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- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya proposed reallocating Rs. 6,500 million within the existing cash assistance provision to create a “Grant for Purchase of School Stationery and Equipment,” with delivery mechanisms under review by relevant ministries and annual implementation planned from next year. She also outlined measures to support school attendance, including reviewing the mid-day meal programme and providing uniforms to all children in 2025 through a Chinese Government donation. She defended the Government’s handling of international relations and said it welcomed public scrutiny of Ministers’ and Members’ qualifications, emphasizing transparency. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma AI summary (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma clarified that the Government’s discussions with the IMF are often conducted virtually, including some review discussions. He stated that, due to the intensity of the current round, the number of institutions involved, and the need for multiple daily meetings, the IMF and Government agreed to hold part of the discussions in Washington and the remainder in Sri Lanka during an IMF visit, which was the reason for the travel. Oral Question: IMF Delegation Expenses in Washington DC (Q.96/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe made a brief remark suggesting that the addressee would “end up in Burma anyway.” No specific policy proposal, legislative issue, or substantive argument was presented in the statement. Oral Question: White Onion Fraud and Trade Ministry Investigation (Q.52/2024) Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva corrected the record regarding Sri Lanka’s IMF Agreement, stating that it was not signed by Basil Rajapaksa. He said the agreement was signed by Ranil Wickremesinghe and Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe on 6 March 2023. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara urged the Minister to address the situation of Sri Lankans affected by the “Russia issue,” noting that people from both the North and South had been trapped, injured, and left without compensation. He requested ministerial intervention to resolve the crisis and provide relief. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism JJB AI summary Hon. Vijitha Herath said the National People’s Power Government is operating under a previously presented policy mandate and that the Interim Appropriation is a short-term measure to meet day-to-day expenditure until a full Budget is presented next year. He stated that the Government will proceed with the IMF programme and international sovereign bond restructuring within agreed timelines, while pursuing a longer-term production-based economic strategy. He identified tourism and foreign employment remittances as immediate priorities for foreign exchange earnings, and cautioned the public against fraudulent foreign employment schemes, citing the E-8 visa issue as an example of an unauthorized arrangement lacking proper Cabinet and institutional approval. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Dilip Wedaarachchi stated that supporting multi-day fishing fleets could increase fish supply and earn foreign exchange through the tuna industry. He also referred to past agricultural development efforts, citing D. S. Senanayake’s settlement and agriculture initiatives and Gamini Dissanayake’s establishment of schemes including Lunugamvehera. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha stated that the current arrangement was based on terms the previous Government had settled by 19 September, not an agreement signed by the present Government. He said the Government chose to proceed pragmatically rather than restart the process and incur additional national costs, with advisers indicating closure could be reached by December. He noted that about USD 1.7 billion in accrued interest had accumulated and said the objective was to minimize the burden on the public and revive the stalled economy. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised an urgent matter concerning Sri Lankans allegedly deceived by agents and conscripted into the Russian military. He referred to photographic evidence identifying three individuals and requested the responsible Minister to take steps to repatriate them to Sri Lanka. Papers Presented Read →
- 5 December 2024 The Hon. Arkam Ilyas JJB AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas, in his maiden speech, thanked voters in the Matara District and said the National People’s Power’s election victories reflected a shift beyond ethnic and communal political divisions, including in the North, East and Hill Country. He argued that national unity is now a practical basis for development and that reduced internal conflict would enable progress over the coming decade. He urged planned economic expansion, particularly through tourism and foreign exchange generation, citing Sri Lanka’s coastal, climatic, biodiversity, gemstone and cultural assets. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen thanked voters in the Vanni district and said his party would support the Government if the President’s policy statement is implemented sincerely, while urging Parliament to focus on the economic crisis rather than campaign rhetoric. He called for weekly monitoring and control of prices of essential goods, equal treatment of all communities, stronger relations with India and Middle Eastern countries, improved investor facilitation, tourism development, education and technology reform, and value addition to mineral resources. He also urged a full investigation into the Easter attacks, the release of detainees held without proof in connection with those attacks or alleged LTTE links, and the restoration of halted funds for resettled Jaffna Muslims and roads in Puttalam. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna called for greater engagement with the Sri Lankan diaspora by securing their investments and easing dual citizenship procedures, arguing this would support economic rebuilding and reduce reliance on women seeking vulnerable overseas employment. He urged the dignified return of people displaced by the ethnic conflict and living in camps in Tamil Nadu, and requested that political prisoners linked to the conflict be released or their court cases expedited. He also referred to recent electoral support for change and called for unity and reconciliation across all communities affected by the internal conflict. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe outlined the National People’s Power tourism policy, emphasizing a participatory and sustainable model that includes small operators and protects cultural and natural resources such as Yala and Mirissa. He said tourism should generate short-term foreign exchange, targeting over two million arrivals and USD 3 billion in 2024, rising to five million arrivals and USD 5 billion in 2025, with a longer-term goal of a USD 10 billion tourism economy by 2030. He criticized frequent changes to Sri Lanka’s tourism branding and proposed a unified national branding campaign covering tourism, gems, tea, heritage and natural assets, supported by strategic reforms including amendments to the Tourism Act and coordination across relevant institutions. Ministerial Statement: Arrests for Spreading False Information on Social Media Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said the NPP-led Government had received a mandate to change longstanding political practices and pursue reforms across government. He identified foreign affairs and foreign employment as sectors affected by past irregularities, including diplomatic appointments, consular work, and malpractice, and said reforms would be led under Minister Vijitha Herath to make them people-oriented services. He also said the Government would uphold the rule of law, reject extremism, and protect national unity and public security, while seeking public and Opposition support for broader reforms. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →