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 September 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said current vehicle emission tests are conducted at idle speed and do not reflect real-world conditions, noting that moves are under way to introduce more realistic testing and that the VET Fund arose from a Supreme Court directive. Referring to the Ella bus accident, he cited vehicle repair costs and the driver’s apparent lack of rest, and said Rs. 1,000 million had been allocated to install guard mirrors on winding hill-country roads as part of broader accident-prevention efforts. He also stated that, following a court order on accessibility at railway stations, the Government had instructed the Railways Department to improve facilities for persons with disabilities and had informed Court of its policy to maximize accessibility in stations and public places. Oral Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Unemployment and Vehicle Emission Testing Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a grievance concerning Mr. Anandarajah, a Grade 1 principal who served for 12 years at Mulankavil Maha Vidyalayam in Kilinochchi but was removed after a new appointment was made through interview and examination. He said Mr. Anandarajah had been reduced to teacher status in the same school despite representations to the Deputy Minister, and requested a fair remedy rather than treating the matter as outside the principals’ service. Oral Question Q.6/2025: Principals' Recruitment and Confirmation Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB AI summary Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that the incident involving missing fishermen occurred under the previous Government and that Navy searches, including aerial searches, had failed to locate them at the time, leading to the belief that they may have drowned. He said it was only later discovered that they had washed ashore, and that his Ministry is taking steps to provide justice and relief to affected fishermen while pledging measures to protect fishermen in future. Oral Question Q.3/2025: Fishermen Compensation Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about the Easter Sunday attack investigations, citing the death of child Vihaṅga Tejantha at Shangri-La and his father Suraj Nilangha’s statement to Geneva discussions that he was dissatisfied with the investigative process. He urged that steps be taken to restore victims’ confidence and credibility in the process, arguing that continued dissatisfaction was harmful to the country. Procedural: No-Confidence Motion and Speaker's Rulings Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested that the grounds and reasoning for rejecting a no-confidence motion be formally presented to the House. He also reminded the Chair that victims of the Easter Sunday attacks are seeking a fair investigation, linking the matter to concerns about accountability. Procedural: No-Confidence Motion and Speaker's Rulings Read →
- 12 September 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition requested that the Government table the unpublished expert committee report on issues at Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, including infrastructure, professorial vacancies, recruitment irregularities, and curriculum revisions. He also asked for a faculty-wise nominal roll of academics with qualifications, and sought clarification from the University Grants Commission on whether recruitment irregularities occurred and what action had been taken. He further raised concerns about inadequate clinical training facilities at Kalutara District General Hospital for the University of Moratuwa Faculty of Medicine, warning that deficiencies such as insufficient beds and lack of minimum standards could affect accreditation, graduation, and internship appointments. Questions by Private Notice: Issues in Education and Higher Education Sectors (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 12 September 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister tabled an answer on the online visa issuance arrangement involving IVS-GBS, VF Worldwide Holding Ltd., and the Department of Immigration and Emigration. He stated that although the Committee on Public Finance had recommended a forensic audit, the Auditor General’s Department has instead conducted a special audit, with the draft sent to the Department for final observations due by 17 September 2025. He further noted that eight fundamental rights cases challenging the E-visa procurement and contract award process are pending before the Supreme Court, and that further action will follow the Court’s judgments. Oral Question: E-Visa Fraud Forensic Audit (Q.2 Second Round/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella raised a supplementary question about the collapse of co-operative societies in the previous year, noting that senior citizens and other depositors had been unable to recover funds invested in related banks. She asked what measures the Government would take to address the losses and protect affected depositors. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order on the Committee on Public Finance report regarding CIABOC’s budget estimate, stating that the Committee had agreed to recommend amendments to the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, to exclude CIABOC and the National Audit Office from its scope in order to protect their budgetary independence. He argued that this would prevent future governments from influencing those institutions through the Ministry of Finance. He also noted that the CIABOC Chair’s salary, previously linked to the President of the Court of Appeal, had not been adjusted after the latter’s salary increase, and said the Committee recommends aligning it with the revised Court of Appeal President’s salary from 2025/2026 onward. Point of Order: CIABOC Report (Hon. Harsha de Silva) Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Ananda Wijepala stated that a Central Crime Investigation Unit is being established at provincial level to reduce the caseload on the CID and improve investigative efficiency. He informed Parliament that information from organized criminals recently brought to Sri Lanka led to the arrest of a Sub-Inspector in Gampaha and a serving Army Lieutenant Colonel in Mallawi, Palinagar. He said investigations would continue thoroughly and that all persons who supported organized crime would be brought before the law without fear or favour. Adjournment Questions Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha questioned the need to establish a new Central Crime Investigation Unit despite the existing CID. He also asked the Minister to state, within permissible limits, what further action will be taken regarding alleged underworld figures such as “Kehelbaddara Padme” who were brought to Sri Lanka from abroad. Adjournment Questions Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan thanked India for funding the Mannar General Hospital and welcomed India’s positions on human rights and meaningful devolution through Provincial Councils. He urged the Government to review the Mannar wind power project in light of a prolonged local protest, and called for internationally monitored investigations into human rights violations, including mass graves at Chemmani, rejecting purely domestic processes. He also supported anti-corruption action but demanded that it extend beyond Colombo to local authorities, citing alleged irregularities in Mannar Municipality projects such as the Panangkattukottu stadium and Pallimunai ground, and called for investigations and punishment of those responsible. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary (Dr.) Anil Jayantha outlined proposed reforms to strengthen audit independence, identifying administrative independence and financial independence as key elements. He noted that some administrative functions would remain with the Audit Service Commission, surcharge decisions would be handled by a new Review Committee, and audit budgetary needs would remain accountable to Parliament through the Treasury to improve efficiency and public finance accountability. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha — Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha supported amendments to the National Audit Act, stating that they are intended to strengthen public financial accountability, fiscal discipline, and the independence of audit following concerns over misuse of public funds and commitments under the IMF governance process. He explained that the Bill replaces the ineffective surcharge process under the Audit Service Commission with a Surcharge Review Committee chaired by a retired senior judge, enabling reviewed recovery action through Chief Accounting Officers or the Cabinet Secretary where necessary. He also noted provisions to increase penalties for withholding audit information and to operationalize a fund for audit capacity by allocating up to 15 per cent of audit fees. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake supported strengthening the National Audit framework, noting its long legislative history and arguing that Sri Lanka should undertake such reforms on its own rather than due to IMF pressure. He said the amendments should enhance the Auditor-General’s powers while ensuring fairness, judicial recourse, and a balanced approach to surcharge penalties so that public officials are not deterred from performing their duties. He also called for better remuneration for key public-sector oversight institutions, including the Auditor-General’s Department, CIABOC and the Treasury, and urged the Central Bank to explain how foreign reserves will rise from US$6.1 billion to the targeted US$7.2 billion before the IMF programme ends. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns over the Mannar District Solid Waste Management Project, stating that a Rs. 77 million ADB- and municipal-funded project has been obstructed by a public institution and affected by objections from the Forest and Wildlife Departments, with further details to be tabled later. He urged the Government to give priority to nutrition, health and livelihood support for female-headed and war-affected households in the North and East, including pregnant mothers and communities facing gaps in Thriposha delivery. He also argued that domestic mechanisms and commission recommendations on wartime disappearances and killings have failed, citing ongoing protests by families of the disappeared and recent allegations by a former EPDP cadre, and called for an impartial international investigation to ensure justice and reconciliation. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara supported amendments to the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, citing the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029 and the IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment 2023 as grounds for strengthening audit enforcement and information-sharing with law enforcement. He outlined proposals to reform surcharge procedures, including replacing sole reliance on “negligence,” creating an independent five-member Surcharge Review Committee, and allowing the Auditor-General to initiate complaints where fraud, corruption or misuse is suspected. He argued that these changes would reduce political influence over surcharge decisions, address weaknesses in current arrangements for ministries and departments, and improve public financial management and service delivery. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath supported amendments to the National Audit Act and said they are needed to strengthen oversight by the Auditor-General, Audit Department and Audit Service Commission over fraud, corruption and misuse of public funds. He linked the reforms to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and international reform expectations, arguing that past governments bear responsibility and that the current Government is acting on its mandate through new laws, including the removal of former Presidents’ privileges. He said the supplementary estimates for the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs and Urban Development, Construction and Housing are intended to redirect funds toward restarting stalled projects and delivering public benefits, while also pledging further legal action on waste, corruption and narcotics. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof disputed a Government member’s claim that his earlier complaint about Muslim health staff in Trincomalee being restricted from wearing cultural attire was false, and submitted a union letter requesting permission for such attire to be recorded in Hansard. He urged the Government to address the issue rather than deny it, noting that related discussions and correspondence were already underway. He also raised the Muthunagar land dispute, stating that farmers who returned to cultivate lands after assurances at the District Coordinating Committee were arrested and assaulted, and called for restoration of the lands, compensation, or alternative land through engagement with the affected farmers. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Fasmin Sharif JJB AI summary Hon. Fasmin Sharif supported the National Audit (Amendment) Bill, arguing that stronger audit mechanisms are needed to protect public funds, identify fraud or misuse, and strengthen parliamentary scrutiny through reports to Parliament and COPE. He also referred to supplementary estimates and said audit reforms would help prevent a recurrence of past financial mismanagement and improve accountability among public officials. He raised additional issues including the National Milad celebration, the Kurukkalmadam mass grave inquiry, revival of a halted Kandy District water project, alleged racist online content targeting Muslim MPs, and Government positions on the Mahar mosque land issue and recognition of Palestine. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →