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 February 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan argued that Sri Lanka has a longstanding unresolved ethnic question, citing the Banda–Chelva Pact, the Dudley–Chelva Pact, the Sinhala Only Act, and S.J.V. Chelvanayakam’s call for federal power-sharing with safeguards for Tamil-speaking people. He said Tamil demands for equal citizenship, language, land, and identity have historically been met with repression, and urged the Government to recognize the Tamil nation and pursue a durable political solution. He also invited cooperation from Tamils and the diaspora, stating that reconciliation, economic recovery, and national progress depend on an arrangement in which both communities can live with dignity. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB AI summary The Minister argued that the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill is needed because the 2023 local government elections were unlawfully postponed, leaving communities without elected local representatives and prompting Supreme Court findings on violations of fundamental rights. He said the Bill would enable fresh nominations because the earlier nominations closed in January 2023 and new voters were added in 2024, thereby protecting both the right to vote and the right to contest. While acknowledging concerns about the size and structure of local authorities, he said such reforms should not delay elections and affirmed that the Government would hold the polls at the earliest date determined by the Election Commission. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, arguing that local government elections must be held promptly to restore services handled by local authorities. He criticized the previous postponement of the 2023 elections, alleging that funds were withheld, the Election Commission was pressured, and attempts were made to challenge judicial intervention through Parliament. He said the Government is acting in line with the Supreme Court’s direction to hold the elections expeditiously, while addressing the technical issue of rejecting outdated nominations and allowing new candidates, including youth and women, to contest. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 Hon. Attorney-at-Law Dayasiri Jayasekara AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara urged that pending electoral law amendments proposed by the Election Commission in 2021 be expedited rather than deferred to a new Constitution. He outlined practical gaps in local authority election law, including procedures for filling vacancies after death, resignation, rejection of nominations, or disqualification of group leaders, and unclear rules when women’s quota requirements are affected by rejected nominations. He also proposed increasing the women’s nomination quota from 10 to 20 percent, noted difficulties in implementing the 25 percent women’s representation requirement, and called for attention to youth representation. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill while emphasizing that local government elections are central to popular sovereignty, decentralization, and citizens’ daily needs under the Constitution. She cited Supreme Court jurisprudence, including the 2023 decision on election postponement, to argue that delays to elections infringe fundamental rights and cannot be justified by exams, the Budget Debate, New Year, or economic difficulties. She acknowledged concerns about a level playing field, especially campaign finance barriers for women and youth, but argued that these require reform rather than postponement, and called for the election to be held swiftly. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan referred to an alleged inhuman incident and suggested the complainant may have agreed to a settlement out of fear. He told the Minister he would provide video evidence, asserting that it would substantiate the seriousness of the incident. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament that, following Hon. Mano Ganesan’s query, he had checked the incident of 5 February, for which a complaint was lodged on 13 February. He said three members of the same family were arrested, produced in court under case B/21924/25, and the matter was settled between the parties through counsel without a remand request. He added that any further action regarding the alleged assault would need to be pursued by the complainant. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa requested an early response to his letter seeking a Special Committee to investigate USAID and NGO transactions, arguing that Parliament and the public should know about such activities. He opposed any postponement of the Local Authority Elections, while urging the Government and Election Commission to ensure campaigning does not disrupt the O/L examinations affecting around 400,000 to 450,000 students. He alleged recent intimidation of media, activists, protesters and political opponents, including arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and incidents in Matale, Akuressa and Agunukolapelessa, and called on the Government to ensure a free, peaceful election without repression. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Unity AI summary The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Unity met on 17 February 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara. The record lists participating Members, including representatives from government and opposition, but does not contain the substance of deliberations, proposals, questions, or decisions. Parliamentary Structure and Committees Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem questioned the Attorney-General’s Department’s handling of a Bill where two judges had found certain clauses inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution, requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority. He argued that the Department should have identified the inconsistency at the outset and issued the necessary certificate to Cabinet, which he said could have avoided the subsequent procedural issue and expedited the case. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem began to refer to the contents of a Supreme Court determination, apparently in the context of a parliamentary matter under discussion. The excerpt provided is incomplete and does not contain the substance of his argument, proposal, or question. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that the interpretation in question was incorrect. No further argument, proposal, or contextual detail was provided in the excerpt. Committee Report: Public Finance Committee - Disbursement Bill 2025 Read →
- 14 February 2025 Mr. Speaker - The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne AI summary Parliament was summoned under Standing Order 16 at the request of the Prime Minister, with the relevant Extraordinary Gazette notification read to the House. The Speaker announced the Supreme Court’s determination on the “Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions)” Bill, noting that a majority of the three-judge bench found the Bill, particularly Clauses 2 and 3, inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and requiring a special majority under Article 84(2), while one judge held it could be passed by a simple majority. He ordered the full determination to be printed in the Official Report. Parliament Opening and Announcements Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem clarified that the COVID-19 cremation policy was decided early, after the second death, and was not originally based on Prof. Meththika Vithanage’s later views on groundwater transmission. He argued that a committee should be appointed to examine all scientific claims and criticized officials for withholding information under the Right to Information process, saying this obstructed the search for truth. He also objected to remarks portraying the absence of a Muslim Cabinet Minister as a positive development, noting that Muslims had held Cabinet positions since Independence. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem AI summary Urging support for the Private Member’s Motion to appoint a Special Parliamentary Committee on the forced cremation of COVID-19 victims, Mohamed Sali Naleem argued that the policy caused grave hardship to Muslims and others and should be formally investigated. He highlighted the role of Majma Nagar in Ottamavadi, where villagers provided 17 acres for COVID-19 burials, and requested compensation or alternative land for them, as well as the immediate establishment of a school for the area’s children. He also raised concerns about youths arrested during the Aragalaya protests, particularly in his district, and asked Parliament to ensure legal relief, rehabilitation programmes, and discharge from cases where appropriate. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe said he had warned former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa against the compulsory cremation of Muslim COVID-19 victims and called for a Parliamentary Select Committee to ensure such injustices do not recur. He expressed concern that the requested list of COVID-19 deceased persons whose remains were cremated had not been tabled, unlike other compensation-related lists. He also highlighted the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’s role in reducing the parliamentary representation threshold to 5 per cent and sought cooperation and respect for Muslim community leaders, while noting a pending court matter over an event in Addalaichenai. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. M. S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M. S. Uthumalebbe supported Hon. Rauff Hakeem’s Private Member’s Motion to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the compulsory cremation of COVID-19 victims under the Rajapaksa administration. He argued that there was no medical justification for cremating Muslim Janazas, citing WHO guidance that allowed burial or cremation and noting appeals from religious leaders against the policy. He described the decision as a grave injustice to Muslims, thanked opposition figures who opposed it at the time, and alleged that the policy was politically motivated against Muslims. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman seconded Rauff Hakeem’s motion calling for a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the former Government’s COVID-19 forced cremation policy, which he said ignored WHO guidance and infringed the burial rights of several religious communities. He argued that both political leaders and public officials involved in promoting claims such as groundwater risk should be examined, including whether they acted knowingly or under political pressure. He urged Parliament to establish facts, assign accountability and make binding recommendations to prevent such decisions recurring. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem moved a resolution to appoint a Select Committee to investigate the State’s mandatory cremation policy for COVID-19 deaths in 2020 and recommend measures to ensure justice for affected families. He argued that the policy contradicted WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, ICRC and local expert guidance permitting safe burial, denied next-of-kin religious rites and last respects, and disproportionately affected Muslims and other religious minorities. He cited UN Human Rights Council resolutions of 2021 and 2022 calling for investigation and protection of religious burial rights, and noted that burials were later permitted only after local and international pressure. Private Members' Motion 6: Select Committee to Investigate COVID-19 Cremation Decisions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister supported Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Motion, stating that reform of parliamentary privileges, including pensions, is necessary to rebuild public trust in Parliament and change a political culture associated with entitlement and abuse of power. She said Sri Lanka could aspire in future to models such as Singapore, but only after demonstrating public service and correcting past wrongs, noting that her movement had advocated such reforms since 2001 and 2003. She also addressed the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder investigation, saying the Government had reopened the case, would support further evidence-gathering and reinvestigation, and was committed to pursuing justice despite past witness intimidation and destruction of evidence. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament Read →