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- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC NDF AI summary Hon. Faiszer Musthapha supported protecting lawful tenants but raised concerns that the Tenants’ Protection Bill could allow occupants who default on rent or remain after a lease breach to retain access to utilities and common facilities. He argued that the Bill lacks a clear definition of “lawful tenant,” may conflict with condominium management and utility payment arrangements, and could discourage property owners from renting units, particularly affecting retirees reliant on rental income. He noted that condominium sector stakeholders have challenged the Bill in the Supreme Court and urged substantial amendments before its Second Reading. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the Hill Country community’s loss of citizenship and franchise after independence had led to decades of exclusion in education, land, housing, wages and political representation. She argued that the National People’s Power Government had begun addressing these issues since 2024, citing increased representation of Hill Country women, progress on land and housing rights, salary issues, road development, an e-library, a mini-government service centre, and planned vocational training. She said further shortcomings remain but maintained that the Government has laid the foundation for integrating the Hill Country community into the national mainstream and ensuring a dignified life. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply JJB AI summary The Minister supported the three Bills before the House, stating that they form part of the Government’s broader programme to stabilize institutions, laws, and economic management, including establishing a statutory framework for real estate professionals. He said macroeconomic indicators, including foreign reserves of USD 6.8 billion after vehicle import expenditure, show stabilization, and defended procurement processes such as coal tenders as transparent and competitive. He also outlined the Government’s response to the recent cyclone, including housing assistance of Rs. 500,000 for fully damaged houses and up to Rs. 250,000 for partially damaged houses, noting that payments had begun for 136 fully damaged and 1,580 partially damaged houses while delays were due to verification and rebuilding requirements. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan supported the Bill establishing an association for real estate practitioners but called for amendments to address fraud by some operators who take clients’ money and abscond. He welcomed the agreed estate workers’ wage increase to Rs. 1,750, including Rs. 200 from the Government and Rs. 200 from plantation companies, but urged that it be fully implemented by 10 February without offsetting it through higher plucking targets. He also raised disputes at Coveril Estate under Horana Plantations, alleging work stoppages and dismissals without charge sheets, and requested ministerial intervention, while objecting to moves against naming hill-country institutions after Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman and asking for further development of a Nuwara Eliya memorial to fallen fighters. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB AI summary Hon. Eranga Gunasekara argued that the absence of clear regulation in the real estate sector has contributed to excessive increases in housing and land prices and enabled malpractice. He supported establishing the Institution of Real Estate Professionals of Sri Lanka as a regulatory and professional body to set standards, strengthen practitioners’ professionalism, and benefit the public. He urged Parliament to adopt the Bill. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said environmental agencies’ strict positions were understandable given past large-scale environmental destruction linked to political patronage and corrupt business, citing land clearing in Mannar, Marichchikaddi and the Madu forest. He commended Department of Wildlife Conservation officials while stating that the government would protect both the environment and affected people. He proposed discussions with the Environment Minister to find a solution. Oral Question: SLEAS Recruitment, Road Development, and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath stated that public land had been misallocated in some cases to political associates and that lease revenues from such projects had been neglected despite the public bearing indirect taxes. He said the Government is enforcing the law against defaulters, initiating recovery of arrears, and will take lawful action regarding a sub-lessee ordered to vacate in 2018 who has appealed. Oral Question: State Land in Alankalagala and X-Press Pearl Disaster (Q.7-9/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravindra Bandara AI summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara asked what steps would be taken to address unpaid lease arrears and protect State land at risk. He alleged a possible nexus between lessees and officials and urged either prompt recovery of arrears or repossession of the land. Oral Question: State Land in Alankalagala and X-Press Pearl Disaster (Q.7-9/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Information received by the Ministry indicates improper transactions involving state lands leased to intermediaries in nearly 20 districts. The Welimada Divisional Secretariat case in Badulla, raised by another Member, is described as apparently politically influenced and transferred to third parties, and the Ministry is considering urgent inquiries and legal action. Oral Question: State Land in Alankalagala and X-Press Pearl Disaster (Q.7-9/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravindra Bandara AI summary Asked what action has been or will be taken regarding the alleged irregular transfer of leased land to a third party without legal approval and the non-payment of lease dues by the original party. He framed the issue as actions taken contrary to law and sought accountability for those irregular acts. Oral Question: State Land in Alankalagala and X-Press Pearl Disaster (Q.7-9/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary On behalf of the Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister, Aravinda Senarath answered a question on a State land lease, stating that possession had been handed over in 2011 after ministerial approval and that later sublease or mortgage arrangements required the approval of the Land Commissioner General. He said the relevant party was Nalaka Rathnayake – Ambewela Wind Power (Pvt) Ltd., and that in a sublease the third party does not pay lease rent to the Government. He further stated that after SLBC’s lease was cancelled for non-payment, approval was given to mortgage the land to one of the subsequent lessees, and that lease arrears of Rs. 2,867,640 identified in 2025 had led to instructions to proceed under the State Lands Ordinance and cancel the lease. Oral Question: State Land in Alankalagala and X-Press Pearl Disaster (Q.7-9/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Bandara AI summary Hon. Ravi Bandara raised Question No. 8 (1430/2025) regarding the allocation of State land in the Alankalagala Grama Niladhari Division to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He sought clarification on the status and details of the land allocation, including the relevant administrative or policy basis for transferring or assigning the land to the SLBC. Oral Question: State Land in Alankalagala and X-Press Pearl Disaster (Q.7-9/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne acknowledged past irregularities and under-the-table dealings related to land matters, stating that the government is now regulating and correcting them. He said a new circular and departmental intervention have been introduced to balance necessary land-use changes with the need to prevent environmental damage from land filling. Oral Question: Paddy Lands Filling in Anuradhapura (Q.5/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary The Member raised concerns over alleged irregularities in permitting paddy land filling in Anuradhapura, noting that the matter had been repeatedly discussed at the District Coordinating Committee. He asked whether the existing approval process, involving local and district land use committees, had been stopped, changed, or bypassed through ad hoc interventions, and whether the Ministry had taken action to correct the situation. Oral Question: Paddy Lands Filling in Anuradhapura (Q.5/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Deputy Minister answered a question on approvals to fill or use paddy lands for other purposes in the Anuradhapura District. He stated that no such approvals were granted in 2024, while in 2025 approvals were issued under the Agrarian Development Act for five applications, including construction of business premises, covering a total of 33 perches. He said copies of the Commissioner General’s approval letters were tabled, and that the remaining part of the question was not applicable. Oral Question: Paddy Lands Filling in Anuradhapura (Q.5/2025) Read →
- 3 February 2026 Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir raised concerns over the Kivul Oya planned settlement project, arguing that forest protection policies appear inconsistent if forests are to be cleared to obtain water for the project. He also highlighted disruptions affecting the Mannar–Puttalam road, stating that the longstanding route from Colombo to Jaffna via Puttalam and Mannar is no longer passable for the public. Adjournment Debate: Muthurajawela Wetland Read →
- 3 February 2026 Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir supported the Adjournment Motion on protecting the Muthurajawela wetland but argued that conservation policies should be applied equitably across the country without ethnic discrimination. He said lands in the North and East formerly cultivated by Tamil and Muslim communities have been classified as forests, sacred lands, or wildlife areas after long periods of displacement, and called for such fallow lands to be reviewed and released for agriculture or other public needs. He also urged the Government to address unresolved Eastern Province issues, including the Saudi-funded prefabricated housing project, Vattamadu and Pottuvil land disputes, agricultural concerns, and drinking water shortages affecting about 5,000 families between Irakkakandi and Pulmoddai. Adjournment Debate: Muthurajawela Wetland Read →
- 3 February 2026 Hon. Asoka Supun Ranwala JJB AI summary Hon. Asoka Supun Ranwala urged that the wetland in question be restored and conserved through an approach compatible with environmental and economic development, so it can be preserved for future generations. He noted that an expert committee report from the Gampaha District has been forwarded by the District Secretary to the relevant Ministry, and requested necessary measures to ensure the wetland’s long-term protection. Adjournment Debate: Muthurajawela Wetland Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB AI summary Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala seconded the Adjournment Motion on Muthurajawela, emphasizing its national ecological importance as a wetland connected to the Kelani River, Attanagalu Oya and Dandugam Oya outfalls. He highlighted its role in water retention, biodiversity, coral and sand formation, and deep carbon storage, warning that commercial pressures threaten its conservation. He supported action by the Central Environmental Authority and forthcoming Environment Ministry legislation to strengthen long-term protection of the wetland for future generations. Adjournment Debate: Muthurajawela Wetland Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary The MP rejected Independence Day celebrations for Tamils, stating that the North and East would mark February 4 as a Black Day until a durable political solution to the national question is reached. He accused successive governments, including the present NPP Government, of continuing land seizures, settlement schemes, and failure to release Tamil political prisoners or repeal the PTA as promised. He specifically criticised the Kivul Oya and Mahaweli-related projects, alleging they divert land and water resources from Tamil areas to benefit majority-community farmers while obstructing rehabilitation of Tamil village tanks. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →