Topic
Infrastructure
2,546 speeches · 378 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. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 137 |
| 2 | Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 105 |
| 3 | Hon. Anura Karunathilaka, M.P. JJB | 83 |
| 4 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 76 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 62 |
| 6 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 47 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 46 |
| 8 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 43 |
| 9 | Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, M.P. JJB | 36 |
| 10 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 34 |
Speeches
2,546 on this topic- 14 February 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa asked the Minister of Power to inform Parliament whether procedures are in place to procure a battery energy storage system and to establish a pumped-storage power plant. He warned of a risk of power outages, referred to daily interruptions being attributed to maintenance, and specifically asked whether there would be a power cut during the coming weekend. Adjournment Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara raised concerns over ongoing power cuts, citing their impact on factories and students sitting examinations. He requested that the Minister of Power and Energy make a statement to Parliament on the matter. Motion: Privilege Matter Referral to Ethics Committee Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa requested a ministerial statement on recent and possible upcoming power cuts, particularly the risk of power shedding on Sunday if solar generation and industrial demand are low. He asked the Minister to explain the causes of the outages and the measures being taken to stabilize supply, including whether factories would be operated on Sunday to balance demand and supply. He also linked the issue to broader concerns about transparency, competitiveness, administrative changes, and foreign investors leaving the country. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof supported the motion to establish a programme for maintaining Government rice stocks, while questioning whether current controlled rice prices benefit farmers, consumers, or intermediaries. He highlighted difficulties faced by farmers in the Eastern Province, particularly Trincomalee, including flood damage, inadequate drying facilities, damaged agricultural roads, and unrepaired tanks. He called for compensation, infrastructure repairs, tank rehabilitation, and broader programmes to protect and encourage farmers. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara supported the motion on strengthening the co-operative network, arguing that politicization and lack of capital have weakened many societies despite their grassroots reach and potential to provide goods and services at lower prices. He proposed integrating co-operatives with Sathosa for bulk procurement and imports, digitizing operations, and ensuring accountable divisional-level oversight. Citing Horowpothana in Anuradhapura, he requested ministerial support for capital and facilities, and suggested piloting a programme in Anuradhapura to enable co-operatives to purchase paddy directly, manage drying and storage, revive co-operative rice mills, and supply affordable rice to villages. Private Members' Motion 2: Proper Procurement Programme for Co-operatives Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi welcomed the Minister’s response to his Private Member’s Motion on long-standing issues affecting Tamil communities, particularly in estate and village areas, and urged that responsibility be shared by all MPs rather than treated solely as a matter for Tamil representatives. He argued that decades of neglect should not be used to justify further inaction, highlighting the need for practical measures such as road development to ease tensions and improve access. He thanked Members who supported the debate and requested that an earlier postponed motion be given time on a future occasion. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri apologized to the Deputy Speaker for any earlier offence and addressed a motion by Hesha Withanage concerning road access in plantation areas. He argued that estate road construction and related facilities are obstructed by long-term plantation lease arrangements, with estate authorities restricting movement, imposing controls, and blocking government-funded works such as roads and toilets. He urged the Minister and Government to resolve the legal and administrative powers held by plantation authorities through a collective mechanism to address hardships faced by estate communities, particularly Tamil residents. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman argued that plantation infrastructure funding is structurally inadequate and that services such as roads, schools, hospitals, and housing should be handled by the relevant line ministries rather than a separate plantation portfolio. He said plantation communities need recognition rather than pity, noted that only a minority are estate workers, and called for increased allocations and simplified procedures, citing plantation company approvals as a major barrier to development. He asked the Government to clarify its housing and land policy for upcountry people, specifically whether it plans apartments, individual houses, land ownership, or evictions, and referred to previous Cabinet papers seeking land ownership for the community. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera supported Hon. Hesha Withanage’s Private Member’s Motion on estate and plantation-adjacent roads, stating that many have deteriorated because plantation companies, provincial councils, local authorities, and the Road Development Authority have not adequately maintained them. He proposed that the Government vest and rehabilitate these roads using public funds or tax revenue collected from plantation companies, estimated at about Rs. 1.5 billion annually. He further requested that, after rehabilitation, routine maintenance be made the responsibility of the plantation companies and urged the Minister and Government to act urgently. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala supported Hon. Hesha Withanage’s Private Member’s Motion on estate roads, noting that such roads are now used not only for estate produce but also for daily transport by residents. He said estate companies do not maintain these roads for community needs and urged the Government to give special attention to unmanaged internal estate roads, particularly in areas such as Mawathagama and Dodangaslanda with large Tamil estate populations. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj supported Hesha Withanage’s Private Member’s Motion on hill-country estate roads while criticizing the UNP’s 1992 privatization of plantations and the absence of binding development plans for estate infrastructure. He said estate-connecting and internal roads remain neglected despite the national road network’s classifications, and argued that past governments and allied hill-country Tamil political figures had failed the community. He stated that the NPP Government is studying hill-country issues and is committed to improving education, housing and transport. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan supported the Private Member’s Motion calling for the Government to take over and develop estate roads, arguing that their unclear ownership leaves them neglected by existing road authorities. He urged the plantation and community infrastructure ministers to assume responsibility, noting that past allocations were insufficient and that the current Government has the parliamentary majority and executive authority to act, including by seeking foreign assistance. He also referred to schools in Ratnapura and Yatiyantota with Advanced Level classes and requested further development of such schools. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel supported the Private Member’s Motion on acquiring estate roads to the Government, arguing that successive past governments and plantation portfolio holders had failed to improve estate infrastructure and living conditions. She said the NPP Government was implementing programmes to integrate hill-country communities into the national mainstream, including land with secure title, infrastructure, and 5,400 houses, with attention to displaced families in areas such as Kabaragala and Meeriabedda. She also stated that the Clean Sri Lanka programme would cover hill-country communities, including interim renovation of line rooms and provision of roads, bridges, and other facilities. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha seconded the Private Member’s Motion on developing estate roads, citing severe access problems in estate areas of Ratnapura District such as Kolonna, Rakwana, Balangoda, Ratnapura, Nivithigala and Kalawana. He said poor road conditions impede emergency transport and agricultural activity, affecting both estate communities and smallholders, and argued that estate roads should be vested in the Government and developed through Provincial Councils and local authorities. He also called for a programme to improve basic infrastructure, including roads and housing, for poor estate communities. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi moved a Private Members’ Motion urging the Government to vest under Provincial and Local Authorities estate roads that pass through plantation company lands and serve estate worker settlements. Citing Ratnapura and other plantation areas, he argued that unclear ownership and company control prevent road development and access, and called for discussions with estate companies, resources, and legal changes to empower authorities. He also requested broader measures for plantation communities, including action on line-room housing, equitable allocation of facilities across districts, A/L science education for Tamil students in Ratnapura, and inclusive mechanisms that treat Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities equally. Private Members' Motion 1: Acquisition of Estate Roads to the Government Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka clarified allegations that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board was supplying drinking water contaminated with carcinogens, explaining that a hydrated lime consignment procured through tender had tested slightly above the then-applicable SLS chromium limit of 10 mg/kg. He stated that the consignment had not been accepted or used in any water treatment plant, despite later SLS revisions allowing up to 12 mg/kg, and that the contractor could be required to replace or re-export it under the tender conditions. He said the NWSDB would continue to ensure safe drinking water and criticized statements based on incomplete information that caused public concern. Ministerial Statements on Justice Department, Foreign Employment, and Hydrated Lime Importation Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody tabled a written answer on solar power capacity and generation, stating that the Ceylon Electricity Board has 1,266 MW and LECO 259 MW of solar capacity, with 1,161 GWh added to the National Grid up to November 2024. The answer said solar schemes began on 6 September 2016 and included capacity additions under Net Plus, Net Metering and Net Accounting. It outlined measures to promote solar power, including competitive procurement of large-scale plants, streamlined approvals, online clearances, grid and transmission upgrades, energy storage development, public awareness, and support for installations in religious places and state institutions, in line with the 2030 target of 70 per cent renewable electricity generation. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Ajith P. Perera) SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Energy to provide details on Sri Lanka’s solar power integration into the National Grid, including total installed capacity, annual additions, and the launch date of the “Soorya Bala Sangramaya” project. He requested separate figures for solar power added under the Net Plus, Net Metering and Net Accounting schemes, and asked what measures would be taken to further promote solar energy. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister outlined planned cultural sector programmes under the theme “A noble cultural life and a compassionate citizenry,” noting that inspections had identified incomplete large concrete structures at cultural centres, including an auditorium shell at the Kurunegala Jana Kala Foundation, which the Ministry intends to complete. He said the Budget-aligned proposals include a central Artists’ Residence in Colombo for regional artists, four fully equipped Multi-Cultural Centres including in the North and East, and an International Translation Centre to promote translation among Sinhala, Tamil and English works. He argued these measures are necessary to strengthen arts and culture as part of national development. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Vellaveli tank and pump house under the Mandur Scheme are intended to supply the entire Divisional Secretariat area, with related distribution extensions under planning, including a 2.5 km extension to Tharmapuram–Kirankulam under CEDE 2025. On the issue of hydrated lime, he said he would make a special statement that day and that the supplementary question would be addressed in it. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →