Topic
Healthcare
895 speeches · 200 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.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 185 |
| 2 | Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, M.P. JJB | 62 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 50 |
| 4 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 25 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, M.P. JJB | 18 |
| 6 | Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran, M.P. ITAK | 17 |
| 7 | Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 17 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, M.P. SJB | 14 |
| 9 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 13 |
| 10 | Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, M.P. SJB | 13 |
Speeches
895 on this topic- 22 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe urged the Health Ministry to address major staffing shortages in Eastern Province hospitals and Ayurvedic institutions, including by granting special approval to appoint long-serving health volunteers to existing assistant and nursing vacancies. He requested completion of the Nintavur women and children’s hospital, priority for a proposed Ayurvedic hospital near Akkaraipattu-Athaulachenai, and action on parking charges affecting patients at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. He also asked the Government to provide the list of Muslims whose bodies were cremated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Mass Media head, he called for reforms to the SLBC Muslim Service, including a full-time Director, quality review panel, and representative council to improve programming and reduce excessive advertising during Ramadan. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath addressed the Committee Stage debate on Health and Mass Media expenditure, welcoming the 2026 health allocation and recent provisions for cath labs, MRI, radiology services, and an Osusala branch in Batticaloa. He raised urgent concerns over Batticaloa District General Hospital, including an unsafe 80-year-old building, lack of space, proposed relocation of the adjacent prison, high bed occupancy, and the need for dedicated specialist wards. He also requested improvements for Valachchenai Base Hospital, ambulances for Thuraineelavanai and Paalimeenmadu, Suwaseriya service for Vellaveli, and action on shortages of consultants, nurses, minor staff, drivers, and indigenous medicine employment. He further asked that remaining eligible dengue eradication assistants be made permanent in line with government assurances. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah stated that drug procurement involves 13 to 15 procedural stages, but said the Budget allocation would enable an uninterrupted supply of medicines. He expressed confidence that shortages would be progressively eliminated. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB AI summary Rs. 654 billion had been allocated for health, including Rs. 187 billion in the 2026 Budget for drug procurement, with the Government aiming to end the shortages that followed the economic crisis through proper procurement. The speech identified human resource gaps as the main remaining challenge, noting cadre revisions, expedited appointments of medical administrators, and priority for qualified long-serving hospital volunteers, especially in the Northern Province. Specific commitments were made to address deficiencies in offshore island health services, develop facilities including a proposed 10-storey maternity building at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, establish internal audit units in major hospitals, and create opportunities for unemployed Ayurvedic graduates. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha urged immediate relief for families displaced by landslides, heavy rain, and wind damage in the Kolonna area, noting long delays in past assistance to disaster victims. In the debate on Health expenditure, he highlighted staff, equipment, building, ambulance, and service shortages in rural and estate hospitals across Sabaragamuwa, including Kolonna, Embilipitiya, Godakawela, Rakwane, and related MOH areas. He specifically requested an X-ray technician for Kolonna Hospital, attention to overcrowding at Embilipitiya Hospital, restoration or establishment of MOH facilities, repairs to hazardous hospital infrastructure, and a special programme to support poor rural patients needing cardiac surgery and investigations. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Funds have been allocated for development work at Badulla Teaching Hospital, including completion of the ICU, Emergency Treatment Unit, and 10-storey Cardiology building, as well as provision of a 10-storey professorial unit and additional equipment. Regarding Lake House, the launch of the Tamil magazine “Vaaramangari” was confirmed, with recruitment to follow existing salary scales and no higher pay. It was also stated that specialists’ earlier trade union action to refrain from Technical Evaluation Committees has been called off. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns about shortages of doctors, nurses, medicines, insulin, disinfectants, accommodation, and other facilities in the health sector, arguing that these undermine the free health service and rural hospital access. He urged the Minister to increase cadres, address doctors’ allowances and vehicle permits, work with medical trade unions, and provide quarters for staff posted to difficult areas, citing several hospitals in Badulla and Uva as examples. He also referred to rising non-communicable diseases, mental health, cardiac, cancer and kidney disease, and said Ayurveda funding and salary issues require attention. Additionally, he asked the Minister to examine administrative matters under the Mass Media Ministry and reported concerns over procurement delays and outside prescriptions. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth briefly thanked former State Minister Faisal Cassim for infrastructure development at Pottuvil Hospital and acknowledged former Eastern Province Health Ministers and numerous doctors who served the hospital from the period of the 1990 war to the present. The remarks were a closing expression of appreciation rather than a policy proposal or request. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth thanked the Health Minister for recent support to Pottuvil but said the upgraded Pottuvil hospital continues to operate with an inadequate Type “B” cadre, lacking key specialists and sufficient nurses and technical staff. He requested implementation of cadre recommendations, staff accommodation, extended X-ray and emergency services, vehicles and public health staffing, and upgrades to facilities in Pottuvil, Komari, Irakkamam, Akkaraipattu, Sammanturai, Nintavur, and Kalmunai. He also called for completion or equipping of major hospital projects, provision of a CT scanner and dialysis repairs, and permission for Muslim female nurses to wear culturally appropriate attire within professional norms. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman proposed raising the retirement age of specialist doctors from 63 to at least 65 as an interim response to shortages, noting that many retired specialists continue working abroad. He also urged the Government to restore reduced overtime and holiday allowances for health workers in line with Circular 10/2025, arguing that the Treasury position had improved. On mass media, he criticized Police and media practices of linking murder victims or suspects to the underworld without adequate basis, saying this stigmatizes families and can cause lasting harm. Citing the cases of a murdered cashier, his own family after the Easter attacks, and Attorney Hejaaz Hizbullah’s detention, he called for reforms to Police communications and media reporting standards to ensure fairness and responsibility. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna defended the 2026 Budget health allocations, detailing funding for salaries, medical supplies, hospital development, Triposha, Suwa Seriya, staff accommodation, and capacity building, while disputing Opposition claims on doctors’ salaries and health indicators. He outlined Cabinet decisions on compensation for patients affected by contaminated eye drops at Nuwara Eliya Hospital, local production of assistive devices, medicine price reductions, restored pension rights, specialist postings, transfers, allowances, and recruitment across health cadres. He said procurement reforms would include new guidelines, e-procurement, framework agreements, and government-to-government sourcing, and tabled WHO indicators and a 2025 research article linking doctor migration to the economic crisis. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that an Additional Secretary oversees the handling of donations and receipts, with coordination taking place with the Ministry of Finance to provide tax concessions where possible. He added that the Ministry of Health sometimes covers relevant taxes from its own provisions when purchasing items and said any delays would be examined and addressed. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara raised concerns during the Budget debate on Health and Mass Media, arguing that despite high health allocations, medicine shortages, poor stock management, and unspent funds continue to affect patients. He called for upgrades to hospitals and schools in Anuradhapura, including Thambuttegama Hospital, elephant fences, staff accommodation, night security for rural hospitals, replacement of a retired pharmacist at Ranmalgahawewa Hospital, and better support for doctors and indigenous medical practitioners. On Mass Media, he urged reforms to State media, equitable access, timely payments and welfare measures for rural journalists, including insurance, risk allowances, tax relief for equipment, and housing assistance. He also criticized aspects of government conduct following the Trincomalee incident and questioned the consistency of official responses. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa – Leader of the Opposition AI summary Requested the Minister of Health to meet the Joint Trade Union Committee of Government Ayurvedic Medical Officers, who were presenting grievances at Polduwa. He raised concerns that indigenous medicine received only Rs. 6 billion, or 0.96 per cent, of the Rs. 654 billion Health Ministry allocation, and conveyed their demand to increase it to 5 per cent. He also asked that the cut additional service allowance of 20 hours per month be restored and salary disparities exceeding Rs. 150,000 be addressed for over 2,000 Ayurvedic medical officers. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof raised concerns about the SLBC Muslim Service, requesting limits on excessive advertising during religious programming, a dedicated administrative structure, an advisory committee, and action on recommendations submitted by the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum. He then highlighted health service deficiencies in Trincomalee District, including rising chronic kidney disease cases and shortages of staff, accommodation, drugs, and facilities at Padavi Siripura, Gomarangadawala, Pulmoddai, Kuchchaveli, Thoppur, and Kinniya hospitals. He urged the Health Minister to open the unused renal ward at Padavi Siripura, upgrade and resource several hospitals, appoint required specialists and medical administrators, and ensure allocated funds are used for physical infrastructure needs. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam argued that the Central Government has unlawfully taken over provincial hospitals without the required constitutional upgrades, undermining devolution in health and weakening provincial governance. He said provincial hospitals, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, are being deprived of infrastructure funding, staffing approvals, and capital allocations, creating pressure for central takeover while not guaranteeing improvement. Citing Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Trincomalee DGH, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Mannar, he contended that institutions serving Tamil communities face systemic underinvestment regardless of administrative control. He called attention to inadequate provincial health financing, exclusion from national and donor-funded projects, and stalled promised developments, arguing that equitable investment rather than centralization is required. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna criticized state media institutions and social media actors for alleged unethical and abusive political attacks, including against opposition figures and young women entering politics, and raised concern over unpaid EPF/ETF and gratuity obligations at state institutions such as National Television and plantation companies, calling for Labour Ministry intervention and a payment mechanism. She then highlighted issues in the Health Ministry, including doctor migration, alleged political interference in specialist placements, unabsorbed medical graduates, and 1,323 allied health vacancies, urging recruitment of medical laboratory scientists and physiotherapists. She disputed Government claims on medicine availability, stating that around 25 per cent of essential medicines were out of stock, including dialysis supplies, insulin, and medicines for non-communicable diseases, and tabled related documents. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe said the Government plans to recruit more than 14,000 personnel to strengthen the health service, including medical and dental interns, Ayurvedic doctors, dengue prevention assistants, nurses, and public health staff, with several appointments and training intakes already underway. He stated that funds have been allocated for a long-delayed hospital cadre revision. He also noted a Rs. 4.2 billion allocation to upgrade the “Suwa Seriya” ambulance service, including the planned addition of about 153 ambulances and a target response time of around seven minutes. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe argued that the Government inherited a weakened health system due to abandoned hospital projects, substandard procurement, shortages of medicines and equipment, and politically influenced recruitment under previous administrations. He said the Government is restarting stalled projects, including facilities in Hambantota and Tangalle, and has allocated Rs. 654 billion for health, including Rs. 292 billion for salaries. He outlined recent and planned salary increases for doctors, consultants and nurses, as well as housing loans, insurance improvements, festival advances, disaster loans, pension restoration and new public sector recruitment, presenting these as measures to stabilize and strengthen the health service. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa criticized the Budget’s treatment of health-sector human resources, arguing that reduced allowances, high taxes, lack of transport support, and unmet promises on PAYE relief and vehicle permits are encouraging doctors and health professionals to migrate. He urged the Government to provide at least a partial transport allowance for doctors serving in distant districts and to address practical issues such as school admissions after transfers. He also questioned claims of ample public funds while alleging shortages of over 100 to 185 medicines, consumables, stents, and theatre equipment, and called for direct engagement with health staff to prevent a worsening health-sector crisis. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →