filled, and requested clarification on whether over 2,000 qualified graduates awaiting appointments will receive state employment or be directed to private practice. He also urged special consideration and 2026 funding to develop Mullaitivu District Siddha Hospital as a centre for medical tourism, paid services and integrated Siddha care in the Northern Province. Oral Question: Students Admitted to Government Universities for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (Q.9/2025) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena JJB AI summary The Minister provided answers on a railway platform-height improvement project, stating that Rs. 28,342,878.39 was spent, Royal Constructions (Pvt) Ltd. was the contractor, relevant agencies were consulted, and the objective of easing passenger boarding had been achieved. Responding to a further question on train cancellations, he said ageing rolling stock, delays in obtaining spare parts, and procurement complexities were key constraints. He stated that procurement had begun for five new power sets, though delivery would take about two to two-and-a-half years after ordering, and that 162 train drivers were being recruited following Cabinet approval with appointments expected by the end of November. Oral Question: Endenirigama Railway Platform Renovation (Q.8/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan raised concerns about severe losses faced by potato and vegetable farmers in Nuwara Eliya due to high production costs, low market prices, and competition from imported potatoes kept in cold storage. He said farmers are selling below cost, risking abandonment of cultivation, while seed potatoes remain unsold and related labour and trading activity have declined. He urged the Government to prepare a plan and adjust import levies in a timely manner, noting that earlier action could have reduced the present distress. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government, in the context of Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act, to align import levies and import timing with local harvest seasons to prevent depressed prices for farmers, citing past coordination through the Cost of Living Committee. He raised the case of Muthunagar farmers in Trincomalee being prevented from cultivating long-used lands and requested either the return of the land or prompt allocation of nearby alternative land, noting ongoing protests and deadlines from the President’s Office. He also called for payment of salary arrears to 91 locally recruited workers at Lanka Mineral Sands Limited in Pulmoddai, and proposed reopening closed Sathosa outlets to buy and sell farm produce at fair prices. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Read →
- 22 October 2025 Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem supported attention to breast cancer awareness and called for a ministerial statement and urgent investigation into the killing of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, citing concerns over public safety and possible political links. On the potato and big onion import measures, he said seasonal controls can help farmers during harvest but questioned whether they would increase domestic production, noting past reliance on imports and seeking clarification on reported pre-levy onion imports. He urged the Government to fill and promote Agricultural Extension Officer posts, address gaps in agricultural offices in the Kalmunai area, provide paddy drying facilities in Ampara, and ensure adequate seed onion supply. Debate: Rules under Excise Ordinance and Special Commodity Levy Order (Session 2) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on sugar industry sustainability, framing the Government’s approach within the National People’s Power manifesto and its policy of a participatory, productive economy with targeted State intervention. He said Sri Lanka currently produces only brown sugar, with 81,000 metric tonnes produced in 2024 against estimated demand of 120,000 metric tonnes, and that improving cane varieties, agronomic practices and factory upgrades could raise recovery rates above 8 per cent and enable output of about 124,000 metric tonnes. He outlined plans for value addition, partial substitution of brown sugar for white sugar in some uses, and promotion of brown sugar in State institutions, while noting that the country is not expected to meet total national demand for refined white sugar. Ministerial Statements: Poverty Alleviation and Industry Development Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa clarified that the current Public Health Midwife allocation is not one per GN division, with one PHM often covering three to four GN divisions, and said the Government is working to reduce workloads progressively amid staff shortages and hospital attachments. He stated that declining birth rates do not imply reduced recruitment, emphasizing continued support for PHMs through training, educational pathways, recruitment, and, subject to economic growth, improved facilities and allowances. Oral Question: Post of Public Health Midwife - Vacancies (Q.3/2025) Read →
- 21 October 2025 Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof stated that 83 employees had raised their grievances with Ministers, Secretaries, and officials but had not received a solution. He requested that the Government take proper action to pay their outstanding salary arrears. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof welcomed the regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act to regulate medicine prices and supply, while stressing the need to ensure quality medicines and minimum essential health services. He requested that the Kinniya and Muttur hospitals in Trincomalee, currently under the Provincial Council, be brought under the Central Government and asked the Health Minister to visit Kinniya, Muttur, Thambalagamuwa and Pulmoddai hospitals to address deficiencies. He also urged Government action on unpaid salaries for about 83 Lanka Mineral Sands Company employees who had been protesting for five days over arrears reportedly outstanding for around 15 months. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Hon. Chanaka Madugoda supported bringing NMRA-related regulations to Parliament in the context of continuing shortages of essential medicines, equipment, specialists and staff in public hospitals, noting delays in surgeries and diagnostics and congestion at facilities such as Karapitiya Hospital. He urged progress on domestic pharmaceutical production, including the Oyamaduwa “Suwa Siripura” project, and on digitizing NMRA and SPC operations and certifying medical supplies. He also called for urgent government intervention to pay arrears and regularize non-permanent workers at the Pulmudai Mineral Sands Company, who he said have gone unpaid for over a year and are on a fast. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the Dharmacharya examination process, noting delays from the 2019 written examination to the 2024 release of results, and called for appointments to be made based on the 2019 results before conducting new examinations. He urged implementation of a court settlement to absorb 16,600 Development Officers who served in schools into the teacher service, and asked why reported teacher vacancies could not be filled by them and unemployed graduates. He also called for urgent action on alleged curriculum irregularities and infrastructure deficiencies at GWUIM, including lecture halls, laboratories and residential facilities. Ministerial Statement: Teacher Vacancies and Development Officers Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya provided detailed figures on teacher vacancies as of 31 May 2025, noting 1,501 vacancies in National Schools and 36,178 in Provincial Schools, and outlined planned recruitments in priority subject areas, including foreign languages. She said some recruitment processes, including in-service graduate appointments and Dharmacharya-qualified teacher appointments, have been delayed by court orders, fiscal controls, vacancy limitations, and pending Cabinet or Public Service Commission directions. She also stated that no programme has been implemented to return Development Officers posted to schools to other state institutions, and that action will depend on pending court cases. On Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, she said UGC and other committee reports are being considered, while clinical training has begun following the establishment of professorial units and assignment of staff. Ministerial Statement: Teacher Vacancies and Development Officers Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said no decision had been taken to change the Suwa Seriya Foundation, the “1990” identity, or the green ambulance colour, and that the Government was instead focusing on modernization, recruitment, training, and expanding the fleet with allocations and support from India and the ADB. He stated that no new regulations or policy changes had been made under the Suwa Seriya Act regarding its emergency response purpose. Addressing health-sector staffing, he gave cadre, recruitment, training, and salary revision figures for doctors, nurses, and medical laboratory technologists, saying retention measures include pay increases and administrative improvements within fiscal limits. He also said dialysis fistula needle shortages arose from procurement specification issues, local price spikes had followed, and 460,000 rotatable needles were being cleared for hospital distribution within about a week. Question by Private Notice (SO 27(2)): Health Services and Drug Shortages Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about an alleged assault on trade union representatives during a discussion chaired by the relevant Minister, involving members of the United National Free Employees’ Union. He asked for an impartial investigation into the alleged assault on Secretary Saminda Gamage and the confinement of President Priyantha Madukumar, including the alleged seizure of his phone and deletion of data. He framed the issue in the context of protecting the rights of around 23,000 CEB employees and said such treatment of trade union leaders was unjust and illegal. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that, under the relevant Act, CEB employees must indicate by 27 October whether they consent to be assigned to the new institutions or prefer to leave. He said assignments would proceed in accordance with the law, with no demotions, promotions, or salary scale reductions, and existing conditions would be maintained pending institutional establishment and resolution of issues. He also noted that the PUCSL had stated there would be no electricity tariff increase. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody clarified that, under the relevant Act, all employees have been notified regarding their proposed assignment to a company. He stated that this notification is not an appointment but an intimation of the intention to assign them. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Read →