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- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB AI summary Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana emphasized Sri Lanka’s vulnerability to climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and other environmental pressures, and argued that the Ministry of Environment has a central responsibility to protect ecosystems for future generations. He said the Government has consolidated key environmental, wildlife, coastal, forestry and related institutions under one Ministry and established ten committees with experts and activists to support coordinated decision-making. He stated that Ministry officers will inspect proposed development sites before Environmental Impact Assessments are finalized, and called for a new national forest survey, noting disputed forest-cover figures and low forest cover in districts such as Gampaha and Colombo. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB AI summary Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala stated that the budget’s environmental allocations under political leadership now recognize distinct ecosystem needs. He expressed confidence that these measures could support national environmental renewal. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB AI summary Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala said the Ministry of Environment has a distinct mandate to protect and manage Sri Lanka’s natural resources for present and future generations. He noted that 12 environment-related institutions have been consolidated under the Ministry, ending prior fragmentation and enabling more coordinated regulation and conservation. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s unique environmental features, including its central highlands, monsoon systems, river networks, aquifers, coral reefs, climate gradients, and biodiversity, and said the Ministry is bringing environmental specialists together to support a more unified, results-oriented approach. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of National Integration JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer spoke during the debate on the votes of the Ministries of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Environment, emphasizing that these subjects are sensitive and central to building humane, responsible citizens who respect others and the environment. He noted that allegations had been raised in the debate and referred to recent controversy over Opposition comments on Muslim law, saying public and social media criticism had questioned the silence of Muslim representatives. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Sagarika Athauda highlighted the recognition of two Sri Lankan women wildlife officers and used it to frame a broader discussion on environmental conservation, forest destruction, development in protected areas, and human-wildlife conflict, particularly elephant deaths and crop damage in districts such as Kegalle. She said the NPP Government is seeking to correct long-standing environmental mismanagement through a systematic approach, citing the Government’s policy principles on environmental justice, sustainable resource use, institutional coordination, public participation, and environmental governance. She noted Budget allocations to the Ministry of Environment, the consolidation of environment-related institutions under one Ministry, the State Timber Corporation’s 2024 revenue of Rs. 1,915 million and production of 8,122 elephant fence posts, and Rs. 1,112 million allocated to the Department of National Botanic Gardens for plant conservation and related activities. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister argued that Sri Lanka’s environmental crises, including landslides, floods and forest fires, are linked to past politically driven misuse of natural resources and cannot be addressed separately from economic and social policy. He said the Government aims to pursue environmentally friendly development through integrated planning across ministries, contrasting this with previous approaches he described as environmentally harmful development. He outlined the National People’s Power environmental policy, based on 13 principles and 80 actions, highlighting environmental justice, balancing development with conservation, sustainable resource use, and soil conservation in the central highlands. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri stated that the Government’s first Budget gives special attention to wildlife conservation and the human-elephant conflict, including allocations of Rs. 400 million to reduce the conflict, Rs. 274 million for electric fences, and Rs. 160 million for wildlife feeding zones. He argued that fences alone are insufficient and that corridors, biodiversity-based methods, community support, and increased staffing for the Department of Wildlife Conservation are also needed. He highlighted the economic value of national parks and wildlife facilities, plans to develop additional national parks and elevate the Giritale Wildlife Research and Training Centre, and emphasized protection of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and forest resources. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary The Minister said the Environment Ministry’s institutions have been consolidated under one ministry for the first time, bringing 12 agencies under a framework intended to improve coordination, engage environmentalists through ten thematic committees, and support both conservation and economic activity. He said the 2025 Budget allocates Rs. 16,040 million to the Ministry, including plans to modernize the Environment Act after 24 years, introduce air quality monitoring and public alerts, and digitize Environmental Protection Licence processes. He also stated that Cabinet has approved 144 recruitments to the Central Environmental Authority and that 3,530 appointments for multipurpose development officers attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation will be issued once Public Service Commission approval is received. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa called for a specialized national ecotourism plan modelled on India’s Project Tiger, arguing that Sri Lanka could conserve elephants, leopards, whales and dolphins while generating foreign exchange and community benefits. He urged systematic human-wildlife conflict mitigation, stronger institutional capacity, insurance mechanisms, continuity across administrations, and greater priority for animal welfare. He also proposed establishing an international environmental university through public-private partnerships, regularizing long-serving volunteers and stabilizing multipurpose officers in wildlife work, and using scientific censuses and private monitoring initiatives to support conservation, ecotourism and national development. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa called for a comprehensive, nonpartisan environmental policy framework, including a National Ecosystem Assessment, biodiversity valuation, clear conservation targets, a National Land Use Plan and a National Physical Plan. He proposed community-based conservation, circular economy measures, stronger action on pollution, plastics and deforestation, and evidence-based mitigation of human-wildlife conflict using technology, insurance and stable long-term planning. He urged Sri Lanka to use international climate and biodiversity conventions, green finance and eco-tourism opportunities, citing India’s Project Tiger, and proposed an international environmental university through a public-private partnership. He also asked for employment stability for wildlife volunteers and multipurpose development officers, and for systematic wildlife censuses that integrate credible private conservation data into national policy. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson proposed developing an access road from Angammedilla National Park to Wasgamuwa to retain tourists within Polonnaruwa, while requiring them to enter and exit via Angammedilla. He raised concerns about cattle being released into Maduru Oya National Park, impacts on wildlife habitat and human-elephant conflict, and called for designated environmentally appropriate areas for dairy cattle outside protected zones. He also requested regulated subsistence access for villagers near wildlife zones, support for small traditional gem miners, and the permanent absorption of experienced national park guides whose numbers have declined despite an allowance increase. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 17 March 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson moved the traditional token reduction of Rs. 10 under the relevant Heads during the Committee Stage debate and focused on the Ministry of Environment, particularly the human-elephant conflict. He said Wildlife Conservation staffing vacancies, inadequate guard huts, poorly maintained electric fences, and the absence of funding for new fencing were contributing to rising human deaths, elephant deaths and property damage, citing recent national and Polonnaruwa District figures. He proposed strengthening field staff, improving guard huts with electricity and water, repairing and expanding fencing, and creating a structured response programme. He also raised concerns about Yala National Park’s congestion, limited entry points, inadequate operational funding, poaching risks in underused blocks, and derelict bungalows, proposing additional gates, more guides, better monitoring and rehabilitation of accommodation. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate on Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Read →
- 15 March 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary The member welcomed the creation of a unified Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and commended its work in strengthening foreign relations, attracting investment and promoting tourism. She highlighted tourism as the third-highest foreign exchange earner, cited targets of over 3 million tourist arrivals in 2025, allocations of Rs. 600 million for tourism-zone infrastructure, and rising tourism investment in early 2025. She proposed expanding beyond traditional destinations through ecotourism, geotourism, medical and research tourism, including development of sites in the North Western Province, old forts, canal routes, Kalpitiya, Puttalam and a new Wilpattu access point via Eluwankulama. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Read →
- 15 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana emphasized the need for Sri Lanka to engage pragmatically with international partners, acknowledging assistance from India, China, Japan and Bangladesh during the economic crisis and urging continued engagement with the United States to protect export livelihoods. He called for targeted debt relief for medium-scale tourism entrepreneurs, especially in Negombo, and a lawful mechanism to restore liquor licences for bona fide tourist establishments. He proposed developing health and wellness tourism, improving tourist transport and sanitation, learning from international hospitality and events models, and protecting wildlife and natural assets. He also urged stronger law enforcement to address crime-related security concerns and requested a coherent national tourism policy, offering Opposition input. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Read →
- 15 March 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns that coastal lands in Hambantota, Tissamaharama and Thalaimannar, initially given for exploration, were being moved toward mining permits, alleging a conflict of interest involving a former GSMB Chairman now consulting for James Global (Pvt) Ltd. He warned that allocating such lands for mining would undermine tourism development, particularly in the North and East, where he said airport, ferry, harbour and connectivity projects remain undeveloped. He also urged the Minister to update the Government’s estimate of average tourist daily spending, noting that the current figure is based on a 2018 survey. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana urged the Government not to permit any expansion of oil palm beyond the already completed 2,000 hectares, citing environmental concerns, worker safety issues, alleged violation of a banning circular, and legal cases he faces after opposing plantation expansion in Kalutara. He raised concerns about substandard tea plants being sold to small growers and asked why funds from the Tea Promotion Levy could not be used to support proper planting material and assist factory owners. He tabled photographs and documents relating to tea and rubber factories in Kalutara District destroyed during the conflict period, asking that they be assessed, repaired, and used for development with investors. He also criticized past distribution of LRC lands to businessmen and called for state land to be allocated in smaller plots to ordinary people for productive use. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the adequacy and implementation of coconut support in Batticaloa, noting that seedlings alone are insufficient because palms take five to eight years to yield and calling for sustained assistance and delivery of promised hybrid seedlings. He criticized changes in stated positions on estate wages and urged support for non-paddy farmers, including onion, chilli and greenhouse cultivators, who do not receive the same concessions as registered paddy farmers. He also alleged that Plantation Ministry recommendations had been misused in Muttur and Safinagar to obtain land for chilli cultivation, divert Mahaweli water and enable illegal sand mining, and asked the Minister to investigate related officials, including the reappointment of Sajjana de Silva despite adverse legal advice. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary The answer tabled states that heavy rain in November 2024 caused the Irayivellikkandy canal to overflow, inundating the surgical theatre, ICU and dialysis unit of the hospital and disrupting services until the waters receded. It reports total assessed damage of Rs. 910,250, including repairs to dialysis machines and the generator, and notes immediate action to restore electricity, dialysis services, the generator and wastewater treatment plant. Proposed preventive measures include obtaining technical guidance from the Regional Irrigation Engineer, raising generator room floor levels and upgrading the wastewater treatment plant, as discussed at the Ampara District Development Committee. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Rauff Hakeem) SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media whether the Ashroff Memorial Hospital in Kalmunai, including key clinical and support facilities, was flooded during heavy rains in November 2024, disrupting hospital operations and requiring protection of the premises. He requested information on whether the damage had been assessed, the estimated loss, measures taken to restore affected facilities, and steps planned to prevent recurrence and safeguard the hospital. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody said renewable energy procurement, particularly solar and wind, would proceed through competitive tenders except in genuine government-to-government cases, and that unsolicited proposals would not be accepted. He noted that Mannar has about 400 MW of wind potential, with 103 MW already operated by the CEB and another 50 MW planned, while the remaining capacity previously earmarked for Adani is stalled due to pending court cases. He also said a 234 MW Pooneryn wind project given to Adani under an MoU is being reviewed, and that if clarifications are not provided promptly, the Government will move to price-competitive tenders. Oral Questions and Answers Read →