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- 19 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary Minister Dammika Patabendi said the Environment Ministry is addressing both wild elephant conservation and issues relating to captive elephants used in cultural processions, including by suspending previous Cabinet decisions and appointing a committee. He outlined measures to reduce human-elephant conflict, including strengthening the Department of Wildlife Conservation with staff, vehicles and field support, rehabilitating 5,747 km of electric fences, establishing district coordination committees, creating nutrition zones, declaring 81 new forest reserves, operationalizing the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve by Gazette, and updating the 2020 expert action plan. He requested parliamentary support to legally secure elephant corridors, including the Polonnaruwa–Batticaloa corridor, and said opposition cooperation was needed for successful implementation. Adjournment Motion: Sustainable Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Dinesh Hemantha JJB AI summary Hon. Dinesh Hemantha stated that the human-elephant conflict in Matale District has worsened despite national and local measures, including the formation of a district committee coordinating wildlife offices. He cited the recent deaths of a father and daughter in Moragahulpotha, Wilgamuwa, and highlighted problems such as ineffective electric fences, isolated forest patches within planned settlements, and abandoned lands that now harbour elephants. He said short-term action was sought after the incident, including possible removal of an identified rogue elephant, while the Government is pursuing gradual, sustainable solutions across the district. Adjournment Motion: Sustainable Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath stated that any use of the institute’s land and resources must be considered within its mandate and legal framework. He said the Department would study the legal provisions regarding allowing local students to benefit from these resources and, if feasible, implement changes and develop an appropriate plan. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law NDF AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne raised practical difficulties faced by persons whose houses were fully damaged, noting that delays in land identification, NBRI reports, and Divisional Secretary certification can cause sellers to withdraw or sell land elsewhere before the Rs. 5 million assistance is released. He asked the Government to create a process to resolve this issue, particularly in Gampola in relation to “Ditwah.” He also questioned the adequacy of disaster preparedness, citing concerns about the Mahaweli Authority’s awareness of cyclone warnings, and requested that officials be properly directed with a structured plan and empowered team to manage risks affecting reservoirs, drinking water, and agriculture. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Government is responsible for promptly providing land and compensation to affected persons, and that officials from Grama Niladhari level to District Secretaries are working on implementation. He explained that land identification, NBRI certification, and coordination among multiple landowners and institutions create technical and administrative delays, making it difficult to give a specific completion date. He said the President had discussed the issues during recent visits and assured that the process would be concluded as quickly as possible with cooperation from all parties. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law NDF AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne acknowledged progress on ex gratia payments but questioned delays in providing housing for families whose homes were fully destroyed, citing 1,739 such cases in Kandy District against the Deputy Minister’s figure of 1,630. He referred to specific affected areas, including Mawathura and Ududumbara, and noted that many displaced families remain with relatives or in rented accommodation nearly six months after “Ditwah.” He asked the Government to state when housing would be completed and raised concerns over delays in securing land, including from estates, for relocation. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna AI summary All three lots have been duly registered according to Council documents. The Member indicated that if any issue remains as raised, steps can be taken to conduct a formal investigation. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Stepni Fernando JJB AI summary Hon. Stepni Fernando raised a supplementary question concerning a playground consisting of three lots, stating that two lots have unregistered deeds and a third 38-perch lot has neither a deed nor registration, based on information obtained through RTI. She requested a clear investigation into the land’s ownership and registration status, as well as broader examination of land use by the Council, alleging past mishandling of lands during the tenure of former Chairmen. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna AI summary In response to a query on land acquisition procedure, the Minister stated that the records do not confirm whether a specific title examination was conducted. He noted that standard land acquisition practice requires verifying relevant title documents before purchase, and therefore it is presumed the purchases followed such verification. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Stepni Fernando JJB AI summary Asked whether, when the lands purchased with public funds were acquired, the then Chairman examined and verified the relevant title documents. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna AI summary The Minister provided details on the Urban Council’s purchase of land for the Fatima Road playground in Mabola, stating that three lots were bought by registered deeds in 2007 and 2012 for a total of Rs. 10,020,000. He said the original owner was Joseph Emilian Samarasinghe, who had not served as Urban Council Chairman, and that the purchases were legally executed and registered. He noted that although the land is recorded as non-paddy dry land, the deed names include “kumbura,” raising a question about whether any portion may previously have been paddy or marshland. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Stepni (Stephanie) Fernando JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to explain how the Fatima Road playground land in Mabola was acquired by the Wattala Mabola Urban Council. She questioned whether the land belonged to a former Urban Council Chairman, whether he could legally sell his own land to the Council while serving as Chairman, and whether the sale involved a forged deed. She also requested details of the purchase price, the legality of the transaction, and any action to be taken against officials involved. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 Playground on Fatima Road, Mabola: Acquisition by Wattala Mabola Urban Council AI summary A question was raised regarding the proposed acquisition of the playground on Fatima Road, Mabola, by the Wattala Mabola Urban Council. The matter sought clarification on the status, purpose, and administrative action related to the acquisition, in the context of local authority management of public recreational land. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah supported the extension of the Emergency for narcotics control and accelerated post-“Ditwah” reconstruction, while urging the authorities to prevent unnecessary arrests and apply emergency powers only where needed. He welcomed the Supreme Court ruling enabling Kalmunai Municipal Council and Sainthamaruthu Urban Council to function separately, and requested restoration of previous Kalmunai boundary delineations to avoid ethnic tensions. He also asked that land occupied by the Eravur Police Station be transferred to Aligarh National School, with the police relocated to land already allocated by the Eravur Urban Council. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan said emergency relief for Ditha cyclone victims had not reached estate communities and welcomed the President’s planned visit to Nuwara Eliya. He argued that land rights for estate-line communities remain the core solution to many estate problems, and called for equal enforcement of the law against estate officials accused of assaulting workers. He also requested intervention on low potato prices and imports affecting Nuwara Eliya farmers, provision of fire engines for estate and industrial areas after the Brookside Estate factory fire, and noted the importance of continued ties with Tamil Nadu. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera questioned the Government’s continued use of emergency powers after Cyclone Ditha, arguing that promised relief—particularly Rs. 500,000 housing grants and land or houses for displaced families—had not been delivered six months later. He cited high-risk families in Kegalle, especially Yatiyantota, who had been instructed to vacate but had not received land or housing, and requested an investigation and expedited payments and allocations. He also challenged government claims on estate worker wage increases, saying part of the increase came from companies and that higher workloads undermined the benefit. He demanded amendments to circulars that restrict land allocation for estate worker housing and called for action on evictions, housing shortages, assaults on estate workers, and basic protections. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe — Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply AI summary Hon. Dr. Susil Ranasinghe defended the extension of the emergency, arguing it was needed after Cyclone Ditha to maintain 15 essential services, expedite recovery, and address wider supply pressures arising from the Middle East conflict, not to suppress speech or media freedoms. He outlined housing and relief measures, including Rs. 500,000 for fully destroyed homes, allowances for flood damage, household losses, student books and rent, and said emergency powers were helping speed up land allocation and disbursements through administrative channels. He rejected opposition allegations on issues such as coal fraud and Treasury-related matters, saying evidence should be presented to the appointed commission, and argued that the Government had stabilized the economy and restarted stalled development projects. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer regarding Vaddakkachchi Agriculture School and Farm, stating that it falls under the Northern Provincial Ministry and that the central Ministry does not hold primary land data. He reported that 52 acres are currently under the Northern Provincial Department of Agriculture and 165 acres under the Civil Security Department, with steps required among relevant central, provincial and district authorities to release the latter for provincial agricultural development programmes. He also stated that proposals to operationalise 416 acres have been submitted for approval and funding, and outlined ongoing crop varietal research and livestock genetic improvement efforts, noting that new animal breed discovery research is not currently undertaken. Ministry Statements: Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna questioned the Defence Minister under Standing Order 27(2) on the continued military occupation of private and public lands in the Northern Province, particularly in Valikamam North and around Palaly. He sought district-wise details of lands held as “High Security Zones,” the legally gazetted and actual extent of Palaly Airport, lands used by the military for agriculture or business, and Grama Niladhari divisions in Mayilitty where civilian return is prevented. He also questioned the construction of a military base hospital on private land east of Palaly Road, requested budget and land-use details, and asked whether the Government would immediately release those lands to owners, with a specific date. Questions by Private Notice: Fuel Purchase (CPC) and Private Lands Released by Military Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns about the Peraru Reservoir project in Vavuniya, stating that farming families who donated paddy lands on assurances of alternate land, title deeds, and access roads have still not received deeds after 13 years. He asked whether the Ministry would provide the promised access roads and a flyover or bridge, noting that spill water during rains prevents farmers from reaching their new fields. Oral Question 9: Community Water Supply Schemes in Vavuniya Read →