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 February 2025 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha argued that the 2025 Budget, framed within the IMF programme, does not deliver the direct consumer relief or development commitments expected from the NPP manifesto, citing rising prices of rice, coconuts, salt and other essentials despite welfare increases. He called for specific support for three-wheeler operators, whose vehicles are ageing and whose livelihoods have been affected by import restrictions and high replacement costs. He also urged greater attention to Ratnapura District, including assistance for estate and export crop farmers, action against clove re-export practices affecting local producers, and legal reforms to support gem mining livelihoods. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Chamindranee Kiriella argued that the 2025 Budget relies heavily on taxes such as income tax, VAT and the Special Commodity Levy, making it inconsistent with Government claims of being people-friendly and with NPP promises to remove VAT on essentials. She urged the Government to promote exports and foreign investment, citing Adani Group’s withdrawal, and to protect the independence and perceived independence of the legal system to maintain investor confidence. She welcomed the allocation for sanitary napkins for schoolgirls but called for stronger action to increase women’s labour force participation, specifically proposing that the State fund maternity benefits, estimated at Rs. 7.4 billion, in line with practices in many other countries. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Agalakada JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Agalakada defended the NPP Government’s Appropriation Bill as consistent with its campaign commitments to build a productive economy, link working-age people to it, and distribute generated wealth fairly. He cited allocations for roads, dairy, innovation, coconut cultivation, youth agri-entrepreneurship, digitalization, job creation, social protection, nutrition, autism and neurological treatment, and support for Malaiyagam communities, while also referring to a planned Chinese-backed refinery investment. He rejected opposition characterizations of the Budget as a continuation of previous policies and argued that its spending priorities reflect the Government’s stated economic programme. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi highlighted Budget allocations intended to support under-resourced but talented young athletes, including Rs. 500 million for specialized sports schools in five provinces and an increase in the monthly nutrition allowance from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000. She noted the absence of a national sports information database by province, district and school, and said this gap was raised with officials at the Youth and Sports Ministry Advisory Committee. She also referred to allocations for women’s empowerment and protection, including Rs. 120 million to prevent violence against women and children and Rs. 720 million to strengthen institutional support. In addition, she cited Rs. 250 million for child-friendly transport for minors in detention attending court, arguing that the Budget focuses on practical support for vulnerable groups. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera argued that Budget measures for migrant workers and remittances must create tangible benefits, including addressing high conversion charges, rather than relying on modest duty-free allowance changes. He criticized the concentration of expenditure under the President through the Finance and Defence Ministries and proposed that the President instead lead an Entrepreneurial Development Ministry focused on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises. He questioned an apparent discrepancy between the Rs. 50 million allocation for the Clean Sri Lanka programme in the Estimates and the Rs. 5,000 million cited in the Budget Speech, and noted the absence of a clear digital programme while referencing changing positions and rising costs related to MOSIP. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera criticised the Government’s inaugural Budget as lacking a transformative national vision, comparing it unfavourably with recent Indian and Singaporean Budgets. He argued for an “entrepreneurial State” approach to revive collapsed SMEs, restore investor and entrepreneur confidence, attract tourism and investment, and create youth aspiration, saying the allocation to the Industry and Entrepreneurship Ministry was inadequate for the scale of SME distress. He also questioned whether the welfare measures and campaign-style policy branding would be felt at grassroots level, describing the Budget as largely conventional and closer to neoliberal continuity than a new economic direction. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. Nishantha Samaraweera defended the Budget, arguing that the Government is prioritizing public relief and economic revival while reducing its own privileges within fiscal constraints. He said the Government has no intention of driving away investors such as Adani, but will assess concessions based on benefits to Sri Lanka. He emphasized that public sector salary reforms, including for health workers, shift income toward higher basic salaries rather than allowances, and stated that existing overtime or extra-duty earnings would not be reduced while further salary improvements are intended as the economy recovers. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued that the Budget departs from neoliberal policy by intervening to raise private sector wages, including for plantation and other private industry workers. She said that despite financial and legal constraints, the Government has taken a compassionate, people-focused approach, and rejected claims that the Budget is neoliberal. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha said the Budget gives priority to public and private sector workers, oppressed groups, and others facing heavy social burdens, reflecting the movement’s longstanding focus on those subjected to injustice. He stated that investors and affluent groups are also not excluded, as the Government’s approach of “economic democracy” accommodates both social protection and investment. He rejected classical liberalism, social liberalism, neoliberalism, and full state-control socialism, arguing that this Budget is the first in Sri Lanka to present economic democracy as its guiding doctrine. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha JJB AI summary Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha argued that the Budget is based on “economic democracy,” aimed at ensuring that workers, pensioners, plantation communities, farmers and other groups who contributed to the economy receive a fairer share. He said wage and pension increases were designed to address past social injustices, with larger relief directed to groups that had suffered greater disadvantage. He cited the Government’s intervention in the paddy and rice market, including a Rs. 120 per kilo floor price for Nadu paddy and a Rs. 230 per kilo ceiling price for Nadu rice, as an example of calibrated state action to protect both farmers and consumers. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe rejected Dayasiri Jayasekara’s allegation that he had climbed over a temple wall, stating that he had only visited a disputed land site allegedly acquired under the previous Rajapaksa administration and had left when access was denied. He said he had requested a CID investigation and a Divisional Secretary’s report on the land’s ownership and acquisition, and denied any intention to interfere with Buddhist or other religious sites. He also said past governments had failed to address long-standing teachers’ salary anomalies, while the current Government would work to resolve remaining issues. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that dengue control assistants have served for eight years without being made permanent despite repeated promises, and said their contribution should be recognized. He noted that a Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by the Prime Minister and an officials’ committee chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister are considering the matter alongside about 7,000 similarly engaged workers across other public sector institutions. He said the Government expects to arrive at a durable solution for the dengue assistants within three months. Oral Question: Hospitals and Health Services in Kalutara District (Q.422/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Asked whether the Government is taking steps to make dengue unit staff permanent, noting that they worked through crises including COVID-19 and made sacrifices, while their permanency has been delayed. Oral Question: Hospitals and Health Services in Kalutara District (Q.422/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said the Health Ministry has about 150,000 employees, many in junior and Health Service Assistant roles, and that vacancies should be addressed through timely transfers based on hospital needs. He noted that past recruitment was regionally uneven, creating difficulties in implementing a rules-based transfer scheme as many employees seek postings near their home areas. He stated that the Ministry is recruiting and posting staff under a proper mechanism and expediting the recruitment of 1,000 substitutes to ease staffing shortages. Oral Question: Hospitals and Health Services in Kalutara District (Q.422/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof raised concerns about vaccine shortages affecting districts and requested prompt government action to resolve them. He also asked about measures to address the shortage of minor employees in the health sector, both nationally and in his district, and whether long-serving voluntary workers in the sector would be granted permanent appointments. Oral Question: Hospitals and Health Services in Kalutara District (Q.422/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan raised concerns about large-scale fraud schemes promising foreign employment and taking millions of rupees from victims. He asked how the Ministry would ensure swift legal action, justice for affected persons currently before the courts, and relief for victims. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan noted that Italy is an important source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, particularly through workers from the Puttalam District. He asked why a persistent issue affecting them had not been resolved by previous governments and what had prevented earlier intervention. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism about issues affecting Sri Lankans employed abroad, including Puttalam District workers in Italy who face difficulties renewing driving licences. He sought details on government action regarding licence renewal, responses to alleged inhuman torture of Sri Lankan migrant workers, and measures to take legal action against individuals or institutions that defraud people with false promises of foreign employment. He also asked how swindled money would be recovered, or why no action would be taken. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy criticized the 2025 Budget for relying heavily on taxation, large borrowing, and optimistic revenue projections, and questioned whether allocations for fisheries, women entrepreneurs, micro-industries, tourism, foreign employment, and poverty reduction were practical or equitably distributed. He raised concerns about vehicle import policy and affordability, arguing that restrictions on older used vehicles would increase prices despite earlier government promises. He also demanded accountability over public security following the shooting of a suspect inside the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court, calling on the relevant ministers to answer or resign. He urged the Government to move beyond blaming the past, present realistic revenue and implementation plans, cooperate with the Opposition on tax evasion and smuggling, and demonstrate measurable results rather than describing the Budget as “historic.” Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy described severe post-war social and economic challenges in the Northern Province, particularly Jaffna and Kilinochchi, including unemployment, poor infrastructure, land issues, weak agriculture and fisheries, and drug-related problems among youth. He attributed these conditions to the civil war and past failures in development planning, while welcoming 2025 Budget allocations for Northern development, including funding for the Vattuvagal Bridge, Jaffna Public Library rehabilitation, rural roads and bridges, digital initiatives, and youth-focused programmes. He urged effective implementation to revive key sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, tourism, Kankesanthurai harbour and cement, Paranthan chemicals, Chunnakam power, and island tourism, noting that past allocations had been returned or diverted. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →