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- 22 January 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition raised a series of sectoral grievances, urging Government action on rising shootings and drug-related crime, passport issuance delays, alleged tax losses from coconut oil imports, port container congestion, and the restoration of a 15 per cent interest scheme for senior citizens. He also called for consultations on vehicle and safari jeep regulations, employment solutions for unemployed graduates, pathways for Development Officers into teaching, expedited recruitment to the Sri Lanka Teacher Educators’ Service, and new student nurse intake gazettes. He further requested expanded B.Ed. technology education opportunities, remedies for Grama Niladhari service issues, and implementation of the Government’s pledged one-third electricity tariff reduction, noting that the PUCSL had approved only a 20 per cent cut. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Read →
- 22 January 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a Private Notice question on reports that Sri Lankan youth, including Tamil and Sinhala jobseekers misled by employment agents, had been forcibly enlisted in the Russian military and were out of contact with their families. He named several missing persons from Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Uduvil, including one missing since October 2022 near the Belarus-Russia border, and asked the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister to state how many Sri Lankans were enlisted, whether any deaths were confirmed, what bilateral action was being taken to rescue and repatriate them, and what support was available for affected families. Oral Question by Private Notice: Issues Faced by Youth Migrated to Russia (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 21 January 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary Recruitment irregularities over a period are being reviewed, with an assurance that action will be taken without prejudicing any group. The Minister explained that the contested 100-mark threshold should be assessed according to available vacancies, similar to annually varying university admission cut-off marks, and stated that steps would be taken to prevent injustice. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 21 January 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a Point of Order regarding recruitment to the Management Assistants’ Service, noting that over 5,000 vacancies remain while recruitment procedures are delayed or inconsistent. He stated that only candidates scoring above 116 marks have been recruited despite the previous practice of appointing those scoring above 100, and requested a fair arrangement to appoint all candidates with marks of 100 or more. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 21 January 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary Pensions for officers who retired between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019 have been revised only up to the first two stages under the relevant Public Administration Circulars, while stages 3 to 5 remain pending due to earlier Cabinet suspensions and a need for a further policy decision. A Fundamental Rights case is pending before the Supreme Court, after which the matter is to be submitted to Cabinet for a decision on payments. Implementing the remaining stages for 112,984 retirees would require an additional annual provision of Rs. 7,704 million, and 1,254 of those retirees have since died. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 21 January 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa said the Ministry of Health is working to establish End-Post positions on a scientific, needs-based basis to ensure patient care, support doctors, and maintain medical student training. He stated that discussions are ongoing with specialist and medical officer associations to regularize the process, particularly through teaching hospitals, and to create a mechanism for deploying specialists to underserved locations. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 21 January 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera sought clarification on the placement process for specialist medical teams returning after overseas training, stating that poor placements and inadequate facilities have contributed to specialists leaving Sri Lanka again. He highlighted impacts on fields such as ENT and requested data on specialists currently in service, those who have left, and those expected to return, so that placements can be planned to prevent future shortages. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 21 January 2025 Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage responded to questions on the Kalutara District Sports Complex, stating that it was opened in 2017, the swimming pool in 2018, and Rs. 241.314 million had been spent. He said sports activities continue, management through an MoU with external parties is being considered, funds have been allocated for future works, and a technical report has been requested on the 400-metre track before further development. He added that steps will be taken with the Pradeshiya Sabha to provide parking on idle land, and that while no agreement exists with Sri Lanka Cricket, maintenance is currently supported by the Kalutara District Cricket Association pending formal vesting of the complex in the Sports Development Department. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 9 January 2025 Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayasinghe AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayasinghe said inflation had been reduced from the extreme levels of 2022 and 2023 to a disinflationary position, though not deflation, and argued that it must be kept under firm control without destabilising the economy. He highlighted that real wages in the public, formal private, and informal sectors had fallen sharply since 2021, making wage recovery and expanded assistance schemes important, with further wage increases to be considered in the Budget. He also said the Government was monitoring possible artificial shortages and cartel activity, particularly in essential goods such as rice, and would intervene where market behaviour created instability, while rejecting arbitrary price controls. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister rejected the Adjournment Motion’s claims that the Government was failing to address shortages, high prices and market distortions, arguing that the NPP had inherited a severely weakened economy requiring gradual and prudent corrective measures. He denied allegations that the Government had promised an immediate 60 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs, stating that tariff reductions must be calibrated to avoid harming production. He said recent price pressures should be assessed through inflation trends, noting that the previous administration had presided over very high food and headline inflation, while the current Government was working to stabilize prices, support production and implement structural reforms. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah said the Government should address post-war issues in the Northern Province, including returning private lands in areas such as Valikamam North, reopening restricted roads, releasing long-detained political prisoners, and providing answers on missing persons. He highlighted shortages in health services in Jaffna and Kilinochchi, calling for cadre revisions, filling vacancies, and constructing a proper maternity ward at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, where he said more than 6,000 births occur annually in temporary facilities. He also called for strong action against narcotics and for industrial development to create employment opportunities for youth. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan argued that hill country plantation communities remain among Sri Lanka’s most disadvantaged groups, citing lack of land, housing, education, basic facilities, and findings by FAO, WFP and Red Cross bodies. He urged the government, ahead of the March Budget, to set the basic daily wage of estate workers at Rs. 2,000 and called on plantation trade unions, including the All Ceylon Estate Workers’ Union, to act jointly on this demand. He also proposed imposing a cess on tea exports and using targeted support for value-added exporters to help fund wage increases, while noting that the Sri Lanka Tea Board lacks worker representation despite its mandate referring to plantation community development. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara JJB AI summary Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara defended the Government’s performance during its first 49 days, citing measures on fertilizer subsidies, paddy purchasing and storage, support for small millers, fisheries fuel relief, Aswesuma benefits, school supply assistance, pensioner support, and tourism targets. He called for an investigation into alleged misuse of the President’s Fund and accused the Opposition of criticizing government measures for electoral reasons. He also invited Opposition support for the Clean Sri Lanka programme and poverty alleviation initiatives while stating that implementation would be strengthened and accelerated. Adjournment Debate: Government Performance and Commodity Prices Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera raised concerns about the recent emigration of doctors and specialists, noting that many more qualified doctors remain in Sri Lanka after passing migration-related exams. He asked what measures are being taken to retain medical professionals and address staffing shortages in the health system, citing a shortage of about 665 nurses at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya despite some nurses having completed training. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayathissa stated that health professionals have gone abroad for employment, education and other reasons, but said continuous recruitment, training and human resource management are being used to maintain services and fill vacancies. He noted that doctors’ retirement age has been extended to 63, and that detailed cadre data on current staff, future needs, pre-retirement departures and those in training had been tabled in an annex. He outlined measures including deploying returning specialists, recruiting medical officers after house officer training, recruiting the 2019 nursing intake in early 2025, filling supplementary and paramedical posts, and proceeding with approved minor and junior grade recruitments, while acknowledging deployment challenges from past recruitment patterns. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary The Minister said authorities have received reports of fraudulent agents taking money by falsely promising employment in Korea, and that legal action has been taken in some cases, including arrests. He urged the public not to fall victim to such scams and said the Government would intervene lawfully and take necessary action when information is received. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra raised a supplementary question about institutions and agents collecting money by claiming to arrange Korean or other foreign employment. She asked whether such jobs are provided under Government auspices and, if not, what action would be taken against the entities and individuals involved. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the Government is working to increase legal foreign employment opportunities for youth in Korea under the E9 and E7 categories, with plans to send larger numbers. He noted that many applicants have been defrauded by agents charging Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1.2 million, and said relief mechanisms would be formulated for affected victims while expanding lawful employment pathways to other countries. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Asked whether the Government will establish a proper mechanism to regularize Korean employment, citing recent issues involving former Ministers and connected parties allegedly collecting large sums from rural youth by promising jobs in Korea. Emphasized that Korean employment is a sensitive issue for rural youth and sought safeguards for future recruitment. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary The Minister stated that Sri Lankan workers for Korea are formally sent under E9 and E7 visa categories, while the Government has not recognized any E8 visa mechanism and the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency has no registration, monitoring, or intervention capacity for persons who may have gone under E8 visas. He said an April 2024 MoU signed by the then Labour Minister concerning E8 visas was unlawful because it lacked proper Cabinet approval and was not routed through the established foreign employment process. He further alleged the MoU was irregularly held at the Labour Ministry and contained drafting errors suggesting it was copied from a Korea–Pakistan agreement. Oral Questions Read →