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- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman condemned the assassination of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara and criticized the Minister of Public Security for suggesting alleged criminal links after the killing instead of calling for due process and justice. He questioned the Government’s claim that it is dismantling a “criminal state,” alleging that officials implicated in past misconduct, including the 2019 Dr. Shafi case, had been protected or promoted despite investigative records. He tabled related material and called for accountability in unresolved cases involving attacks on journalists, media institutions, and other alleged political crimes. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) Read →
- 23 October 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka) SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Environment to provide details on the Horowpothana Elephant Holding Ground, including the number of elephants kept there, its land extent, the agricultural lands affected, and whether alternative lands were given to previous owners. He also raised concerns that the facility blocks an elephant pass, causing elephants to use other lands and damage crops, and requested information on proposed solutions, the timeline for compensation, and how farmers without deeds or permits would be treated. Oral Question: Wild Elephants at Horowpothana Elephant Holding Ground (Q.12/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a security concern following the shooting of a Chairman while he was performing official duties on a public day. He linked the incident to previously raised cases involving alleged abductions of two JVP Members and the shooting of an attorney-at-law, indicating a broader pattern of serious incidents requiring attention. Ministerial Statement and Debate: Power Generation Policy (Minister of Energy) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Asked the Minister whether four interim injunctions relating to the Mannar development project create any legal barrier to continuing it. He questioned objections filed from Colombo on environmental grounds, arguing that significant funds had been spent and that blocking the project could leave Mannar in an unhygienic condition. Oral Question: Mannar Water Supply Project (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Sivagnanam Shritharan questioned the Minister of Environment about the suspension of the Mannar Dry Zone Urban Water and Sanitation Project, a septage treatment facility funded by the Asian Development Bank and Mannar Urban Council and commissioned in 2015. He said the project had undergone environmental assessment before the area was later declared part of the Wedithalathivu Nature Reserve, and noted a 2023 Court of Appeal petition seeking to stop garbage and wastewater collection and plant operations. He asked on what basis the project was halted, who or what interests prevented its public benefits, and what steps the Ministry would take to recommence and continue the sanitation project. Oral Question: Mannar Water Supply Project (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary The Government stated that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward physical and psychological violence against children and is pursuing action through coordination among the Education, Women and Children’s Affairs, Health, Justice, and Public Security Ministries. Regarding the specific incident raised, the Ministry of Education has intervened, investigations have begun, and the Police are involved. He said he would address the matter at the post-Cabinet media briefing and urged the media to report such cases sensitively to avoid revictimizing children. Oral Question: Post of Public Health Midwife - Vacancies (Q.3/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns over an alleged sexual abuse incident involving three students at Mahanama College, Colombo, and questioned the apparent lack of action by school authorities, medical personnel, the security firm, and relevant officials. He requested a proper investigation, protection and care for the affected children, and legal action against the alleged perpetrator and anyone obstructing justice. He also urged coordinated inter-ministerial action, including with the National Child Protection Authority, and asked for a statement to Parliament after inquiries. Oral Question: Post of Public Health Midwife - Vacancies (Q.3/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman raised concern that the media head of the Palestine Embassy had allegedly been repeatedly summoned and questioned by local police over pro-Palestine social media content, and asked for an inquiry into why officials were exerting pressure on Palestine-related media activity. He also questioned the new requirement limiting post-Cabinet media briefing attendance to journalists holding Government Information Department identity cards, asking whether the rule could be relaxed to allow broader media access. Oral Question: Investigations into Assassinations, Abductions or Assaults of Journalists Since 2010 (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said he could not confirm claims that many journalists were frequently being summoned by the Terrorism Investigation Division without specific names and dates. He stated that the Government had not directed action against journalists for reporting on Palestine or any particular issue, and undertook to consult the Ministry of Public Security and Police and report back if details were provided. Oral Question: Investigations into Assassinations, Abductions or Assaults of Journalists Since 2010 (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman raised a supplementary question about journalists, noting past incidents involving print media around 2010 and alleging that, over the past year, YouTube and social media journalists posting content on Palestine have been summoned and questioned for hours by the Terrorism Investigation Division. He asked whether the authorities are aware of this practice and what action they intend to take. Oral Question: Investigations into Assassinations, Abductions or Assaults of Journalists Since 2010 (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary In response to a parliamentary question, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that no assassinations of journalists had been reported, while one abduction and eight assault incidents were recorded. He named Prageeth Bandara Ekneligoda as the abduction victim and listed the journalists involved in assault cases, providing the status of each related judicial or mediation process, including ongoing trials, charge sheet delays, court orders, withdrawn complaints, and concluded cases. Oral Question: Investigations into Assassinations, Abductions or Assaults of Journalists Since 2010 (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 22 October 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to provide details on journalists assassinated, abducted or assaulted since 2010, including the number and names of those affected. He also requested an update on the progress of investigations aimed at ensuring justice, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided. Oral Question: Investigations into Assassinations, Abductions or Assaults of Journalists Since 2010 (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 21 October 2025 Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy supported the medicines pricing formula under the NMRA Act but raised concerns about reported shortages of essential medicines, local hospital purchasing arrangements, diagnostic equipment shortages, and possible conflicts of interest within the NMRA, including whether its Chairman should engage in private channeling. He asked the Health Minister to clarify governance and ethical issues at the NMRA and to ensure that pricing and procurement systems do not worsen shortages or disadvantage public hospitals. He also requested urgent interventions for several hospitals in his district, including reopening closed clinics, completing unfinished facilities, replacing mortuary equipment, providing staff and quarters, opening the Kalpitiya hospital building, and upgrading Puttalam District Hospital to a National Hospital. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan welcomed the proposed medicine price regulation but argued that continuing medicine shortages in hospitals and private pharmacies must be addressed urgently. He warned of impending health-sector staffing gaps, particularly from retiring RMOs, and called for timely appointments and alternatives to prevent harm to rural communities in areas such as Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu. He urged reforms to procurement and petty-cash procedures for rural hospitals, stricter enforcement against unstaffed NMRA-registered pharmacies and unregistered clinics, action on an alleged misuse of a Health Ministry vehicle, and resolution of delayed Bachelor of Pharmacology admissions. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody supported the approval of regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015, arguing that medicines are essential and that price control and availability are matters of public welfare. He alleged that past failures in procurement and supply, including incidents involving substandard or fraudulent medicines for cancer patients, reflected corruption by politicians and officials and called for accountability. He said a national medicines policy, drawing on the principles associated with Professor Senaka Bibile, is necessary to address the pharmaceutical “mafia,” and stated that the Government is acting to reduce medicine prices and prevent the supply of substandard drugs. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan addressed amendments to data protection legislation, noting changes on risk consultation, cross-border data transfers, DPA guideline-making powers, and the narrowed definition of public authority. He said the amendments may reduce bureaucracy, strengthen privacy protections and improve investor clarity, but asked the Minister to clarify concerns about DPA capacity and independence, parliamentary transparency, cross-border safeguards, sensitive data, enforcement access, implementation timelines, and regulatory coordination. He urged Sri Lanka to draw on international practices for personal identifiers and data protection while supporting digital development. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan discussed the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, outlining proposed changes to timelines for data subject requests, fees, Data Protection Officers, impact assessments, cross-border transfers, guidelines, and the definition of public authorities. He noted that the amendments aim to reduce administrative burdens, align with international practice, and provide clarity for investors, while raising concerns about extending response times and reducing some mandatory oversight requirements. He asked whether the Data Protection Authority has sufficient expertise, infrastructure and funding, how its independence, accountability and reporting to Parliament will be ensured, and whether cross-border transfers, national databases, digital identity systems, penalties, redress mechanisms and implementation timelines are adequately addressed. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan questioned the detention of copies of the Holy Qur’an, arguing that reading and understanding it in Arabic and Tamil without annotations is a fundamental right of Sri Lanka’s Muslim community. He asked that the detained copies be released and challenged the legality and authority of the Review Committee handling the matter. He further proposed that, if such a committee is required, it should include qualified university professors in the relevant field and sought clarification on its legal status. Ministerial Statement: Tamil Translations of Holy Qur'an Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on the detention of imported Qur’an translations, explaining that post-2019 Defence Ministry guidelines require review by qualified Muslim scholars to ensure translations and Islamic books do not contain unclear or potentially harmful interpretations. He said 25,000 Arabic Qur’an copies from the relevant container were released, while 26,560 Tamil and Sinhala translations remain with Sri Lanka Customs because the Book Review Committee has not approved them under the required framework. He stated that the decision followed Security Council guidance requiring accurate source references and interpretations, and emphasized that the Government’s aim is to safeguard interfaith harmony while enabling properly clarified translations to reach the Muslim community. Ministerial Statement: Tamil Translations of Holy Qur'an Read →
- 21 October 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister clarified that the 2024 disclosure of 2019 examination results was made through an RTI request and was not inconsistent with her earlier answer. Regarding Development Officers, she said the Government is awaiting court processes and Public Service Commission guidance, seeking to expedite long-pending cases with the Justice Minister’s advice, and will resolve the issue under the teacher service constitution. She also stated that a report on GWUIM has been requested and that action will be taken according to its recommendations. Ministerial Statement: Teacher Vacancies and Development Officers Read →