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- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Justice and National Integration to provide the number of civil cases pending in Sri Lanka’s courts for more than five years and more than ten years, separately. He also requested details of the measures to be taken to prevent delays in the conclusion of cases, or reasons if such information could not be provided. Oral Question: Prevention of Delay in Ending Civil Court Cases (Q.133/2024) Read →
- 8 May 2025 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AI summary A question was raised on the measures to prevent delays in concluding civil court cases under Question No. 133/2024. The matter sought information on proposed or ongoing actions to improve the efficiency of civil proceedings and reduce case backlogs. Oral Question: Prevention of Delay in Ending Civil Court Cases (Q.133/2024) Read →
- 8 May 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Office for Reparations — Sri Lanka. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on State Administration, Justice and Civil Security, and the House agreed to the motion. Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government had allocated two days to debate the Batalanda Commission Report and framed the issue as part of a broader need for justice, reconciliation, and accountability for violence from 1971, 1987–90, and the Northern war. He criticized previous political leaderships for failing to properly conclude the Batalanda process, while stating that the current Government’s approach is reconciliation rather than revenge and that the JVP’s armed phase arose after prolonged repression and failed democratic avenues. He said the Government’s immediate priorities had been economic stabilization and restoring electoral democracy, with a later phase focused on coexistence, addressing disappearances, and healing wounds across communities. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara argued that the 1987–1990 violence must be examined in full, acknowledging killings by the JVP, the UNP-led state and other actors rather than presenting any side as heroic. He cited political repression, constitutional changes, Black July, university violence, election rigging, assassinations, robberies, destruction of public property and alleged atrocities as part of the escalation. He questioned the justification for armed struggle and damage to national assets, while urging Parliament to close the chapter and move forward without selectively relitigating the past. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe supported further action on the Batalanda Commission report, stating that the Batalanda Housing Scheme, originally intended for Fertilizer Corporation employees, had been converted into an illegal detention and torture centre during 1988-1989. He accused former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and associated police units of responsibility for abuses there and argued that the law must be applied against those involved. He said the Government would pursue proper inquiries into Batalanda and other alleged detention centres, while placing the issue in the wider context of past political violence in both the South and the North. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan condemned the torture documented in relation to the Batalanda Housing Scheme and argued that accountability must apply equally to abuses committed in the North, East and South against all communities. He detailed the alleged 1990 Sathurukondan massacre in Batticaloa, stating that 186 civilians were killed after a cordon-and-search operation and calling for prosecutions after decades without justice. He also welcomed recent arrests in connection with killings in the East, including the murder of Professor Ravindranath, and requested that pending Road Development Authority appointments, including Eastern Province posts, be completed through proper administration. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake argued that the Batalanda Commission Report clearly identifies responsibility for torture and killings, including the alleged role of Ranil Wickremesinghe and police officer Douglas Peiris, while accusing Opposition Members of avoiding the report’s substantive findings. He linked Batalanda to a wider network of alleged torture camps operated during the UNP period and called for Parliament to examine those sites and for those responsible for killings, disappearances, and mass graves such as Matale to be held accountable. He also criticized alleged political protection, irregular promotions, and the use of state and paramilitary structures in suppressing youth uprisings. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe condemned Israel’s actions and raised concern over the arrest and 90-day detention of a youth, Rusthi, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after he allegedly pasted a sticker criticizing Israel. He disputed a Police Media Spokesman’s statement suggesting the All Ceylon Jameiyyathul Ulama had described the youth as needing rehabilitation, saying ACJU had rejected such a claim. He argued that the Government, despite previously opposing and promising to abolish the PTA, was now using it in a manner that undermined Muslim public trust. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe used the debate on the alleged Batalanda torture camp to recall wider post-Independence restrictions on freedoms, the impact of the three-decade war, and the losses suffered by all communities. He argued that the 1987 Indo–Lanka Accord and Provincial Councils provided an important political and development mechanism for Tamil-speaking communities and helped promote ethnic harmony in the Eastern Province despite conflict conditions. He urged the Government to restore provincial powers and hold long-delayed Provincial Council elections, criticizing governance through Governors and noting inconsistent statements on whether elections would be held or the system abolished. He also briefly referred to Sri Lanka’s position on continuing violence against Palestinians. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva linked the violence of 1988–89 to earlier political events, including the 1977 UNP mandate, the Jaffna Public Library burning, the 1982 referendum, Black July, and the proscription of the JVP. He argued that the suppression of open political activity led to underground resistance and cited the Batalanda Report and other alleged detention and torture sites as evidence of state-linked abuses against youth and left activists. He called for renewed parliamentary attention to these incidents, justice for victims, and punishment of those responsible regardless of status or family connections. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna contrasted the Government’s pursuit of justice for politically motivated killings with what he described as the lack of parliamentary attention to Tamil suffering, citing the 1983 pogrom, the burning of the Jaffna Public Library, and deaths at Mullivaikkal in 2009. He alleged that successive governments used Tamil armed groups and collaborators to target Tamils, and questioned why some figures had been arrested while others had not. He also accused Chief Government Whip Bimal Rathnayake of falsely reporting to the Speaker that he had made remarks about attorney Swastika Arulingam, invoking the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act and Penal Code Section 190, and said he would seek legal redress. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe argued that the Batalanda Commission Report showed serious unlawful actions and politicization of the Police under former UNP administrations, and criticized Opposition members for allegedly avoiding the Report’s findings while focusing on JVP violence. He cited specific references from the Report, including illegal promotions and disappearances, and stressed that any state response must comply with the rule of law. He said those responsible for Batalanda should be punished through empowered legal institutions, while the NPP Government would pursue reconciliation across political, ethnic, and regional divides rather than retaliation. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka criticized the Government’s decision to debate the 25-year-old Batalanda Commission Report, arguing that it had gained attention only after a recent Al Jazeera interview with Ranil Wickremesinghe and a demand from the Frontline Socialist Party. He accused the JVP of past violence, including destruction of infrastructure, attacks, killings and robberies, and rejected its justification that it took up arms after being banned by the J.R. Jayewardene Government. He argued that the JVP’s actions contributed significantly to Sri Lanka’s economic decline and said the country was rebuilt after 2009 despite later challenges such as COVID-19. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasingha argued that the Batalanda Commission Report should be used to understand past State repression, the banning of the JVP after 1983, and the denial of democratic rights despite the Commission’s finding that the JVP was not responsible for the Black July violence. She linked the events to broader patterns of political suppression, illegal detention, torture, sexual violence, and killings, citing cases such as Embilipitiya and the 1988 arrests and murders of Deepika Muthuhettigama and Chaminee Geethanjali. She called for justice for victims across the North, South, and East, while also briefly noting recent workers’ salary increases as gains achieved through public struggle and sacrifice. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake accused the Government of selective law enforcement, arguing that public officers and lesser political figures were being targeted while senior political figures were not. He criticized the continued travel ban and lack of bail for the former Passport Office head, questioned the handling of Batalanda-related discussions, and alleged past abuses at the Beragala camp. He also claimed the Government had failed to deliver promised dry-ration assistance, neglected families of those killed during the 1988–89 violence, and mishandled economic issues affecting garment workers. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Ananda Wijepala cautioned against generalizing individual incidents to broader society and said separate, lengthy investigations are conducted for that reason. He responded to a claim that 90 people had been detained without cause, indicating the matter was being considered in the context of investigative processes. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Investigations are being conducted into reported extremist activities, including an inquiry concerning Miflan Moulavi. Action is being taken based on available information, with inquiries pursued where necessary rather than automatic arrest or detention. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman challenged the Minister’s account of an arrest, saying parents alleged counter-terrorism officers pressured them not to inform others, including human rights bodies. He questioned why a youth was arrested for pasting a sticker, why the Colombo Crime Division visited homes linked to a protest looking for stickers, and why a poet in Eravur who wrote in support of Palestine was summoned to record a statement, requesting clarification. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →
- 10 April 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala argued that the Batalanda Commission Report should be viewed within the broader context of state violence, disappearances, torture camps and mass graves during the J.R. Jayewardene and Premadasa era, rather than through isolated incidents. He cited other commission reports recording 16,263 complaints of killings, disappearances and abductions across provinces, the killing of 44 children under 14, and numerous alleged torture and burial sites linked to local political actors. He contended that the 1983 ban on the JVP and suppression of democracy contributed to the conflict, and stated that the Batalanda Report identifies Ranil Wickremesinghe as directly connected to that apparatus of oppression. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Read →