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- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi said he would personally inspect the matter in coordination with the Coast Conservation Department. He committed to preparing a prompt action plan and stated that maximum intervention would be made to resolve the issue. Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan raised concerns about worsening coastal erosion along the Puttalam stretch from Modaragam Aru through Wilpattu to Mannar, citing damage to fishing communities, homes, harbours, boat landing areas, and traditional shore-based activities. He said existing protections, including the Chilaw rock revetment, are being overtopped and requested urgent funding, a ministerial site visit, and the creation of a rock stockpile for rapid response during erosion events. Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary The Minister of Environment responded to a question on coastal erosion in Puttalam District, identifying affected areas including Iranavila, Ambakandavila, Ilanthadiya, Alankuda, Kudaawa, Kandakkuliya and Karukapane, with erosion worsened by monsoons and storms and affecting property, livelihoods and access routes. He stated that while beach nourishment using deep-sea sand is the preferred scientific solution, current economic constraints have led to priority being given to lower-cost coastal protection structures. He outlined ongoing and planned 2025 works amounting to Rs. 62.5 million and proposed 2026 works amounting to Rs. 73 million, including revetments, groynes and emergency protection measures in several locations. Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan asked the Minister of Environment whether he is aware of severe sea erosion along the Puttalam District coast, including loss of land, property and religious statues. He noted prior interventions by coastal conservation authorities but alleged inadequate funding by previous governments, and requested details of measures being taken to prevent further erosion in the district. Oral Question: Sea Erosion in Puttalam District (Q.9/2025 – 956/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara proposed that the Deputy Minister identify Land Reform Commission lands causing environmental damage, citing Gin Ganga Mitiya Watta and harm to rivers that may contribute to flooding. He urged the implementation of a plan to address these environmentally harmful land uses. Oral Question: Transfer of LRC Lands to Private Individuals (Q.7/2025 – 869/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara asked about designating the broader southern wet zone ecosystem, including areas in Galle and Matara such as Kanneliya, Sinharaja, and Hiniduma, as one tourism zone under a single administrative framework. He requested clarification from the Tourism Ministry on the process for gazetting the entire cross-district area as a tourism zone. Oral Question: Tourism Zones in Matara District (Q.6/2025 – 866/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to provide details on Lanka Phosphate Limited’s rock phosphate exports in 2023 and 2024 and to clarify whether exports from Eppawala complied with the Bulankulama case Determination and the Cabinet Decision of 02.11.2012 requiring value addition. He sought information on procurement procedures for selecting export buyers, the names of any companies selected without formal procurement, whether permitted export limits were exceeded, and the quantities involved. He also asked whether phosphate with a higher-than-stipulated 38 per cent content had been exported despite a 28 per cent limit, and what loss, if any, resulted. Oral Question: Export of Rock Phosphate (Q.5/2025 – 857/2025) Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary The Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised a question about a road closure causing traffic congestion and environmental pollution. She asked whether the Government would reopen the road or provide an alternative route to reduce the resulting problems. Oral Question: Security at Temple of the Tooth Relic and Road Closure Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna asked whether the Government would reconsider the continued closure of the road in front of the Temple of the Tooth, originally imposed after LTTE and JVP-related security threats, noting that those threats are no longer present. She stated that the closure contributes to severe traffic congestion and environmental pollution in Kandy, and asked whether the road would be reopened or an alternative route, such as Ampitiya to Peradeniya, would be provided. Oral Question: Security at Temple of the Tooth Relic and Road Closure Read →
- 23 July 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Asked whether the Ministry is aware of public complaints that an afforestation planting scheme linked to SARP tank restoration in the Galgamuwa electorate has failed and misled residents. He requested to know whether any financial audit or inquiry has been conducted into losses arising from the project. Oral Question: Reservoirs and Tank Management (Q.3/2025 – 794/2025) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan supported the proposed amendment to the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Bill to set plantation workers’ minimum wage at Rs. 1,700 per day or an equivalent monthly wage. He called for a government investigation into the July 1983 Welikada Prison massacre of Tamil political prisoners, linking it to Black July and noting that other major killings are being investigated. He also urged Ministers to visit Mannar, consult local representatives and residents, and halt ilmenite mineral sand mining and address wind power projects in Pesalai and surrounding areas, warning that continued activity without community consent could lead to conflict. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to implement the existing Action Plan for elephant conservation, emphasizing that the issue concerns environmental and wildlife protection rather than politics. He noted that only about 6–7 percent of Sri Lankan Asian elephants have tusks, compared with 70–90 percent in India, and that the plan reflects the reality that most elephants live outside protected areas and overlap with human settlements. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition clarified that the HEC Action Plan was prepared by named experts rather than former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and questioned why it had not been implemented. He rejected claims that he had criticized veterinarians, stating that he had praised those who treated the “Bhathiya” elephant. He also challenged the Minister’s remarks on elephant tusks, arguing that the distinction between African and Asian elephants had been misrepresented in the House. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi said a recent cluster of gunshot injuries to elephants suggested a possible organized effort to generate media attention and political agitation, and urged that elephants not be used for narrow political purposes. He thanked veterinary, security, local government, community, and Indian medical teams involved in the “Bhathiya” elephant case, while noting the animal died before the foreign veterinarians arrived. He said the Government would establish a wildlife hospital and mobile veterinary unit, and had requested a CID investigation into possible organized activity, including trade union actions linked to mortality spikes, while citing recent forest reserve declarations as evidence of its conservation efforts. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi raised concerns about the limited capacity of Sri Lanka’s wildlife veterinary service, noting that only 12 veterinarians are responsible for treating all wildlife species nationwide. He emphasized that, unlike in other countries, they lack support staff such as nurses, technical assistants, or handlers and often have to work alone in the field. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary The Minister replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question on human-elephant conflict, stating that the 2024 elephant survey data are still under scientific analysis and that the last published nationwide figure from 2011 was at least 5,879 elephants. He outlined the status of the 2020 National Action Plan, relevant agencies, fatality figures from 2020 to 2025, compensation levels, and legal protections under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, with annexes placed in the Library. He said the Government would appoint a stakeholder committee on the Animal Welfare Bill, investigate recent elephant shootings through the CID, and address veterinary capacity constraints through recruitment, a planned wildlife hospital, and a mobile veterinary unit. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Sajith Premadasa raised the human-elephant conflict as an urgent matter, citing deaths, property and crop damage, and elephant fatalities amid the absence of a stable response mechanism. He requested data on recent elephant censuses, implementation of the 2020 National Action Plan for mitigation, timelines, five-year human and elephant death figures, compensation criteria and procedures, applicable legal penalties for killing elephants, and the Government’s position on the Animal Welfare Bill. He also asked about Wildlife Conservation Department staffing by region and whether international treatment and rehabilitation models, including partnerships such as Wildlife SOS, would be adopted. SO 27(2) Question: Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar said the Government is examining illegal and harmful fishing practices, particularly purse seine net use, night diving and fishing with powerful lights, following concerns raised about fishermen in Trincomalee and other coastal districts. He stated that although purse seine fishing is already banned, enforcement problems remain, and a new Cabinet paper has been submitted with legislation being drafted for future presentation to Parliament. He said NARA and NAQDA have been asked to study related issues, including possible amendments on mesh size, while the Government is considering future action against illegal night diving and wider measures to protect marine resources and fishermen’s livelihoods. Adjournment - Fishing Practices in Trincomalee and Parliamentary Decentralized Funds Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof asked why permits for night diving to catch cuttlefish, suspended since 2019, have not been restored, noting its foreign exchange value and asking whether NARA or NAQDA has issued guidance. He requested annual data on income from night-caught cuttlefish for 2015–2025 and sought clarification on lawful alternatives for fishermen affected by the prohibition on purse seine fishing, particularly in his district. Adjournment - Fishing Practices in Trincomalee and Parliamentary Decentralized Funds Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary While supporting the motion, Ajith P. Perera urged the Government to prioritize an updated national elephant census, noting that the last census was conducted in 2011 and recorded 5,879 elephants, including 122 tuskers. He cited recent human–elephant conflict deaths among both people and elephants and requested accurate data on elephant numbers, sex ratios, district and reserve distribution, corridors, and movement patterns. He argued that such data is necessary for agriculture, tourism, conservation, and national planning. Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement Read →