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- 7 August 2025 The Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena said many occupants cultivating State lands are poor and need secure land titles for practical purposes such as obtaining bank loans and transferring property to children. He asked whether the Government would promptly introduce a mechanism to issue “Urumaya” freehold deeds or other valid deeds, or revalidate BAG permits, following the temporary halt to deed issuance under the “Urumaya” programme. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 7 August 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Government is beginning a programme to issue land deeds and permits, starting on 13 August in the first Divisional Secretariat Division in Kilinochchi under the Minister and Northern Province Governor. He said LRC deeds would be issued first in Kilinochchi under the “1.4” initiative, and that any valuation concerns could be discussed and addressed as the process proceeds. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena raised concerns that many families in Monaragala have occupied LRC lands for 30–40 years but still face delays in receiving deeds. He asked whether the Government could apply a valuation framework based on the length of occupation, rather than current land values, when issuing deeds to long-term settlers. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 7 August 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe, replying on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, provided land extents held by category, totalling 161,506 hectares, and stated that the Land Reform Commission’s remaining extent after acquisitions and exclusions is 6,439 acres, 1 rood and 6.58 perches. He said the relevant process has not been suspended and that the LRC is continuing a programme to issue deeds or permits to long-term occupants, with plans to issue 7,000 deeds island-wide, including in Monaragala District, by 31 December 2025. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for details on arable government lands and Land Reform Commission-owned lands in the Monaragala District. He sought clarification on whether the Government is aware that deed issuance has been suspended and that long-term occupants of LRC lands, some for 25 to 30 years, have not received title deeds or permits. He asked whether steps will be taken to issue title deeds or land permits to those occupants, and if not, the reasons for inaction. Oral Question: Arable LRC Lands in Monaragala District (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe outlined planned land document issuances by several agencies, stating that the LRC has planned 7,000 deeds, with 1,400 already prepared and issuance to begin on the 13th. He said the Mahaweli Authority will issue 25,000 permits across 10 zones this year, and the Land Commissioner General’s Department will issue 18,000 documents, around 4,000 of which are ready. He indicated that the Government expects to complete the issuance process by December. Adjournment: Parliamentary Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri asked whether a clear schedule and work plan had been set for the issuance of 50,000 deeds in 2025. He sought clarification on whether the relevant institutions could meet the stated target within the planned timeframe. Adjournment: Parliamentary Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe provided figures on planned land permit, deed and grant issuance, stating that the Mahaweli Authority intends to issue 25,000 permits across its zones in 2025, while around 4,000 grants are ready at the Department of the Land Commissioner General and about 1,400 deeds at the Land Reforms Commission. He said Cabinet has approved the review committee report on the “Urumaya” programme, enabling further action, and announced that the Government’s “Himikama” ownership programme would begin on 13 August at the Palai Divisional Secretariat in Kilinochchi. He stated the overall 2025 target is to issue 50,000 ownership documents through the Mahaweli Authority, Land Reforms Commission and Land Commissioner General’s Department, and to allocate at least 500 land parcels for investment. Adjournment: Parliamentary Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri raised concerns about widespread delays and irregularities in issuing land permits, grants, and deeds, particularly in Ratnapura District, Kolonna, and Embilipitiya, noting that most public grievances he receives relate to land. He requested urgent Ministry intervention and asked about the readiness of Divisional Secretaries, the Land Reforms Commission, and the Mahaweli Authority to issue permits and ownership documents. He also sought details on any identified weaknesses in the previous Government’s “Urumaya” deed programme, corrective measures taken, and whether the programme has been reactivated with a timeline to expedite deed issuance. Adjournment: Parliamentary Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) regarding the 2020 Gazette declaring areas under 13 Pradeshiya Sabhas in Jaffna District as Urban Development Areas under the Urban Development Authority Law. He asked whether the Minister was aware that this transfer of regulatory functions to the UDA had affected local authority powers and imposed UDA fees for permits and approvals, causing inconvenience to residents. He also questioned the impact on village livelihoods, particularly small and medium cottage industries being treated as commercial enterprises requiring additional permissions. Oral Question (Standing Order 27(2)): Review of Policies in the Leasing Sector Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan urged the Government, citing its anti-racist and equality-based mandate, to provide housing assistance to the 308 affected families. While affirming acceptance of the Supreme Court judgment and respect for judicial independence, he claimed the outcome was driven by legal technicalities and racist actors, and requested that justice be ensured for those affected. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that a Supreme Court judgment requires the 500 houses to be distributed according to the national ethnic ratio, and legal advice indicates the Government cannot act contrary to it. She said a proposal for district-based distribution should therefore be considered through a Parliamentary Committee, while a separate intervention could be made regarding the 308 families if a distinct fairness issue exists. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan said Saudi-funded houses intended for tsunami-affected families should first be allocated to the 308 identified beneficiaries, in light of the court decision based on equality in the distribution of public resources. He argued that the litigation had been pursued on ethnic grounds and asked the Prime Minister to ensure justice through a Parliamentary Committee and the Attorney-General’s assistance. He proposed that any remaining houses be distributed according to district-level ethnic ratios and sought the Government’s position. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Following a question by Hon. K. Kader Masthan, it was stated that the 500-house Norochcholai Tsunami Housing Project in Ampara, built with Saudi assistance after the 2004 tsunami, remains undistributed due to a 2009 Supreme Court judgment concerning the alienation of State land and beneficiary selection. The proposed current approach is to seek Supreme Court concurrence to allocate the houses according to the Ampara District’s 2012 Census ethnic ratios, while obtaining reports on their now-uninhabitable condition and continuing consultations with the Attorney-General’s Department and relevant officials. It was also noted that no donor commitment for rehabilitation or additional houses has been communicated to the District Secretary, that a request exists to consider 308 identified tsunami-affected families, and that a Parliamentary Committee may be appointed to identify a lawful distribution method. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised questions about 500 tsunami housing units in Akkaraipattu, built with Saudi Arabian assistance, which have remained undistributed for 20 years due to litigation over ethnic-ratio-based allocation. He asked whether the Supreme Court had issued directions following the Attorney-General’s reference to the Ampara District Coordinating Committee’s allocation decision, and noted that the donor was prepared to rehabilitate the project and build 500 additional houses. He further stated that 308 tsunami-affected families had been identified for allocation and requested consideration of a Parliamentary Committee to study the matter and take steps to resolve it while supporting bilateral relations. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Aboobucker Athambawa said land and boundary disputes affecting Tamil-speaking communities in the North and East should be resolved through discussion and compromise, rather than being used for ethnic politics. He argued that past governments and leaders had opportunities to address these issues through earlier committees and reports, and called for work with the relevant Ministers and the President to deliver immediate solutions. He also stated that the country should not be divided by ethnicity, religion, or language, and noted that the current administration had maintained calm and prevented ethnic unrest. Adjournment Debate: Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the “Urumaya” programme is temporarily suspended, so he could not give a definitive response on it. He explained that within Municipal Council limits, occupants may receive long-term permits and obtain deeds only after completing payments under Crown Lands Ordinance procedures, while free grants under the Land Development Ordinance apply to farming communities in Pradeshiya Sabha areas. He said the Member’s request could be considered once a final decision on “Urumaya” is received. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah asked whether the “Urumaya” programme, which issues land grants, would be extended beyond Pradeshiya Sabha areas to low-income villages located within Municipal Council and Urban Council limits. He requested clarification on whether land grants would be provided to poor communities in those urban local authority areas. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the “Urumaya” programme for issuing freehold land grants has been temporarily suspended due to a legal issue. He said an expert committee appointed by the Cabinet has submitted its report, and the Cabinet will seek the Attorney General’s advice before resuming implementation. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister tabled the requested register of persons residing on government lands for which grants were issued in the Manmunai Pattu Divisional Secretariat Division, Batticaloa District, from 1 January 2017 to 31 March 2025. He confirmed the relevant point in the question and stated that the subsequent sub-question was not applicable. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →