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- 24 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary The Minister of Health and Mass Media tabled a written answer stating that Sri Lanka has 20 teaching hospitals, including national hospitals, with details and basic facilities provided in annexes. He said their main objective is clinical training for medical undergraduates and postgraduate trainees, alongside the provision of specialist medical services. The answer stated that professorial units should exist in every teaching hospital, that all currently have such units except Kuliyapitiya and Badulla, and that arrangements are underway to establish them after infrastructure upgrades. It also listed the medical faculties linked to each teaching hospital and noted ongoing discussions to provide necessary facilities to Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital. Oral Question: Teaching Hospitals (Q.5) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe (on behalf of the Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara) JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to provide details on Sri Lanka’s teaching hospitals, including their number, locations, objectives, and required basic facilities. He further requested information on links between teaching hospitals and medical faculties, the establishment of professorial units, and a hospital-wise breakdown of those facilities, with particular focus on whether a professorial unit was planned and will be established at Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital for Wayamba University medical students. He also sought details of facilities provided by the present Government to Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital and reasons if any requested information or action is not forthcoming. Oral Question: Teaching Hospitals (Q.5) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna raised several alleged corruption issues in Northern health institutions, including hospital accounts and procurement irregularities, and asked the Minister to act on documents previously submitted. He urged attention to shortages in staff, beds, infrastructure and equipment, particularly in Northern and Eastern hospitals, and called for national digital health replication, clearer planning for hospital upgrades, and action on eye health, indigenous medicine graduates and homoeopathy regulation. He also recounted the unresolved disappearance of his father after wartime medical transfer in 2009 and sought truth regarding his fate, while asking that his own service-related disciplinary issues not be politicised. He further questioned whether anti-corruption action under “Clean Sri Lanka” had addressed Northern cases and raised concerns about doctors’ vehicle permits and retention. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara outlined the 2026 Health Ministry allocations, citing Rs. 654 billion in total expenditure for hospital operations, development, medical supplies, nutrition, disease prevention, staff capacity development, research, indigenous medicine and ambulance services. He highlighted specific allocations for Ratnapura District, including oncology and cardiac facilities at Ratnapura Teaching Hospital, buildings at Kalawana Base Hospital and Embilipitiya District General Hospital, and ongoing provincial health projects. He also noted local improvements in Balangoda, Rassagala, Belihuloya and Kalthota, including Ayurveda services and plans for a new Balangoda Primary Medical Care Unit, and rejected Opposition claims that the health sector is collapsing. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran welcomed increased allocations to the media sector and commended the Health Minister for pledging support, including funding for a multi-storey building at Thirukkovil Base Hospital. He said Thirukkovil Hospital had long been neglected despite its status as a Base Hospital since 2017, and requested permanent postings of doctors, nurses, minor staff and specialists, as well as improvements to dilapidated quarters and sanitary facilities. He also urged that Kalmunai North Base Hospital, an “A” grade institution with a long history, be upgraded to a District General Hospital and provided with facilities including a sewage treatment plant and an MRI scanner. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah supported the increased allocations for Health and Mass Media and urged the Government to address several health infrastructure needs in the Eastern Province. He requested the central takeover and upgrading of Kattankudy Base Hospital to a District General Hospital, a blood transfusion centre at Batticaloa District Hospital, funding to begin the proposed ETU complex at Valachchenai Base Hospital, and land and specialist staffing for Eravur Base Hospital. He also asked that media-related housing or land benefits include Tamil-speaking journalists in the North and East, and proposed media identity cards for bona fide digital journalists operating public-interest social media and YouTube channels. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana outlined increased health allocations, citing Rs. 604 billion in 2025 and Rs. 654 billion proposed for 2026, as part of a policy goal to move health spending towards 5 per cent of GDP. He said the Ministry would focus on efficient and transparent use of funds, digitisation of health information and pharmaceutical agencies, and reforms to address Sri Lanka’s declining health system ranking. He highlighted a primary health care pilot to establish local units serving 5,000–10,000 people with family doctor teams, aimed at managing non-communicable diseases and reducing OPD congestion. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy supported plans to upgrade Puttalam Hospital but urged the Health Minister to address drug shortages, staffing and equipment gaps, corruption, and implementation of COPE/COPA recommendations, particularly regarding vacancies, lack of data collection, emergency procurement practices, and audit failures at the NMRA. He questioned delays and irregularities in the e-NMRA system, registration delays, missing essential medicines, insulin shortages, and alleged continuing influence by former officials, while calling for stronger scrutiny of procurement networks and support for local manufacturers. On mass media, he urged action against abusive social media activity and proposed a regulatory framework, informed by Australia’s approach, to restrict or manage social media use by children under 16 while preserving educational access. 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 Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Government would reassess the need for a proposed large hospital building, where a foundation has already been laid, and consider how it should be used alongside any requirement for an Ayurveda hospital. He stated that the agreement for the Mannar CT scanner has been signed, the Provincial Council is preparing the BOQ, and work is expected to begin soon using the allocated Rs. 600 million. He also said funds would be allocated in the Budget under the base hospital development programme to upgrade Puttalam Hospital facilities. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Government to secure foreign funding or a special allocation of Rs. 17 billion to develop and upgrade the hospital into a District General Hospital within one or two years. He said the facility serves about 100,000 displaced people and patients from areas including Aanaimadu, Karuwalagaswewa, and Kalpitiya, and requested an indication of the expected timeline for the upgrade. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen requested additional time and raised concerns over the stalled development of Puttalam Hospital. He stated that although a master plan has been completed, it remains with the Provincial Council and has not been forwarded to the relevant Ministry. He alleged that the Provincial Council is neglecting the hospital and obstructing development, noting that promised 4MDI funds have not been released. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen raised concerns about the condition and capacity of Puttalam Hospital, noting that it serves around 450,000 people but has only 400 beds despite a daily requirement of 750–800. He recalled earlier efforts under the Yahapalana Government to develop a master plan and seek foreign funding, and said subsequent governments had not addressed the issue. He asked the Minister for a clear roadmap, timeline, and budget allocation to upgrade the hospital to a District General Hospital, arguing that provincial allocations were unlikely to be sufficient. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen requested the Minister to review proposals from the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum regarding the SLBC Islamic Service, arguing that programme time has been reduced due to increased advertisements and should be restored and properly structured. He also urged action to reopen the closed Al-Qasimi City Hospital in Puttalam, established for displaced communities, noting that facilities remain available but no doctor has been appointed. He further asked that doctor shortages at Hidhaithnagar, Karambai, Kandakkuda, and Alankuda hospitals be addressed. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen urged the Health Ministry to address rural health disparities and use the Mass Media portfolio to educate the public on disease prevention. He requested the resumption of a halted hospital project in Nintavur on land donated by residents, ambulances for several areas in Mannar District, and a CT scanner for Mannar Hospital, while noting India’s Rs. 600 million support for the district hospital. He also called for the urgent upgrading of Silavathurai Hospital in Musali to a Base Hospital, citing long travel distances for patients, post-war resettlement hardships, and prior approval of the required cadre. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena acknowledged staffing issues in the health sector, noting that shortages affect not only doctors but also nurses. He said Budget allocations had been increased for nursing education, including Rs. 150 million for the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Medical Faculty and Rs. 150 million for nursing training schools, while emphasizing that addressing the nursing cadre shortage will take time. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena outlined Budget allocations to strengthen the health sector, including Rs. 605 million for scientific research into traditional medicine, Rs. 2,630 million for Emergency Accident Unit buildings in several districts, Rs. 650 million for further emergency unit expansion, and Rs. 4.2 billion for the Suwaseriya ambulance service. He said accident-related deaths and injuries require expanded emergency care and better-equipped ambulances with more highly trained emergency medical technicians. He also emphasized the need to improve job satisfaction among health workers, particularly doctors, noting their lengthy training, postgraduate commitments, on-call duties, and administrative challenges. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena stated that Ayurveda and indigenous medicine require an evidence-based policy framework, structured roadmap, and strategic plan rather than ad hoc measures. He emphasized the absence of a data system in the indigenous medical sector and called for its establishment as a prerequisite for developing the sector. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena — Minister of Science and Technology AI summary The Minister said health sector funding has been increased to Rs. 654 billion and that the Government aims to reach higher spending targets for health and education progressively. He defended the Rs. 6.8 billion allocation for indigenous medicine, stating that Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani services should be strengthened alongside overall health-sector expansion. He called for correcting disparities affecting Ayurvedic officers, improving regulation of practitioner registration, and integrating indigenous hospitals run by different authorities into a coordinated system. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera defended the 19th Amendment and the Right to Information Act as key good governance reforms, arguing that they reduced opportunities for corruption by compelling disclosure in the State sector. He criticized the failure of several high offices, apart from the Prime Minister, to provide requested information on private staff, allowances, salaries and vehicles, and called on the Government to strengthen rather than undermine the RTI Commission. He also urged priority for upgrading the Panadura Base Hospital and requested the restoration of the Ayurvedic Shasthriya Examination to provide recognized qualifications for traditional practitioners. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB AI summary Hon. Ashoka Gunasena supported the Health and Mass Media expenditure heads, stating that the Budget allocates resources on national policy priorities rather than favouring particular districts. He said the Government would resolve issues from earlier irregular recruitments, including regularizing the remaining dengue control assistants, and argued these were legacy problems. He outlined plans to strengthen indigenous medicine by integrating it into the National Health Policy, expanding combined Western and Ayurvedic care, promoting wellness tourism and local medicinal cultivation, and improving sector management systems. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →