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 April 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra supported the Second Reading of the Bill, presenting it as a timely measure to recover or freeze assets derived from past wrongdoing and to strengthen accountability for unexplained wealth. He criticised the Opposition for what he described as a lack of constructive engagement, noting that they had opportunities to act between 2015 and 2019 and did not challenge the Bill in the Supreme Court. He argued that the Bill does not have retrospective effect, does not violate fundamental rights or Article 12 of the Constitution, and said the Government is prepared to conduct investigations and implement the law once enacted. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen stated his support for the Proceeds of Crime Bill but urged the Government to meet public expectations and avoid actions that undermine confidence. He criticized the arrest and detention of a person over an anti-Israel sticker and called for an end to unjust use of the PTA, including the immediate review and release of persons he said remain unfairly detained or prosecuted after the Easter Sunday attacks and related cases. He also requested the Attorney General’s Department to expedite or withdraw lingering cases against individuals allegedly connected to him after his acquittal. He warned that Israel’s presence and activities in Sri Lanka could create communal tension and urged the Government not to penalize Sri Lankans in order to protect Israeli visitors. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka supported the Second Reading of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, arguing that existing anti-corruption and money-laundering laws were insufficient to recover assets disguised as lawful property. He cited international investigative reports on offshore foundations, luxury assets, art collections, and alleged transactions linked to former Sri Lankan political and official figures as examples of the types of wealth the Bill is intended to address. He said public demand and international expectations had created the need for stronger legal mechanisms to investigate, seize, and recover proceeds of crime, particularly from political corruption, official abuse, narcotics, and organized crime. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, including the vesting of illegally acquired assets in the State and the creation of an authority to manage them, and welcomed the proposed removal of Deshabandu Tennakoon as IGP. He argued that accountability mechanisms should also address alleged crimes against Tamils, citing incidents from 1956 through Black July, other massacres, disappearances, and Mullivaikkal, and called for parliamentary action and international investigations due to mistrust in domestic processes. He questioned what action had been taken against figures such as Pillaiyan and urged the Government to investigate alleged atrocities against Tamils in the same manner as proposed inquiries into 1987–89 torture camps. He also raised concerns that protesters opposing ilmenite mining were being summoned and harassed by police and security forces, and asked the Government to protect their democratic rights. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake supported the Second Reading of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, presenting it as a key measure to recover unlawfully acquired assets and address gaps in existing legal frameworks for tackling corruption, fraud, and financial crime. He referred to alleged misuse of public assets, suspicious properties, offshore money movements, and past amnesty proposals as reasons for creating stronger powers for investigation, restraint, preservation, and management of recovered property. He highlighted provisions on disclosure of unlawful assets, expanded powers for the Bribery Commission, a specialized Police investigation division, search and digital access powers, preservation of property, establishment of a management authority, and proportionate punishment. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, arguing that it is needed to investigate assets allegedly held through nominees or unexplained transactions, including the cited “Mihindu Arana” property transfer and bar licences allegedly linked to politicians. He highlighted Clause 34 as a key provision, saying it creates presumptions and allows measures such as restraining, preserving, or vesting property in the State where lawful ownership or source of funds cannot be shown. He said the Bill shifts the burden to persons holding suspect property to prove entitlement on a balance of probabilities and is intended to address proceeds of unlawful activity. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill as a necessary starting point against corruption, but questioned whether it would be applied fairly and in good faith. He urged the Minister of Justice to introduce separate legislation requiring transparent auditing of political parties, including sources of donations and campaign expenditure, arguing that party finances and “fraternal donations” should face the same scrutiny as alleged bribes or racketeer funding. He also called for safeguards against abuse of investigative powers, review of rights and rule-of-law concerns in the Bill, and cautioned against disproportionate use of public property charges. He additionally expressed concern that MPs had not been given advance access to agreements signed with India. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam supported the Bill to recover illicitly acquired assets, stating that it would allow recovery of lost public wealth even where persons connected to proceedings are absent, while protecting legitimate entrepreneurs and penalizing illicit enrichment. He accused opposition members of exploiting issues affecting Muslims for electoral purposes, contrasted this with past incidents such as Digana, Hettipola, and the detention of Hejaaz Hizbullah and Ahnaf Jazeem, and said the Government would repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and introduce new security legislation. He urged voters in upcoming local authority elections to elect representatives able to work with the Government, citing Panagamuwa An-Noor Central College in Kurunegala as an example of neglected development that he said the current Government would address. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Jagath Vithana stated his opposition to theft, corruption, and arbitrary conduct, alleging that collusion between officials and politicians had contributed to the situation under discussion. He called for all responsible persons, irrespective of party affiliation, to be punished and for misappropriated money to be recovered. He expressed full support for the Proceeds of Crime Bill and said he was willing to appear before any committee or inquiry on the matter. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti – Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti supported the Bill as a necessary legal mechanism to recover misappropriated public assets and act on corruption cases through lawful and transparent procedures, rather than political discretion. He assured that the Government would not use the law for personal or partisan purposes and said it would help address past failures where COPE, COPA and Auditor General findings had not led to recovery or punishment. He cited cases including the Easter attacks, Central Bank bond scam, sugar tax issue, Mahapola/Malabe property matter, Gin–Nilwala project, dairy cow imports, SriLankan Airlines aircraft deals, fertilizer transactions, coal procurement, SATHOSA rice diversion and the X-Press Pearl compensation issue as matters requiring investigation, accountability and recovery under the proposed law. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary D.V. Chanaka stated that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna supports the Bill to vest proceeds of crime in the State, while warning that such laws must not be used for political purposes, citing past examples including the FCID and public property legislation. He urged the Government to recover criminally obtained assets held overseas and use them as previously promised, including for debt repayment. He also alleged misuse of COPA proceedings regarding a vehicle linked to Yoshitha Rajapaksa and tabled related documents, and challenged Government claims on foreign reserves by citing Central Bank data on reserve levels before and after September 2024. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs AI summary The Minister supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, stating that it creates a framework to investigate, restrain, manage, vest in the State, and dispose of property derived from criminal activity, including assets moved overseas. He said the Bill addresses gaps in existing laws on bribery, public property, money laundering, terrorist financing, and criminal procedure, and establishes mechanisms such as a Proceeds of Crime Management Authority, a dedicated police unit, inter-agency and international cooperation, and a Compensation Fund. He emphasized that the Government intends to recover illicitly acquired assets, return them to lawful owners or custodians where appropriate, and target criminal wealth, including in cases linked to narcotics trafficking. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna stated that wrongdoing should be condemned regardless of the person involved, including close family members. He emphasized a principle of accountability without exception. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill and commended the Minister of Justice, while proposing amendments including a clear monetary threshold under Clause 53(4)(b), safeguards against possible abuse of investigative powers under Clause 71, and statutory provisions on remuneration for members of the Proceeds of Crime Management Authority. He argued that these changes would prevent future misuse of the law and undue ministerial influence. He also rejected allegations made during the debate concerning decentralized budget allocations and criticized what he described as a personal attack in response to corruption allegations he had raised. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ms. Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ms. Kaushalya Ariyarathne briefly reiterated that the Act would enable recovery of stolen or crime-derived property, including assets transferred to relatives of offenders. She stated that such property would be returned to the people and noted that the Minister of Justice would explain the implementation steps. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ms. Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne criticized Opposition figures facing CID inquiries and court cases, arguing that such involvement should not be treated as a point of pride. Referring to alleged properties linked to members of the Rajapaksa family, she said the Government would use the powers in the bill under debate to recover stolen assets and return them to the public. She emphasized the need for strong implementation and public awareness after the bill is passed, with further steps to be outlined by the Minister of Justice. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne (Ph.D.) JJB AI summary Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne expressed condolences on the passing of Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayawira and then supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, thanking the Justice Minister, officials, and expert committee involved in preparing it. She said the Bill consolidates scattered provisions on illicit asset recovery into a comprehensive framework informed by domestic, international, and comparative legal sources. Addressing concerns about retroactivity under Clause 4(1), she argued that the Bill targets property currently held as proceeds of crime even where the underlying offence occurred earlier, in line with the Government’s mandate to recover stolen public wealth. She also highlighted provisions on electronic evidence, offences relating to retaining or destroying stolen proceeds, and the admissibility of foreign expert reports under Clause 39. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill in principle, describing it as a mechanism to recover property proven to be derived from criminal conduct and restore it to the State or victims, while recalling earlier asset-recovery initiatives begun after 2015. He raised concerns about potential constitutional tension in Clause 4 on retrospective application and punishment, and urged clarification at Committee Stage. He proposed safeguards including prior judicial authorization for Police-issued property notices under Clause 68, clearer thresholds for investigations under Clause 97, stronger governance for restrained assets and the Victim Compensation Trust Fund, and correction of discrepancies between the Sinhala and English texts. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary The Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, linking it to public demands after the economic crisis and IMF governance recommendations for asset recovery legislation. She argued that the Bill demonstrates political will to recover illicitly acquired public wealth and strengthens investigation, prosecution and court powers, including through a designated senior police officer and a Proceeds of Crime Management Authority. She highlighted the rebuttable presumption on unexplained wealth and non-conviction-based asset recovery as key mechanisms, with recovered assets to be credited to the Consolidated Fund and potentially used for reparations and institutional strengthening. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 Bills Presented AI summary The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, seeking to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979, was presented by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara. The Bill was ordered to be printed, referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and scheduled for Second Reading on 22 April 2025. Procedural: Point of Order on Members' Conduct and Sitting Hours Read →