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- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said the Government had not stated that the unauthorized arrivals would be deported to Myanmar, but was handling the matter under Sri Lankan law through the courts, Immigration, CID investigations, health checks, and humanitarian assistance. He said decisions would be guided by intelligence assessments, international human rights norms, and consultation with international organizations, noting that the Human Rights Commission had been granted access and that the group now numbered 117 after a birth. He also informed the House that an inquest into the death of a woman at Maradana Police Station had confirmed suicide, following her arrest on five warrants. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem responded to a reference by the Deputy Minister, denying that the Motion was intended to incite racism or accuse the Government of racism. He argued that the persons concerned should not be repeatedly described as “illegal immigrants” but recognized as refugees fleeing persecution, and criticized Foreign Affairs officials for allegedly misleading Ministers on the issue. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said the Government had provided humanitarian assistance, medical care, quarantine, and court-directed detention for 117 people who arrived by boat from Myanmar in December 2024, while immigration and health investigations continue. He stated that Sri Lanka is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or 1967 Protocol but would act consistently with humanitarian principles, including non-refoulement, and in cooperation with UNHCR where applicable. He said nationality verification is being pursued with the Myanmar Embassy, access by the Human Rights Commission had been granted, and the next court hearing is scheduled for 31 January 2025. He emphasized that no deportation decision had been made and that the Government would balance border security, immigration law, national security, and humanitarian obligations. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahman urged the Government not to deport Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, citing military rule and human rights concerns there. He argued that Sri Lanka should handle the matter humanely, recalling Sri Lankans’ own history of seeking asylum during past conflicts. He proposed allowing the refugees to remain temporarily in Sri Lanka with UNHCR facilitation until third-country resettlement is arranged. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer JJB AI summary Hon. Muneer Mulaffer addressed the Adjournment debate on Rohingya refugees, noting previous arrivals and departures from Sri Lanka and the current group that entered on 19 December. He said the Government was following lawful procedures to verify health status, nationality, and purpose while providing necessary assistance, and argued that the issue should not be politicized or viewed through ethnic or religious lines. He affirmed that the Government would act humanely and in line with international obligations, while criticizing opposition claims that the Government was being inhumane. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to handle the arrival of 116 Rohingya refugees at Mullivaikkal on 19 December 2024 in accordance with international humanitarian norms, despite Sri Lanka not being party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. He cited relevant international instruments and the Rohingya’s vulnerability in Myanmar, including exclusion from the 2014 census, and stated that returning them to Myanmar was not an acceptable solution. He called for protection of their rights and expressed support for constructive government action consistent with international standards. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary Hon. M.K.M. Aslam said the Government had not taken any action to harm or deport Rohingya arrivals and that the Sri Lanka Navy had lawfully rescued them, provided health checks, and given initial care. He argued the issue should be treated as a humanitarian matter rather than a religious or political one, while also noting that intelligence concerns should be assessed scientifically and handled under domestic and international law. He said the Government would protect the Rohingya, prevent mob violence or abuse, provide shelter and basic care, and allow them to depart safely when possible, while opposing racism and considering stronger laws if needed to eliminate it. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper seconded the Adjournment Motion on protecting Rohingya refugees, arguing that those rescued from Myanmar should not be characterized merely as “illegal immigrants” but treated as refugees and trafficking victims fleeing persecution. He urged strong action against traffickers, UNHCR access to assess and assist the group, correction of what he described as erroneous official framing, and adherence to the principle of non-refoulement. He also called on the Government to dispel public panic and misinformation about large refugee inflows while maintaining border management and social harmony. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns about a severe coconut shortage, citing whitefly damage, reduced fertilizer use, land fragmentation, and inadequate action by sector institutions despite export growth and high potential in value-added products such as coconut milk, oil, coir and cocopeat. He urged the Government to permit carefully controlled imports of coconuts and husks for processing only, in consultation with the National Plant Quarantine Service, and to allow qualified processors to import directly rather than routing consignments through parastatal bodies. He also called for support for cultivation inputs, irrigation and value addition, warning that failure to meet industrial demand could undermine rural employment and foreign exchange earnings. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported the Government’s moves on Free Trade Agreements and argued that Sri Lanka must secure reciprocal market access while addressing non-tariff barriers to expand exports beyond its small domestic market. He raised concern over severe delays in cargo clearance at the Port, including containers being held up, vessels turning away, and lorries idled, and called for Port, Customs and related agencies to operate 24/7, implement ASYCUDA and a single-window system, and adopt pre-clearance with post-clearance audits. He said reducing demurrage and easing business costs are essential to export competitiveness and debt recovery. He also supported incentives under the Strategic Development Projects Act, including for the Eravur Project, arguing that investment decisions should consider job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and wider economic returns. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 22 January 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra argued that the Clean Sri Lanka programme should be understood as a broad reform agenda covering politics, the environment, public attitudes, governance, and digitalization, not only physical cleanliness. He said the Government had a mandate to address economic, social, and political crises and to transform institutions after long-term decline. Referring to his portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, he highlighted past problems including political appointments, weak diplomatic representation, and corruption allegations, and said a transparent software framework would be introduced at the Foreign Employment Bureau. He requested support for these reforms, or at least that they not be obstructed. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Read →
- 22 January 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment stated that the Ministry is pursuing the matter through diplomatic channels. He requested one week to provide statistics-based information in response to the questions raised. Oral Question by Private Notice: Issues Faced by Youth Migrated to Russia (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 22 January 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a Private Notice question on reports that Sri Lankan youth, including Tamil and Sinhala jobseekers misled by employment agents, had been forcibly enlisted in the Russian military and were out of contact with their families. He named several missing persons from Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Uduvil, including one missing since October 2022 near the Belarus-Russia border, and asked the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister to state how many Sri Lankans were enlisted, whether any deaths were confirmed, what bilateral action was being taken to rescue and repatriate them, and what support was available for affected families. Oral Question by Private Notice: Issues Faced by Youth Migrated to Russia (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary The Minister said authorities have received reports of fraudulent agents taking money by falsely promising employment in Korea, and that legal action has been taken in some cases, including arrests. He urged the public not to fall victim to such scams and said the Government would intervene lawfully and take necessary action when information is received. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the Government is working to increase legal foreign employment opportunities for youth in Korea under the E9 and E7 categories, with plans to send larger numbers. He noted that many applicants have been defrauded by agents charging Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1.2 million, and said relief mechanisms would be formulated for affected victims while expanding lawful employment pathways to other countries. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB AI summary Vijitha Herath argued that an MoU signed by former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara with Wando County for E8 visa employment was legally defective, citing repeated references to “Pakistan” instead of Sri Lanka in key clauses on worker death, repatriation, and embassy consultation. He said the agreement could not lawfully support sending Sri Lankan workers abroad and left the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency without a legal basis to assist them. He stated that the E8 visa route under this MoU would not continue, while special measures and relief mechanisms would be provided for youth affected by the process. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB AI summary Vijitha Herath briefly queried whether the individuals under discussion had also travelled to Finland. The remark appears to seek clarification on travel details in the context of the ongoing debate. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary The Minister stated that Sri Lankan workers for Korea are formally sent under E9 and E7 visa categories, while the Government has not recognized any E8 visa mechanism and the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency has no registration, monitoring, or intervention capacity for persons who may have gone under E8 visas. He said an April 2024 MoU signed by the then Labour Minister concerning E8 visas was unlawful because it lacked proper Cabinet approval and was not routed through the established foreign employment process. He further alleged the MoU was irregularly held at the Labour Ministry and contained drafting errors suggesting it was copied from a Korea–Pakistan agreement. Oral Questions Read →
- 9 January 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Lakmali Hemachandra asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism for details on Sri Lankan workers sent to Korea, including the number of visas issued, the basis for sending workers under the E8 visa category, and how many workers had been sent. She also sought clarification on whether any of them were in distress and what action would be taken, and asked whether workers are sent only under E8 visas or under other visa categories as well. Oral Questions Read →
- 8 January 2025 Hon. Thalatha Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thalatha Dissanayake said the Government was proceeding in line with international commitments and an orderly plan to stabilize the economy, rejecting Opposition claims that it had failed to act within “100 days.” She supported regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act introducing 34 new SLS standards and HS codes, particularly to align food standards with global requirements. She also endorsed new regulations for Money or Value Transfer Service providers to bring informal systems such as hawala under recognition and oversight, citing FATF guidance and concerns over money laundering and terrorism financing. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →