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- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged that profits and commercialization in state enterprises should benefit the public, opposing a proposed 8.7% electricity tariff increase and higher CEB distribution costs. He called for public-private partnerships, labour reforms, faster decision-making by Customs, the BOI and Port City authorities, and procurement reforms, citing delays in Health sector tenders. He argued that export growth and effective implementation of the National Audit (Amendment) Act, alongside better use of the 2025 capital expenditure allocation, are needed to reduce debt and strengthen the economy. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake warned that inadequate reserves ahead of macro-linked bond repayments could trigger capital outflows, rupee depreciation, and cost-push inflation, noting the fiscal impact of exchange-rate and interest-rate movements. He welcomed reports of closing 33 state entities but urged a clear plan for improving public-sector productivity without merely retrenching workers. He also highlighted that five major state-owned enterprises account for most state indebtedness and called for discussion on reforms to manage these fiscal risks. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence stated that approval has been sought from the Department of Management Services to fill civilian cadre vacancies in the Army, Navy and Air Force, and that further action will follow once approval is received. He tabled an annex listing the relevant civilian professions across the Tri Forces, including administrative, technical, skilled, semi-skilled and support staff positions. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekera said the Government has submitted a Cabinet Memorandum and is awaiting observations from the Director General of Management Services on regularizing temporary, casual, substitute, contract and relief employees in State institutions. He stated that the Department of Management Services will proceed under Public Administration Circulars 25/2014 and 29/2019, and that confirmations of eligible temporary staff are carried out according to Government policy decisions and relevant circulars issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence provided figures on civilian employees in the Tri Forces, stating that the Army has 7,391, the Navy 1,158 and the Air Force 2,075, with separate totals for confirmed and temporary or contract staff as at 30 June 2025. He said confirmations were last made in 2014 for the Army and in 2019 for the Navy and Air Force, and that action is underway to confirm eligible temporary civilian employees through Cabinet memoranda and approvals involving the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Administration, State Ministry of Defence and Department of Management Services. He also stated that approval has been sought from the Department of Management Services to fill civilian cadre vacancies, with further action to follow once approval is received. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravindra Bandara AI summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara asked the Minister of Defence to provide detailed information on civilian employees in the Army, Air Force and Navy, including numbers by service, professions, confirmed and temporary staff, and the last year temporary employees were confirmed. He also requested details on whether current temporary civilian employees will be confirmed, the measures and procedures for doing so, and whether there are existing civilian vacancies in the Tri Forces with a programme to fill them. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions with Answers) Read →
- 10 September 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan supported curbing excessive presidential privileges under the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, but argued that the wider issue is the Executive Presidency itself, which he said has enabled authoritarianism, abuses under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and impunity. He said reasonable pensions and security may be appropriate for former Presidents, but extravagant benefits are unacceptable during economic hardship and resources should instead support jobs, factories, and livelihoods, especially in the North and East. He also raised administrative concerns in the Eastern Province, urging action on volunteer teachers appointed late after wartime service, unemployment among traditional medicine graduates, reduced medical admissions under the district quota in Batticaloa, and significant vacancies in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service. Debate: Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 10 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya outlined expected outcomes of Digital Month, including strengthening the tech startup ecosystem, expanding fintech and digital payments, enabling digital payment of government fines through eGovPay, modernizing transport payments through the National Transport Payments Platform, and demonstrating Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity applications. She stated that the programme aims to mobilize the public for digitalization through sessions, forums, demonstrations, awareness programmes, sandbox opportunities and showcases, in collaboration with schools, universities, youth groups and SMEs islandwide. The anticipated public benefits include easier access to paperless government services, new digital-sector learning and career opportunities, wider use of secure digital solutions, and improved convenience, transparency and security in digital interactions. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board (Q.1/2024) and Digital Economy Initiatives (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 10 September 2025 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake asked the Prime Minister about the Government’s digital economy initiatives, noting the President’s stated priority of building a digital economy, the creation of a dedicated Ministry, and the declaration of September as Digital Economy Month. He sought details on the objectives of the month, the main stakeholders involved, planned programmes and expected outcomes, and how public participation would be secured and citizens would benefit. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board (Q.1/2024) and Digital Economy Initiatives (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB AI summary Arun Hemachandra stated that the earlier recruitment process for jobs in Israel showed alleged irregularities, including involvement by some individuals such as a former Minister, and that the Bribery Commission’s investigation is nearing completion with legal action to be reported to the House. He said current recruitment is conducted government-to-government, but reports of money collection and third-party interference have prompted a joint operation with the CID and Israel’s PIBA to act against illegal, unethical, and corrupt intermediaries. Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath asked the Deputy Minister about recruitment for employment in Israel, noting strong interest among youth and reports of irregularities, corruption and political interference. He sought clarification on whether the Ministry had identified such issues and what corrective measures were being taken. Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath raised concerns that youths from districts including Hambantota, Moneragala, Jaffna, and Kilinochchi are being defrauded by foreign employment agencies after borrowing against land or houses to seek overseas jobs. He specifically cited an agency named “Rainbow” allegedly defrauding people of millions of rupees in Hambantota and asked whether the Ministry had identified the issue and what action had been taken. Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that as of 26 August 2025 there were 981 licensed foreign employment agencies registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, with 48 agencies in the process of renewing licences, and tabled the relevant lists. He said only licensed agencies, Government-to-Government schemes, or self-secured employment are lawful under the SLBFE Act, and that legal action is taken against unauthorized recruiters. He further reported that from 1 January to 31 July 2025 the SLBFE received 662 complaints about fraudulent foreign employment recruitment, involving an alleged Rs. 488.32 million, and that such cases are handled by the SLBFE Special Investigation Unit under the Act. Oral Question: Foreign Employment Agencies - Details (Q.1234/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka JJB AI summary Asked the Minister whether the National Housing Development Authority has a specific programme to address promotion and staffing issues in its district offices. Oral Question: Housing Schemes and NHDA Land Allocation (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan raised a supplementary question to the Deputy Minister regarding delayed appointments in the Road Development Authority after interviews had been conducted. He said long-serving RDA employees nearing retirement were losing promotion opportunities due to the delay and asked why appointments were not made based on the earlier interviews. Oral Question: Appointment of Directors to Road Development Authority (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena stated that interviews had been held to fill vacant Road Development Authority posts, with five Provincial Directors and 27 Directors selected, but the Board required fresh applications for Provincial Directors and DMS approval before issuing Director appointments. He said Cabinet approval had been obtained on 1 July 2025 to appoint selected applicants subject to completing absorption procedures, and that delays were due to the non-issuance of DMS guidelines. Discussions with the Department of Management Services are ongoing, and appointments will be made once the absorption procedures are completed. Oral Question: Appointment of Directors to Road Development Authority (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation about the delay in appointing 39 permanent Directors to the Road Development Authority after interviews had reportedly been completed and names referred for Board approval. He sought reasons for the six-month delay, details of any impediments and measures to resolve them, and asked when the appointments would be made, noting that long-serving employees nearing retirement were awaiting promotions and that the delay could affect government efficiency. Oral Question: Appointment of Directors to Road Development Authority (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Manpower and Employment. He moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour and Human Resources Development, and the House agreed. Papers Tabled and Committee Reports Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan argued that the Prevention of Terrorism Act, introduced as a temporary measure in 1979, has been used for decades to undermine democracy and facilitate abuses including torture, disappearances, wrongful convictions and mass graves, particularly affecting Tamil and Muslim youth. He called for the unconditional repeal of the PTA, the release of long-detained political prisoners, and accountability for killings of journalists including Ayathurai Nadesan, Sivaram, Sugirdharajan, Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Eknaligoda. He also raised employment as a human rights issue, requesting progressive appointments for around 2,700 locally qualified traditional medicine graduates awaiting state opportunities. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 Hon. Chamara Sampath Dassanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dassanayake argued that voters, including estate Tamil communities, graduates, farmers and workers, placed significant trust in the Government at the recent election but are now facing unresolved problems. He said estate workers still receive only Rs. 1,300 a day and continue to live in line rooms, calling for more housing and meaningful wage improvements. He also cited Mahiyanganaya farmers and ongoing public sector strikes, stating that the Opposition was not organizing these protests and warning against attempts to suppress or intimidate striking workers. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →