Topic
Land & Housing
1,053 speeches · 220 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. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 106 |
| 2 | Hon. Anura Karunathilaka, M.P. JJB | 43 |
| 3 | Hon. Aravinda Senarath, M.P. JJB | 39 |
| 4 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 26 |
| 5 | Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna, M.P. JJB | 24 |
| 6 | Hon. Jeevan Thondaman, M.P. UNP | 22 |
| 7 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 22 |
| 8 | Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, M.P. ITAK | 20 |
| 9 | Hon. Mano Ganesan, M.P. SJB | 18 |
| 10 | Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran, M.P. ITAK | 18 |
Speeches
1,053 on this topic- 24 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary Responding to issues raised about Kandy, the Deputy Minister said plans for Mahaiyawa include a social survey to determine residents’ preferences for relocation or in-situ redevelopment, followed by a feasibility study to decide the settlement model. He stated that the Akurana flood action plan is being pursued in line with the relevant report and discussed at District Coordinating Committee meetings. On Bogambara, he said a heritage assessment is underway and that a public-private partnership project is expected to be launched around May next year. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised a supplementary question about 180 acres at Iraththal West Palliyadiwattai, said to have been cultivated by Pottuvil and Lakugala farmers since 1978 but restricted for eight years due to a Forest Department court order, affecting about 63 families. He cited prior administrative permissions, farmer registration, meetings, and a pending case against 17 farmers, and asked whether steps could be taken under Cabinet decisions to release these lands, as well as lands at Sengamam and Sarvodaya Pura, for cultivation. Oral Question: Agricultural Lands in Pottuvil and Lakugala (Q.2) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth asked about approximately 502 acres of paddy land within the Lakugala and Pottuvil DS limits that have remained uncultivated since 2000 and are claimed by communities from both divisions, though not by the Forest or Wildlife Departments. He noted earlier decisions, including at a Parliament complex meeting chaired by the President and at the Ampara DCC, to divide the land equally between Lakugala and Pottuvil farmers. He requested that a committee including the Government Agent, the two Divisional Secretaries, the DCC Chairman and others be appointed to expedite the division and allocation of the lands for cultivation. Oral Question: Agricultural Lands in Pottuvil and Lakugala (Q.2) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation whether the Government is aware of earlier steps to return ancestral cultivated lands in Ampara District, including Pottuvil, that were taken over by the Wildlife and Forest Conservation Departments. He sought confirmation on releasing specified paddy lands in several villages to former cultivators, enabling their contribution to national paddy production, and providing related infrastructure such as access roads, irrigation, drainage, culverts and small bridges. Oral Question: Agricultural Lands in Pottuvil and Lakugala (Q.2) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka responded to Hon. Harsha de Silva’s concern on the alienation of State lands, stating that decisions should consider both commercial value and the intended purpose and economic impact. He said the President had announced in the Budget Speech that a policy would be formulated to govern future alienation of such lands, and that the Government would proceed on that basis. Brief Procedural Clarification on Committee Report Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister stated that issues relating to devalaya lands are being addressed alongside Buddhist temple lands under the relevant legal framework. He noted that clarifying ownership and title matters, including under the “Bim Saviya” programme, is complex and requires coordination among several ministries and trustees, and said he is involved in the ongoing consultations. Oral Question: Lands Coming Under Buddhist Temporalities Act (Q.1505/2025) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Asked whether the Government would introduce proper regulation and documentation of lands owned by devalayas, noting that some administrators are unaware of the full extent of such lands. He said these lands are important for sustaining the institutions but are vulnerable to misuse for private benefit, and urged action with relevant institutions. Oral Question: Lands Coming Under Buddhist Temporalities Act (Q.1505/2025) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi acknowledged practical difficulties arising from long-standing leases and informal transfers of properties attached to Buddhist sacred places, affecting matters such as school admissions and bank mortgages in districts including Kurunegala and Ratnapura. He stated that the Government is working to amend the Viharas and Devalagam law, particularly Sections 41 and 42, with guidance from the Maha Sangha, and that a draft has been sent to the Legal Draftsman. He added that further solutions would require consultations with religious authorities and local communities, not legal amendments alone. Oral Question: Lands Coming Under Buddhist Temporalities Act (Q.1505/2025) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Dharmapriya Dissanayake raised a supplementary question about difficulties faced by people who purchased temple lands previously granted on a freehold basis. He said the ongoing “Bim Saviya” land titling programme cannot issue titles for some of these plots because the grants were improperly made and are now unlawful. He asked the Minister how the Government intends to resolve the issue, noting that affected persons need titles for school admissions, loans and business activities. Oral Question: Lands Coming Under Buddhist Temporalities Act (Q.1505/2025) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a question on lands belonging to Buddhist sacred places, stating that the Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Act, No. 34 of 2013 does not specify land extents, while such lands are governed under the Viharas and Devalagam Ordinance, No. 19 of 1931. He said information on land extents is held by the relevant chief incumbents and trustees of 12,971 sacred places, and that temple lands may be leased or rented under Section 29(1) but cannot be mortgaged, sold, alienated, or sub-leased contrary to the Ordinance. Any unlawful sale or transfer is invalid, and action would be taken under the provisions of the 1931 Ordinance. Oral Question: Lands Coming Under Buddhist Temporalities Act (Q.1505/2025) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake asked the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs for details on lands governed by the Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Act, No. 34 of 2013, including their extent and the procedure for granting occupancy rights. He sought clarification on whether temple or dewalaya priests and trustees may rent, lease, sell, or otherwise transfer such lands, the legal basis or reasons if not permitted, and whether transferred ownership would revert to the relevant institution. He also requested whether the Government intends to adopt a common policy for these lands and, if so, the details of that policy. Oral Question: Lands Coming Under Buddhist Temporalities Act (Q.1505/2025) Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Selected investors who have been allocated land are not commencing work, and a time limit should be imposed on them. If they fail to begin, their allocations should be cancelled and made available to qualified new investors seeking land with electricity, water, and administrative facilities. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister stated that a land clearance issue involving a company and the removal of rubber had delayed approval for the project. He said the matter had been discussed and resolved, with about Rs. 4.5 million to be paid before approval can be obtained and work can proceed. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe supported the 2026 allocation for the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development and thanked the Minister for intervening in issues affecting cane growers in Ampara through a district-level committee and field inquiry. He said the inquiry found discrepancies in land allocated and used by Gal Oya Plantations/Hingurana Sugar Company, including an 819-hectare shortfall and allegations of company control over lands licensed to farmers for cane cultivation. He tabled the report and highlighted pending court cases, farmer indebtedness, forced land takeovers, and operational delays in harvesting and cultivation as issues requiring further action. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan distinguished between two Trincomalee sites associated with the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhivardhana Samithiya and argued that a proposed dhamma school construction on a coastal leasehold plot would violate post-tsunami coastal conservation rules and pose safety risks, urging the Government and Judiciary to uphold the law. He also cautioned against ethnic or religious tensions in Trincomalee, stating that local Sinhala and Tamil residents had maintained peace. In the Budget debate on the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, he said the Rs. 38.6 billion allocation was inadequate for rural development needs and should be at least doubled. He supported rural development objectives but urged that the “Praja Shakthi” programme use existing village, women’s, farmer, fisheries and cooperative bodies rather than creating new councils that could become politicized. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam called for corrections to administrative arrangements in the North, including a dedicated Pradeshiya Sabha for Manal Aar and separate Pradeshiya Sabhas for areas where one council covers multiple DSDs, citing service delivery problems and revenue constraints. He raised concerns over Mahaweli “L” Zone resettlement, land and irrigation disputes, the Triwaitku Lake claim, and the Kivul Oya project, requesting an inter-ethnic committee to ensure equitable benefits and protect ancestral lands. He also urged appointments to address staff shortages in local authorities, better assessment and tax collection systems, heavy machinery for war-affected resettlement areas, and full implementation of Provincial Council provisions alongside the allocated funding for elections. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran raised concerns over the long-delayed implementation of full administrative powers for the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat, citing 1993 Cabinet approvals and questioning the legality of its treatment as a sub-DSD or linkage with Kalmunai South. He asked the Government and the Ministry of Public Administration to restore administrative authority, clarify who changed its status on official records, and act on promised inquiries. He also alleged unlawful expansion of an “Islamabad” Grama Niladhari division within Kalmunai North boundaries and requested an immediate halt to related mapping, land alienation, and administrative actions pending lawful regularisation. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary Many objectives of establishing the Land Reform Commission have been achieved, according to the tabled answer. The response states that lands declared under the Land Reform Law total 1,418,391 acres, 3 roods and 37 perches under Law No. 1 of 1972, and 418,754 acres, 2 roods and 28 perches under Law No. 39, with some vested lands not yet fully surveyed and mapping being carried out with the Department of Survey. Questions on other government institutions owning State lands and disposals from those lands were marked not applicable. Oral Question: Lands Owned by Land Reform Commission (Q.?) - Procedural Stand Over Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody raised a supplementary question alleging that land granted for a public-purpose fund established under an Incorporation Act had been converted to private use. He stated that a building constructed in 2005 was closed in 2021, demolished in 2023, fenced, and planted with coconuts, and urged action against the alleged misuse of public assets. Oral Question: Land Donated to Reggie Ranatunga Educational Scholarship Fund (Q.5/2025) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister, as Minister of Education, said the Ministry has no official records confirming the establishment of the Reggie Ranatunga Educational Scholarship Fund under Act No. 28 of 2000 or the donation of land in Pansilgoda, Minuwangoda. She stated that the land had been given to the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority under a 2007 agreement to operate a training centre, but the centre was vacated in 2021 due to subsidence risk and handed back to the Fund for repairs. She added that the Ministry and SLVTA have had no ownership or connection to the land or building since 2021, so no response could be given on transferring it for public purposes. Oral Question: Land Donated to Reggie Ranatunga Educational Scholarship Fund (Q.5/2025) Read →