Topic
Law & Order
1,620 speeches · 292 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. Ananda Wijepala, M.P. JJB | 137 |
| 2 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 57 |
| 3 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 55 |
| 4 | Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney at Law, M.P. JJB | 46 |
| 5 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 45 |
| 6 | Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P. JJB | 43 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 37 |
| 8 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 36 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 32 |
| 10 | Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney at Law, M.P. SLPP | 30 |
Speeches
1,620 on this topic- 5 June 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper raised concerns about organized sea-borne gangs targeting fishermen in the Eastern Province, particularly around Kalmunai, Kattankudy, Valachchenai and Batticaloa, through robbery, destruction of fishing gear and intimidation. He said decisions taken at the Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee in May 2023 to limit fish-landing sites and cap engine power at 25 hp had not been implemented, and questioned who was obstructing enforcement. He requested urgent action by the Ministry of Defence, including Navy patrols, a special Navy coordinator for the Eastern coast, implementation of the DCC decisions, and firm action against organized offenders. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Criminal Activities Affecting Livelihood of Fishermen of Ampara and Batticaloa Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena defended the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill as a timely response to rising road deaths and recent public concern following the Giriulla bus tragedy. He said the Bill would expand NTC authority from only inter-provincial private buses to all public service buses, school transport, office transport, and public-use three-wheelers, applying safety inspection standards, fare regulation, permit controls, training powers, and stronger penalties nationwide. He also outlined planned reforms including card payments to reduce revenue leakage, GPS-based unified timetables, online booking, CCTV monitoring, driver drowsiness detection, and a national public transport data repository. He additionally challenged an earlier Member’s allegations linking containers, terrorism, foreign travel, and arms, asking that they be repeated outside Parliament or expunged. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake supported the amendment to the National Transport Commission Act, noting that the 1991 law has not been significantly modernized despite major changes in passenger transport. He argued that regulation should cover buses, railways, three-wheelers, ferries, school transport and pedestrian safety, citing recent fatal crashes, unsafe ferry services in the North, overloaded vehicles and unsafe vehicle modifications. He called for stronger safety oversight and the integration of technology across transport systems, stating that the amendment is timely. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. K. Ilankumaran JJB AI summary Hon. K. Ilankumaran responded to references made to him by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, rejecting allegations of inaction or self-interest. He stated that a committee of local shop owners and residents had been formed to improve the Jaffna bus stand area, including painting, cleaning, and installing CCTV cameras. He also criticized public claims made on YouTube and defended his work as focused on delivering for the Tamil people. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB AI summary Hon. Dewananda Suraweera supported the amendment to the transport law after 30 years, arguing it is needed to restore discipline and safety in a disordered passenger transport sector. He said the Bill extends regulation beyond buses to school transport, office transport and three-wheelers under a unified framework to protect the public and improve standards. He emphasized that regulation would bring dignity, order and social protection to three-wheeler drivers while addressing crime and misconduct by a minority in the sector. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill but urged action on congestion and poor conditions at the old Jaffna bus stand, noting its proximity to the Teaching Hospital, alleged drug use, and the underuse of the new long-distance bus terminal. He questioned why Jaffna had not relocated services to the new terminal as Vavuniya had done, and called for integrated timetables and better regulation of SLTB and private buses to address dangerous racing and accidents. He also referred to past allegations he had made and legal consequences he was prepared to face, while calling for sincerity, unity, and truth and justice for all those who died in the conflict. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi supported amendments to the National Transport Commission Act, arguing that Sri Lanka’s bus system has developed through repeated institutional changes without a sustained, scientific approach, resulting in inefficiency, unsafe competition, harassment, and poor service. Referring to the recent Gerandi Ella bus tragedy in Nuwara Eliya District, he cited police findings on road conditions, overcrowding, driver fatigue, and inadequate safety controls as evidence for reform. He proposed stronger vehicle inspections, mandatory driver rest and duty schedules, technological fleet and driver monitoring, reduced competition among buses, proper bus chassis standards, modern fleet replacement and maintenance, and relief drivers for long-distance hill-country routes. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Supported the Bill amending the National Transport Commission Act, noting that it expands the Commission’s remit to school, three-wheeler, office and other transport modes, and urged that the new regulatory powers be actively used. He requested development of Jaffna International Airport and revival of Vavuniya domestic aviation, as well as restarting a Mannar–India ferry service with port development for cargo. He highlighted road accident deaths and injuries as a major health and economic burden, called for improved school transport in the Vanni, and proposed annual roadworthiness and emissions certification for all public transport vehicles. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill, arguing that public transport must be standardized, regulated, and made more consumer-oriented to improve safety, service quality, and passenger protection. He criticized attempts to obstruct the constitution of local authorities after the election, describing them as contrary to the public mandate, and said attacks on the Minister of Justice reflected the past conduct of former rulers. He welcomed the introduction of low-floor buses and called for accessible bus stands, terminals, and transport information for persons with disabilities, while also urging regulation of school transport and three-wheelers. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena stated that work on the integrated timetable for the Puttalam corridor has been completed and that implementation is expected soon, with plans to cover the five main corridors by the end of the year. He said related RDA work and inspections of rest facilities at bus halts are underway. He also noted that draft regulations under the Motor Traffic Act on driver drug use were submitted to the Legal Draftsman on 7 April 2025, and that the Eastern Province Chief Engineer appointment process is awaiting approval by the Prime Minister’s Secretary’s Sub-Committee before interviews are held. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Chanaka Madugoda supported the objectives of the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill while proposing a national integrated bus timetable and route plan, drawing on the Southern Province model, along with GPS/CCTV-based monitoring and a pilot card-payment system in that province. He urged incentives for SLTB and private operators to maintain services on low-revenue routes, especially morning and night services, and called for relief for bus owners, school van operators, and three-wheeler operators affected by fuel and spare parts costs. He also criticized the Government for not adequately answering questions on agreements with India, power-sector issues, the monkey sterilization programme, and container matters, and called on the Minister of Justice to focus on expediting court cases, particularly land cases. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Transport reform should account for the current mixed system in which private buses, three-wheelers, school transport and app-based services supplement SLTB and rail, with private buses remaining essential given SLTB’s limited capacity and politically driven overstaffing. He urged urgent mechanisms to detect and prosecute drug-impaired driving, alongside existing drunk-driving enforcement, and supported removing dangerous vehicle modifications while warning against arbitrary or blanket crackdowns without stakeholder consultation. He also called for recognition of three-wheeler services, action on public discipline issues such as horn noise, and careful implementation of National Transport Commission reforms, while advising the Government to heed constructive Opposition proposals. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Shantha Pathma Kumara Subasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Shantha Pathma Kumara Subasingha supported amendments to the National Transport Commission Act, citing high road death and injury figures from 2020-2024 as evidence of a transport and road safety crisis. He said the reforms should be accompanied by infrastructure development, stronger enforcement, fleet modernization, worker training, and regulation of passenger facilities, including rest stops and protections for women, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and clergy. He outlined government plans to resume expressway and railway projects affecting Ratnapura, including the Ruwanpura Expressway and Kelani Valley line, with compensation allocations, and highlighted proposed penalties, licensing reforms, route permit transfer provisions, and a new airport-Colombo premium bus service. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported reforms to the National Transport Commission, stating that it had become too focused on permits and timetables rather than regulation, standards, and passenger welfare. He said the proposed framework would coordinate policy across buses, SLTB, rail, school and office transport, and three-wheelers, while addressing unsafe competition among buses through measures such as digital fare collection, GPS monitoring, driver and conductor training, and EPF/ETF coverage. He also referred to unresolved rail crossing safety issues and argued that the reforms seek lasting improvements for both passengers and transport workers. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka welcomed the amendments to the National Transport Commission Act, noting that they would extend regulation beyond inter-provincial buses to school transport, office transport, hired vehicles and three-wheelers. He highlighted major transport challenges including high household transport costs, rail staff shortages and delays, unsafe level crossings, road accidents, drunk driving, and the need for better driver training and enforcement. He urged rapid action to secure unprotected level crossings, improve long-distance bus rest-stop standards, strengthen student bus passes, regulate three-wheelers with better data, and ensure bus fares decrease when fuel prices fall. He also supported reforms allowing route permits to be transferred when buses are sold, while noting political overstaffing in the SLTB. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana) SJB AI summary A question was raised to the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs regarding Azad Maulana’s statement to Channel 4 on the Easter Sunday attacks. It asked for the date of the statement, whether the Minister was aware of the public discussion that followed, and what measures would be taken to bring Maulana to Sri Lanka to record further statements. Oral Questions: Azad Maulana Easter Attacks Statement and Government School Constructions in Monaragala (Tabled Answers) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahman raised concerns about Police protection being provided to alleged unauthorized Israeli/Jewish cultural centres, including a location in Colombo 7, despite the removal of STF security. He argued that providing security could amount to legitimizing such centres and, citing the Palestine parliamentary friendship context, urged the State either to recognize them legally or withdraw protection. He asked how long it would take to close the centres or enforce the law against them. Oral Question: Israeli Religious and Cultural Centres Established in Sri Lanka (Q.632/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahman questioned why action had not been taken against two allegedly unregistered Chabad centres operating in Colombo 7 and Dehiwala, despite the Prime Minister previously acknowledging in December that they were not legal or registered. He noted that both premises continue to receive Police and STF security and asked the Minister to explain the lack of action after seven months. Oral Question: Israeli Religious and Cultural Centres Established in Sri Lanka (Q.632/2025) Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. Najith Indika (Medical Practitioner) JJB AI summary Najith Indika supported the adoption of Regulations under the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, placing them alongside the Proceeds of Crime Recovery law and amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure as part of the Government’s anti-corruption programme. He argued that corruption had been normalised in politics, said the current administration was pursuing cases through proper institutional and legal processes rather than political pressure, and cited recent prosecutions and past public anti-corruption efforts by NPP figures. He also referred to the NPP’s local government election results and accused sections of the Opposition of spreading false claims and failing to accept the Government’s mandate. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Read →
- 4 June 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala stated that allegations regarding 323 containers are already under investigation following a citizen’s complaint to the CID. He said the Fort Magistrate had ordered a broad inquiry and directed media institutions to submit unedited video footage, arguing that claims that no action is being taken are false. Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations Read →