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- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage JJB AI summary Hon. Deepthi Wasalage supported extending the national emergency declared after the 27–28 November disaster, arguing that it had been used for recovery rather than to restrict democratic processes. She described severe damage in Matale, including 29 deaths, blocked roads, power and communication failures, and disrupted Water Board projects, and said government MPs and local representatives worked across ethnic and religious lines to restore normalcy. She identified remaining recovery needs, including the Alkaduwa–Ukuwela road, Bambarakiri Ella water project, and relocation of Gammaduwa Hindu National School, and called for state officials to be protected in taking necessary land acquisition and development decisions. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. R.G. Wijerathna JJB AI summary Hon. R.G. Wijerathna supported extending the Emergency Regulations under the Public Security Ordinance, citing severe damage from “Ditwah” in Nuwara Eliya, including destroyed canals, anicuts, tanks, agricultural roads and RDA roads. He reported relief payments made locally and island-wide agricultural compensation, while arguing that recovery remains incomplete and requires coordinated technical, engineering, NBRO, RDA and Tri-Forces support under the Essential Services Commissioner General. He urged Parliament to continue the cross-party cooperation shown during the initial emergency declaration and approve a further extension to stabilize conditions and complete restoration. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya supported extending the emergency regulations following Cyclone “Ditwah,” citing severe damage to roads, bridges, schools and housing, increased landslide risk, and the need to maintain essential services through an Essential Services Commissioner General. She said a task force chaired by her, with subcommittees and a foreign aid coordination mechanism, had been established to manage recovery and allocate resources. She rejected Opposition claims that the emergency had been used to suppress media, protests, or make certain arrests, and asked for specific evidence. She also stated that education reforms were continuing, with only the Grade 6 subject stream rollout deferred to 2027, and provided progress figures on relief payments to affected children, families of the deceased, and other beneficiaries. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported extending the Emergency Regulations issued after Cyclone “Ditwah,” stating that they are needed to coordinate relief, maintain essential services, and restore infrastructure across the 22 districts declared disaster-affected. He said the regulations enable an Essential Services Commissioner General to coordinate state, private, local, district, national, and international actors in resettlement, compensation, reconstruction, and service restoration. He emphasized accountable use of public funds and international assistance, including support from 32 countries, the World Bank, JICA, and bridges from India, with allocations based on district-level requests and audits. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah thanked the Minister for visiting the affected site and taking prompt steps to allocate funds and begin urgent excavations. He conveyed appreciation on behalf of the affected people. Private Notice Questions: MSMEs and Kalmunai Massacre Site Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Lal Premanath welcomed the Minister’s stated measures and asked whether the Government has considered a formal programme to reassign vehicles brought into the country for large-scale projects funded by bodies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. He specifically queried whether such vehicles could be allocated to public institutions facing vehicle shortages and transport difficulties. Oral Question: Divisional Secretariats Vehicle Requirement (Q.1571/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister JJB AI summary Arrangements are being made through District Secretaries to allocate vehicles from a pool to address transport shortages in districts. The Minister said the planned purchase of over 1,700 vehicles is not solely for MPs but also for Government institutions, including Divisional Secretariats and departments in agriculture, livestock, land and local authorities, where many vehicles are decades old. He stated that the Government will consider the concerns raised and provide facilities where vehicle problems exist. Oral Question: Divisional Secretariats Vehicle Requirement (Q.1571/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister answered that there are 339 Divisional Secretariats and 2 sub-offices, with 628 vehicles in use, but the fleet is inadequate and largely old, including 223 vehicles over 20 years old and 108 over 15 years old. He stated that Cabinet approval has been granted to purchase vehicles for essential public services and field duties, with a need for 465 vehicles identified for District and Divisional Secretariat administration. The Ministry submitted its observations and report to the Comptroller General on 13 October 2025, and further approvals and funding steps are to be handled through the Comptroller General and Ministry of Finance. Oral Question: Divisional Secretariats Vehicle Requirement (Q.1571/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government for details on vehicle availability in Divisional Secretariats, including the total number of Secretariats, vehicles allocated, and the adequacy and roadworthiness of those vehicles. He sought information on how many Secretariats lack roadworthy vehicles and whether the Government has a systematic programme, timeframe, and budgetary allocations to provide or maintain vehicles needed for administrative and field duties. Oral Question: Divisional Secretariats Vehicle Requirement (Q.1571/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation about delays in preparing an assessment report for constructing a sluice gate on the RB35 Main Canal in the Kurundankulam Division of the Akkaraipattu Irrigation Engineering Zone. He noted that the Director General of Irrigation had first requested the report in May 2021 and sent a reminder in September 2023, and sought details of measures taken to proceed with the sluice gate construction or the reasons for inaction. Oral Questions: Various (Q.3, Q.5, Q.6) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman argued that smart boards and similar devices are already being used in better-resourced national schools through parental funding, creating educational inequality if the Government does not provide comparable infrastructure to other schools. He asked the Deputy Minister to address the long-standing space shortage at Milad Vidyalaya, the only Tamil-medium Muslim school in the area, noting an earlier verbal promise to provide land or another school had not been fulfilled. He further questioned why approval had not been granted to temporarily use a nearby school, whose priest had consented in writing, while a permanent solution is sought. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that a programme is being implemented with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Digital Economy, and Chinese assistance to provide digital devices to all provincial and national schools. He said this is intended to enable schools to shift to digital methods in the future without placing a burden on schools or parents, but added that digital devices are not required at present and that a digital operating system is being prepared for all schools. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy raised concerns about coal imports and electricity supply, noting that if low-quality coal is rejected, replacement stocks must arrive before April to avoid power shortages. He asked whether the quality inspection reports prepared at berthing and discharge of coal shipments could be tabled in Parliament. Oral Question: Norochcholai Coal Power Plant Ash Sales (Q.68/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Institute of Real Estate Professionals of Sri Lanka Bill, arguing that Sri Lanka lacks systematic planning and standards for land and property use, causing conflicts among residential, industrial and commercial interests. He highlighted the importance of property valuers for local authority revenue collection, transparent use of development funds, and bank lending, citing an urban council where a comprehensive valuation had not been conducted since 2003. He said the proposed professional institution would help uphold standards, ensure uniformity of service and build the professional capacity needed for national development. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah commended the Transport Ministry’s response in restoring bus and train services after recent floods and Cyclone Ditwah, and requested attention to cyclone-damaged roads in Batticaloa District. He urged the Fisheries and Ports Ministers to operationalize the unused Oluvil Harbour as a fisheries harbour, noting the burden on coastal fishermen and suggesting possible support through financial institutions or private operators. He also called for urgent government action to protect the garment industry from tariff disadvantages, including negotiations with the United States or securing GSP concessions, and demanded that long-delayed Provincial Council elections be held to restore elected provincial administration under the Thirteenth Amendment. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported the Bills to license container depot operators and regulate shipping agents, freight forwarders, NVOCCs and container operators, stating that they would streamline the sector. He welcomed the Minister’s response on the Mannar–Puttalam road, clarifying that the court matter was a settlement rather than a judgment barring use, and urged cooperation to reopen and develop it as a main highway. He also endorsed the President’s Independence Day call to acknowledge past errors and correct them, and requested a special Cabinet paper to grant permanent appointments to 253 volunteer teachers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces who had served in difficult post-war conditions. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Geetha Herath supported the Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Sri Lanka Bill, arguing that it would resolve regulatory gaps and conflicts among existing valuation and real estate bodies while improving professional standards, ethics, transparency, investor confidence and safeguards against financial irregularities. She also referred to Bills regulating container depot operators and licensing shipping agents and related service providers, stating that formal regulation was needed for economic growth and rebuilding. She highlighted government actions on economic stabilization, disaster recovery funding after Cyclone “Michaung”, and raised concern about verbal and online harassment of women parliamentarians. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the Government is initiating mini-government service centres and programmes to improve livelihoods and provide dignified work for Hill Country communities, including recognizing rubber tapping as a profession. She stated that tourism and industrial development programmes would be used to raise living standards and that national programmes are treating Hill Country people equally. She argued that these measures represent meaningful freedom for the community and would create pathways for greater political representation at all levels. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged the Government to ensure Sri Lanka Customs can operate on a 24-hour basis as part of modernization efforts. He said Customs has indicated readiness, but other line agencies must support it through online integration, including ASYCUDA, Inland Revenue, commercial banks, and import regulatory authorities. He argued that continuous clearance of shipments is necessary to provide exporters with efficient service and improve Sri Lanka’s competitiveness. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that improving competitiveness is essential amid rupee fluctuations, cost-push inflation, and the need to meet major external debt repayments, including USD 14 billion due in 2028. He supported modernizing the Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers, and Container Operators Act, stating that legislation must be effectively implemented. He called for digitalization of freight forwarding, including connectivity with systems such as ASYCUDA, to strengthen exports, professional standards, and Sri Lanka’s position against peer countries. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →