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 March 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan urged greater investment in Trincomalee’s port infrastructure, including development of the Ashraff Jetty, better use of oil tanks for bunkering, possible SLPA management of private jetties, and resolution of land disputes by granting titles to long-standing residents. He called for improvements to public transport in the district, including additional and repaired SLTB buses, staffing, and depot rehabilitation. He also requested urgent bridge projects at Kattaiparichchan, Iralu, Punnaithivu and Kokkilai Lagoon, and raised concern that road development allocations had fallen and remained focused mainly on major RDA roads rather than local and secondary roads. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Arkam Ilyas JJB AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas focused on urban development under the Budget, noting the allocation of about Rs. 98 billion for UDA development activities and arguing that stalled construction projects have tied up valuable land, public funds, and private investments. He cited unfinished projects such as the KRIS building, Grand Hyatt, and Destiny Mall and Residency, and said over 20 high-rise projects in Colombo are abandoned due to poor feasibility, commissions, and politicized decisions. He also highlighted flood-related urban development issues in areas including Dikwella, Beruwala, Wewurukannala, and Akurana, calling for scientific, expedited, and apolitical feasibility studies and solutions through the UDA and SLLRDC. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof urged greater investment in Trincomalee’s transport, port-linked infrastructure and urban development, including extending the expressway corridor toward Dambulla or Habarana, rehabilitating the Kinniya–Kurinchakerny Bridge, restoring the Trincomalee–Colombo daytime train, and resuming domestic flights from China Bay. He raised land tenure and access concerns involving the Port Authority and Army around Karumalaiyootru Jummah Mosque and nearby long-settled areas, requesting the return or regularization of community, residential and cultivation lands. He also sought action on coastal erosion between Kinniya, Upparu and Muttur, and requested urban improvements in Kinniya, Thoppur and Pulmoddai. He condemned the alleged public assault of a moulavi by a police officer on 23 February and called on the Defence Ministry to prevent such incidents, tabling a related newspaper article for Hansard. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahman argued that Colombo’s post-2010 resettlement into high-rise housing was poorly planned, disrupted livelihoods, and has left the Government bearing major repair costs, while valuable urban land was freed for commercial development. He urged future housing policy to use mixed-income models, provide affordable units specifically for Colombo renters and lower-income families, and prevent the Urban Development Authority from functioning primarily as a developer for higher-income buyers. He called on the Minister to cancel allegedly irregular allocations and leases of Housing Ministry and NHDA properties made without tender, including common facilities in housing schemes, and questioned whether the proposed Rs. 1 million-per-family housing assistance across GN divisions is adequate. He also raised concern over Colombo Port competitiveness in light of the West Container Terminal arrangement with Adani and the development of Vizhinjam Port in India. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne NDF AI summary Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne urged the Government to create a continuing mechanism to implement Cabinet-approved national development projects, noting that land acquisitions under the Land Acquisition Act are often delayed by court cases and administrative inaction, with funds such as the Rs. 678 million allocated for Gampola urban development largely returning to the Treasury. He asked that officials be empowered to proceed with essential urban development works and requested reconsideration of a UDA decision so land in Kandy can be provided to new lawyers for chambers at acquisition cost rather than market value. He also highlighted gaps in pipe-borne water supply in Kandy and Gampola, called for protection of lands acquired for water projects, and proposed reviewing essential water schemes through a committee and exploring new models, including private-sector participation and a basin-based approach. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody supported the 2025 Citizens’ Budget, arguing that it lays the foundation for recovery after the economic crisis and contrasting it with past fiscal mismanagement. He detailed allocations and plans under the Urban Development, Construction and Housing Ministry, including funding for Siyath Nagara, Anuradhapura and Jaffna development, urban regeneration housing, provincial master plans, and projects in Colombo, Homagama and Kolonnawa. He alleged past malpractice in urban development projects in Gampaha, including misuse of UDA land, underused buildings, and improper capture of public-purpose land, and said investigations would proceed while inviting voluntary return of such lands. He called for structured, needs-based urban planning to reduce rural–urban disparities and ensure transparent use of public funds. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Dilip Wedaarachchi raised housing, infrastructure, and transport issues in Hambantota District during debate on the relevant expenditure heads. He requested a separate review and completion of stalled “Udagam” housing projects begun in 2015–2019, including provision of water and electricity, highlighting the Agrapahara scheme where most houses remain unoccupied due to lack of water. He also sought restoration of key railway services from Beliatta, including the Ruhunu Kumari and Beliatta–Kandy express, and urged completion of several unfinished bridge projects affecting local transport and agriculture. He further asked that the closed Tangalle building materials supply unit of the National Housing Development Authority be reopened. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised the issue of recurrent flash flooding in Akurana, citing repeated major floods and attributing them to tributary overflow, riverbank encroachments, loss of flood plains, impervious surfaces, and waste dumping. He requested the allocation of Rs. 22 million to the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation for a seven-month feasibility study and urged the Urban Development Authority to enforce laws against illegal constructions along river margins. He tabled engineering recommendations, a flooding dossier, and related correspondence, and proposed that relevant engineers, local research, and Peradeniya University studies be used to develop a structured mitigation plan. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran raised transport, bridge, housing, and land title issues affecting Ampara District. He requested urgent rehabilitation of Kittangi Bridge and the inclusion of several other bridges in the government bridge rehabilitation programme, citing isolation of residents, student transport difficulties, and economic impacts. He also sought housing, roads, and basic infrastructure for resettled and landless families in Pottuvil–Kanagar Village. Additionally, he called for title deeds, ownership deeds, sewerage facilities, and completion of pending housing schemes in Kalmunai, Tambiluvil, Aalayadivembu, Aligambai, and Thandiyadi. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar moved the customary Rs. 10 cut under the relevant expenditure heads and focused on the construction, housing, urban development and ports sectors. He argued that the construction industry is in crisis due to high interest rates, raw material costs, currency pressures and heavy taxation, and called for tax rationalization, public-private housing models, smart city planning, and pilot projects outside the Western Province. He welcomed committee action on flood control in Kolonnawa and Colombo drainage, while urging coordinated implementation. He also asked the Government to regularize title deeds for relocated urban apartment residents, waive unfair penal interest, improve maintenance or allow resident management, and sought progress on the East Container Terminal. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary The answer provided figures on Land Reform Commission lands and other State lands in the Haputale and Haldummulla Divisional Secretariats, with detailed breakdowns by Grama Niladhari Division and allocation basis placed in the Library as annexes. It stated that LRC lands total 634.3690 hectares in Haputale and 2,755.2279 hectares in Haldummulla, with specified extents granted for housing and on lease. It also recorded approximately 545.2 hectares of non-LRC State land in Haputale, about 84.480 hectares identified as agricultural land there, and 42.377 hectares under cultivation, while further Haldummulla details were provided in the annexed material. Oral Question: Haputale and Haldummulla DS Divisions (Q.253/2024) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe (on behalf of the Hon. Ravindra Bandara) JJB AI summary On behalf of the Hon. Ravindra Bandara, the Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for detailed information on LRC and other State lands in the Haputale and Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat Divisions. The question sought extents by Grama Niladhari Division, details of lands granted to third parties including recipients, locations and basis of grant, and data on identified and currently cultivated agricultural lands, with reasons requested if the information could not be provided. Oral Question: Haputale and Haldummulla DS Divisions (Q.253/2024) Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam paid tribute to the late M.P. Sivanesan and two Tamil media figures, then raised health-sector concerns in the Northern Province during the Health and Mass Media debate. He urged immediate action on Jaffna Teaching Hospital’s cadre approvals, infrastructure needs, and especially a new maternity unit, citing severe overcrowding and unsafe conditions, and requested the return or allocation of identified lands for the hospital’s expansion as a future national hospital. He also called for administrative restructuring and a dedicated allocation for the Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital, including a CT scanner, and asked that dispenser cadre shortages be addressed by converting positions to pharmacists where qualified pharmacists are available. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 The Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan urged the Health Ministry to upgrade hospitals in Nuwara Eliya District, particularly Dickoya, Maskeliya and Nuwara Eliya General Hospital, citing unchanged cadres, inadequate facilities, ambulance shortages and pressure from accidents and Sri Pada pilgrims. He called for estate hospitals to be brought under Government control and integrated into the national health system, with qualified medical staff appointed, and highlighted plantation health problems linked to line-room housing, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water and transport barriers. He also proposed coordinated action across relevant ministries, resumption of nutrition support such as Triposha, provision of restrooms for estate workers, and Government assistance for Tamil journalists facing welfare and housing difficulties. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana suggested that land held by the Air Force near the hospital in the 6/626 area may exceed its requirements. He asked the Minister to consider allocating part of that land for the hospital’s development. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised questions under Standing Order 27(2) regarding the construction of the “Tissa Rajamaha Viharaya” on privately owned land in Thyiddy, Valikamam North, Jaffna. He asked whether the Government had acquired the land under the Land Acquisition Act, sought details of any Gazette notification and stated public purpose, and questioned the legality of using acquired land for a different purpose. He requested the Government’s response on returning the land to the owners who have been protesting for its release. Private Notice Question: Construction of Tissa Rajamaha Viharaya on Private Land in Thyiddy Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman raised concerns about estate communities affected by fires, citing the Shannon Estate incident where 26 houses burned and over 100 people were displaced, and asked the Government to classify such cases as disaster-affected and prevent exclusion by estate managers in housing or land allocation. He warned that plantation companies are using revenue-sharing arrangements to deny workers daily wages, EPF/ETF contributions, and other protections, and called for government intervention to ensure fair wages and social security. He also said estate workers are being excluded from Aswesuma benefits due to registration criteria, highlighted poor health access and rising poverty in the hill country, and urged correction of delimitation and Grama Niladhari boundaries so public services can reach plantation communities properly. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary Clarified that compensation matters fall under the National Water Supply and Drainage Board rather than the Department of Irrigation, and suggested inquiries be directed to the NWSDB. Proposed convening a joint discussion with all relevant parties to resolve the issue. Oral Question: Nilwala River Salinity Barrier - Farmer Compensation (Q.5/2025) Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister answered questions regarding the Polonnaruwa Public Commercial Complex, stating that 57 shops exist and 52 are occupied. He tabled an annex on decisions from a 24 September 2019 meeting on long-term leasing, including advertising for investment proposals, forming an evaluation committee, and obtaining Municipal Council and Governor approvals. He said the decisions are being implemented, and that six shops with rental arrears were sealed in February 2024, tenancy termination notices have been issued under Section 266 of the Municipal Councils Ordinance, and legal action is being initiated to recover arrears. Oral Question: Shops Leased Out in Polonnaruwa City Center (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary Authority over the matter rests with the District Secretary, and title deeds for NHDA housing projects can only be issued after beneficiaries complete the required payments, which may take up to 30 years. The Minister stated that many deeds are currently being processed, but in the specific case raised, neither the NHDA nor the Ministry can intervene, and recommended that it be discussed and decided at the District Development Committee. Oral Question: Cey-Nor Housing Scheme, Batticaloa (Q.2/2025) Read →