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- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that stakeholders in the tourism sector had raised concerns at a media discussion the previous day. He was beginning to refer to those concerns, indicating an intention to bring their views before Parliament, but the provided excerpt does not include the specific issue or demand. Question by Private Notice: School Teachers Recruitment and Dhamma School Teacher Allowances (SO 27(2)) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma responded to a supplementary question raised under Standing Order 38 regarding an automated licensing system for the Department of Import and Export Control. He stated that the system is supported by the U.S. EXBS Program as a donation of hardware and software, with Cabinet approvals granted in 2019 for training and technical guidance and in 2023 for provision of the system. He clarified that Rs. 19.88 million in additional provision for 2024 relates to accounting for laptops and software development already received as a foreign grant, and said USAID has not issued any written notice to Sri Lanka of any suspension or impact on assistance following the relevant U.S. Executive Order. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged the Government, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not to delay the adoption of a new Constitution, arguing that economic recovery depends on it. He stated that his side is willing to help establish a special fund for the North and East with partner countries, but warned against postponing constitutional reform and seeking another election instead. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government was pursuing a production-led economic recovery while using the IMF programme as a temporary stabilization measure, noting expected progress on the third review, a possible US$ 335 million tranche, reserves of US$ 6.1 billion, and fiscal targets including a primary surplus of about 2 per cent of GDP. He said measures were being taken to reduce production costs, attract foreign investment through stronger diplomatic ties and investment protection agreements, and investigate corruption and economic mismanagement lawfully. He outlined tourism and foreign employment as short-term foreign exchange priorities, citing increased tourist arrivals and proposing a National Tourism Commission, regional tourism development committees, improved facilities, and insurance and pension schemes for tourism workers. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question on foreign reserves and debt servicing, stating that reserve growth came mainly from Central Bank foreign exchange purchases, IMF EFF disbursements, and multilateral/bilateral project and programme loans, with official reserves rising from US$4.392 billion at end-2023 to US$6.122 billion at end-2024. He said Sri Lanka’s total external debt at end-2024 was about US$100.294 billion, and provided projected external principal and interest payments for 2025–2028, noting that the Government is primarily responsible for servicing debt and may request reserve releases from the Central Bank if needed. He cited IMF staff report projections showing reserves rising to US$15.105 billion by 2028, clarifying that these are revised projections rather than fixed EFF targets, while the programme’s performance criterion is Net International Reserves, which Sri Lanka has met in the first three reviews. He also said that under the State Debt Management Act, debt management responsibilities have moved to the State Debt Management Department from 25 November 2024, with a technical transition from Central Bank systems expected over about 18 months. Ministerial Statement: Foreign Reserves and Debt Servicing, with Points of Order and Procedural Matters Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister tabled an answer stating that Sri Lanka has no formal agreement with South Korea for employment under the E-8 seasonal visa scheme, and that private recruitment for such visas is not legally permitted. He said the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment cannot register workers for E-8 deployment, warned that high recruitment costs and possible overstaying could jeopardize the existing EPS programme with Korea, and noted that seven affected workers had recovered about Rs. 7.1 million through legal action while the relevant agency’s licence was suspended. He added that further complaints with evidence could be pursued through legal processes, and that a Cabinet memorandum and concept report for a pilot E-8 project had been submitted for a policy decision. Oral Question: Sri Lankans with E-8 Visa Leaving for Jobs in South Korea (Q.386/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the allocation in question is made by the Government of Sri Lanka for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka. No further policy detail, proposal, or question was included in the excerpt. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that the allocation in question is made by the Government of Sri Lanka, not by the Government of India. He stated that the Indian Government cannot allocate budgetary funds for the people of Sri Lanka. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that allocations for Sri Lankans are made by the Government of Sri Lanka, emphasizing that such funding decisions are the responsibility of the Government. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB AI summary Registered recruitment through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment facilitates tracing and enforcement action when problems arise. Even for unregistered cases, the Government accepts responsibility to protect citizens and works through the Consular Division, while acknowledging constraints in some locations and stating that measures are being taken to address them. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra stated that while the SLBFE receives about 3,000 complaints annually from migrant workers, fewer than 150 concern violence against female domestic workers. He outlined the procedures for handling such complaints under Sections 44, 65 and 66, including coordination with licensed agencies, missions and foreign employers, diplomatic intervention where needed, and referral of unregistered self-migrant cases to the Consular Affairs Division. He also said fraud cases are prosecuted under Section 64(a) for licensees and Section 64(b) for unlicensed actors, with money recovery first attempted through SLBFE-mediated settlement and then through Magistrate’s Court orders if necessary. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra said the problem arose because officials failed to renew an agreement before it lapsed, but action has been initiated and a solution is expected shortly. On the proposed agreement with Italy, he stated that discussions began in 2022, the main text is ready for signature, clarifications on Sri Lanka’s licence format changes and personal data exchange have been addressed, and the final equivalence table will be confirmed before signing. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan noted that Italy is an important source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, particularly through workers from the Puttalam District. He asked why a persistent issue affecting them had not been resolved by previous governments and what had prevented earlier intervention. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister, answering for the relevant Minister, said difficulties faced by Sri Lankans in Italy over conversion of driving licences stem from the expiry of the 2011 bilateral agreement and delays in finalizing a new agreement due to clarifications on changed Sri Lankan licence formats and data exchange rules. He stated that the agreed text is ready for signature once Italy sends the final table of licence category equivalences for Sri Lankan verification. He also outlined SLBFE complaint and legal procedures for migrant worker abuse and fraud, noting that fewer than 150 of about 3,000 annual complaints involve physical, psychological or sexual violence, and that action is taken through missions, licensed agencies, the Consular Affairs Division and Magistrate’s Courts under the SLBFE Act. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism about issues affecting Sri Lankans employed abroad, including Puttalam District workers in Italy who face difficulties renewing driving licences. He sought details on government action regarding licence renewal, responses to alleged inhuman torture of Sri Lankan migrant workers, and measures to take legal action against individuals or institutions that defraud people with false promises of foreign employment. He also asked how swindled money would be recovered, or why no action would be taken. Oral Question: Foreign Employment and Worker Protection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha outlined the status and funding of the Aswesuma programme, stating that 1,800,032 families had been selected by year-end and that a further 0.8 million applications would be reviewed through village-level committees. He said 2025 expenditure for Aswesuma would total Rs. 232.5 billion, including Rs. 72 billion in World Bank support, and that the nature of that support would be verified. He also described poverty-reduction plans to integrate low-income families into productive economic activity, with allocations for empowering 25,000 families and village-level production. On trade, he set out export promotion measures including the National Export Development Plan 2025–2029, a US$ 19 billion export target for 2025, economic diplomacy, trade digitalization, infrastructure improvements and industrial zone development. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 17 February 2025 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism AI summary The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism met on 17 February 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Wijitha Herath, with participation from Members across the relevant subject areas. The listed proceedings indicate attendance of the Chairman and Committee Members, but no substantive debate, policy position, question, or proposal is provided in the excerpt to summarize. Parliamentary Structure and Committees Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns about international discussions on USAID transactions relating to Sri Lanka and referred to a letter from Hon. Namal Rajapaksa requesting a Special Committee. He urged that, since the Prime Minister’s name had also been mentioned, the matter should be addressed formally and asked the Speaker what action would be taken, including whether such a committee would be appointed. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to a motion on establishing a proper methodology for appointing Labour Welfare Officers, acknowledging past politically influenced and ad hoc appointments to foreign missions and welfare posts. He said the Government has recalled unsuitable officers, is reviewing mission postings through a committee, and will coordinate with relevant ministries to address specific welfare cases and country-level gaps. He stated that future appointments will be based on competency assessments, competitive examinations, structured interviews, transparent criteria, and pre-departure training, with the aim of improving protection for Sri Lankan workers overseas. Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara supported the motion, arguing that existing procedures for labour welfare in Sri Lankan missions are not being properly implemented and calling for stronger staffing, fairer promotion opportunities for junior managers, and labour or welfare sections in Japan, Romania, and Cyprus. He also urged urgent government action on SMEs facing bank seizures, CRIB-related restrictions, and lack of restart support following successive crises. He raised concerns about Sri Lankans drawn into the Russia-Ukraine conflict and requested Foreign Ministry intervention, and called for an investigation into reported high levels of hexavalent chromium in water supplies linked to public health risks. Private Members' Motion 4: Appointment of Labour Welfare Officers Read →