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- 12 March 2025 The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka JJB AI summary Hon. E.M. Basnayaka supported the Appropriation Head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, describing it as central to food security and national development, while criticizing the Opposition for lacking constructive proposals. He highlighted the need to survey and productively allocate Land Reform Commission lands, citing alleged past misuse and political land grabs, and urged an expedited programme for using available lands for enterprises and industries. He also raised the issue of wildlife-related crop damage, estimating losses at 35–40 per cent, and noted ongoing efforts involving the University of Peradeniya and State agencies to develop data-based mitigation measures. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof raised land and livestock-related issues in the Trincomalee District, urging the Government to allocate suitable pastureland, including part of the Kanthalai Sugar Factory estate during the dry season, to reduce pressure on cattle farmers and prevent communal tensions. He sought clarification on the distribution of Kanthalai Sugar Factory lands and called for a proper plan to protect and allocate those lands. He also highlighted divisional boundary disputes, overlapping land claims by state agencies, human-elephant conflict, and land issues affecting long-term residents and farmers in areas such as Kappalthurai and Kuchchaveli, requesting solutions and the issuing of land permits where appropriate. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla addressed the Appropriation debate on the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, focusing on land management, soil restoration and the need to increase agricultural productivity within Sri Lanka’s limited land area. He urged scientific soil testing and rehabilitation, restoration of farmer-organization lands in Mahiyanganaya allegedly transferred under previous administrations, and the issuance of long-delayed land grants to genuine Mahaweli settlers. He also called for rehabilitation of minor tanks in Mahaweli “C”, better use of underutilized public assets, and renewed investment in infrastructure, value addition and productivity for farming communities. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam urged the release of farmlands and small irrigation tanks in Vavuniya and the Vanni that have become inaccessible due to boundary demarcations by the Forest and Wildlife Departments after resettlement. He requested Budget-funded restoration of long-neglected and breached small tanks, raised concerns about settlement practices under the Mahaweli “L” Zone and Lower Malwathu Oya Project causing demographic changes and tensions, and asked that such practices not continue. He also called for government support to manage whitefly infestations through shared spraying equipment, an increase in the fertilizer subsidy to Rs. 20,000 per acre preferably supplied through Agrarian Service Centres, compensation for flood-damaged black gram cultivation, and free or expanded crop insurance for subsidy recipients. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe — Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government has appointed a nine-member expert committee, with Cabinet approval, to review the “Urumaya” freehold title programme and recommend whether it should continue, be reformed or halted, including how to handle permits already issued. He outlined Budget allocations to regularize and complete stalled irrigation projects, citing Yan Oya, Uma Oya, Ellewewa, Lower Malwathu Oya and the North Central Province Canal, with about Rs. 60,000 million allocated overall for reservoir, canal, rehabilitation and related works. He also said land administration delays have left many people without deeds or permits, and that the Ministry intends to streamline titling processes while pursuing a national land policy and land-use plan. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan welcomed the increased overall allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Resources, Lands and Irrigation in the 2025 Budget, but criticized reductions to agriculture, livestock and irrigation development allocations as inconsistent with rice self-sufficiency goals. He argued that unreleased pre-1985 cultivated lands, unrepaired tanks and anicuts, encroachments, and restrictions by the Forest, Wildlife, Archaeology and related authorities in Trincomalee District are significantly reducing paddy production. He urged the Minister to implement earlier decisions to release former farmlands, rehabilitate irrigation assets including Yan Oya-linked tanks, address departmental obstruction, and resolve restrictions on traditional pasture lands in Verugal. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Aruna Panagoda JJB AI summary Hon. Aruna Panagoda supported the Agriculture Ministry’s expenditure proposals, emphasizing the rehabilitation of fallow paddy lands in Colombo and the need to address farmers’ problems through public participation. He defended the planned animal census as necessary to quantify crop damage by species such as porcupines, peacocks, monkeys and wild boar, citing a serious wild boar problem in Homagama and the need for data before relocating animals. He also alleged irregular private transfers of Land Reform Commission and state lands to politically connected persons, calling for rectification. He urged strengthened village-level farmer support, improved agrarian and veterinary services, and policies to ensure food security, fair farmer returns, and affordable consumer prices. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena urged the Ministry to regularize land documentation in farming areas, especially in Monaragala, where long-term cultivators face boundary disputes and uncertainty over permits, grants, deeds, and stalled “Urumaya” title applications. He requested either the restoration of cancelled prior documents or a process to issue notarial deeds, and called for timely, full fertilizer subsidy payments to support rice self-sufficiency. He also asked the Government to commence the Nakkala Anicut/Kumbukkan Oya Development project to expand irrigation and drinking water supply in Monaragala, release traditional farmlands transferred to the Wildlife Department, and strengthen electric fencing to address the human–elephant conflict. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan urged the Government to allocate grazing lands and release farmland and pasture areas controlled by the Forest Conservation and Wildlife Conservation Departments, as well as lands held by the military, warning that delays are harming livestock farmers and cultivation. He highlighted farmers’ financial distress, delayed paddy purchasing arrangements, crop losses from disasters, and risks from unsafe drying practices and expired agro-chemicals, calling for drying facilities and stronger chemical regulation. He also requested urgent implementation of reservoir-based drinking water schemes in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya, citing unreliable groundwater, waterborne disease risks and kidney disease linked to poor water quality. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera urged the Deputy Minister to meet affected residents and provide clear assurances regarding a contested project. He said conflicting statements by government-side politicians were preventing people from using or replanting their lands, and called for clarity on whether the project would proceed, along with guarantees of proper land allocation, due compensation, and prevention of injustice. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera urged the Minister to ensure fair resettlement and compensation for villagers affected by a World Bank-supported development project, noting that proper assessments had been promised. He said affected small tea-holders want land in Nagastenna or nearby estates, preferably together as relatives and community members, and would not oppose the project if given clear assurances. He expressed support for development, flood-control and drinking-water projects, provided they are implemented without harming local people, and requested the Minister to visit the area, meet the affected group and resolve their concerns. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim said that while the project may benefit the Kelani Basin, it should not proceed in a way that harms residents of Kegalle District. He stated that the taking of people’s lands without providing them proper places to live would be opposed, and called for justice and safeguards for affected communities. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera urged the Government to move beyond surveys and implement measures to control monkey-related crop damage, particularly in Kegalle, proposing sterilization, relocation, and a payment scheme for captured animals while rejecting culling as impractical. He said agricultural and home-gardening programmes would be undermined unless long-term action is taken to reduce losses, including the reported annual loss of coconuts and other crops. He also called for environmentally sensitive lands, including LRC and JEDB lands such as Nagastenna/Kandal Oya Estate in Yatiyantota, to be identified, gazetted, and protected from disposal or misuse under tourism or other pretexts. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim raised concerns about the proposed Yatiyantota Wee Oya Reservoir Development Project, a World Bank-supported climate disaster mitigation initiative affecting communities in the Yatiyantota and Deraniyagala electorates. He said over 200 families face uncertainty over land acquisition, compensation, alternative land, livelihoods and resettlement support, particularly smallholder tea growers needing suitable replacement lands. He requested that the Ministry clarify whether and when the project will proceed and ensure officials communicate a fair compensation and resettlement mechanism to affected villagers. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan JJB AI summary The speech outlined Budget allocations for agriculture, livestock, lands and irrigation, including funding for MILCO, and argued that the livestock sector has been weakened by shortages of veterinary staff, outdated vehicles, inadequate fuel and insufficient allowances. It raised concerns that farmers receive low prices while intermediaries capture high margins, and supported proposed government mechanisms through cooperatives and MILCO to improve paddy and milk marketing. It criticized past imports of unsuitable dairy cattle, particularly to dry-zone areas, and emphasized the suitability of indigenous cattle and buffalo systems in the North and East. A request was made to provide controlled grazing access on lands under Forest and Wildlife authorities, citing relevant forest and wildlife legislation and the cultural and livelihood role of cattle rearing. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleke SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleke urged the Government to address legal and practical concerns before proceeding with freehold land deeds under “Urumaya,” or a renamed programme, noting risks of land sales, tenancy concentration, and issues relating to paddy lands. He called for long-delayed amendments to land laws including the Land Development Ordinance, Land Acquisition Act, Registration of Title Act, and land use planning legislation, while also strengthening institutions and officials dealing with widespread land disputes. He further requested action for owners whose lands were acquired or restricted for stalled projects such as the Kelani Valley railway upgrade, Ruwanpura Expressway, and Habarana railway line, either by returning the lands or completing acquisition and paying compensation. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleke SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleke asked the Government to clarify the status of the “Urumaya” programme, initiated under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant freehold land deeds to around two million people. He said the programme had reportedly halted since November 2024, leaving many people who surrendered existing permits or grants without valid documents or new freehold deeds. He urged the Minister to make a clear statement and, if the programme is restarted, to correct legal and administrative shortcomings while continuing it in a non-partisan manner. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe responded to issues raised on the Mundeni Aru project and Mayilathamadu grazing lands. He stated that Rs. 100 million has been allocated in the Budget for land acquisition and related work on Mundeni Aru, while discussions with AFD on prospective loan funding are ongoing. He denied that Opposition MPs had been excluded, saying they would be involved once AFD confirms funding readiness, and added that the Government is addressing the Mayilathamadu grazing lands issue sensitively. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan urged the Government to prioritize the Mundeni Aru irrigation project, including linking the Urukamam and Kithul tanks, citing potential benefits for irrigation of about 25,000 acres, drinking water supply, inland fisheries, minor tanks, seed production and tourism, with possible AFD concessional funding and grants. He also called for enforcement of court orders to remove illegal settlers from the Mayilathamadu grazing lands used by traditional cattle herders. He further requested fair guaranteed prices, timely fertilizer support and compensation for farmers, and plans to capture floodwaters from tanks such as Kandyian Aru and Adaichakal to reduce flooding and support agriculture. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku - Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government reopened the Palaly–Achchuveli road after decades of closure and is reviewing other roads closed for security reasons, including in the North, East and South, for possible reopening after field assessments. On the airport-related road, he stated that the existing route cannot be opened because it passes through an Air Force base, but a southern alternative is planned using only Air Force land, with approvals obtained. He also said land permit issues in Manmunai North are being handled through due process, with leases currently issued and outright grants to be considered once rightful owners are verified. Adjournment Debate: Batticaloa Airport Land Acquisition and Release Read →