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- 20 August 2025 Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Hon. Chanaka Madugoda called on the Government to regularize the services of employees whose terms had only been extended for six months, noting that COPE had recommended placing them permanently in a suitable project. He urged the Health Minister to amend a circular that suspended health sector employees’ leave entitlements for local and overseas travel under the Establishments Code, saying it affected 66,255 employees. He also criticized the closure of the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, arguing that the institution should have been strengthened through better administration rather than shut down. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Welcoming the audit provisions for Samurdhi Community-Based Bank and Union accounts, Chanaka Madugoda called for modernising Samurdhi banks, addressing staffing shortages, and working closely with Samurdhi Development Officers. He argued that the Aswesuma selection process has excluded some genuinely needy households and proposed allowing Divisional Secretaries to recommend and decide on overlooked cases under clear guidelines. He also urged mechanisms to ensure community access to school playgrounds, provide financial assistance for poor students selected for overseas sports tours, and address employment uncertainty affecting former contract staff recruited by the Land Reforms Commission between 2020 and 2023. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara defended the Government’s youth initiatives as inclusive of all ethnic and religious communities, rejecting claims of bias and linking some criticisms to electoral motives. He said over 300,000 youth are involved through structures from Grama Niladhari level to the National Council, and that a national youth action plan is being developed with the UN to implement the NPP Youth Charter from the following year. He outlined plans to connect youth representatives to local and district development processes and to establish a modernized Youth Parliament covering all 25 districts and linked to the 24 ministries. He also said the Government is reviewing issues relating to Development Officers and teacher appointments following court developments, with the aim of resolving them systematically. Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised concerns about alleged discrimination and neglect affecting Tamil-speaking and minority youth, particularly in the North, East, and up-country Tamil communities, in youth programmes, appointments, promotions, and training opportunities. He questioned participation of Tamil-speaking youth in a recent Maharagama youth event and asked what plans exist for unemployed youth in the North and East, citing high youth unemployment and NEET figures alongside World Bank funding for job creation. He said India-supported projects and Budget commitments for 2024–2025 had not been implemented and urged the Government to inspect and remedy deficiencies at the dilapidated Sainthamaruthu Youth Centre. Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna supported the Motion on youth but said decades of conflict had damaged the prospects of Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim youth. He opposed moves to revert or remove Development Officers who had been converted to teacher appointments after years of service, citing earlier assurances that youth livelihoods and teacher shortages would be addressed. He called for any biometric attendance system to be applied uniformly across public institutions, including Parliament and the health sector, and urged legislation if necessary. He also demanded action to enable reliable online payment systems such as PayPal and Payoneer for Sri Lankan youth engaged in exports, while cautioning against politically motivated protests and urging the Government not to break promises made to voters. Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Arkam Ilyas JJB AI summary Seconding the Motion, the Hon. Arkam Ilyas highlighted high youth unemployment, outward labour migration, and resulting shortages of skilled workers for major development projects. He referred to two Cabinet-approved measures: low-interest loans at 4 per cent for 50,000 young people in agriculture, and housing grants of up to Rs. 1 million for eligible youth leaving institutions. He urged youth participation in national development under the Government’s programme to address unemployment and strengthen the rule of law. Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB AI summary Danushka Ranganath moved an Adjournment Motion on ensuring youth engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals, following International Youth Day on 12 August 2025. He argued that youth must be integrated into the economy, protected from exploitation and discrimination, and given access to vocational education, guidance, and opportunities. He criticised previous administrations for neglecting youth aspirations, unemployment, poverty, and emigration, and stated that the current Government has introduced a comprehensive programme to restore hope and empower young people. Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana supported the need to regulate gambling but criticized the Government for having previously opposed casinos and related industries while now advancing regulation. He argued that tourism policy is inconsistent, citing restrictions on water sports, nightlife and live music, and said tourism-dependent communities such as Negombo continue to suffer from debt after the Easter attacks and COVID-19. He further questioned the Government’s claims of economic recovery, saying increased revenue is mainly from taxation while public protests continue, hospitals lack supplies, and vehicle permits for doctors remain unresolved despite large-scale vehicle imports. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns about the implementation of the Public Debt Management Act, particularly the transfer of debt management functions to the Ministry of Finance and the need to recruit qualified professionals for the new Debt Office. He argued that loan viability, risk premia, debt sustainability, reserve accumulation, and SriLankan Airlines’ financial position require clearer policy direction, especially ahead of IMF reviews and the resumption of debt servicing from 2028. He also welcomed the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill but urged that it be made practically operable, with clear provisions on payments, taxation, repatriation of winnings, digital gambling definitions, record-keeping, stake limits, and junket operations. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned the Government’s debt management, citing public debt of about USD 106 billion by 31 March and asking why debt had risen despite claims that repayment was manageable. He called for a clear policy on loss-making State-owned enterprises, public sector recruitment, FDI outcomes, tourism revenue, port development including Kankesanthurai, and measures to strengthen debt servicing capacity before 2027. He also asked the Government to report specific results from presidential foreign visits and clarify claims about money printing, Treasury balances, and their inflationary implications. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports JJB AI summary The Minister noted that the Government marked the 25th International Youth Day on 12 August with a National Youth Conference held under the President’s patronage, themed around youth action for the Sustainable Development Goals. He said the Government’s youth policy seeks to develop a “future-ready” generation by integrating environmental concerns, skills, leadership, and opportunities for young people. He argued that past political culture had denied youth adequate roles in employment, politics, and leadership, and said the Government is working to address that gap. Ministerial Announcement: National Youth Conference Statement Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary With Cabinet approval, the proposal to recruit the relevant group has been referred to the Public Service Commission for concurrence. Once concurrence is received, recruitment will proceed immediately by ranking candidates in descending order of marks until all vacancies are filled, without setting a fixed cutoff mark. Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani JJB AI summary Asked for details on the recruitment of around 300 individuals, specifically requesting the final cut-off mark, the selection process, and the exact timeframe within which the appointments would be made. Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that although around 1,800 candidates scored between 100 and 115 marks, the existing recruitment quota has already been exhausted. He said the Cabinet has agreed, following repeated requests, to recruit about 300 additional candidates from that mark range without affecting the prescribed open and limited intake ratios, with selection based on highest marks rather than on passing alone. Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani asked about recruitment from the 2024 limited competition examination, noting that candidates scoring 116 marks had already been recruited. Referring to the precedent of the 2019 examination, she sought the Government’s forward plan for candidates who passed with marks between 100 and 115 and asked how many recruits were expected under the relevant Cabinet decision. Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister replied to a question on limited competitive recruitment to Class III of the Government Management Service Officer Service, outlining the 2019 and 2024 examination dates, gazette references, pass marks, base dates, vacancies, and recruitment cut-offs. He stated that 1,386 officers were recruited in three phases from the 2019 examination, including appointments for Railway Department vacancies, and that 969 applicants qualified at interview had been recruited from the 2024 process. He further said the limited recruitment quota under the Service Minute has been fully utilized, and that future recruitment will proceed through the open stream in line with Cabinet approval and service regulations. Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim argued that the Government’s increased revenue, including a 28 percent rise in the first half of the year due to higher VAT, has been achieved by burdening ordinary people. He criticized the prioritization of tax incentives for foreign investors while small and medium enterprises, which he said have collapsed, have not received necessary support. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal defended the NPP Government’s economic management, arguing that previous governments had burdened the country with debt, taxes, asset sales and communal politics, while the current administration had restored stability and avoided reckless borrowing. He cited reductions in US export tariffs, public sector salary increases supported by a Rs. 110 billion allocation, and higher tourist arrivals as evidence of economic improvement. He also highlighted tourism development in Kalpitiya, including road projects, as part of the Government’s practical efforts to support the economy and future generations. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hemali Weerasekara - Deputy Chairperson of Committees JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Hemali Weerasekara argued that the Government has moved Sri Lanka from bankruptcy toward economic stability through policy measures, citing GDP growth above IMF targets, reduced inflation, higher tax revenue, export growth, increased remittances, and new BOI-linked investment. She said recent tariff negotiations, wage increases for public and private sector workers, expanded Aswesuma benefits, and the “Artha” and “Praja Shakthi” programmes show a people-centred and inclusive recovery agenda. She urged the Opposition to stop spreading alleged falsehoods and support the Government’s economic programme in the public interest. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti rejected the Opposition Leader’s criticism that the Government lacked an economic plan, arguing that the country inherited severe economic instability and that recovery would be gradual. He outlined planned and ongoing industrial zones in Valachchenai, Ingiriya, Katunayake, Dambulla, Rambewa, Divulapitiya, Sooriyawewa and Raigam, citing expected investments, completion timelines and job creation. He said Cabinet had approved 38 projects across 19 zones and that District Secretaries had been directed to identify suitable unused land for further industrial development. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →