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- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB AI summary Hon. Eranga Gunasekara defended the Government’s Budget allocation, stating that Rs. 300 million referred specifically to the “Sri Lankan Day” initiative and not to the broader programme for building a “prosperous country and beautiful life,” for which he said Rs. 8,835 billion had been allocated. He criticised the Opposition’s handling of the Easter Sunday attacks, narcotics issues, and passport delays under previous administrations, while asserting that the current Government is pursuing investigations without political interference. He also said passport issuance had improved through 24-hour operations, rising from about 1,200–2,500 to over 4,000 passports per day. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Continued (Afternoon) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Namal Rajapaksa argued that national security must be treated as inseparable from sustainable development, economic stability, energy security and institutional coordination, rather than as isolated incidents or partisan issues. He cited pre-Easter attack incidents, current armed gang activity, drug trafficking routes, and tensions between security institutions as examples of warning signs that require intelligence-led, coordinated responses. He urged the Government to address emerging threats over the next five years, including extremism, organized crime linked to narcotics and maritime trafficking, cyber security risks, and public unrest, and asked the responsible Minister to inform Parliament of the Government’s plans. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Continued (Afternoon) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka raised concerns about police staffing, working conditions, recruitment, and promotions, noting around 20,000 vacancies, prolonged acting leadership, long duty hours, unclear salary increments, and the need for careful background checks for new recruits. He urged measures to restore public trust amid allegations of police links to serious crimes, including improved job satisfaction, risk allowances, fair promotion pathways, and reinstatement of departmental competitive examinations. He also proposed expanding police hospital facilities, creating a one-stop service at Police Headquarters for pension and administrative matters, allowing serving lower-rank graduate officers to attend relevant interviews, and resolving allowance disparities affecting Parliament Police officers attached to the Ministerial Security Division. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala said the Government is undertaking a comprehensive salary review for the Police, including basic salary increases, allowances, and possible pathways for qualified lower-rank officers to sit for the ASP examination. He defended current policing and intelligence efforts, citing recent arrest timelines and firearm seizures, while arguing that organized crime and narcotics networks have long-standing political links from previous administrations. He stated that the NPP Government does not patronize gangs, that the Police Commission is functioning independently, and that new Defence Secretary orders require reassessment of firearms issued on threat grounds and action regarding deserters. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake challenged claims that the previous government had done nothing, citing Central Bank data on dollar and foreign reserves. He raised concerns that newly established police stations in Badulla District are operating in rented premises without proper buildings and requested Budget attention for constructing facilities. He also questioned the adequacy and purpose of the Rs. 300 million allocation for the “A Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” programme, arguing it was insufficient for the stated objective. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake argued that recent shootings and killings show public security is deteriorating and warned that international circulation of such incidents could harm the recovering tourism sector. He questioned the Government’s ability to curb underworld activity, citing the failure to locate Ishara Sewwandi, and urged the Minister of Public Security to ensure Police, CID and STF personnel receive proper allowances, stating that only part of the promised 40 per cent adjustment had been added to basic salaries. He also criticised the 2025 Budget narrative for omitting the 2022-2024 period under Ranil Wickremesinghe and raised concerns about declining foreign reserves and the future exchange rate. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala responded to allegations regarding the Pelawatta–Isurupaya protest incident, stating that although an intelligence officer was initially questioned and released, Police never reported to court that Army intelligence was involved. He said the actual suspect, a Development Officer from Matara, was later arrested and that investigations are complete with legal action underway. He further asserted that since the NPP took office, Police have been enabled to act independently and actively, rejecting claims that policing or national security has weakened. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said the Government has depoliticised the Police and public service, with appointments and transfers handled through independent commissions, and has instructed institutions under his Ministry to operate without political interference. He stated that stalled corruption and crime investigations have been restarted, the FCID re-established, and Police restructuring is under way, including a Central Criminal Investigation Unit and provincial investigation divisions. He cited recent seizures and arrests linked to narcotics, financial crimes, pyramid schemes, cybercrime and organised crime, and said CID sub-units and MOUs with institutions are being developed to speed up investigations. He also said Police salaries have not been reduced, allowances are being consolidated into basic salary, and a separate Police salary structure is planned for the next Budget. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that security for MPs became necessary due to past armed violence, including attacks attributed to the JVP such as killings of MPs and the bombing of Parliament, noting that MPs had not previously received police protection. He urged the Government to ensure national security, suppress underworld activity as in the 1971 and 1988–89 periods, and allow citizens to live freely. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara questioned the Government’s redeployment of MSD and VIP protection personnel, arguing they should be used more effectively against rising underworld crime and drug trafficking, and called for a special court and a concrete plan to dismantle identified gangs. He raised concerns about coordination between the Police and Army following the Isurupaya protest incident, the release of uninspected containers, and the adequacy of measures to curb drugs entering by sea and air. He also urged the Government to address worsening conditions for military personnel and veterans, including pay, food, morale, pensions, disability benefits, and access to medicines and facilities at military hospitals. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara raised concerns about the reduction of Police allowances for special election duties to ordinary service levels following the Presidential and General Elections. He urged the Government to allocate funds, including around Rs. 10 billion if necessary, to pay proper duty allowances and argued that maintaining Police morale is essential for combating crime and upholding law and order. He also called for better treatment of Police officers and an end to politicisation of the service. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara questioned reports that 160 OIC appointments would be made on political grounds, contrasting this with earlier interview-based appointments by senior police officials and urging that the Police Service be allowed to function independently. He asked what steps the Government would take to address a reported shortage of 20,000 police officers, noting that the Budget refers to broader public sector recruitment. He argued that the Budget reduces the special 40 percent police allowance to 22 percent, lowering take-home pay despite stated salary increases, and also said the special allowance for parliamentary staff had been reduced from one-third to one-fourth. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara criticized remarks by the Acting IGP and the President concerning the National Police Commission, arguing that such statements undermine the independence of institutions and democratic procedure. He questioned the Government’s commitment to institutional independence and cited recent police transfers, including 1,399 transfers and the reassignment of 52 OICs to general duties, as matters of concern. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara questioned the Government’s failure to identify or arrest those alleged to be responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks, arguing that it had used such allegations electorally but had taken no action after 158 days in power. He called for justice for Catholics and asked who was directing the current process, referring to the President, the security adviser, and Ananda Wijepala. He also raised concerns over a dispute between the National Police Commission, the President, and the Acting IGP, stressing that the Commission was established to ensure police independence and warning against politicisation or executive interference. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the Opposition and SJB would support laws and action to recover stolen assets and prosecute wrongdoing, but questioned the Government’s progress on its pledge to “catch thieves.” He asked why the Government had not negotiated with Singapore to bring back Arjuna Mahendran in relation to the Central Bank bond scam and requested an update on the special unit established for such investigations. He also raised concerns about stalled investigations into Lasantha Wickrematunge, Wasim Thajudeen, Prageeth Ekneligoda, Sivaram, Poddala Jayantha and the Easter Sunday attacks, demanding clarity on delays and justice for victims. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam raised concerns about the independence and effectiveness of the Human Rights Commission, citing unresolved complaints from 2023 relating to arrests of protesters, journalists and lawyers at Thaiyiddy despite court conditions permitting the protest. He argued that in the North and East, where he said police conduct is militarized and mistrusted, the Commission is a crucial domestic avenue for accountability and must be allowed to investigate and complete inquiries. He also criticized the Government’s transitional justice position, saying references to the OMP, reparations, ONUR and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission are inadequate without criminal investigations and prosecutions for wartime atrocities, and urged the President and Government to act differently if they are to sustain claims of “system change.” Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran said families of the forcibly disappeared continue to seek truth and justice during the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session, arguing that domestic institutions such as the OMP and ONUR have not delivered meaningful accountability. He called for international criminal justice over domestic or hybrid mechanisms, citing mass Tamil civilian deaths and continuing impunity from the final phase of the war. He also urged a new Constitution with devolution beyond the 13th Amendment, fair delimitation of local government wards affecting Tamil-speaking communities, and decisive action with severe penalties against crime, narcotics and underworld activity. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Ananda Wijepala clarified that recent police transfers and appointments have been carried out only with the approval of the National Police Commission. He stated that appointments, transfers, disciplinary control, and removals fall within the Commission’s constitutional remit, and affirmed that the Government would continue to work with the NPC in accordance with the law. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara commended the President’s reduced use of official privileges but raised concerns about national security, citing a recent courtroom shooting and questioning the roles of the police, prisons, and court processes. He called for a full accounting and recovery of illegal firearms remaining from the LTTE conflict, Tamil armed groups, the 1987–89 JVP insurrection, and anti-insurgent paramilitary groups, arguing that such weapons may now fuel underworld violence. He also referred to past security breaches in Parliament, questioned catering arrangements and food costs, urged approval of leave allowances for overworked parliamentary staff, and called for even-handed accountability in investigations involving parliamentary officials and others. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan urged the Government to identify specific individuals accused of wrongdoing rather than generalizing about former MPs, while acknowledging its electoral mandate and the Opposition’s role in making proposals. He raised concerns about alleged discrimination and police abuse against Tamil estate residents in the Southern Province, citing the arrest and alleged assault of a 76-year-old at Sirisily A Estate, and requested senior police officers be instructed to address such practices. He also sought clarification on the Government’s positions on Provincial Council elections, the 13th Amendment, estate housing policy, and whether estate families would receive seven or ten perches of land, linking these issues to devolution and a future constitutional settlement. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →