Topic
Parliamentary Procedure
9,520 speeches · 1,565 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. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 955 |
| 2 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 548 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 403 |
| 4 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 403 |
| 5 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 359 |
| 6 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 333 |
| 7 | Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri, M.P. SJB | 286 |
| 8 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 257 |
| 9 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 210 |
| 10 | Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P. JJB | 179 |
Speeches
9,520 on this topic- 17 February 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary M. Nizam Kariapper stated that he had tabled four amendments to the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, which he said should be considered at Committee Stage and are consistent with Article 78 of the Constitution. He requested that the Minister in charge of Local Government, with the advice of the Attorney-General, incorporate the amendments. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper clarified the Opposition’s position on the Supreme Court Determination concerning the Local Authorities Elections legislation, arguing that the Court required a two-thirds majority not because Parliament contradicted a prior judgment, but because the Bill sought to apply youth nomination requirements retrospectively to nominations already accepted, creating an Article 12(1) issue. He stated that Act No. 30 of 2023 was prospective and alleged that the previous administration had used the youth candidate issue to obstruct the postponed local authorities elections. He also noted that if the Bill were certified that day with the agreement of Members, the earliest possible date for holding the elections would be around 11 April. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa supported holding the local authority election and said it should proceed. He claimed the Opposition’s united statements reflected concern about the outcome, asserting that the National People’s Power expected a strong victory. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna challenged the Government over the forthcoming local authority elections, asserting that his side would contest strongly and predicting the Government would not win. He framed the election as the test of that claim. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister argued that the Opposition was seeking to delay the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill process because it was unprepared to face local government elections, contrasting this with past postponements under previous administrations, including the 2015 Government and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He said the 2023 local government election had been obstructed despite nominations being called, particularly through the non-release of funds for election-related work such as postal ballot printing. He rejected Opposition claims that Budget sittings, nominations, or election deposits created practical difficulties, stating that committee representation and parliamentary attendance were matters for the Opposition to manage. He also criticized Opposition parties’ arguments about lack of funds for deposits, alleging inconsistency between their political and financial conduct. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara supported holding the long-delayed local government elections and said the Bill annulling previous nominations and calling fresh nominations should require a two-thirds majority. He criticized the current local government electoral system as distorted, arguing it weakens grassroots political advancement, creates unstable councils, and enables clientelism and internal conflicts. While welcoming women’s representation, he said implementation of quotas had sometimes sidelined active candidates and called for further amendments, noting many local government candidates would prefer a return to the old system. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration JJB AI summary The Minister argued that the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill is needed because the 2023 local government elections were unlawfully postponed, leaving communities without elected local representatives and prompting Supreme Court findings on violations of fundamental rights. He said the Bill would enable fresh nominations because the earlier nominations closed in January 2023 and new voters were added in 2024, thereby protecting both the right to vote and the right to contest. While acknowledging concerns about the size and structure of local authorities, he said such reforms should not delay elections and affirmed that the Government would hold the polls at the earliest date determined by the Election Commission. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister briefly proposed postponing the matter until after the election, indicating that the issue should be taken up later rather than during the current proceedings. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Dr. V.S. Radhakrishnan supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, stating that local authority elections must be held to restore bodies closest to the people. He recalled the subdivision of large Pradeshiya Sabhas in Nuwara Eliya District during the “good governance” period and argued that such changes improved service delivery, particularly in plantation areas. He suggested, on practical grounds, that the election be held after the Budget Debate and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and called for further subdivision of overpopulated Grama Niladhari divisions in Nuwara Eliya after the election. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi urged the Government to promptly restore the previous law with youth and women quotas, arguing that its strong public mandate enables swift action. He stated that enacting this reform would be a significant service to the country. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi argued that the issue before Parliament should be not only the timing of local government elections but also the defects of the current ward-based electoral system. He said the system creates practical problems for chairmen and members, weakens leadership development, and can produce unfair or unrepresentative outcomes through ward results and proportional lists. He urged the Government, given its two-thirds majority, to hold elections promptly while reforming the system by restoring the former proportional preference model with youth and women’s quotas and stronger campaign finance rules. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi moved that Hon. Prof. Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson left the Chair and Prof. Nanayakkara assumed it. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe urged support for the Special Provisions Bill to facilitate the holding of local government elections following the election of a new President and Government and a subsequent Supreme Court judgment. He argued that elected local authorities are necessary to implement the Government’s first Budget development and welfare proposals, and called on the Opposition to cooperate in completing the election process. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, arguing that local government elections must be held promptly to restore services handled by local authorities. He criticized the previous postponement of the 2023 elections, alleging that funds were withheld, the Election Commission was pressured, and attempts were made to challenge judicial intervention through Parliament. He said the Government is acting in line with the Supreme Court’s direction to hold the elections expeditiously, while addressing the technical issue of rejecting outdated nominations and allowing new candidates, including youth and women, to contest. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister argued that the postponement of the 2023 local authority elections undermined democracy and disrupted services delivered through local councils, particularly in plantation areas. He said reforms since 2018 had enabled local bodies to serve estate communities, including improving roads, water supply and opportunities for plantation women’s political participation, but these gains were denied by the delay. He rejected proposed reasons for further postponement, cited the Supreme Court decision, and urged that local elections be held immediately. He also briefly welcomed the Government’s maiden Budget, noting salary increases for teachers. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary G.G. Ponnambalam stated that the Opposition supports the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill but urged the Government and Election Commission not to call for nominations before 21 March, when the Budget Debate concludes. He argued that, as the sole MP and General Secretary of his party, he would be unable both to participate in the Budget Debate and to sign nomination papers across electorates, effectively limiting his parliamentary representation. He noted that the Bill allows up to three months to call nominations and requested only a short delay within that period, asking the Government and Opposition to jointly convey this practical concern to the Election Commission. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary The Minister supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, citing the court order requiring the local government elections to proceed and rejecting claims of legal or practical grounds for postponement. He argued that local authorities are essential to grassroots administration and daily public services, and that their dysfunction has harmed village-level governance. He criticized past delays to elections and referenced historical anti-democratic actions, including the 1981 District Development Council election violence and burning of the Jaffna Library, as warnings against undermining democratic rights. He stated that the Government would take necessary steps to hold the elections, strengthen democracy, and return responsibility to locally elected representatives. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 Hon. Attorney-at-Law Dayasiri Jayasekara AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara urged that pending electoral law amendments proposed by the Election Commission in 2021 be expedited rather than deferred to a new Constitution. He outlined practical gaps in local authority election law, including procedures for filling vacancies after death, resignation, rejection of nominations, or disqualification of group leaders, and unclear rules when women’s quota requirements are affected by rejected nominations. He also proposed increasing the women’s nomination quota from 10 to 20 percent, noted difficulties in implementing the 25 percent women’s representation requirement, and called for attention to youth representation. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara denied claims that the Opposition sought to postpone the Local Authorities election, arguing that Clause 3 of the Government’s Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill itself permits the Election Commission to call nominations within three months of the Act coming into force. He requested that election scheduling take account of the Budget Debate ending on 21 March, noting practical difficulties for smaller Opposition parties in campaigning while participating in parliamentary proceedings. He also urged the Government and Election Commission to ensure refunds of nomination deposits already paid by parties and independents, citing significant financial burdens and ongoing discussions with the Treasury. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Hon. Kaushalya Ariyarathne supported the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill while emphasizing that local government elections are central to popular sovereignty, decentralization, and citizens’ daily needs under the Constitution. She cited Supreme Court jurisprudence, including the 2023 decision on election postponement, to argue that delays to elections infringe fundamental rights and cannot be justified by exams, the Budget Debate, New Year, or economic difficulties. She acknowledged concerns about a level playing field, especially campaign finance barriers for women and youth, but argued that these require reform rather than postponement, and called for the election to be held swiftly. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →