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- 5 December 2024 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister argued that Sri Lanka’s recovery requires an export-led, productivity-driven development strategy supported by consistent national and industrial policy, stronger institutions, skills development, rule of law, anti-corruption measures, and reforms to attract investment. He said the Government would consolidate and strengthen agencies such as the IDB, EDB, NEDA, the Small Enterprises Development Division, and the National Productivity Secretariat, while improving ease of doing business, development finance, logistics, energy reliability, certification processes, and tax rationalisation within the IMF framework. He rejected claims of Rs. 3,000 billion in new borrowing, describing the figure as a debt exchange accounting entry, and set export targets including increasing total exports to about USD 45 billion with sectoral growth in IT, apparel, agriculture, port services, and tourism. He also said the Government would directly engage industries to address costs, technology, credit and licensing constraints, and would improve delivery of SME support after previous concessional loan schemes reached very few firms. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Read →
- 5 December 2024 The Hon. Najith Indika JJB AI summary Hon. Najith Indika rejected Opposition claims that the NPP had promoted social hatred, arguing instead that fear-based campaign allegations against the NPP constituted such rhetoric. He contrasted the Government’s economic policy with what he described as Ranil Wickremesinghe’s path, citing the closure of the urea plant, rising public debt, privatization of state enterprises, and recent proposals involving the CEB and petroleum sectors. He said the NPP’s mandate was for a different model based on state-led planning, retaining sovereign control over strategic utilities, and mobilizing private and cooperative investment under national plans. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Nalin Hewage - Deputy Minister of Vocational Education JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage defended the Government’s policy statement as a historic mandate for a people-rooted administration and said it would not waste public trust despite inheriting bankruptcy, shortages, and institutional distrust. He attributed current rice and coconut supply problems to past governments but said immediate measures were being taken to protect consumers and prevent hunger, while reiterating commitments to a limited Cabinet, anti-corruption action, poverty relief, and resolving plantation community issues on land, housing, and wages. On education, he highlighted declining Grade 1 enrolment, high dropout rates after Grade 8, and links between low educational attainment and imprisonment, proposing that all children after nine years of schooling be directed into either general or vocational education. He argued that vocational education funding is disproportionately low compared with enrolment and said this imbalance must be corrected in the forthcoming budget aligned with the Government’s policy vision. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah thanked voters and pledged support for constructive measures of the new National People’s Power Government, while urging implementation of the President’s policy programme. He highlighted severe flood damage in Batticaloa District and requested immediate assistance for affected families staying temporarily with relatives or friends before entering camps, as well as equipment and support to clear and rehabilitate canals and drainage systems. He also supported the President’s focus on developing the IT sector, citing SLASSCOM’s Vision 2030 proposals to achieve US$5 billion in exports, a 200,000-strong workforce and 1,000 start-ups through STEM expansion, public-private partnerships, student financing, scholarships, and reskilling programmes. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera welcomed the President’s policy statement but questioned whether its commitments would be implemented, citing past failures of governments to fulfil such pledges. He criticized the Government for not announcing immediate measures to address rising living costs, including rice prices, and warned that import duties on rice could prevent consumers from receiving price relief. He also called for urgent support for SMEs through reduced input costs, especially electricity tariffs, and urged action to provide the promised Rs. 1,700 daily wage for estate workers. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara framed the NPP’s electoral mandate as the outcome of a long political process and the people’s aspirations expressed during the Aragalaya, including ending corruption, recovering stolen assets, and changing the political system. He said the Government would address youth issues through planned short-, medium- and long-term interventions, citing unemployment, education, extremism, mental health, drugs, technology, culture, health and climate pressures as key challenges. He proposed a scientific framework for youth employment, placement of over 35,000 unemployed graduates in suitable jobs within a year, and new initiatives including the V4R digital platform, the “11135” rural IT and English programme, and MMC multi-purpose centres. He also pledged to depoliticize sports administration and called on political parties to settle unpaid dues to the Sugathadasa Sports Complex, which he said exceed Rs. 11.4 million. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister argued that the Government’s mandate represents a major political change driven by public demand for an end to corruption, dynastic politics and poverty-focused governance failures. He attributed Sri Lanka’s economic crisis to long-term policy failures since 1977, citing debt, deficits, weak exports, poor business and innovation rankings, and declining progress on Sustainable Development Goals. He said the Government would pursue industrial and entrepreneurial reform, including reversing harmful import and tax policies, supporting SMEs and domestic industries, and introducing an anti-dumping Bill in the first quarter of the following year. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Eranga Weerarathna - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy AI summary Eranga Weerarathna said the Government’s mandate was to address political, economic, and social decline, including through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to promote discipline, respect for law, and social reform. He outlined the Digital Economy Ministry’s priorities, including restoring and modernizing failed State IT systems, consolidating fragmented digital policy under a national strategy, resolving visa and passport system disruptions, and enforcing digital governance standards. He proposed expanding the engineering workforce to 200,000 by 2030, bridging unemployed graduates into technology jobs, and growing IT/BPM exports to USD 5 billion and the wider digital economy to USD 15 billion by 2030 through public-private cooperation, fintech reforms, Digital ID, and improved ease of doing business. He also stated that Sri Lanka Telecom would remain State-owned while being made profitable. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe outlined the National People’s Power tourism policy, emphasizing a participatory and sustainable model that includes small operators and protects cultural and natural resources such as Yala and Mirissa. He said tourism should generate short-term foreign exchange, targeting over two million arrivals and USD 3 billion in 2024, rising to five million arrivals and USD 5 billion in 2025, with a longer-term goal of a USD 10 billion tourism economy by 2030. He criticized frequent changes to Sri Lanka’s tourism branding and proposed a unified national branding campaign covering tourism, gems, tea, heritage and natural assets, supported by strategic reforms including amendments to the Tourism Act and coordination across relevant institutions. Ministerial Statement: Arrests for Spreading False Information on Social Media Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj said the new parliamentary mandate reflected a shift toward policy-based politics and noted the increased representation of women in Parliament. She outlined government priorities to protect and uplift women and children, including better safeguards for women workers at home and abroad, enforcement against violence, improved safe public infrastructure such as sanitary toilets, and stronger systems beyond legislation. She also highlighted concerns over substandard pediatric medicines and unsafe food, pledging action on medicine quality and food standards, and framed the election result as a rejection of communalism in favour of a shared Sri Lankan identity. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti defended the new Government’s early performance, arguing that criticism about inexperience is premature given that it has held only a few Cabinet meetings and has already responded effectively to recent floods. He said the President’s policy vision centres on a national production economy, wider public participation, equitable distribution of benefits, export expansion, tourism growth, digitalization, and the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme. As Industry Minister, he criticized past policies that left many state industrial institutions inactive or marked for sale, and argued that state-owned industry should be revived as a strong competitive pillar alongside the private sector. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government’s “Prosperous Country, Beautiful Life” policy aims to address debt, poverty, and multidimensional deprivation through education, health, rural development, and community empowerment. He argued that Sri Lanka must reduce rural and estate poverty by raising agricultural productivity, particularly paddy yields, while using temporary rice imports only to stabilize supply after disruptions such as floods. He outlined plans to improve exports, including doubling tea foreign exchange earnings through value addition and productivity, and said the new Ministry would focus on empowerment rather than welfare alone. He also announced proposed increases in allowances for elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and patients with chronic illnesses in the next Budget. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hemali Weerasekara - Deputy Chairperson of Committees JJB AI summary Hon. Hemali Weerasekara highlighted women’s social, economic and political inequalities, arguing that past policies weakened welfare services and that women’s representation remains low despite their majority share of the electorate. She described the NPP’s “Women, Together as One” mobilization programme and called for policies to raise women’s representation in political structures to at least 50 percent. She proposed labour law reforms, socializing care work, expanding women’s entrepreneurship through credit, training and village-level industrial initiatives, and strengthening legal and institutional protections against violence in line with international commitments. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe thanked voters for the NPP’s electoral mandate and said the Government would enforce or introduce laws if necessary to counter racism, religious extremism, and unlawful commemorations. He called on the public service to support the Government’s reform agenda, pledging depoliticization, a National Salary Structure, and action on salary anomalies, promotions, transfers, and service issues affecting teachers, principals, teacher instructors, and school development officers. As Deputy Minister of Labour, he said wage determinations in the private, plantation, and semi-government sectors would be reviewed to ensure fair wages and better employer-employee relations. He also defended the Government’s handling of a recent protest at the Education Ministry, saying the new Cabinet needed time to engage, and highlighted initiatives on digitization, “Clean Sri Lanka,” and rural poverty eradication. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →