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- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha urged a substantial expansion of coconut seedling production, stronger support for the Coconut Research Institute, fertilizer access for home gardens and smallholders, and long-term planning to improve yields, including in a proposed second coconut triangle in the North. He requested fair treatment of traditional temporary users of lands around the Kantale Sugar Factory when reallocations are made. He also called for any inquiry into the Batalanda events to be broadened to examine the wider violence of 1988–89 in an even-handed manner. He emphasized the continuing importance of export crops and asked the Ministry to help uplift plantation communities, particularly by moving them beyond line-room housing. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake, speaking during the Vote on the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, focused on the coconut sector and said the Budget should support increased production, exports, intercropping, and value-added industries. He cited targets of about 3,000 million nuts annually and export earnings rising from Rs. 247 billion to Rs. 265 billion, while arguing that land fragmentation, alienation, and misuse of coconut estates had reduced production. He referred to past allocations of Kurunegala Plantations Limited lands and said stronger controls, improved inputs, fertilizer, irrigation restoration, and planned replanting/intercropping were needed to revive coconut cultivation, particularly in the North Western Province. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported expanded plantation development in the North, including the planned 16,000 acres of coconut cultivation, and urged comparable programmes for palmyrah, rubber, oil crops such as mustard and sunflower, and spices through land release and value addition. He called for lands gazetted as forest after 1985 but not dense forest to be made available for cultivation, particularly to experienced displaced upcountry families now living in Northern districts. He also urged action on tabled reports concerning missing persons, the Trincomalee campus issue and the Mylanthanai killings, including accountability for those responsible. Additionally, he requested urgent rehabilitation and reopening of the Puttalam–Mannar–Marichchukkaddi–Jaffna road to shorten travel and support resettlement. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala supported the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure expenditure, arguing that plantation policy must address the human and social conditions of estate communities, not only economic production. Citing hardships in estate line rooms, including youth vulnerability, family breakdown, drugs, and educational difficulties, he referred to allocations for estate housing and related infrastructure. He highlighted specific Budget provisions for child development centres, line-room roof repairs, sanitation, and estate road development as measures intended to improve living conditions and promote equal citizenship. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary In the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure allocations, the Deputy Minister outlined Budget provisions of about Rs. 16,738 million for plantation crop development and social infrastructure in estate communities. He highlighted funding for vocational training, nutrition programmes for upcountry children, land deeds, roofing support, housing construction with Indian assistance, and the revival of institutions such as the upcountry new villages development authority. He also proposed improvements to schools, cultural centres, waste management, disaster relief, estate hospitals, pre-schools, drinking water and sanitation, with particular emphasis on replacing line rooms through single-house construction. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna – Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna clarified that land identification for the 4,700 planned estate houses is largely complete, but some sites still require NBRO reports and company land allocations, while deeds for houses completed last year remain to be issued. He stated that the Government’s policy is to grant land rights to about 261,000 estate families in phases. On estate wages, he noted that increases must be handled through the legal collective agreement or Wages Board process with companies, and said the Ministry is ready to engage within that framework. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman clarified that issuing land titles should include allocating land for people to build their own houses, not merely granting titles for existing houses. He also requested that the Labour Minister convene the Wages Board to address wage issues with company representatives present. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna – Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna responded to concerns raised about estate workers, stating that the Government is in discussions with plantation companies to secure a daily wage of Rs. 1,700 and expects company cooperation, especially as public funds are being used for estate roads and housing. He said the Government will implement commitments in the Hatton Declaration by granting land rights, house ownership and proper addresses to Malaiyaha people, with funds allocated this year for issuing deeds. He also cited Budget allocations of Rs. 1,800 million for vocational training and basic facilities for estate youth, plans to build 4,700 houses this year and next year with Indian assistance, and continued implementation of the smart classroom project with an additional Rs. 600 million from the Government. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman opposed relocating the Norwood Divisional Secretariat to premises above the Hatton railway station, arguing that resource shortages should be addressed by repairing and funding the existing office and that any decision must reflect public consultation, noting residents’ petitions would be tabled. He disputed claims that the District Coordinating Committee had made a binding decision and said the DCC could only advise the Central Government. He rejected calls for upcountry representatives to apologize, citing historical grievances faced by the plantation Tamil community, and urged unity across party lines on community issues. Responding to questions on housing funds, he said he would table documents and gave figures for houses completed under Sri Lankan and Indian-funded programmes during 2020-2024, attributing delays to cost increases after COVID-19, the economic crisis, and approval procedures for revised Indian-funded unit costs. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Hon. Krishnan Kalaichelvi highlighted long-standing socio-economic issues facing the Malaiyaha tea estate community, including poor housing, education, health, infrastructure and nutrition, and said post-1948 governments should acknowledge their failure to provide lasting solutions. She argued that the NPP Government should now address these issues through planned measures, citing 2025 Budget allocations for tea smallholders, housing and infrastructure, vocational training, food assistance, land grants, roofing sheets and smart classrooms in estate schools. She also clarified that the proposed relocation of the Norwood Divisional Secretariat office to Hatton was discussed at the District Coordinating Committee in response to public and space-related concerns, and urged that the matter not be used for communal political mobilization. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan thanked the Minister’s commitment to provide ten-perch land plots and individual houses for estate workers, and urged equal attention to tea and rubber alongside coconut. He argued that plantation estates must be protected with workers’ welfare central to policy, called for clearer lease conditions or cancellations where companies fail to invest, and cited issues including blocked estate roads, barriers to electricity connections, and non-payment of the Rs. 1,700 basic wage. He also requested expanded housing for workers, staff and teachers, action on malnutrition and child health, and reopening closed factories to generate local employment. He supported recognition of “Malaiyaha people,” noted the dominance of smallholders in tea production, and urged mechanisms to better support them while addressing the gap between public investment in estate infrastructure and company responsibilities. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Ajith Agalakada JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Agalakada highlighted the difficulties faced by Malaiyaha communities in Monaragala District, including housing, education, sanitation, national identity cards, and birth certificates. He noted that the Budget has allocated funds for their housing and infrastructure and pledged his support as a Monaragala representative to ensure successful implementation. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan responded to a reference to his name regarding the BOO housing matter, saying his comments were made out of concern rather than political hostility. He urged the Minister to continue the housing programme, recalling earlier discussions with the Indian Prime Minister and former High Commissioners that led to a pledge to build 10,000 houses. He welcomed the Minister’s commitment to proceed with the next phase and to provide ten perches of land, asking that these pledges be implemented. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna – Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure AI summary The Minister said housing assistance in plantation and landslide-affected areas would be prioritized based on need and National Building Research Organisation risk reports, rather than political patronage. He cited families still displaced in Haputale and Kegalle, past failures including the Meeriyabedda landslide, and underuse or misuse of some previous housing schemes. He stated that new houses would be built for vulnerable estate line-room residents, including about 2,000 families in Badulla District, and that the Malaiyaha community would receive individual single-storey houses on 10-perch plots rather than high-rises. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan urged the Government to use its parliamentary majority and ministerial representation from the Hill Country Tamil community to address long-standing estate sector marginalization through practical governance rather than political rhetoric. He cited past initiatives including seven-perch land allocations, individual housing and “New Villages,” new Pradeshiya Sabhas and Divisional Secretariats, amendments enabling local authority spending in estate areas, and land allocations for estate schools, calling for their continuation and implementation. He asked that Norwood Divisional Secretariat not be shifted, that estate roads and companies’ contributions be addressed, the NVDA be revitalized, and that promised wage increases and stakeholder status for estate workers be delivered. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel focused on housing conditions in the Hill Country, citing overcrowded line rooms and associated social and educational problems, and thanked India for continued housing assistance. She said 62 housing projects begun between 2016 and 2021 remained incomplete despite contractor and supervision payments, and noted that 1,300 Indian-funded houses still require completion. She stated that the Government plans a 10,000-house programme with infrastructure, seven-perch land and title deeds, including 6,000 houses this year, prioritising disaster victims and vulnerable families rather than political beneficiaries. She also referred to plans under “Clean Sri Lanka” to renovate 75 line-room clusters and to allocate Rs. 2,450 million to revive vocational training and livelihood support for estate youth. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary No formal disclosure has been made on the criteria for creating new local authorities or Divisional Secretaries’ divisions, but previous delimitation processes considered population, area, urban or rural character, topography and environmental factors. The Minister stated that the Government intends to consider public requests and current needs, and that an expert committee has proposed criteria including population and housing density, service and infrastructure capacity, commercial and industrial distribution, employment and self-generated income, based on the 1999 Local Government Reforms report. He added that Cabinet approved these criteria in 2017 and that ethnic or political considerations are not used in establishing or upgrading local authorities. Written Answers to Questions Read →
- 12 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to amend Head 285, Programme 02, increasing the capital provision by Rs. 500 million to Rs. 4,261 million, incorporating allocations under Budget Proposal No. 33, while approving recurrent expenditure of Rs. 6,406 million. The Committee then approved allocations for the Department of Land Commissioner General, Department of Land Title Settlement, and Department of Surveyor General of Sri Lanka across specified recurrent and capital expenditure programmes. It proceeded to take up Head 289, the Department of Export Agriculture, with proposed Programme 02 allocations of Rs. 1,101 million in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 1,371 million in capital expenditure. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran raised concerns over post-2009 land acquisition and forest reservation in the Vanni region by the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation, alleging that residential lands, paddy fields, irrigation areas, roads, and burial grounds had been gazetted without proper procedure or consultation. He cited district figures for Mullaitivu, including 167,487 acres declared as forest and 69,401 acres brought under wildlife-related designations such as Nandikadal, Nayaru, and Sundikkulam. He urged the Minister and Deputy Minister responsible for lands to review and remedy these land issues and to allocate adequate pastureland for large cattle populations in Mannar, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe said the allocation of unused Kantale Sugar Factory lands followed a presidential policy decision to provide such lands to farmers, including regularizing some previously unauthorized cultivation. He stated that applications were called through the Divisional Secretariat, land was surveyed, and allocations were made on an annual rental basis, with about 1,300 farmers having received land so far and further applications pending. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →