Topic
Environment
980 speeches · 242 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. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi, M.P. JJB | 78 |
| 2 | Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 48 |
| 3 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 41 |
| 4 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 28 |
| 5 | Hon. Anton Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 28 |
| 6 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 22 |
| 7 | Hon. Hector Appuhamy, M.P. SJB | 19 |
| 8 | Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran, M.P. ITAK | 15 |
| 9 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 14 |
| 10 | Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 13 |
Speeches
980 on this topic- 5 December 2025 The Hon. R. G. Wijerathna JJB AI summary Hon. R. G. Wijerathna described severe disaster impacts in Nuwara Eliya District, including 71 deaths, 35 missing persons, about 40,000 affected people, and 24,000 people in 185 safe centres, while noting progress in restoring roads, electricity, and water supplies. He thanked district officials, armed forces, Indian helicopter support, utility agencies, and volunteers, including a group from Kalutara assisting in Nuwara Eliya town. He argued that past politically driven land allocations, forest clearance, and unsafe construction worsened landslide vulnerability, and said timely evacuations helped minimize the death toll despite extensive destruction. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri expressed condolences for Tri-Forces personnel and civilians who died in the disaster, and argued that the floods resulted from exceptionally intense rainfall exceeding the capacity of Sri Lanka’s mainly irrigation-based reservoirs, not from failures to open sluice gates. He said engineers acted to protect reservoir bunds and rejected Opposition claims about inadequate response and allocations, stating that Polonnaruwa received LKR 228 million for initial house-cleaning assistance and LKR 27 million for food, rations, and camp management. He reported that around 11,300 families and nearly 40,000 people were displaced in Polonnaruwa, and said repairs were underway at Elahera and Kumara Ella, including a commitment to repair damaged bridge spans within 14 days. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana described relief work he undertook after the disaster and criticized the delayed presence of state officials in several affected villages. He urged a systematic land-use policy to gazette residential, agricultural, and commercial zones, relocate people from high-risk areas to safer state lands, and provide support for restoring agricultural livelihoods. He called for reallocating public funds from celebrations and vehicle imports to disaster relief, and argued that Sri Lanka’s damage far exceeds IMF support. He also proposed reinstating regulated oil palm cultivation, raising concerns about losses in tea cultivation, fertilizer costs, and declining agricultural productivity. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Deputy Chairperson AI summary Criticized the Government’s disaster response around 28 November, arguing that declaring a public holiday and failing to declare a state of disaster under Sections 11 and 12 of the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2005, showed serious administrative weakness. Citing the National Disaster Management Plan 2023–2030, the speech said Sri Lanka is highly exposed to climate and disaster risks, with major impacts on the economy, children, infrastructure, agriculture, floods, cyclones, and landslide-prone areas. The member argued that proper implementation of the Act and the Plan could have reduced the loss of life, property damage, and wider social and economic harm. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary Clarifies Government disaster relief payments, stating that Rs. 10,000 is paid to water-logged households and Rs. 25,000 is provided for initial cleaning and sanitation. He says further compensation, based on assessments, can reach up to Rs. 2.5 million for fully or partially damaged houses, and rejects claims by an Opposition Member as misleading. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. K. Ilankumaran JJB AI summary K. Ilankumaran expressed condolences for deaths caused by Cyclone “Dissha” and reported that 16,918 families in Jaffna District and 8,778 families in Kilinochchi were affected, with shelters and relief measures arranged. He defended the Government’s response, stating that allocations were proportionate, emergency food and procurement decisions were expedited, and Rs. 25,000 was approved for affected students. He commended the President, the relevant Minister, officials and the tri-forces, while rejecting allegations of unequal treatment or misuse of relief funds and stating that foreign relief sent to his party office was distributed to affected people. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the final Committee Stage debate was overtaken by the impact of the “Dissha” cyclone, defending the declaration of special leave for public servants through Circular 30/2025 while noting that essential and disaster relief staff could still be called in. He outlined extensive national and Anuradhapura District damage, including nearly 500 deaths, around 350 missing persons, major displacement, widespread housing and crop losses, and damage to hundreds of tanks and irrigation structures. He said the Government had appointed an Essential Services Commissioner-General, was organizing cleaning and relief operations, and would need to plan for replanting, agricultural inputs, and mitigation. He also rejected criticism of rescue efforts, citing the Kalawewa bridge bus rescue as an example of coordinated action by the Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence under difficult conditions. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara argued that the 2026 Budget debate had become disconnected from the country’s disaster situation and urged the Government to consider converting available allocations into a special disaster relief and reconstruction budget. He called for cross-party cooperation rather than blame, citing lessons from the tsunami and criticizing attempts to politicize disaster preparedness and media reporting. Referring to Anuradhapura, he said over 71,000 acres of cultivation had been affected and requested practical, fair compensation beyond standard crop-loss formulas, along with rapid, universal disbursement of housing relief without burdensome means-testing. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Riyas Farook JJB AI summary Riyas Farook responded to a point raised by Rauff Hakeem regarding Akurana, noting that 29 bodies had been found in the landslide-affected area, including 11 recovered by their team. He stated that some local residents chose to bury victims at the site and added that UAE forces had arrived and were assisting with operations there. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem compared the scale of the current climate disaster with the tsunami, estimating asset losses of USD 6–7 billion, and urged the Government to treat Opposition proposals constructively. He called on the President to immediately convene an international donor conference, engage key world leaders and former Presidents, seek USD 2–3 billion in urgent support, and negotiate debt-service deferral with the IMF and bilateral creditors if needed. He highlighted severe flooding, landslides, road closures and displacement in areas including Kandy, Gampola, Akurana, Delthota and Pattiyagama, and proposed using LRC, JEDB and SPC lands for relocation subject to NBRO safety certification. He also urged mobilising university engineering faculties and experienced former officials to assist with geotechnical assessments, reconstruction planning and fundraising. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Nimal Palihena JJB AI summary Nimal Palihena said the disaster had caused losses possibly amounting to 3–5 percent of GDP and exceeded existing contingency allocations, with the Treasury estimating an immediate need of about Rs. 72 billion for relief and protection of lives. He said the Government would reallocate year-end balances and reorganize 2025 budget heads for disaster response, while defending the Treasury surplus as the result of fiscal discipline and improved governance. He called for cross-party cooperation, referred to past warnings about unsafe construction in highland areas, and linked the scale of damage to environmental mismanagement and ill-planned development. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha criticised the Government’s disaster preparedness and response, arguing that early warnings were not acted on and that alerts were too broad to prompt effective evacuation at village level. He opposed restrictions or attacks on media and online commentators, saying media outlets and local correspondents provided essential real-time information during floods and landslides. He called for localized warning systems, clearer authority for local officials, better coordination between state agencies and communities, and possible Cabinet changes to improve capacity. He also urged economic relief for affected poultry farmers and tea exporters, immediate VAT refunds, credit facilities, a deferment of Russia’s “Honest Mark” labelling requirement for Sri Lankan tea, and stronger action by foreign missions to mobilize overseas assistance. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir expressed condolences to those affected by floods and landslides and called for national unity beyond party and ethnic divisions in rescue and rebuilding efforts. He thanked political leaders and party colleagues for his appointment to Parliament and noted relief work led by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen in affected regions. He argued that village-level State officials such as Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Officers and Development Officers should be promptly empowered to improve communication and reduce suffering. He also outlined his political career in local and provincial government and emphasized his long-standing work across communities in Puttalam. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister stated that actions required under paragraphs 897(xiii) and 897(xiv) of the relevant Supreme Court judgment had been reported to Court on 25 September 2025. She said directions had been issued to agencies responsible for marine environmental protection and coastal conservation, and outlined measures by the Ministry of Environment, including proposed amendments to the Marine Pollution Prevention Act, revision of the national contingency plan to cover chemical spills, creation of a digital dashboard and 24-hour MEPA operations room, and work on policies for distressed vessels and transboundary marine plastic pollution. Ministerial Statements - X-Press Pearl Vessel Liability Case Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment of 24 July 2025 held the owner, operators and local agent of the X-Press Pearl jointly and severally liable for environmental damage, ordering USD 1 billion in interim compensation to be paid to the Treasury, of which about USD 1 million has been paid by the local agent. He said the Court has appointed independent experts to the Compensation Commission and the Marine and Coastal Environment Restoration and Protection Committee, and directed the Attorney General to take steps to secure compliance and report by 25 January 2026. He also outlined related compensation litigation in Singapore, which has been stayed due to limitation proceedings in London, where Sri Lanka’s application to set aside a general limitation order remains pending. Ministerial Statements - X-Press Pearl Vessel Liability Case Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper highlighted the impact of the 2025 “Ditva” cyclone and called for more specific government responses, while emphasizing the Opposition’s role in evidence-based scrutiny. He urged the creation of a centralized early-warning and public advisory system integrating meteorological, disaster-management, scientific and social media capacities to provide locality-specific warnings, particularly for rainfall, landslides and river flooding. He raised urgent concerns from Kandy, including fatalities and unrecovered bodies from the Rambuk Ella landslide in Akurana, problems in Mawathura, contaminated wells and lack of safe drinking water, and requested assistance for affected communities and paddy lands. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth expressed condolences for those killed and missing in the recent nationwide floods and thanked government agencies, security forces, foreign governments, NGOs and local groups involved in relief efforts. He said Ampara District had less housing damage but suffered serious impacts to agriculture, livestock, fisheries, irrigation bunds, roads and bridges, and called for expedited relief, dry rations, farmer support and payment of outstanding dues to approved relief suppliers. He requested urgent engineering works in Pottuvil and surrounding areas, including clearing and widening river channels, repairing tanks, canals, embankments and damaged bridges, and addressing departmental restrictions that delay flood-mitigation work. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne reported on the impact of the “Ditva” cyclone and the Government’s response, stating that public agencies, the Tri-Forces, private entities and civil organizations helped stabilize the disaster situation. He said telecommunications were heavily disrupted by floods and landslides, but over 90% of national telephony connectivity and all primary fiber backbones had been restored, with remaining outages mainly due to power failures, damaged secondary links and unsafe access to affected sites. He noted that telecom operators provided free emergency top-ups, Starlink would provide free service in affected areas until end-December, and recovery would proceed under the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary On behalf of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe expressed condolences for those killed, missing, and affected by the recent cyclone and floods, citing reported figures and noting that all 25 districts were impacted. He argued that disaster management systems and natural drainage protections must be strengthened, warning that human settlement on waterways worsens flooding, and called for government, opposition, officials, and security forces to work together on recovery and future planning. He also noted his participation in National Disaster Management Council meetings and criticized the Government’s earlier refusal to allow an Opposition-requested debate on the disaster, saying such a debate could have promoted greater unity. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena expressed condolences for disaster deaths and described widespread flooding and damage across Monaragala District, while thanking officials, security forces, local representatives and community workers involved in relief. He alleged that delayed operation of the Kumbukkan Oya Okkampitiya anicut gates caused a sudden deluge that destroyed two bridges and disrupted farmers’ access, and requested an investigation and urgent reconstruction. He also asked that relief payments be increased, concessional electricity meter replacements be provided for affected households, aid be expedited to hill-country Tamil communities, and disaster assistance not be politicized through programmes or labels such as “Red Star.” Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →