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- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns about the lack of fertilizer supply and called for verification of fertilizer quality, contrasting the current situation with previous availability of both organic and chemical fertilizer. He defended the Opposition Leader’s focus on public grievances and said the Opposition would acknowledge positive government action while highlighting continuing issues. He also cited problems in Polonnaruwa’s health sector, including the absence of an MRI scanner at the General Hospital, forcing patients to travel to Anuradhapura. Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary S.M. Marikkar referred to the 2024 controversy over substandard medicines, noting reported deaths and loss of eyesight, and questioned why the complaints division had received no complaints. He argued that this indicated a lack of public awareness and requested that the division’s contact number be publicized. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Deputy Minister stated that medicine quality failures are determined by laboratory testing and that the NMRA has no recorded instances of deliberately creating such failures. He said that, among life-saving or high-cost cold-chain medicines in the past five years, only two batches of Tenecteplase Injection 40 mg were temporarily withheld pending NMRA regulatory decisions. He explained that hospital reports may trigger NMRA action, but withdrawals or suspensions are regulatory decisions, and tender awards by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation take account of NMRA-recommended withdrawals, with conditional awards possible in other cases. For January 2025 to February 2026, he cited totals for suspensions, rejections, batch and product withdrawals and related actions, and added that no NMRA-withdrawn medicines had been recorded as sold in the private market, with no such complaints recorded in 2024. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media whether essential drug suppliers are being deliberately discredited through alleged quality failures and removed from state supply, including at regional hospital level, causing some suppliers to avoid State Pharmaceuticals Corporation tenders. He sought details on withdrawals of life-saving or expensive temperature-controlled drugs over the last five years, NMRA batch or product withdrawals, whether withdrawn drugs are being sold in the private market, and the complaints mechanism and number of complaints received in 2024. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary An exchange was interrupted by the Chair, with certain remarks expunged from the record. The matter under reference concerned the removal of suppliers involved in the supply of essential or life-saving drugs. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva said early childhood development gives insufficient attention to children with disabilities compared with general education. He called for a national, scientifically based screening and assessment process, linked to hospitals, MOH offices and the wider health system, to identify disabilities early and direct children to preschool education. He asked the Deputy Minister what steps the Ministry is taking to establish a strong data system to support this process. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath highlighted suicide prevention as a sensitive national issue, identifying causes such as examination pressure, family conflict, social acceptance pressures, online harassment, mental health conditions, trauma, economic hardship, imitation, and harmful media content. He urged legal action against publicizing or glamorizing suicide methods, closer attention to online games and digital risks, and consideration of these issues in new legislation. He proposed a 24-hour national rapid response unit or emergency hotline, with a task force to intervene when at-risk individuals are reported, and called for reducing stigma around mental healthcare. He also supported including character development in education reforms, potentially as a compulsory subject, to strengthen resilience among children and students. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.60/2025 - Preventing Suicide Among Young Children Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. Dinindu Saman Hennayake - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Dinindu Saman Hennayake thanked Hon. Lal Premanath for raising youth suicide and noted that, while Sri Lanka’s suicide rate has declined from earlier levels, it remains above the global average. He identified mental stress from educational competition, parental expectations, relationship breakdowns, family conflict and cyberbullying as key contributing factors, and linked the Government’s education reforms to efforts to reduce pressure on adolescents. He said the Ministry of Youth Affairs is developing preventive measures, including a Youth App for confidential counselling, youth engagement programmes through the National Youth Services Council and National Youth Corps, and a National Research Conference on Youth Development with a focus on youth mental stress. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.60/2025 - Preventing Suicide Among Young Children Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. Aruna Panagoda JJB AI summary Hon. Aruna Panagoda supported the motion on preventing youth suicide, citing frequent cases and estimating that 3,000 to 3,500 young lives are lost annually over issues such as examinations, workplace problems, and school-related stress. He argued for long-term social interventions through the education system, including character-building, counselling, extracurricular activities, stronger family relationships, and closer teacher-student engagement. He also urged electronic and social media, and Parliament itself, to act responsibly and avoid conduct that could negatively affect individuals, families, and social attitudes. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.60/2025 - Preventing Suicide Among Young Children Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara seconded the Private Member’s Motion on suicide prevention, arguing that suicide attempts reflect both individual psychological distress and wider social factors such as economic hardship and community conditions. He said a lack of resilience is a key underlying cause, criticizing the education system for being too teacher-centred and exam-centred rather than preparing children to adapt to new challenges. He urged reforms in education, media, and social discourse to build resilience among youth so they can cope with adversity without resorting to self-harm. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.60/2025 - Preventing Suicide Among Young Children Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Lal Premanath moved a resolution calling for deeper intervention by political authorities, officials, the media and the public to prevent youth suicide, arguing that existing counselling, university training and hospital psychiatric services remain inadequate. He cited high risks among school-age girls linked to relationship, exam, family and online pressures, and among young men linked to drugs, unemployment, economic stress and domestic disputes, while noting stigma and poor coordination between schools, police, divisional offices and hospitals. He urged increased funding at district and divisional levels, use of community structures such as “Praja Shakthi”, stronger roles for the Youth and Sports Ministry, field-oriented counselling, resilience education, responsible media reporting, parental awareness of social media and gaming risks, and the creation of a national rapid-response unit. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.60/2025 - Preventing Suicide Among Young Children Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a practical issue faced when repatriating bodies from Qatar, noting that Colombo airport requires a Non-infectious Certificate that Qatar does not issue. He said entry then depends on special approval from the Quarantine Office, but a recent case was delayed for several hours because the on-duty doctor did not respond or identify a process. He requested the Deputy Minister to address the procedural gap and improve handling of such cases. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.33/2025 - Setting up of a Unit with Legal Powers to Solve Problems Faced by Migrant Employees Read →
- 8 May 2026 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri thanked Members who contributed to his Private Member’s Motion on issues in technological and vocational universities, noting proposals on human resources, capital needs, and wider education reform. He urged the Government to move beyond debate and implement the proposed measures so progress could be assessed in the coming years, while cautioning that outreach programmes should be protected from misuse by officials. He also linked education reform to broader social concerns, including rising suicide and mental health-related distress, and said the motion was agreed to. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.18/2024 - Formulating a Programme to Make School Students Aware of University of Vocational Technology Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Asked whether the zoo has a dedicated health management programme for geriatric and sick animals. Oral Question 8: Waste Disposal at National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister of Health and Mass Media presented the 2024 Annual Report of the Vijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, and the House agreed. Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Report Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary While supporting the Bill relating to SME progress, protection and security, Chanaka Madugoda raised several public administration and local service concerns. He urged the withdrawal of an IGP order requiring disabled police officers to wear a different uniform, arguing that it undermines their dignity, and asked that police recruitment criteria be reviewed in light of vacancies. He also requested a faster expressway access corridor to Karapitiya hospital facilities in Galle, opposed the removal of the Mahamodara OPD, and noted that an issue at the Department of Railways requires attention. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 10 April 2026 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised several service delivery needs in Pottuvil and surrounding areas, including urgent teacher vacancies, a separate Pottuvil Zonal Education Office, a teacher training centre, and the attachment of trainee teachers to underserved schools. He requested increased fuel QR allocations for tourism-related three-wheelers, upgrades and infrastructure for Paalamunai and Irakkamam hospitals, completion of the Savalakadai Youth Corps Training Centre, land deeds and basic services for resettled families in Pottuvil, and appointment of a dental doctor to Pottuvil Base Hospital. He also urged compensation for two teachers who died in a 2010 duty-related accident and recorded thanks to individuals associated with the formation and protection of Al-Hutha village in 1990. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Read →
- 10 April 2026 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir stated that substandard coal had been brought to the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant, but argued that the wider environmental damage was a more urgent concern than allegations of fraud. He said fishing, agriculture and public health in areas from Karambewa to Kalpitiya had been affected by ash and coal dust, and urged the Environment and Health Ministers to investigate, including reported increases in cancer and respiratory disease. He also requested the Health Minister to expedite the opening of the hospital built in Kalpitiya to serve the local population. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Read →
- 10 April 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasinghe JJB AI summary On behalf of the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment, the member presented two committee reports to Parliament. These included the 2024 Performance Report of the Department of Ayurveda, the 2024 Annual Report of the National Child Protection Authority, and the Committee’s report on the Ministry of Health’s 2024 Annual Performance Report, which were ordered to lie upon the Table. Sectoral Oversight Committee Reports on Health, Mass Media and Women's Empowerment Read →
- 9 April 2026 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran condemned the GMOA strike, saying it was denying medical care to poor and long-distance patients, and urged the Government and Health Ministry to resolve the dispute, including by bringing proposals to Parliament if necessary. He requested urgent repair of the broken radiotherapy machine at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and opposed any proposed 53 per cent electricity tariff increase, attributing the issue to CEB mismanagement. He also commended strong A/L results from Akkaraipattu–Ramakrishna Mission College and the Thirukkovil Educational Zone despite limited facilities. Speaking in the context of the Public Security Ordinance resolution and Army Act regulations, he opposed continuing Emergency Law, criticizing the Government for extending measures it had previously opposed. Debate on Regulations under Defence Acts and Extension of State of Emergency Read →