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- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage supported the 2025 Budget as the Government’s first budget, arguing that it advances a production economy with public participation and fair distribution. He highlighted allocations and measures for agriculture, fisheries and food supply, including Rs. 35 billion for paddy cultivation, Rs. 5 billion for paddy procurement, Rs. 78 billion for irrigation, a proposed rail-based harvest transport system, Rs. 500 million for the Northern Coconut Triangle, and an increased fisheries allocation of Rs. 11.4 billion. He also outlined plans for cooperative village-level paddy harvesting, milling and distribution, and cited increases to welfare and education-related allowances such as pre-school meals, scholarships, university bursaries, kidney patient support and elderly assistance. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB AI summary Hon. Danushka Ranganath supported the Budget, highlighting allocations for estate schools, housing for plantation workers, vocational training for plantation youth, the Clean Sri Lanka programme, and a proposed Sri Lankan Day national festival. He argued that these measures aim to improve housing, education, formal employment opportunities, and social, environmental and ethical development, while stating that Rs. 5,000 million has been allocated for Clean Sri Lanka and Rs. 300 million for Sri Lankan Day. He rejected Opposition claims that the Budget reflects Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policies, contrasting it with past spending and noting reductions in government privileges such as vehicle permits, vehicle imports and MPs’ insurance. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa — Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment AI summary Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa defended the Government’s first Budget against claims that it lacked vision or was externally driven, stating that it was prepared by officials, professionals and the new administration to promote clean and people-centred governance. He highlighted public sector salary increases, higher disaster loan limits, export targets of about USD 19 billion, use of underutilized state lands, tourism development, and plans to connect rural producers and youth entrepreneurs to markets. Responding to criticism that the Eastern Province had been neglected, he cited allocations and assistance for provincial development, agriculture, irrigation, youth cooperatives, dairy, fisheries and schemes such as Gal Oya, saying these measures would benefit communities across the East. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB AI summary Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage supported the Budget as a historic and fiscally disciplined measure, highlighting increased Mahapola, student, and TVET allowances and allocations for plantation youth vocational training, youth agri-entrepreneurs, and the Clean Sri Lanka programme. Drawing on his own experience in agriculture, he emphasized the need for transparent land and finance procedures, efficient implementation by public officials, and use of decentralized funds in Gampaha for agri-industrial development and flood management. He also welcomed salary increases and planned recruitment in the public service, arguing these should create merit-based opportunities for youth, and called on the Opposition to offer constructive scrutiny rather than focus on issues such as the removal of vehicle permits. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Government’s first Budget as a people-centred and structured programme, highlighting allocations for neglected groups and the health sector’s record Rs. 604 billion allocation. He said the Government is addressing medicine and equipment shortages, hospital queues, health staff facilities, transfers, allowances, training issues, and professional migration through short-, medium-, and long-term measures, including improved data systems and primary care development. He also stated that public sector salaries and related allowances have been substantially increased after nine years, with tax burdens on professionals reduced, and said the impact would be visible in salaries by early April. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake defended the 2025 Budget as the National People’s Power Government’s inaugural programme to restore economic stability, expand production in agriculture, industry and services, and ensure wider participation and fair distribution of benefits. He rejected Opposition claims that it is an election, IMF, or anti-private-sector Budget, citing proposals for investment protection, port and logistics development, exporter support, and measures to improve GDP growth, inflation stability, and the current account. He highlighted allocations and initiatives for social protection, health, education, early childhood nutrition, public transport, prisoners, orphans, persons with disabilities, youth employment, and youth mental health. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the Government’s first Budget, arguing that it responds to the public mandate to stabilize the economy, strengthen social welfare, and change prior political and economic practices. He highlighted provisions including allowances for orphans and children in remand homes, salary increases and higher annual increments across public sector grades, and revised remuneration for doctors. He stated that the Budget provides relief to workers, pensioners, plantation communities, and vulnerable groups without new burdens, asset sales, or additional debt, while redirecting reduced wasteful expenditure toward welfare, infrastructure, and the production economy. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa criticized the Budget as relying on pre-Budget tax increases while adopting policies similar to those previously opposed by the Government, and questioned whether revenue targets under the IMF programme are realistic. He welcomed digitalization initiatives such as the Unique Digital Identity, but urged the Government to operationalize the Data Protection Authority and raised concerns about taxes on digital services, ICT exports, and creator-economy earnings. He questioned the affordability of vehicle imports under current taxes, the viability of a development bank without collateral-lending reforms, the removal of SVAT for exporters, and the Government’s approach to FDI and investor relations. He also contrasted current education allocations with earlier pledges and raised concerns about transport spending priorities. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister defended the Government’s maiden Budget against Opposition claims that it follows past IMF or corporate-oriented policies, arguing that its distinction is a shift toward increasing incomes, production, rural industry, entrepreneurship, and public trust in taxation. He cited steps including a planned Rs. 50 billion development fund through State banks, onboarding of 15,000 entrepreneurs, salary and pension increases, private-sector wage measures, digital payment reforms, transport modernization, and support for children leaving institutional care. He said Rs. 99 billion is allocated under economic services and entrepreneurship, including Rs. 38 billion for SME development, and outlined industrial plans such as reviving Valaichchenai Paper City, Paranthan chemicals industry, Kankesanthurai salt works, State paper reuse, and the Northern Coconut Triangle. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana raised a point of order concerning reductions to doctors’ overtime payments, stating that the “80/1” extra duty payment had been reduced to “120/1.” He linked this to wider concerns over doctors’ remuneration and benefits, including the absence of vehicle permits, transport allowances, or drivers, and recalled that lowering the retirement age during a previous Health Minister’s tenure contributed to a reported exodus of nearly 2,000 doctors. He urged the Government and the Minister of Health to safeguard doctors and address these employment conditions. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha outlined the status and funding of the Aswesuma programme, stating that 1,800,032 families had been selected by year-end and that a further 0.8 million applications would be reviewed through village-level committees. He said 2025 expenditure for Aswesuma would total Rs. 232.5 billion, including Rs. 72 billion in World Bank support, and that the nature of that support would be verified. He also described poverty-reduction plans to integrate low-income families into productive economic activity, with allocations for empowering 25,000 families and village-level production. On trade, he set out export promotion measures including the National Export Development Plan 2025–2029, a US$ 19 billion export target for 2025, economic diplomacy, trade digitalization, infrastructure improvements and industrial zone development. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined the poverty and census data used in preparing the Budget, including official poverty lines, HIES 2019, the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019 and a 2023 household survey, and gave timelines for forthcoming statistical releases. He said the next HIES will run from January 2025 to January 2026, with reports due in June and August 2026, and updated Parliament on the Population and Housing Census, including delays in Colombo and Gampaha and a preliminary enumeration report due on 5 March 2025. On Aswesuma, he stated that cash transfers alone cannot eradicate poverty and that the Government is developing an integrated, data-driven poverty-exit approach, while acknowledging beneficiary selection issues and describing the appeals and additional application processes. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 19 February 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, raising questions under Standing Order 27(2), asked what updated poverty data and sources were used in preparing the Budget and when new HIES and census reports would be released. He sought the Government’s position on whether the Aswesuma programme can eradicate poverty, its beneficiary selection issues, funding sources, and sustainability. He also asked whether the Government has a broader poverty-eradication strategy beyond cash assistance and what plans exist to protect exporters and poor communities affected by global tariff changes and protectionism. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister of Energy to provide details on the Ceylon Electricity Board’s incorporation date, government capital investment, and its short- and long-term loan liabilities. He also requested information on CEB staffing numbers and monthly expenditure in 2024 on salaries, overtime, allowances, bonuses, transport and other emoluments, and asked whether CEB pays PAYE tax for its staff and, if not, when and why it stopped. Oral Question No. 179/2024: CEB Payment of Loans and Staff Emoluments Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Hon. Eranga Gunasekara defended the 2025 Budget as a “Citizens’ Budget” and a first step in system change, arguing that it redirects state resources from political privileges to public benefit and reflects the mandate of the NPP Government. He highlighted allocations for youth and sports, vocational education, digital initiatives, public sector recruitment, youth entrepreneurship, agriculture, and sports infrastructure, including refurbishment of Sugathadasa Stadium. He said 30,000 public sector recruitments would be conducted through planned examinations and interviews, with graduates prioritized, and stated that the Government would implement the Budget after its passage. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. R. M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB AI summary Hon. R. M. Jayawardhana defended the NPP Government’s first Budget, stating that it was organized around 12 priority areas including health, education, transport, agriculture, social protection, national security, and public services. He clarified that the proposed Sinhala-Tamil New Year “essentials pack” would be a concessional Lanka Sathosa package worth about Rs. 15,000 sold for Rs. 10,000, not a free handout. He highlighted increases to Mahapola and other student stipends, allocations for SMEs, industrial parks, tourism, agriculture, education, and Eastern Province irrigation, and said the Government was seeking to sustain Pelwatte and Sevanagala sugar companies without closures. He concluded that the Budget provided salary and pension improvements and reflected better public financial management. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad argued that the Budget should focus more on credible revenue generation, private-sector-led growth, and reducing the State’s footprint rather than expanding expenditure and promises. He welcomed the Government’s engagement with the IMF, India and the United States, and its apparent shift away from isolationist or socialist policies, but questioned how the spending gap would be funded without new taxes or borrowing. He also said digitalization should be used to rationalize the public service, criticised the proposal to create 30,000 new government jobs as contradictory, and urged the creation of a pension fund mechanism to manage future liabilities from salary and pension changes. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe – Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary Chathuranga Abeysinghe said the Budget implements the NPP’s economic programme within current IMF constraints while laying the basis for faster growth from 2029 through a production-oriented economy involving the state, private sector, and cooperatives. He outlined measures including Ease of Doing Business and legal reforms, digital economy funding, lower production costs, investment in industrial land, ports and infrastructure, SME and skills support, development finance, R&D commercialization, trade promotion, and an export target of US$19 billion. He argued that the Budget departs from the previous economic model and is intended to initiate broader development-focused reforms between 2026 and 2028. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister defended the Budget’s public sector wage reforms, stating that they preserve a 1:4 wage progression while addressing long-standing salary anomalies and pension-related issues. He said Rs. 325 billion would be allocated over three years, raising the minimum basic salary to Rs. 40,000 and increasing wages across grades, with phased implementation due to fiscal constraints. He rejected claims that overtime and allowances for doctors, nurses, and university academics were being reduced, arguing that revised calculations and higher basic salaries would increase earnings, and invited further proposals on medical trainees’ hours during the Health Ministry debate. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe defended the Budget’s wage proposals, rejecting Opposition claims that the increases are minimal and describing them as the largest wage increase in Budget history. He said the private sector minimum basic wage would be raised from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000 from 1 April and to Rs. 30,000 from 1 January through amendments to the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, increasing related benefits such as EPF, ETF, gratuity, bonuses and overtime. He also said plantation sector wages had been negotiated to a daily minimum of Rs. 1,350 with additional productivity incentives, while efforts continue to raise monthly incomes closer to Rs. 40,000. Responding to concerns about funding 30,000 recruitments, he stated recruitment would be phased through examinations and interviews and that allocations would be sufficient for an estimated 15,000 recruits over six months. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →