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- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Land Reform Commission lands in the Kegalle District, stating that the district has 55,884 acres and 1 rood of high lands and 253 acres and 3 roods of paddy lands. He said 13 acres, 1 rood and 30.8 perches have been allocated for industrial purposes, including mini hydro power plants, a power plant, and a telecommunications tower, and listed the relevant allottees and lease details. He further stated that about 667 acres remain unused for development, that alternative lands have been distributed, and that the list of recipients was tabled. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe said land processed for long-term lease for an industrial project can be reconsidered if it is more suitable for an elephant corridor or another public purpose. He stated that the Divisional Coordination Committee could refer such cases to the Land Commissioner’s Department, and that approvals, especially from the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, should be reviewed before further intervention based on official local reports. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Thilina Samarakoon raised concerns about alleged appropriation of public lands and sensitive wildlife areas through political influence and official patronage. He asked whether lands under Divisional Secretaries in human–elephant conflict zones could be reassigned to preserve corridors such as Kalawewa–Nachchaduwa, or allocated for socially beneficial purposes, rather than being given on long-term leases. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Long-term leases for the lands in question must follow the established approval process through the Divisional Secretary, Divisional Land Use Committee, relevant agencies, and, where necessary, the District Land Use Committee before referral to the Land Commissioner General and ministerial approval. If the applications are still under consideration, the Ministry can inspect the lands, obtain local reports and verify the proposed use and approvals, and expedite processing within the Land Commissioner General’s Department where appropriate. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Thilina Samarakoon raised a supplementary question regarding reports that documents are being prepared to grant long-term leases over 170–200 acres in two Divisional Secretariat Divisions near tanks and sensitive elephant habitats. He asked whether the Government is prepared to proceed with such leases, highlighting concerns about land use in environmentally sensitive areas. Oral Question: LRC Lands Allocated for Industrial Purposes - Kegalle District (Q.1250/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, details were provided on long-term land leases in Anuradhapura District, including 42 parcels in Ipalogama and 535 in Kekirawa, all for 30-year terms, with annexes tabled. The response clarified that GN Division No. 618 is Obeysekarapura, not Karambawatte, and listed specific leased lots in Obeysekarapura, Ihalagama and Ihalakagama, including lessees, extents and development status. It stated that the relevant lands have been developed, have not been re-acquired or sub-leased, and that elephant fences have not been erected. Oral Question: Lands in Anuradhapura District Leased Out for Development (Q.1241/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe explained that the Government’s “Himikama” ownership programme is being used to issue land permits and deeds, with work starting in the Palai DS Division of Kilinochchi due to acute land ownership issues in the North and East. He said longstanding displacement, lost or damaged documents, deaths and resettlement require a land regularization process to establish ownership, occupation and claims before deeds or permits can be issued. He noted that about 60,000 acres in Kilinochchi remain to be regularized and stated that the Government intends to proceed expeditiously in stages once clearance is completed. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Asked what immediate measures the Government will take to issue freehold deeds in Kilinochchi, noting that although over 40,000 families were referenced, only 1,850 deeds have been provided. He highlighted that more than 12,000 hectares, or nearly 60,000 acres, remain without freehold title and sought a concrete plan to address this. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Under the past government’s freehold programme, 1,850 deeds have already been issued after permits were collected. A further 477 permit files have been received by the Land Commissioner General’s Department, and deed preparation has begun for those remaining cases. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a supplementary question about long-term residents in Kilinochchi who have lived on land for nearly a century without receiving title deeds. He said temporary land permits had been taken back by officials under a programme promising freehold deeds, and asked whether, if freehold deeds cannot be issued, those temporary permits could at least be returned. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister provided figures on land ownership and permits in the Kilinochchi District in response to Question No. 1178/2025. He stated that 46,787 families occupy 19,525.718 hectares, with 1,850 families issued freehold deeds under the “Nidahas Himikama” programme and 477 further applications being processed. He also noted that 12,748.57 hectares of paddy and dry lands are held under permits, and that there is insufficient data to assess the impact on access to mortgages or loans. Oral Question: Lands in Kilinochchi District - Freehold Deeds or Land Permits (Q.1178/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary Anura Karunathilaka stated that delays in issuing deeds to housing beneficiaries had accumulated over time and that the Government has planned an expedited programme to address them. He said a Habitat Week declared for World Habitat Day will be used to resolve long-pending issues, including a 6 October programme led by the President to issue deeds to 1,000 beneficiaries, with the main ceremony in Colombo. He added that an accelerated plan is in place to issue deeds for other houses and complete a substantial portion of pending vesting and deed issuance before the end of the year. Oral Question: Housing Schemes and NHDA Land Allocation (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka JJB AI summary Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka asked whether the Minister has formulated a special expedited programme to address long-standing issues in NHDA housing projects, including in the Digamadulla District and island-wide. He specifically sought clarification on measures to ensure deeds are issued to beneficiaries in the coming period. Oral Question: Housing Schemes and NHDA Land Allocation (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary The Minister stated that several Ampara housing schemes implemented between 1997 and 2006 are on lands belonging to the Ampara Divisional Secretary and have not been vested in the National Housing Development Authority, delaying the issuing of deeds. He said the NHDA has no objection to deeds being issued for the relevant projects, and the Government has decided that Divisional Secretaries should issue the permits or deeds directly rather than vesting the lands in the NHDA first, to avoid further delay. He also tabled annexes detailing housing projects across 14 Divisional Secretary’s Divisions and cited reasons for delays, including unpaid assessed land values, deaths or abandonment by original allottees, and unresolved transfer issues. Oral Question: Housing Schemes and NHDA Land Allocation (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the disputed land had been possessed by the State Plantation Corporation and leased to Namunkula Plantation Company in 1992, with the company remaining in possession until 2018. He explained that subsequent Powers of Attorney and a deed produced after the original owner’s death raised questions, and that the validity of the deed is now before Court. He said the matter would be monitored and the concerns of affected families addressed within the law. Oral Question: Bungalow in Kalugalle Estate - False Ownership (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj responded to the Minister’s reference to political interference, stating that Mr. Haridaran is not an heir and that any court case claiming ownership in his name would be an improper abuse requiring judicial intervention. He also said that about 19 families had suffered injustice and requested relief for them. Oral Question: Bungalow in Kalugalle Estate - False Ownership (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister provided details on the Kalugala land and bungalow linked to Beno/Gidagala Estate, noting its declaration under the Land Reform Law in 1974, an incomplete village expansion acquisition process, and a 2017 order to restore possession to the original owner, though no owner or heirs came forward. He stated that an external claimant, Satasivam Haridaran, obtained possession in 2018, while Namunkula Plantation Company has filed court action over possession and an interim injunction is in place. He said acquisition by the Government is not currently possible because the District Court case is pending and the land has been found unsuitable for village expansion, with any alternative public-purpose action to be considered only after the legal proceedings conclude. Oral Question: Bungalow in Kalugalle Estate - False Ownership (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure about alleged false ownership claims over a 53-acre tea land and bungalow in Kalugalle Estate, Ella, where the purported owner is said to be in India. He sought clarification on whether the Government recognises forcible entry and tea plucking on the land as illegal, and whether the State can acquire the property given the disputed ownership. Oral Question: Bungalow in Kalugalle Estate - False Ownership (Q.?/2025) Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera said the Government’s human rights approach is linked to restoring the rule of law, democratic governance, anti-corruption and social justice, while maintaining national security as a basis for stability. He stated that security forces are being educated on human rights and that an independent investigation is proceeding into the 7 August incident at a camp in Muthiyankadu, with three soldiers arrested. He reported that over 75,000 of 85,486 acres of State and private land held by the military in the North and East since 2009 have been released, with further releases planned, while some land will remain for strategic security needs. He also listed several road and land releases in Jaffna, Pulmoddai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, including sites raised by Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran argued that Tamil national identity and land rights in the North and East continue to be undermined through land acquisition, settlement, military control, and the imposition of Sinhala-Buddhist symbols, and demanded the immediate return of lands and reduction of troop presence. He called for full implementation of the 13th Amendment, including police and land powers, within a merged North-East, and reiterated support for federal power-sharing. He also highlighted development disparities in districts such as Mullaitivu, Mannar, and Kilinochchi, proposing an Economic Development Authority and increased allocations to achieve parity. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →