Topic
Justice & Human Rights
2,079 speeches · 258 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. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P. JJB | 162 |
| 2 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 96 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 84 |
| 4 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 79 |
| 5 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 71 |
| 6 | Hon. Ananda Wijepala, M.P. JJB | 67 |
| 7 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 60 |
| 8 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 52 |
| 9 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 48 |
| 10 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 47 |
Speeches
2,079 on this topic- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman questioned the Government’s progress on investigations it had pledged to pursue, including the Easter Sunday attacks and the deaths or assaults of Lasantha Wickrematunge, Prageeth Ekneligoda, Wasim Thajudeen, Keith Noyahr, Poddala Jayantha, and matters relating to Dr. Shafi. Speaking during the expenditure heads for Public Security and Defence, he argued that despite a year in office, key cases had not advanced, citing the absence of progress in Lasantha Wickrematunge’s case and the lack of investigation into the assault on Poddala Jayantha. He also referred to court proceedings in the Thajudeen case, including a 2016 statement by a former Narahenpita Crimes OIC, and questioned the Government’s handling and publicity of a recent arrest said to be connected to that murder. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi criticized the handling of the Trincomalee statue incident, arguing that protection should have been provided at the site rather than by removing the statue. He raised concerns over public security, citing 104 shootings, 55 deaths and 56 injuries under the current Government, and questioned the official response to the assassination of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wikramasekara, including the use of the “IRC-registered” label. He accused the IGP of failing to act on written threats against the Chairman and urged the National Police Commission to take disciplinary action, while also calling for disclosures on the Easter Sunday attacks. He further demanded that the Government table a report on the 323 containers, including those allegedly linked to drugs, and warned of possible links between arms, drugs and escalating violence. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Many Opposition claims are unfounded, particularly regarding the Sambuddha Jayanthi Viharaya matter, which is before the Magistrate with a status quo order and concerns land boundaries, not religion. He said Police transfers fall under the IGP’s constitutional powers and the relevant Commission, with no political interference, and argued that the Government has worked to depoliticize the Police and Immigration and Emigration leadership. He stated that the current Police leadership has improved public trust and is targeting illegal arms and narcotics supply networks, including political links and foreign nodes, rather than only minor offenders. He also defended the 2025.10.27 circular on limiting improper public dissemination of operational material, saying it was lawfully issued to protect investigations. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe criticized the handling of the Trincomalee temple/statue dispute, arguing that the Police and relevant authorities should have acted through consultation and lawful procedures to prevent public disorder and communal tension. He alleged inconsistency and politicization in the Government’s approach to narcotics enforcement, CID and CIABOC investigations, and media communication, calling for impartial action rather than selective targeting of the Opposition. He also raised concerns over national security, military modernization, the impact of international resolutions on the armed forces, and several specific investigations and administrative actions, urging the Government to stop using law enforcement agencies as political tools. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Dr. Elayathamby Srinath urged the Government to ensure fair and just processes in relation to the Chemmani massacre, incidents in Trincomalee, and land release matters. He said support would be extended for Government action if it delivers justice equally to all and helps build better governance in the future. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa proposed that Parliament issue a public statement advising citizens not to repay loans obtained from illegal online lenders charging exorbitant interest rates, and sought agreement from all Members on this position. He also urged the Government to address the welfare issues of disabled war veterans based on documents he had tabled. Referring to a temple-related incident in Trincomalee, he called for a national programme and a National Integration Committee to prevent similar incidents. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said a court “B” Report has been filed on the Trincomalee incident, with the Magistrate ordering verification of documents and prohibiting changes to the temporary structure until the next hearing on 26 November 2025. He stated that stakeholders had reached consensus, boundary demarcation was being handled by the District Secretary, and the Government would not allow the issue to be used to create communal or religious tensions. He also said a committee on online credit operations is finalizing work under the Online Safety Act framework, a dedicated Police cybercrime division is planned, and no war veterans’ pensions or allowances have been permanently stopped, with only temporary database-related delays being addressed. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 18 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned whether the handling of the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya issue in Trincomalee, including police removal of a Buddha statue, was consistent with national security and religious coexistence. He proposed a President-led National Integration Committee and urged that the Amarapura Maha Nikaya Mahanayake Thero and relevant stakeholders be brought together at the Presidential Secretariat to resolve such disputes through leadership rather than police action. He also raised grievances affecting disabled war heroes, ex-servicemen, widows and parents, alleging that pension revisions approved in the 2025 Budget were being denied through Pensions Circular 02/2025 and decisions by the Director General of Pensions. He demanded immediate implementation of the Budget proposal, continuation of fixed allowances after age 55 for eligible families, and fair treatment in cases involving missing personnel, deaths outside active areas, and administrative delays in Medical Board processes. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB AI summary The Minister defended the independence and legality of decisions by the Judicial Service Commission and Chief Justice, stating that removals or interdictions of judicial officers followed due process and could be challenged in court rather than through parliamentary allegations. He addressed operational issues in the courts, noting that photocopier hiring arrangements had been approved, requests for new courts would be referred to the JSC, and baseless fundamental rights applications should not burden the judiciary. He also explained delays in capital expenditure due to the Vote on Account, holidays, staffing gaps and procurement compliance, projecting 70–75 percent execution by year-end, and said recruitment to fill court vacancies was progressing despite constraints on new buildings. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera raised concerns about the composition of Supreme Court Benches hearing leave to proceed in fundamental rights applications and asked the Government to examine whether any pattern was affecting access to fundamental rights litigation. He urged the Minister of Justice to expand capacity, staffing, technology, and management at the Government Analyst’s Department, citing a backlog of about 30,000 samples and delays affecting criminal proceedings and detainees. He also called for urgent amendment of Section 9(a) of the Civil Procedure Code, saying its current form has concentrated money recovery and other cases in the Colombo District Court and enabled forum-related harassment. He further noted concern over unimplemented policy and law reform commitments, particularly constitutional reform and abolition of the Executive Presidency. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera supported concerns about the poor condition of the Matugama court complex and urged the Government to prioritize relocating the Magistrate’s and District Courts to available government land. He raised concerns over High Court judicial promotions, stating that around 35 District Court Judges had been superseded and calling for transparent, criteria-based selection procedures rather than subjective decision-making. He also expressed concern that many fundamental rights applications were being dismissed by the Supreme Court at the leave-to-proceed stage, emphasizing the Court’s role as the sole forum for protecting such rights. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Thurairasa Ravikaran raised concerns about post-war land, religious site disputes, and alleged state-backed oppression in Tamil-majority areas, citing locations including Kurundoor Malai, Vedukunari Malai, Thayiddy and Trincomalee. He called on the Government and the Minister of Justice to cooperate with an international investigation into alleged wartime abuses, address enforced disappearances, and provide justice to families protesting in the North and East. He also demanded the immediate humanitarian release of 10 Tamil political prisoners detained under the PTA, noted deaths of prisoners over the past decade, and requested a humanitarian pardon or review in the case of Selvakumar Sathiyaleela. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana urged the Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Service Commission to establish a new court complex in Matugama, citing severe overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and lack of basic amenities in the High Court, Magistrate’s Court and District Court serving a large population. He also highlighted critical overcrowding and unsafe conditions at Kalutara Prison, including poor officer quarters, inadequate sanitation, delays in drug analysis reports, restrictive bail practices and prolonged remand. He called for urgent inspections and remedies, with special attention to transporting children in probationary care separately from prisoners and improving conditions for under-18 detainees. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Correcting a procedural point and recalling the violence in Parliament on 16 November 2018, the Member urged that such events not recur. He questioned reductions in capital allocations for justice infrastructure, seeking clarification on planned court complexes, and asked about legal spending and the status of cases relating to the X-Press Pearl disaster, including government-to-government engagement with Singapore. He also requested details on expenditure for police officers sent to the UK, called for disbursement or interim relief to families of the disappeared using funds allocated in the 2025 Budget, and urged expediting the process to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara clarified that he had not accused the Member of wrongdoing but was explaining the legal position on investigations. He stated that the Attorney General’s permission is not required for the CID to investigate, although legal advice may be sought if needed, and criticized media narratives suggesting conflict between the CID and the Attorney General. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara clarified that the CID does not need prior permission from the Attorney General to conduct the investigation in question. He stated that the CID may proceed independently and seek the Attorney General’s advice only if necessary. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana questioned delays in the Sampur solar power project, including the absence of a tender process despite its inauguration during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit, and compared it to delays in the Dambulla Cold Storage Project. He criticized the Tourism Ministry’s engagement with industry stakeholders, promotion strategy, infrastructure shortcomings, online platform leakage, low tourist spending, harassment of tourists, and the handling of LGBTQ-related promotion. He also raised concerns over a reported CID visit to London without Attorney General involvement, called for justice in the Easter Sunday attacks, and demanded action over police conduct during a Trincomalee Buddha statue-related incident involving monks. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam challenged the Government’s position presented in Geneva that an Office of the Independent Public Prosecutor would address accountability concerns. He argued that alleged wartime crimes require an international investigation, asserting that a domestic mechanism is inadequate because the State was a party to the conflict and cannot credibly investigate itself. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara responded to concerns about an incident in Trincomalee, stating that the law is being enforced equally and that there is no separate legal standard for different ethnic or religious groups. He assured citizens in all regions that the Government would not permit racism or discrimination. He also referred to plans to establish a Director of Public Prosecutions, saying it would prosecute all crimes and questioning the link made between that office and war crimes. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →
- 17 November 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam criticized the Government’s handling of recent events at a viharaya site in Trincomalee, arguing that it should uphold coastal and land-use law, resist racialized pressure, and address what he described as historical State-backed demographic changes affecting Tamil-speaking communities. He called on the Ministry of Justice and National Integration to reverse past discriminatory measures and explain these injustices to the Sinhala public rather than backtracking. While supporting the proposed Office of the Independent Prosecutor as important for prosecutorial independence, he rejected its presentation as a mechanism to address alleged wartime genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He stated that his party would support voting against the Votes of the Ministries of Justice and National Integration due to the Government’s failure to ensure justice for war-related victims. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Read →