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- 12 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilusha Lakmali Gamage supported the 2026 Budget, arguing that the Government had stabilized the macroeconomy, strengthened public finances and state-owned enterprises, and addressed corruption and accountability after its first Budget. She outlined the Budget’s strategic objectives, including inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, rural poverty reduction, digitalization, investment facilitation through proposed PPP and Investment Protection laws, and tourism earnings targets. She highlighted allocations for a National Cardiac Unit, plantation worker wage and attendance incentives, women’s entrepreneurship, senior citizens, and migrant worker housing loans and pensions, and urged Ratnapura gem traders to invest their earnings productively. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB AI summary Ashoka Gunasena supported the 2026 Budget, arguing that it continues the government’s post-2025 direction of economic stabilization, production-led development, and social wellbeing across age groups. He contrasted it with previous budgets, which he said relied on short-term promises and failed to build production, citing unpaid government obligations to banks for promised interest on retirees’ deposits and noting that the new Budget provides for those payments. He also rejected Opposition criticism on IMF-related issues and VAT on health equipment, stating that the government had ended corrupt COVID-era antigen test procurement practices and was pursuing a non-corrupt approach to health and public finance. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath defended the NPP Government’s 2025 record, arguing that since appropriations began only in May, it had used the first months to rebuild public finances while expanding targeted welfare. He listed increases to Aswesuma, CKD, elderly, education, nutrition, scholarship, Mahapola, preschool, vocational, and housing benefits, as well as measures such as banning child labour from 1 July and adding 150 ambulances to Suwaseriya. He also highlighted housing grant increases, title regularization, continued foreign-assisted housing, and a higher fertilizer subsidy, while criticizing previous housing projects built in unsuitable locations such as elephant corridors. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi criticised the Government’s handling of the cost of living, agriculture, fisheries, education and health, arguing that campaign promises on tax relief, school supplies, vehicles and support for farmers and fishers had not been fulfilled. He said prices of essentials, utilities, transport, medicines and school materials had risen, while hospitals lacked medicines and patients were being made to buy drugs and surgical items privately. He contrasted this with programmes under the previous Government and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, including school buses, smart classrooms, free cardiac surgery, cancer drugs and reduced medicine prices, and asked whether the Government would restore or allow those initiatives to continue. He also alleged that no meaningful relief had been allocated for fishers despite promises, and claimed that shortages and imports of items such as salt, rice, onions and potatoes benefited private interests through commissions. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna supported the Budget, describing it as focused on public welfare and social needs, and highlighted an allocation of Rs. 12,000 million to begin establishing a new multi-storey cardiac centre to address long waiting lists for heart surgeries in major hospitals. He also referred to the creation of 75,000 jobs and increased allowances for railway level-crossing gatekeepers as measures the Government was implementing. He urged the public to support the Government’s programme, including its actions against corruption, narcotics, and the underworld, and said it would deliver improved living conditions. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe requested financial and higher education support to establish a Faculty of Medicine at the South Eastern University, citing regional healthcare needs and nearby hospitals. He also urged Parliament, the relevant Ministers, and party leaders to reach consensus on holding Provincial Council elections, suggesting they be conducted under the previous system and noting the President’s allocation of Rs. 10 billion for the purpose. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health JJB AI summary Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni defended the Budget as a reinvestment of recent economic gains, highlighting Rs. 543.1 billion for health-related spending, including Rs. 516.7 billion for the Ministry of Health. He outlined planned reforms to make hospitals more accessible, complete delayed infrastructure, expand digitization, address medicine shortages through Rs. 34 billion in decentralized purchases, and replace or repair ageing medical equipment with new allocations and service contracts. He also said health worker salaries, allowances, overtime arrears, and other entitlements were being improved in stages, framing the measures as part of strengthening essential services and citizens’ access to a dignified life. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Condemning the terrorist attack near Delhi’s Red Fort, Chithral Fernando criticized the Budget Speech as lengthy but inconsistent with fiscal documents. He questioned increased allocations to the Presidency, alleged reductions affecting CIABOC, Provincial Council elections, health spending, and youth agriculture loan programmes, and cited mid-year fiscal and committee figures to argue that claims of SOE efficiency, anti-corruption empowerment, election preparedness, medical supply improvements, and youth support were not supported by actual allocations or implementation. He accepted improved revenue collection but argued that the Government’s broader budget rhetoric should align with reported expenditure and performance data. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran thanked the Government for several 2026 Budget allocations for Vanni projects, but argued that the North, particularly Mullaitivu and Mannar, remains severely under-resourced compared with other regions in health, education, transport, water, ICT, fisheries and livelihoods. He called for immediate action against illegal fishing in Mullaitivu, removal of “difficult area” classifications for Mannar and Mullaitivu apex hospitals, completion of unfinished school and infrastructure projects, equitable ICT and STEM investments, and proportionate transport development under Budget allocations. He also criticised higher defence funding relative to education and stated his strong opposition to the Kivul Oya project in Vavuniya, saying it would harm indigenous Tamil communities. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Morning) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera responded to criticism that the Government had fostered social hatred, rejecting generalization from an alleged incident involving Hon. Ratna Sri Wijesinha and citing cultural recognition in the Southern region. He supported the 2026 Budget, highlighting allocations to resolve Techno Park land issues, address Galle’s water supply deficit, pursue 7 per cent growth through tariff reform, export diversification, production, poverty reduction and digitalization, and maintain debt sustainability under the IMF framework. He also noted social sector measures, including funding for autism-related child development and day care centres at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and in districts, with further allocations planned for expansion. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna (Medical Doctor) Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna welcomed several Budget 2026 proposals, including a National Cardiac Institute, entrepreneurship measures, public–private partnerships, investor visas, and digital initiatives, but questioned whether allocations such as Rs. 200 million for the cardiac institute were adequate. He alleged serious financial irregularities in Northern Province health projects, citing audit reports on Point Pedro Hospital, unapproved works, private bank accounts, missing records, and contracts, and called on the Government to act on its anti-corruption promises. He also criticised the Budget’s debt burden, noting large allocations for debt service, interest, and principal repayment, and argued that limited funds remained for development. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe defended the Government’s second Budget, arguing that economic indicators are improving and that the 2026 proposals set out a roadmap for export diversification, SME support, health, education, public sector salaries, housing, and long-term growth. He rejected Opposition criticisms, including claims about vehicle allocations for MPs and doubts about the Government’s housing and growth targets, stating that funds were for essential government and local authority vehicles and that housing projects relied partly on community participation. He highlighted allocations of Rs. 654 billion for health, Rs. 704 billion for education, over Rs. 80 billion for MSME and startup credit, and additional funds for public servants’ salary increases, allowances, loans, and regularization. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary The Minister said authority over the matter raised by the Member rests with the Provincial Director of Health Services and that he has instructed the Secretary to ensure it is exercised properly. He stated that the health-sector transfer process has been delayed for years, with some cases pending since 2016–2017, and that stopping one release disrupts the whole chain. He said temporary difficulties at hospitals must be tolerated so annual transfers can be implemented, new officers posted, and attempts to retain posts by citing various reasons prevented, referring to the recent Dehiattakandiya Base Hospital issue involving an officer in post since 2007. Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam noted that doctor transfers directly affect hospital services, including childbirth deliveries, and are therefore relevant to the issue under discussion. He also raised concerns about the Eastern Province Governor’s role in transfers and requested that the matter be examined. Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about medical officer transfers affecting Trincomalee District, citing a Health Ministry circular on transfers effective from 31 January and the withholding of unimplemented transfer orders from 2022 and earlier. He said some late-issued transfer orders require doctors to report the next morning, while others have remained in posts for over 10 years without replacement, creating inequity and allegations of favouritism. He requested an inquiry and clarification or a report back on the matter. Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that nursing schools fall under the Ministry of Health, while allied health degree admissions are handled by universities under the Ministry of Higher Education. He said the matter would be examined and that the Education Minister would also respond, before inviting the next supplementary question. Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa highlighted staff shortages in Allied Health Sciences faculties, particularly at Ruhuna University, where 250 students from the 2023 A/L cohort have not yet been admitted. He cited gaps between UGC-approved staffing ratios and actual academic staff numbers, including in nursing, and urged the Government to admit the students and begin the programme by recruiting academic and non-academic staff on contract if necessary. He linked the issue to national shortages of nurses, medical laboratory technologists and pharmacists, and asked the relevant Ministers to provide a solution. Oral Question: Health Service Delivery - Supplementary Questions and Answers Read →
- 24 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary The Acting Minister of Transport and Highways said drug use among bus drivers and conductors is part of a wider national drug problem rather than an issue limited to long-distance buses. He stated that the Ministry, through the National Transport Medical Institute and with support from the Ministry of Health, plans to introduce on-the-spot testing to help reduce drug use in the bus sector as part of broader national eradication efforts. Oral Question: Long-Distance Bus Services (Q.7/2025) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa supported the Government’s Adjournment debate on eradicating drugs and crime, arguing that drug use has spread among youth, students and women and has harmed the economy, culture and public wellbeing. He alleged political links to drug importation and distribution, urged cross-party support for the President’s national anti-drug programme, and rejected what he described as attempts to politicize or undermine it. He called for identifying and punishing traffickers, including underworld and international networks, while providing rehabilitation, counselling and employment opportunities for affected youth. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government’s anti-drug and law-and-order campaign aims to dismantle drug supply chains and underworld networks, arguing that past political links with such groups had enabled the problem. He said investigations into incidents such as the Weligama Chairman’s killing should proceed and that arrests would be handled lawfully, while forthcoming legal amendments would allow prosecution in Sri Lanka of offenders, including foreign crews, apprehended on the high seas. He invited the Opposition and wider society to support the President’s anti-drug programme launching on the 30th, stressing both supply suppression and demand reduction through community, professional, religious, and rehabilitation efforts, with addicts treated as patients and traffickers imprisoned. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →