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- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about plantation workers’ wages, questioning why the Government’s Budget referred to Rs. 1,700 despite earlier trade union positions seeking over Rs. 2,100, and asked for clear action or an honest explanation to the malaiyaha community. He also referred to estate workers’ land and housing rights, citing the recent fire at Hatton Senan Estate and wider concerns about conditions in plantation areas. He asked the Government to proceed with Provincial Council elections by restoring the previous electoral system, and sought responses on the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat issue and the proposed bifurcation of large Divisional Secretariat divisions in Batticaloa and Ampara. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC NDF AI summary Faiszer Musthapha urged the Government to resolve the legal impasse preventing Provincial Council elections by appointing a review committee, headed by the Prime Minister, to submit the required delimitation review report to the President within two months. He argued that the absence of elected Provincial Councils since 2018 has weakened accountability under the 13th Amendment, and called for the preservation of ward-based local representation and the 25 per cent women’s quota in any reforms. On labour matters, he requested swift negotiations with plantation companies to secure a daily wage of Rs. 2,000 for plantation workers, citing the cost of living and prior failed efforts through the Wages Board. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal supported the Votes of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, stating that its Rs. 496.5 billion allocation should be used efficiently through GN, Divisional Secretariat and Pradeshiya Sabha structures to improve service delivery. He raised concerns about past lapses in fund distribution, local authority boundary delimitation in Puttalam, the needs of fisheries and salt producers in Kalpitiya and Puttalam, and requested assistance for affected communities. He also called for urgent action to fill Tamil and Sinhala Government Translator vacancies, noted planned recruitment of 30,000 public sector employees, and said the Government is arranging the delayed Local Government Elections. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera highlighted inadequate facilities and workspace in Divisional Secretariat offices, attributing inefficiencies partly to large recruitments without corresponding duties or infrastructure. He questioned the actual impact of proposed public sector salary increases and urged the Government to address long-standing salary anomalies affecting Management Service Officers, noting prior assurances that these would be resolved through the Budget. He also called for urgent delimitation of Divisional Secretariat boundaries in parts of Kegalle District to reduce travel burdens on residents, and urged the Government to implement the proposed Rs. 1,700 wage for plantation workers through the Wages Board or another mechanism. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan sought clarity on whether the proposed plantation wage is a basic daily wage or aggregated earnings, calling for an unconditional Rs. 1,700 per day without requirements such as 25 days’ work. He said support would depend on effective implementation and recalled earlier demands for higher wages that were not delivered. He also raised salary anomalies and promotion issues affecting Management Assistants, local authority clerical officers, and graduates, proposing a return to competitive examination-based promotions and the application of MN3 rather than MN2 salary scales. He urged the Government to protect the interests of public servants and the plantation community, noting their electoral support, and said he would address plantation sector matters further during the relevant ministry debate. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Government is finalizing the Rs. 1,700 plantation wage agreement through the Wages Board, following earlier non-compliance by some companies. He said the proposed structure is Rs. 1,350 as the daily wage with a Rs. 350 kilo-rate top-up, and that most companies have agreed despite continued resistance from some. He added that companies have been asked to provide 25 days of work so workers can earn a monthly equivalent of Rs. 33,750. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan opposed the proposed transfer of the Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton and requested funds to construct or adapt facilities in Norwood, arguing that the service point must remain accessible to the large Norwood/Maskeliya population. He also called for improved facilities and staffing at Talawakelle DS, relocation of Valapane DS to Ragala, and stronger integration of Malaiyaha estate communities into public administration without reliance on estate management approvals. He urged action to regularize documentation and release EPF/ETF entitlements for workers in state-run and leased estates, citing missing records, unpaid benefits, and lack of compensation. He further questioned whether the Government had secured plantation company agreement to implement the promised Rs. 1,700 daily wage. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Shanta Pathma Kumara Subasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Shanta Pathma Kumara Subasingha defended the Government against allegations of political victimization, citing past treatment of officials under previous administrations, and argued that current recruitment of public servants and teachers would be conducted transparently through competitive examinations. He highlighted Budget allocations for 30,000 public sector recruitments, including teachers, and referred to teacher vacancies in Sabaragamuwa and planned recruitment of NIE diploma holders and education graduates. He also outlined allocations under the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, including school and preschool nutrition programmes, preschool teacher allowances, completion of “Nearest School is the Best School,” and public sector salary increases, while stating that economic indicators were improving under the Government. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa argued that the Government was using IMF obligations to depart from its election promises, including through policies such as the 15 per cent tax on IT services. He urged the establishment of a depoliticized National Policy Commission under the Presidential Secretariat to ensure continuity in national policy, noting that a previous Cabinet Paper on the matter had stalled. He also raised concerns about politicization in the public service, difficulty attracting professionals to ministries, graduate employment promises, estate worker wages, doctors’ additional duty payment calculations, and issues in the Public Management Assistants’ Service. He called on the Government to consult stakeholders before changing established arrangements or making key administrative and fiscal decisions. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Raising a Point of Order, Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna disputed the calculation of doctors’ overtime, stating that the divisor had changed from basic salary divided by 80 to divided by 120, causing reduced payments. He requested an increase in the current six-hour cap on overtime and highlighted staffing pressures, including doctors emigrating and postgraduate doctors working up to 24-hour shifts. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined labour force figures and sectoral employment patterns while focusing on proposed wage increases in the public, private, plantation and pension sectors. He said the Government would amend the Minimum Wages Act to consolidate allowances and raise the private sector basic minimum wage to Rs. 30,000 by January next year, while plantation wage arrangements were being negotiated around a daily minimum and kilo-rate options. He detailed increases to public sector salaries, including for clerical/support grades, drivers, development officers, police, nurses and doctors, and stated that overtime and daily-rate calculations would increase rather than reduce payments. He said the Budget allocates about Rs. 325 billion over three years for public sector salary increases and about Rs. 40 billion for pension enhancements, and rejected claims that health-sector allowances or rates had been cut. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran raised the unresolved status of the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat, arguing that despite a 1993 Cabinet decision upgrading it to a full Divisional Secretariat, it has been treated as an Assistant Divisional Secretariat without lawful authority. He questioned who had the power to alter or downgrade a Cabinet-approved decision, alleged administrative irregularities and land-related frauds, and requested a special committee to investigate and restore its full status. He also urged the Government to provide fair appointments for unemployed graduates in the North and East, particularly about 1,800 in Ampara, including those who passed competitive examinations. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns on public service promotions, recruitment, allowances, and alleged administrative victimization, calling for restoration of merit-based promotion examinations, implementation of the MN 3 salary category, and the holding of the advertised 2020 open competition for Management Service Officers. He urged action on Grama Niladhari demands, including allowances, staffing support, and a transparent Service Minute with fair promotion arrangements. He also requested a clear statement on promised graduate recruitments, cited unemployed graduates and teacher appointment delays, and tabled a related petition. He further called for accountability over delays to local government elections and urged that State or religious-cultural programmes not be used in ways that affect a level electoral playing field. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary Public servants who contested in elections faced hardships such as long-distance travel and, in some cases, resignation from their posts. The Minister stated that the Government is working to provide relief to those affected and will outline a broader 2025 work programme at a later stage. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister outlined measures to strengthen the public service, including salary and pension increases, recruitment to SLAS and other services, and the raising of age limits for delayed examinations. He said the Budget provides for recruiting 30,000 young persons, filling Grama Niladhari and technical officer vacancies, increasing GN allowances, revising the GN Service Minute, and expanding digitization initiatives such as e-GN and divisional secretariat pilots. He also stated that outdated public administration rules are being reviewed and simplified, and that funds are being provided to enable the Election Commission to conduct postponed local government elections independently. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Government to focus on delivering promised change rather than engaging in personal attacks. He raised public service salary anomaly issues, including proposals from the Joint Trade Union Alliance of Management Service Officers to amend the 2025 Budget at Committee Stage and grant the 1111/3 salary scale in line with Public Service Commission recommendations. He also tabled documents on resolving long-standing salary issues affecting graduate appointees in substitute or temporary service, and the documents were placed in the Library. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala called for major reforms in public administration institutions, from Grama Niladhari offices to District Secretariats, to improve efficiency and service delivery. He urged the Government to hold local authority elections and then proceed promptly to Provincial Council elections, arguing that unelected administrators cannot meet public expectations. He disputed claims about unprecedented public sector salary increases, citing the 2015-2020 period, and said current pay rises are insufficient against rising living costs and pensioner hardship. He said the Opposition would support constructive reforms, including restructuring the enlarged public sector, while criticizing hostile responses to Members raising public issues. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned why the tax on services exports was only reduced from 30% to 15% after IMF discussions rather than being removed entirely, citing the need to increase dollar inflows from SMEs in IT and digital services. He urged the Government to reconsider and fully withdraw the remaining 15% tax in line with its digital export promotion policy, and also called for the suspension of the OSA pending new legislation. Ministerial Statement: Online Safety Act and tax on export services Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government on its election pledge to amend the Online Safety Act and asked whether its operation would be suspended pending amendment, citing concerns over freedom of expression. He requested data on arrests, remand orders and convictions under the Act. He also sought clarification on the proposed 15 per cent income tax on foreign exchange earnings from IT services, including the number affected, expected revenue, whether the policy would proceed, and what mechanisms or studies exist to assess its impact on the digital economy and remittance channels. Ministerial Statement: Online Safety Act and tax on export services Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Upul Kithsiri raised a supplementary question about institutions seeking new funds despite prior records showing payments under past budgetary allocations. He asked what action the Ministry would take regarding responsible officers and staff, including retired personnel and remaining employees without assigned duties, and whether those staff would be redeployed productively. Oral Question 2: National Equipment and Machinery Organization (Q.4838/2025) Read →