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- 25 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Prof. Anil Jayantha said the Government is working through a task force to meet financial derisking obligations, including exiting the FATF Grey List by mid-2026, and plans to introduce the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act and amend the Marketing Board Act. He defended the Budget’s Rs. 749 billion social protection allocation, including Aswesuma, as a targeted response to poverty affecting over half the population and as part of a broader effort to stabilize the economy. He outlined allocations for vulnerable children, drug rehabilitation, reintegration of former prisoners, support for persons with disabilities, and Rs. 37 billion for housing, while stating that the Budget does not impose new special taxes or increase VAT and instead focuses on reliefs and improved revenue collection. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the 2025 Budget, stating that it allocates resources equitably across regions and communities, with particular attention to long-standing housing, documentation, language, education, and welfare issues faced by Malaiyaha plantation communities. He said the Government plans to complete 700 pending Indian-funded houses and build 4,700 new estate houses this year, renovate 75 line-room clusters under “Clean Sri Lanka,” assist residents with civil documents, and provide individual houses based on need. He also referred to the proposed Rs. 1,700 daily wage for estate workers, nutrition measures for estate students, and efforts to address school dropouts and infrastructure shortages in estate schools, especially in Ratnapura District. The speech contrasted the current Government’s approach with past political neglect and alleged partisan practices in plantation areas. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan objected to references to the late Ranasinghe Premadasa and demands that his son apologise, calling such remarks inappropriate. He urged the Government to move beyond rhetoric and state concrete policies for hill country people, specifically asking for its land and housing plans, whether housing would be apartments or individual houses, and how much land would be allocated. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan said Ministers had highlighted salary increases for various groups but had neglected estate workers, whom he described as the lowest-income earners. He argued that the promised Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers would not be achieved through statements alone and proposed reforming the plantation system into a cooperative model in which workers become partners. He also rejected criticism of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s record on hill country communities and asked the Government to state its land and housing policy for estate workers, including the extent of land to be allocated and whether housing would be individual units or apartments. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan argued that the Government should acknowledge policy shifts such as support for the open economy and projects in Trincomalee and Hambantota without selectively blaming past governments. He scrutinized the Budget allocation for hill country plantation communities, stating that much of the cited Rs. 7,522 million comes from prior Indian Government commitments, with only about Rs. 3,422 million from Sri Lankan funds, and asked for clarification on promised technical training allocations. He urged hill country Government MPs to focus on forward-looking action rather than blaming past representatives, and highlighted earlier efforts by the Tamil Progressive Alliance to secure Indian-funded housing and create new Pradeshiya Sabhas in Nuwara Eliya. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister tabled a response confirming awareness of disaster-risk housing affecting estate families in Kegalle, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, including 22 families in Levant, 51 in Poonagala, 5 in Dabettanne, and 105 in Wedamulla Estate. He stated that these families have been living in such conditions for about 2–5 years and that housing is planned this year for 3,627 affected families under the Indian Housing Project, with Levant and Poonagala projects to be funded by the Government of Sri Lanka. Oral Question: Question No. 5 - 453/2025 (Plantation and Community Infrastructure) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilusha Lakmali Gamage (on behalf of the Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel) JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure whether the Government is aware of the natural and social hardships faced by people in hill-country estate areas. The question seeks separate figures for homeless individuals and families, the length of time they have lived in temporary housing, and the measures planned to provide permanent housing. Oral Question: Question No. 5 - 453/2025 (Plantation and Community Infrastructure) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary The Minister answered a parliamentary question on Pradeepa Halls and related land leases, stating that Government Chief Valuer assessments had not been obtained for the Modara and Maligawatta halls due to unresolved vesting and valuation processes, and that the halls were leased based on a Board decision rather than procurement. He also stated that a 109.71-perch land parcel at Maththegoda had been leased to the Venerable Muruttetuwe Ananda Thero Foundation for an annual ground rent of Rs. 453,000, based on a Government Chief Valuer assessment, to support community and religious activities. Oral Question: Question No. 4 - 449/2025 (Housing) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara JJB AI summary Padmasiri Bandara asked the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing whether two NHDA-owned Pradeepa Halls in Modara and Maligawatta had been leased for 30 years to politically connected persons, and whether proper Government Chief Valuer assessments and procurement procedures were followed. He also sought details on the alleged sale of 116 perches of NHDA land near the Buddhist Centre in the Maththegoda Housing Complex at Rs. 500,000 per perch, including recipients, intended use for housing, valuation status, and reasons if required procedures were not followed. Oral Question: Question No. 4 - 449/2025 (Housing) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Illegal encroachments on Forest Department lands have increased, contributing to forest loss and worsening the human-elephant conflict. The Government is taking legal action to repossess such lands, carry out reforestation, and identify and preserve elephant corridors as priority measures to reduce the conflict. Oral Question: Question No. 3 - 447/2025 (Forest Conservation) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera JJB AI summary Ruwan Wijeweera raised a supplementary question on encroachment of Forest Department lands in Monaragala and other areas, alleging that large tracts are being sold to outsiders and fenced with electric barriers. He asked what measures are being taken to prevent such encroachment and address its impact on elephant movement and the human-elephant conflict. Oral Question: Question No. 3 - 447/2025 (Forest Conservation) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera raised Question 447/2025 to the Minister of Environment, seeking year-by-year data from 2020 to 2024 on the extent of land under the Department of Forest Conservation and the reasons for any changes. He also asked the Minister to state the Department’s primary role and whether its lands may be used for common public purposes, and if not, to explain why. Oral Question: Question No. 3 - 447/2025 (Forest Conservation) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Asked the Minister what measures have been taken to address delays in issuing lease permits, noting that investors who waited 15 to 25 years face accumulated rent arrears, difficulty expanding production, and barriers to obtaining bank loans due to lack of lease documentation. Oral Question: Question No. 2 - 446/2025 (Industrial Zones) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that the Government expects to complete work on 182,370 houses during the year across urban housing, resettlement for conflict-affected families, ongoing housing in the Southern Province, and the estate sector. He added that 10,000 houses are planned in the estate sector, with 1,300 to be completed quickly. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera reiterated that the Rs. 4,000 million allocation must cover both unfinished housing projects and new construction. He argued that, under those constraints, only about 1,500 to 2,000 houses could realistically be built, and said further debate would not change that position. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that the Budget allocates Rs. 4,267 million for estate housing and infrastructure development, in response to concerns that the provision was insufficient. He stated that the allocation covers ongoing projects, completion of partially built houses from previous years, and new projects, with an expectation of completing 1,300 houses during the year. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Jeevan Thondaman clarified that 67 per cent of the State Ministry of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure’s allocation was funded by India, including a Rs. 3,000 million grant and Rs. 3,500 million under the Indian Housing Project, though channelled through the Sri Lankan Government. He argued that since estate workers contribute 12 per cent of income to the Government, the allocation returned to them through Government funds should be higher. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that 60 acres had been allocated for an industrial estate, with a further 10 acres adjoining it, of which 5 acres were legally released back to the family to enable cultivation. He offered to obtain and submit a detailed brief from the Land Reform Commission if further specifics were required, and noted the LRC Chairman’s appreciation of parliamentary questions as supporting oversight and operational improvements. Oral Questions: STaRR Project (Q.1/2025), KL-2 Project Kalutara (Q.2/2025), Lands - Elpitiya DS (Q.3/2025), Meegahakiula Bus Station (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera raised a second supplementary question regarding LRC lands in the Goluwamulla GN Division. He asked whether those lands had been allocated for government or industrial purposes and sought clarification on current activities there, including cinnamon cultivation and any subdivision or sale of the land. Oral Questions: STaRR Project (Q.1/2025), KL-2 Project Kalutara (Q.2/2025), Lands - Elpitiya DS (Q.3/2025), Meegahakiula Bus Station (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 22 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary In response regarding the Eramulla GN Division, it was stated that 10 acres had been lawfully released to Mrs. Durgadevi Aberathna on a family alternative/return basis after previously acquired land was regularized. The Deputy Minister said the family legally holds the land and that any subdivision of it falls within their legal rights. Oral Questions: STaRR Project (Q.1/2025), KL-2 Project Kalutara (Q.2/2025), Lands - Elpitiya DS (Q.3/2025), Meegahakiula Bus Station (Q.4/2025) Read →