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- 18 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that Laggala Hospital would be developed according to the Ministry of Health’s 2022 circular, with facilities provided for its current category and progress toward BH Type A status subject to resources, following an assessment visit. He said cadre regularization had been completed for 642 Field Mosquito Control Assistants/Health Work Assistants, with pending cases delayed by documentation issues and wider decisions on similarly recruited staff across institutions. He assured that the remaining eligible staff, including those with GCE O/L qualifications and the broader group of about 980, would be regularized shortly. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna sought clarification on whether 301 additional personnel in the relevant cadre who possess O/L qualifications would also be regularized. She asked the Minister to state what steps would be taken in relation to their status. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake warned that Sri Lankan exporters cannot quickly replace the high-value US market with alternatives such as India or SAARC, noting that new markets may take two to four years to develop. He said high domestic taxes, labour and electricity costs are reducing competitiveness, while exporters are already facing thinner margins, stalled new orders and cash-flow pressures despite a temporary tariff suspension. He urged that the planned VAT digitalization and abolition of SVAT be implemented seamlessly, and called for priority attention to existing US, UK and EU markets that support around 1.5 million jobs. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a series of questions on trade policy, focusing on the impact of the United States’ new tariff regime, the status of Sri Lanka’s discussions with US officials, and measures to protect key exports such as apparel, rubber products and tea. He also sought information on market diversification, reciprocal trade policy, and whether economic analyses on inflation, supply chains and employment would be presented to Parliament. He further questioned the Government on EU GSP Plus negotiations, including stakeholder engagement, labour law reforms, the PTA, the Online Safety Act, and contingency plans if preferences are lost. He also asked whether Sri Lanka is pursuing a bilateral or protective trade arrangement with the United Kingdom in response to the UK-India FTA and potential risks to Sri Lankan exporters. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe supported the regulations under the Convention against Doping in Sport, stressing that doping violations have cost Sri Lankan athletes medals, careers, and the country’s reputation. She argued that, because Sri Lanka has a limited pool of elite athletes, stronger anti-doping safeguards and support systems are needed to protect national sporting talent. She also noted the Ministry of Sports’ scholarship programme for 900 high-performing schoolchildren and called for the restoration and upgrading of neglected sports facilities across the country. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam requested additional time as the sole Opposition speaker and said his remarks were intended to raise constructive issues rather than merely criticize. He suggested that certain local-level dealings may be occurring without NPP leaders’ knowledge, and referred to his earlier comments on doping in the context of obstacles preventing youth from developing and participating in international tournaments. He objected to being personally labelled “Nil Balakaya” in response to those points. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam said his party remained in the debate despite the main Opposition’s walkout in order to raise district concerns, while criticizing the Government for limiting Opposition speaking opportunities. Welcoming the anti-doping regulations, he argued that talented youths in the North and East are often unable to compete nationally or internationally due to lack of financial and institutional support, citing wrestling, kabaddi, cricket, and athletics examples. He urged the Ministry of Sports to identify and support talent at school and district level, and requested sports infrastructure in Batticaloa, including a 400-metre track, a public swimming pool, and an integrated sports centre. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka raised concern over a nationally significant matter involving Sri Lanka’s ties with Iran and Israel. He noted that Iran is a major buyer of Sri Lankan tea, affecting many livelihoods, while many Sri Lankan workers are employed in Israel, underscoring the economic and employment implications of the issue. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister said official labour force statistics understate women’s contributions by excluding unpaid care, household and voluntary work, and outlined a rights-based approach to increase women’s economic participation, particularly in rural and conflict-affected Northern Province districts. She detailed programmes for female-headed households, entrepreneurship, vocational training, market linkages, safe-house reintegration support, and coordination through Women Development Officers, Advisory Assistants, the Women’s Bureau, NGOs and other ministries. She said that from 2026 the Ministry would formally coordinate women’s empowerment funding across ministries and NGOs, and noted planned social security, pension and livelihood support measures, including prioritising female-headed households under the Praja Shakthi Programme. She also undertook to consider concessional two-wheelers for marginalized women in the North and loans for women entrepreneurs. Adjournment: Adjournment Motion and Questions Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy raised Adjournment Questions to the Minister of Women and Child Affairs on low female labour force participation, citing World Bank 2024 data that only 31.6 percent of Sri Lankan women participate in the workforce despite women comprising about 52 percent of the population. He asked what policies, funding, social protection, vocational training, and livelihood programmes are in place or planned, particularly for rural areas, the war-affected North and East, female-headed households, and women entrepreneurs. He also requested consideration of concessional two-wheelers, loan schemes, and part-time work opportunities to support women’s economic participation. Adjournment: Adjournment Motion and Questions Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake thanked the Minister for the reply but noted that protests were continuing. He requested the Minister to discuss the matter with the Chairman and employees, said he would forward a letter from the Joint Trade Union Alliance, and urged action to resolve the ongoing issue under the new Chairman. Adjournment: Adjournment Motion and Questions Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha stated that Management Services Circular 01/2025 has not reduced public sector salaries and said concerns about ETF staff salary cuts arise from correcting earlier non-compliance with circulars MSD 30/2006 and MSD 02/2016. He reported that the ETF is valued at Rs. 564.38 billion, has 81,511 registered employers and 2.58 million active registered members receiving benefits. He said salary disparities between pre- and post-2013 recruits had been created by past internal decisions, and that after adjustments 78 of 820 ETF employees saw lower April salaries than March, mostly by under Rs. 4,000, while rejecting claims of Rs. 9,000 or Rs. 20,000 reductions. Adjournment: Adjournment Motion and Questions Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns that Employees’ Trust Fund Board staff salaries had been reduced following the implementation of Circular 01/2025 after recent government salary increases, citing reported reductions of Rs. 9,010 to Rs. 22,000 for many employees. He asked the Minister of Finance for details on the ETF’s fund value, registered employers, and benefit-receiving members, and questioned whether the salary structure was fair. He argued that the issue affects around 560 of the ETF’s approximately 800 staff and requested a just salary increase and a fair resolution, while also referring to the Fund’s reported Rs. 506 billion value and expenditure on other activities. Adjournment: Adjournment Motion and Questions Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a supplementary question to the Minister concerning longstanding railway safety and staffing issues, specifically referring to around 2,100 unprotected railway gate watchers. He sought attention to this matter within the Minister’s portfolio, in the context of efforts to address railway-related safety concerns. Procedural and Oral Question: Airport and Aviation Services and Standing Orders Clarification Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu JJB AI summary Kanthasamy Prabu supported Hon. Kariapper’s motion by highlighting complaints from fishermen between Pottuvil and Trincomalee about robberies of catches and nets by small groups. He said meetings with fishermen, security officers and Fisheries officials led District and Divisional Development Committees to propose banning 40 hp fast boats, limiting craft to 25 hp, restricting landing points, and conducting joint Police-Navy operations. He urged the Fisheries and Defence Ministers to take urgent action and noted that legal action is being pursued against identified groups. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Criminal Activities Affecting Livelihood of Fishermen of Ampara and Batticaloa Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Welcoming Hon. Nizam Kariapper’s motion, Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe said sea piracy has become a serious threat to deep-sea fishermen in the East, who spend about Rs. 400,000 per trip and are losing fish, nets, and livelihoods to robberies. Referring to recent protests by fishermen from Pottuvil, Kalmunai, Kattankudy, and Valachchenai, he urged the State Minister of Defence and the Minister of Fisheries to act urgently, protect fishermen, prevent tensions, and ensure those responsible are arrested and prosecuted. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Criminal Activities Affecting Livelihood of Fishermen of Ampara and Batticaloa Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised concerns about organized sea-borne gangs targeting fishermen in the Eastern Province, particularly around Kalmunai, Kattankudy, Valachchenai and Batticaloa, through robbery, destruction of fishing gear and intimidation. He said decisions taken at the Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee in May 2023 to limit fish-landing sites and cap engine power at 25 hp had not been implemented, and questioned who was obstructing enforcement. He requested urgent action by the Ministry of Defence, including Navy patrols, a special Navy coordinator for the Eastern coast, implementation of the DCC decisions, and firm action against organized offenders. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Criminal Activities Affecting Livelihood of Fishermen of Ampara and Batticaloa Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary He addressed the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill by focusing on broader transport policy, particularly SriLankan Airlines’ losses and debt, citing a Rs. 3.4 billion first-quarter loss and around USD 1 billion in debt. He argued that the airline’s current financial burden stemmed from policy decisions after the end of the Emirates partnership in 2008, and questioned the Government’s plan for restructuring, partnership, privatization, route rationalization, and debt management. He also called for clearer development policies, support for business and finance, and cautioned against decisions that would reduce higher education opportunities such as at KDU’s medical faculty. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal addressed the National Transport Commission framework, arguing that student, rural, night, public, private, rail and depot services require major improvements after past mismanagement. He highlighted specific deficiencies in Puttalam, including overcrowded student buses, poor roads, lack of night buses, reduced train services, inadequate depot facilities, fuel arrangements and driver training, and said ministries had been engaged on upgrades such as a generator and filling station improvements. He also proposed coastal road and bridge projects to improve access to Kalpitiya, hospitals, markets and exports, while stating that the Government plans to modernize bus stands and railway stations, import more buses and vehicles, improve driver training, and strengthen transport services. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary He urged that, in handling unclaimed or lost items, authorities should follow legal procedures while also considering identifying details provided by claimants to maximize the return of property to rightful owners, even if remaining assets are used for regional development. He also called for proper implementation of the National Transport Commission (Amendment), including regulation of private and SLTB transport, rehabilitation of local roads, and introduction of rural services to help farmers, fishers, and small entrepreneurs access markets and obtain fair prices. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →