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 July 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that earlier implementation of reforms such as BOO schemes, commercialization or privatization of SriLankan Airlines, and other policy changes could have addressed current economic pressures. He called for dedicated support for exporters and protection for consumers, citing high taxes, interest rates, utility costs, transport costs, wage increases, and land and property taxes as burdens on SMEs and entrepreneurs. He urged the Government to create space for business activity while noting the need to raise Rs. 5 trillion for expenditure under the new fiscal framework and warning of payment difficulties if fiscal discipline is not sustained. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake said July 23, 1983 should be remembered as a consequence of State-backed nationalism and anti-democratic actions under past governments, including the 1981 Jaffna DDC election. He argued that earlier parties used ethnic nationalism for political advantage, while the current National People’s Power Government seeks to build national unity, political stability, and reconciliation across all regions. He said the Government is linking stability to economic development, including Rs. 5 billion in development work in the North, reopening long-closed roads and bridges, and proposed broader social efforts such as a future Sri Lankan Day to promote unity. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Hon. Chanaka Madugoda stated his party’s support for the Companies (Amendment) Bill and urged that companies be allowed to operate without unnecessary obstruction. He raised several constituency and sectoral concerns, including the exclusion of a major Western Province three-wheeler association from consultations, alleged politicisation of youth society appointments, and the need for regulated modernization of beach-seine fishing through winch permits. He also requested restoration of decentralized budget allocations to Opposition MPs and improvements to Parliament gallery facilities, particularly toilets used by visiting schoolchildren. Debate: Companies (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the rationale for rice imports despite reported domestic production exceeding requirements, and proposed a scientific review of the production, procurement and distribution cycle. He asked the Government to re-examine paddy production cost estimates, citing input costs, crop losses and human–wildlife conflict, and urged legislation to make guaranteed paddy prices legally enforceable. He also called for investment in post-harvest technology, continuous updating of agricultural data, and concessional debt restructuring and working capital support for distressed small and medium rice millers. Ministerial Statement: Government Policies on Paddy Purchase and Rice Import Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha said the Government is transitioning from multiple existing processes to a single digitalized refund system without creating a gap, supported by investments including RAMIS integration. He stated that timely, risk-based refunds to exporters should enable them to pay deemed exporters, and that the Inland Revenue Department cannot justify exporters failing to pass on funds. He added that the objective is to ensure the refund system functions properly, with simulations currently underway. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Simplified VAT (SVAT) Abolition Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake urged the Government to retain the SVAT mechanism until e-filing and VAT-1 automation are fully operational, citing the short implementation timeline and risks to exporters’ cash flows if VAT is payable upfront. He said exporters already face high interest rates, taxes, utility costs, tariff pressures, and anti-dumping-related cost issues, and asked that the IMF be informed that export-sector protection is necessary. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Simplified VAT (SVAT) Abolition Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the decision to end SVAT followed long-term review and is part of a move to a unified VAT administration with strengthened Inland Revenue Department systems. He stated that a digital, risk-based refund mechanism will classify claims as low, medium or high risk, with low and medium risk refunds paid within 45 days and high-risk claims subject to basic verification. He said deemed exporter cash-flow concerns would be addressed during the transition, accurate e-submissions would be required, IMF recommendations were already tabled and published, and necessary provisions would be introduced through an amendment to the Act. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Simplified VAT (SVAT) Abolition Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns under Standing Order 27(2) about the planned abolition of the Simplified VAT scheme from 1 October 2025, reportedly linked to IMF EFF commitments, and its replacement with a 45-day VAT refund system. He argued that exporters face serious cash-flow risks due to past Inland Revenue refund delays, new US tariff pressures, and possible loss of competitiveness, and asked what safeguards, audit mechanisms, impact assessments, and transition policies the Government has prepared. He also requested that IMF recommendations and the Government’s abolition plan be presented to Parliament, and asked whether bridging facilities such as credit lines, VAT offsets, or interim payment channels would be provided for MSMEs and exporters. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Simplified VAT (SVAT) Abolition Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister acknowledged shortages of technical officers in the Department of Agrarian Development and the North Western Provincial Department of Irrigation, including in Kurunegala, and said these shortages have affected implementation. He stated that recruitment approvals have been granted under the Government’s broader plan to recruit 30,000 officers, with additional requests submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office review committee. He added that some foreign-funded projects are supporting technical staff recruitment, that redeployment is being used as an interim measure, and that the Ministry will examine the Kurunegala situation and report back. Oral Question: Reservoirs and Tank Management (Q.3/2025 – 794/2025) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena seconded the motion and emphasized the importance of the Pelwatte, Sevanagala, Ethimale and Gal Oya plants to the economy and livelihoods of Monaragala District since their establishment in the 1980s. He urged the Minister not to allow the Pelwatte and Sevanagala factories to collapse, noting that more than 5,000 workers and many farmers depend on them. He cited outstanding payments to farmers and suppliers, bank loans, EPF/ETF arrears, halted medical insurance, delayed salaries, and withheld bonuses, confirmations and promotions, and called for both plants, particularly profitable Sevanagala, to be protected. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara raised concerns over the crisis in the local sugar industry, stating that farmers, workers, tractor owners and service providers dependent on factories such as Pelwatte, Sevanagala, Ethimale and Gal Oya face unpaid dues and wage delays. He argued that local sugar is disadvantaged by VAT and levies while imported sugar is cheaper, leaving large stocks unsold and factories loss-making, with similar problems affecting ethanol sales due to reduced demand and imports. He requested removal of VAT on locally produced sugar, action to sell existing sugar and ethanol stocks, curbs on ethanol imports, and clarification on when farmers’ and service providers’ arrears will be paid. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara moved an Adjournment Motion on the crisis affecting sugarcane farmers and workers linked to the Pelwatte, Sevanagala, Ethimale and Gal Oya sugar factories in Monaragala and Ampara. He stated that unsold stocks of sugar and ethanol have led to salary arrears, restricted cane purchases and delayed payments to farmers, affecting about 50,000 farming families and 10,000 workers. He attributed the situation partly to permission granted for sugar and ethanol imports despite local production capacity, and called for urgent action to sell accumulated stocks, settle dues and restore normal factory operations. Adjournment Debate: Safeguarding Local Sugar Industry Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved new clauses to the Bill prohibiting employers from reducing workers’ wages or allowances because of the increase to the national minimum wage, including allowances under the relevant Minimum Wage and Budgetary Relief Allowance Acts. He also proposed empowering the Commissioner-General to direct employers, principal employers, intermediaries, and contractors to implement the wage increase. The clauses were added, the Bill was reported with amendments, and he moved its Third Reading while seeking leave to correct language and formatting errors and make consequential amendments. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan proposed an amendment to insert a new clause specifying that plantation workers’ minimum wage should be Rs. 1,700 per day or an equivalent monthly salary. The amendment was moved in the context of the Bill’s provisions on minimum wages. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government is using minimum wage legislation to protect private, estate, and informal sector workers while supporting investment, exports, and domestic job creation. He stated that the Minimum Wage Amendment consolidates earlier budgetary relief allowance laws to establish a single minimum wage of Rs. 30,000 and requires EPF/ETF contributions to be calculated on that basic amount. He also referred to export-sector challenges, including US tariffs and dumping, and said the Government would seek new markets, adjust input tariffs, advance Port City sustainably, and use anti-dumping legislation to protect local producers. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Bills would raise the minimum wage for private sector workers from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 30,000, with increases of Rs. 6,000 from April 2025 and Rs. 3,000 from January 2026, covering workers such as cleaners, security guards, manpower employees, shop workers, and apparel workers. He stated that the proposal follows discussions with the Labour Ministry and employers’ federations and builds on earlier Budgetary Relief Acts of 2005 and 2016. Addressing estate sector wages, he said the daily wage issue is before court, but the Government would act to ensure plantation workers can earn the Rs. 1,700 daily wage determined through the Wages Board process. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara supported the Bills to increase wages but argued that the proposed minimum wage of Rs. 27,000, rising to Rs. 30,000, remains inadequate compared with calls for Rs. 50,000 for a family of four. He questioned delays in raising estate workers’ wages to the promised Rs. 1,700 or Rs. 2,000 and cautioned that wage increases must be balanced with the financial capacity of private employers amid distress caused by parate executions. He also demanded action on issuing freehold land grants under the “Urumaya” programme and sought clarification on alleged long-term tax concessions granted through July 2025 gazettes to Port City-related companies without clear Cabinet disclosure. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary Gamagedara Dissanayake supported the Bills to raise the private sector minimum monthly wage, stating it would increase from Rs. 17,500 in 2024 to Rs. 27,000 in 2025 and Rs. 30,000 by January 2026. He argued that increasing the basic wage, rather than relying on allowances, would improve linked benefits such as EPF and ETF, and rejected claims that workers in security, cleaning, manpower and other sectors would be excluded. He criticized legal challenges and Opposition arguments as delaying worker benefits, while noting that the Government is also discussing with the ILO ways to regularize informal sector employment. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara supported amendments to wage-related legislation, stating that the Government is increasing the minimum wage for private sector and other workers from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 30,000 from January, with related benefits for gratuity and ETF. He argued that this follows public sector salary increases and reflects a policy of expanding worker participation in the economy by raising purchasing power and circulating income. He contrasted the measure with past labour struggles and wage-related disputes, saying it was achieved through consultation at the National Labour Advisory Council with trade unions and employers, while also criticizing previous governments and the Opposition over alleged corruption and anti-worker actions. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa supported the Workers’ National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill, stating that it would benefit private sector workers such as drivers, security officers and cleaners, alongside earlier public sector salary increases under the Government’s Budget. He said the Government was also discussing wage increases and arrears for plantation workers, and indicated that further pay measures would be included in the forthcoming Budget. He criticized previous governments and the Opposition for failing workers and urged cross-party support for national reconstruction, while also condemning communal politics and calling for unity among all communities. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →