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- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Jagath Vithana opposed the regulation under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, arguing that sharply increasing taxes on electric vehicles undermines the shift to environment-friendly transport and may reduce demand rather than raise revenue. He proposed alternative revenue and industry-support measures, including temporarily suspending sugar imports to sell Kantale Sugar Factory stocks and importing copra or raw nuts instead of coconut oil to support local mills. He also called for EV charging points at fuel stations and urged practical policymaking in transport, referencing the recent fatal bus accident and rejecting proposals to require passengers to change buses mid-route as impractical. Debate: Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act - Electric Vehicle Tax Revision (Continued) Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara raised a privilege and security concern, stating that he had informed the Speaker in writing and by phone about a threat against him following an incident reported in the media. He questioned why the Minister in charge of Police had referred to other death threats but not his case, and asked how Members could trust that an impartial investigation and adequate protection would follow. He urged the Speaker, as the protector of Members of Parliament, to take special and proactive action on the matter. Points of Order and Privilege Matter: Death Threats to Hon. Rohana Bandara Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara raised a question of privilege, stating that he received an anonymous letter threatening his life if he worked to help the Samagi Jana Balawegaya gain control of the Medawachchiya and Kebithigollewa Pradeshiya Sabhas or criticized the Government. He said he had lodged a complaint with the Anuradhapura Police and argued that the threats infringed his freedom of speech, representative functions, personal security, and democratic rights. He requested that the matter be investigated, appropriate action taken, and referred to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges. Points of Order and Privilege Matter: Death Threats to Hon. Rohana Bandara Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka rejected suggestions that Opposition Members were raising the issue for political theatrics, stressing that 79 shooting incidents and 52 deaths had occurred. He highlighted public killings and threats against MPs as serious security concerns requiring attention. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Raised concerns about national security and the safety of Opposition Members, noting that murders and other incidents were occurring in various places. He called for serious attention to be given to these security issues. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake rejected the implication that only the Opposition represents the public, stating that the Government also represents Sri Lanka’s 22 million people. He defended the Public Security Minister’s detailed response, acknowledged existing challenges, and said plans had been presented to address them while continuing to protect the public. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa challenged the Minister of Public Security’s claim that recent violence is not unusual, stating that 52 deaths in eight months is higher than comparable periods. He said Opposition MPs, including Hon. Rohana Bandara in relation to local body control in Kebitigollewa and Medawachchiya, face threats and political intimidation despite the matter being raised with the President and the Speaker. Raising the issue under Standing Order 27(2), he demanded a substantive Government response on public security and the right to life of all citizens. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that recent violence is linked to internal clashes among organized criminal gangs and drug trafficking, but said the Government does not consider it a threat to the State or national security. He outlined enforcement actions including arrests in 32 concluded incidents, seizure of weapons and vehicles, Red Notice requests for overseas traffickers, repatriation of 11 suspects, and airport arrests using facial recognition. He also described measures against drug smuggling and gang operations, including scanners at ports, limits on SIM ownership, financial controls, prison phone disruption, rehabilitation programmes, and school awareness initiatives. Referring to threats against public officials, he said complaints are under investigation, including an alleged assassination contract involving “Kanjipani Imran” and an inmate at Boossa Prison. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister said recent shootings were inter-gang underworld incidents linked to long-standing organized crime, political interference, military deserters, and leakage of weapons from some military camps, with investigations ongoing and implicated politicians to be named after police inquiries. He reported that about 3,000 military deserters, 2,106 suspects, and 1,278 firearms had been taken into custody or seized, and that 52 high-crime police divisions were being targeted by 15 special task teams. He outlined measures including island-wide raids and patrols, inter-agency task forces, intelligence and database upgrades, prison monitoring, maritime and airport controls, INTERPOL action, officer incentives, and coordination with the Attorney General to expedite prosecutions. Planned steps include new laws against organized crime, repatriation of overseas drug network leaders, reducing the domestic drug market, establishing a forensic laboratory, and further upgrading airport surveillance. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised a Standing Order 27(2) question alleging that the Government’s measures to prevent shootings, killings, threats, and gang-related violence are inadequate, citing 79 shootings and 28 deaths over eight months. He asked the Government to present a specific plan to address the violence, clarify its implications for national security, tourism, and investment, and outline alternatives to current anti-crime efforts. He also sought updates on action taken over death threats and attacks involving MPs, public officials, provincial politicians, and attorneys, and called for measures by the Minister of Public Security and the Speaker to ensure the safety of citizens and elected representatives. Standing Order 27(2) Matter: Public Security and Gang Violence; Special Statement on Tamil Genocide Memorial Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Most Mahaweli reservations have already been gazetted, but many Irrigation Department reservoir reservations remain ungazetted due to legal ambiguities that are being addressed. The Minister stated that authorities intend to identify and act against occupations or cultivation within reservations, including houses, hotels, swimming pools, and large-scale cultivations allegedly linked to politicians or proxies. He affirmed readiness to investigate such encroachments and protect reservoir reservations under the relevant legal framework. Oral Questions: Irrigation Reservoirs and Land Settlement (Q.578/2025 and Q.3519/2025) Read →
- 20 May 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister provided data on passport issuance, stating that about 3,000 applications are received daily and 246,714 passports were issued between 1 January and 16 May 2025. He said around 4,000 passports are issued per day across one-day, regular, foreign mission, emergency, and backlog-clearing categories. He stated that one-day service applications are processed within a few hours, passport validity is not extended, and a 24-hour one-day passport service has been implemented from 18 February 2025. Oral Questions: Question Nos. 1-6 Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said the Government is strengthening intelligence gathering through regional intelligence units, the State Intelligence Service, military intelligence, and new District and Divisional-level Public Security Committees. He said these community-based mechanisms are intended to improve public cooperation, support a community-friendly police service, and help address narcotics trafficking and organized underworld crime. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara thanked the Minister for the response but stressed the need for stronger intelligence-led policing, citing unresolved cases involving fugitives such as Ishara Sewwandi. He questioned whether steps had been taken to enable pre-emptive action against shootings and related crimes rather than police responding only after incidents occur. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala stated that the Government is implementing a planned operation to suppress underworld activity and drug trafficking, which he described as interconnected and previously enabled by political patronage. He reported 79 shootings between 21 September 2024 and 7 May 2025, resulting in 52 deaths and 35 injuries, with 260 suspects arrested, while declining to disclose details of suspects still at large due to ongoing investigations. He outlined measures including intensified patrols, intelligence and data systems, prison and airport monitoring, international cooperation, naval interdictions, and action against police personnel involved in crime. He also announced forthcoming steps such as new organized crime legislation, forensic laboratories, expanded surveillance and analytics capacity, a Central Criminal Investigation Unit, and provincial Criminal Divisions to be implemented shortly. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concern over the increase in shootings, killings, narcotics trafficking and underworld activity, particularly in the Western and Southern Provinces, arguing that public security has deteriorated despite government promises to restore the rule of law. He alleged that some police and prison officials may be compromised while officers who act against criminal networks are threatened, and urged the Government to take joint and effective action. He also questioned the propriety of appointing sitting Supreme Court judges to executive or legislative-related committees, citing concerns over natural justice and separation of powers. He requested detailed information on shootings since September 2024, related deaths and injuries, arrests, suspects at large, and measures being taken to suppress underworld violence. Adjournment Debate: Law and Order and Crime Prevention Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj supported the Motion on improving public transport, arguing that estate communities in the plantation highlands have faced inadequate transport links for decades despite the establishment and restructuring of national transport bodies. He cited continuing difficulties for workers and students in Badulla District, including the unresolved aftermath of a serious SLTB accident on the Poonagala–Bandarawela route. He said past governments failed to use available mechanisms, including under the 13th Amendment, to improve inter-provincial transport, and endorsed the current Government’s plan to strengthen public transport with modern buses and better estate-to-town connectivity. Private Members' Motion (P.37/2025): Public Transport Standards and Bus Specifications Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Ravindra Bandara AI summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara moved a Motion urging the Government to legislate that future bus imports for both SLTB and private operators must be purpose-built for passenger transport, comfortable, and compliant with public transport standards, rather than bodies built on lorry chassis. He argued that current buses cause safety, comfort, maintenance, environmental and service-quality problems, particularly on long-distance routes, while noting that import policy should also account for rural and estate road conditions through suitable vehicle sizes. He linked the proposal to the Government’s policy vision and the Clean Sri Lanka programme, and raised concerns about competition between SLTB and private buses, private bus associations’ influence, passenger inconvenience, tourist impressions, and inappropriate practices such as loud music in buses. Private Members' Motion (P.37/2025): Public Transport Standards and Bus Specifications Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam supported the Private Member’s Motion calling for action to implement Audit Report recommendations, arguing that non-implementation of official recommendations and even constitutional provisions reflects a broader failure in public administration. He linked this to the Government’s unfulfilled pledge to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, noting that it continues to be used despite being described by Government leaders as draconian. He specifically requested action on the cases of detainees S. Kirupakaran and Aravinthan Ananthavarman, including Kirupakaran’s transfer request and Ananthavarman’s prolonged detention and ill health. Private Members' Motion (P.19/2024): Course of Action for Implementing Audit Recommendations Read →
- 9 May 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan rejected a statement attributed to Hon. Bimal Rathnayake alleging that ITAK won local elections by distributing liquor and money. He said ITAK has historically opposed such practices and stood for the identity, existence and dignity of the Tamil people, while urging responsible conduct in matters affecting inter-ethnic harmony. Private Members' Motion (P.2/2024): Curtailing Privileges of MPs and Former Heads of State Read →