Topic
Foreign Affairs
874 speeches · 189 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. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 68 |
| 2 | Hon. Vijitha Herath, M.P. JJB | 45 |
| 3 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 42 |
| 4 | Hon. Arun Hemachandra, M.P. JJB | 33 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P. JJB | 26 |
| 6 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 21 |
| 7 | Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 20 |
| 8 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 19 |
| 9 | Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, M.P. SJB | 19 |
| 10 | Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC, M.P. SJB | 19 |
Speeches
874 on this topic- 6 June 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Deputy Minister stated that there are no reports of Sri Lankan Ambassadors or High Commissioners holding dual citizenship while representing Sri Lanka. He added that no such appointments have been made, making the related follow-up questions inapplicable. Oral Question: Ambassadors and High Commissioners with Dual Citizenship Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism whether any Sri Lankan Ambassadors or High Commissioners hold dual citizenship, and sought their names, dates of appointment, and related details. He further asked whether the Ministry recognizes potential conflicts of interest arising from such appointments and what measures are in place or planned to prevent or address them. Oral Question: Ambassadors and High Commissioners with Dual Citizenship Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said remittances remain vital and the Government aims to increase overseas employment of skilled rather than unskilled workers through coordination with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission. He noted that Sri Lanka does not consistently secure category-wise minimum wages abroad, unlike some countries such as the Philippines, partly due to skills gaps among workers. He stated that TVEC-led upskilling efforts and negotiations by Sri Lankan foreign missions on category-wise minimum wages are under way. Oral Question: Sri Lankan Workers Migrated to Israel as Caregivers (Q.635/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Asked what measures are being taken to address coordination problems affecting the foreign employment target of about 140,000 workers for the year. He said inconsistencies among embassy, SLBFE, recruitment agency and ministry officials regarding job categories, training requirements and wage alignment, along with insufficient agreements and guidance, could prevent the target from being achieved. Oral Question: Sri Lankan Workers Migrated to Israel as Caregivers (Q.635/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary PIBA had temporarily paused and later resumed male recruitment. Complaints have been received about individuals or groups collecting money from or defrauding foreign employment jobseekers, including but not limited to Israel-related recruitment, and investigations are ongoing. Oral Question: Sri Lankan Workers Migrated to Israel as Caregivers (Q.635/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary The Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked whether the Government had received complaints about Sri Lankans trained for employment in Israel being unable to depart, including groups being stranded or protesting. He also sought clarification on allegations that money had been taken from participants in Israel employment programmes before the current administration assumed office. Oral Question: Sri Lankan Workers Migrated to Israel as Caregivers (Q.635/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB AI summary From 2015 to 20 May 2025, 16,232 Sri Lankan workers migrated to Israel as caregivers through SLBFE channels, with 650 recorded in 2025 up to that date. Under the 2020 Sri Lanka-Israel agreement, applicants are selected through an online process, eligibility screening, a PIBA-conducted lottery, medical and police clearances, Safe Foundation interviews, and employer selection based on interview recordings. The Deputy Minister said male caregiver applications, previously suspended by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, were reopened on 10 March 2025, and outlined eligibility criteria including caregiver qualifications, age, education, health, English training, and a clean police record. He also stated that SLBFE provides 45-day residential training and that 16 TVEC-approved institutes are authorized to conduct caregiver courses, with transparency maintained through online applications and PIBA supervision. Oral Question: Sri Lankan Workers Migrated to Israel as Caregivers (Q.635/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi said Jewish visitors may enter Sri Lanka as tourists for religious or cultural purposes, and the Government has a duty to facilitate their basic needs and observances, as it does for all tourists. He acknowledged complexities regarding the relevant institutions, noting that two were registered in 2022, and stated that the Government would regularize the matter as new information becomes available while ensuring equal treatment of tourists. Oral Question: Israeli Religious and Cultural Centres Established in Sri Lanka (Q.632/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahman raised concerns about Police protection being provided to alleged unauthorized Israeli/Jewish cultural centres, including a location in Colombo 7, despite the removal of STF security. He argued that providing security could amount to legitimizing such centres and, citing the Palestine parliamentary friendship context, urged the State either to recognize them legally or withdraw protection. He asked how long it would take to close the centres or enforce the law against them. Oral Question: Israeli Religious and Cultural Centres Established in Sri Lanka (Q.632/2025) Read →
- 4 June 2025 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that the current government has restored public trust by creating a corruption-free administration, citing anti-bribery measures at the Ministry of Industries and increased investor confidence. He said foreign direct investment had reached USD 650 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared with USD 483 million in 2023 and USD 724 million in 2024, and linked this to higher tax compliance and export income. He called for legal action over past corruption and alleged crimes, including the bond scam, cases involving the Rajapaksa administration, killings such as those of Wasim Thajudeen and Lasantha Wickrematunge, and the Easter Sunday attacks. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper supported the Anti-Corruption Act Regulations and urged the Government to expedite the centralized electronic system for asset declarations under Section 87, to avoid reliance on physical storage of forms. He also used the debate to condemn the reported killing of Palestinian civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza on 3 June 2025, calling for Sri Lanka and others to speak against indiscriminate attacks on civilians, particularly children. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam called for any agreement underlying the project in question to be released publicly, arguing that the Government’s decision to proceed despite apparent unsustainability required scrutiny of its motives. He framed the issue in the context of Sri Lanka’s strategic position and geopolitical competition, urging the Government to set a precedent against foreign pressure or influence by taking action on such agreements. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam stated that Tamil people stand with Palestinians against genocide while distinguishing opposition to the Israeli Government’s actions from hostility to Jewish people. Speaking on Regulations under the Anti-Corruption Act, he argued that unsustainable State projects causing loss of national control constitute serious corruption and should be investigated, citing the Hambantota Harbour Project and its 99-year lease as a key example. He questioned what action the Government has taken on projects the JVP had previously described as sellouts, and urged the release of the Hambantota lease agreement, in consultation with the counterpart, for public scrutiny. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera, raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), sought details from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism on measures to strengthen tourism as a source of foreign exchange. He asked about ministerial capacity and consultations, Tourism Development Levy collections, investment in destination branding, per-tourist spending by country, the impact of low-spending tourists on subsidized public services, and whether corrective measures are planned. He also highlighted that star-class hotel room rates remain below pre-Easter attack levels and called for an immediate Ministry-level stakeholder discussion on the sector. Question by Private Notice: Colombo–Kankesanthurai Train Service and Tourism Promotion Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera asked the Prime Minister to provide details of agreements signed between Sri Lanka and India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on 4–5 April 2025. He sought information on the number and subject areas of the agreements, the signatories, responsible Ministries, Attorney-General approvals, and Cabinet approvals including Cabinet Paper numbers. He also requested that copies be tabled in Parliament, arguing that this was necessary for transparency in public administration. Oral Question: India–Sri Lanka Agreements and Education Policy Read →
- 3 June 2025 The Hon. Arkam Ilyas JJB AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas supported the Second Reading of the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, arguing that Sri Lanka needs an updated legal framework to protect personal data while enabling digitalisation, AI use, and investment. He said the amendments provide grace periods for compliance, adjust requirements on Data Protection Officers, expand the Data Protection Authority’s powers, and create remedies against unfair automated or AI-driven decisions. He highlighted international and local data breaches, the right of individuals to trace how their data was shared and prevent further sharing without consent, and called for a complementary Cyber Security Act to support the digital economy. Debate: Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 23 May 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala briefly referred to the Consular Functions Act, No. 4 of 1981, noting that the Act’s definition of “diplomatic officer” is applicable. The intervention appears to clarify the legal basis or terminology being used in the debate. Debate: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 23 May 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran called for justice and accountability for Tamil victims of the 2009 final war, referring to Mullivaikkal commemorations and the continuing demands of survivors 16 years later. He welcomed the unveiling of a Tamil Genocide Memorial in Brampton, Canada, and statements by Canadian leaders supporting truth, accountability, and justice, and appealed for international assistance to secure justice for the Tamil people. Debate: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 23 May 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake supported the Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill as part of replacing outdated debt legislation with newer public debt, financial management, economic transformation and liability management frameworks, in the context of Sri Lanka’s IMF programme and debt restructuring needs. He warned that debt service is absorbing much of projected revenue, cited low FDI, ratings concerns, household income pressures and future external repayment obligations, and urged consistent implementation to make the current IMF programme the last. He called for pragmatic revenue growth, clearer investment policies, SOE reform, lower lending rates to support supply-side growth, and avoidance of actions such as strikes that could undermine economic recovery. Debate: Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill and Foreign Loans (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 23 May 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha) SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to provide annual details from 2015 to date on Chinese investment projects in Sri Lanka, including project names, investment values, and direct and indirect employment generated. He also sought information on proposed steps to attract further Chinese investment, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided. Oral Question Second Round: Physical Training Instructors and Other Matters (Tabled Answers) Read →