Topic
Religion & Culture
430 speeches · 124 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.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, M.P. JJB | 60 |
| 2 | Hon. Muneer Mulaffer, M.P. JJB | 17 |
| 3 | Hon. K. Kader Masthan, M.P. SLLP | 14 |
| 4 | Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 14 |
| 5 | Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe, M.P. SLMC | 13 |
| 6 | Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, M.P. SLMC | 13 |
| 7 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 12 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 10 |
| 9 | Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake, M.P. JJB | 10 |
| 10 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 9 |
Speeches
430 on this topic- 19 December 2025 The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake AI summary Anura Kumara Dissanayake said information had been received on nearly 1,000 rehabilitation needs and that plans were prepared to address them, including temples and other religious sites with the involvement of relevant donor boards. He proposed mobilizing support from the Government, Opposition, citizens, local benefactors, and Sri Lankans overseas by allocating projects to different donor groups. He requested Parliament to approve the Supplementary Estimate of Rs. 500 billion to support the programme anticipated in the Appropriation Bill. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Read →
- 19 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs stated that the ministry currently has information on approximately 1,000 religious places. No further policy proposal or request was made in the excerpt provided. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Read →
- 19 December 2025 The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake AI summary Anura Kumara Dissanayake outlined government measures to restore infrastructure damaged by recent events, including temporary bridges installed by the Army and RDA and plans to make road repairs permanent, with RDA estimating Rs. 190 billion needed. He said assessments and allocations are being prepared for railways, irrigation systems, and seasonal cultivation needs, with priority repairs planned before the Yala and next Maha seasons. He also described a structured aid framework through the National Physical Planning Department to match donor contributions to specific projects such as schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges, and noted that a Rs. 25,000 cleaning allowance had been released for 861 identified religious sites. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Read →
- 19 December 2025 The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Supplementary Allocation for disaster relief, emphasizing the role of temples, monks, other religious clergy, public officials, the tri-forces, volunteers, and organizations in the initial response. He said the Ministry had identified 1,087 affected religious sites, archaeological sites, and cultural centres, deployed teams to verify needs, and established a rebuilding fund that had raised over Rs. 300 million. He rejected Opposition allegations regarding political interference in Matale and inefficiency by officials, citing a reported 92.88% disbursement of the Rs. 25,000 grant and stating that the Government would continue relief and reconstruction efforts. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Read →
- 19 December 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi expressed condolences to those affected by Cyclone “Ditva” and the floods, including those killed or missing. He commended fishing communities from the South for using their own resources, including boats and equipment, to assist in rescue and relief efforts. He attributed the disaster to failures in righteous governance and neglect of the Buddha Sasana, proposing that the Maha Sangha be convened before the Sri Maha Bodhi to seek forgiveness and guide governance. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran urged the Government to provide prompt and adequate disaster relief and compensation to affected communities in Ampara District, including farmers, fishermen, daily wage earners, and livestock breeders who have lost livelihoods. He said relief such as the Rs. 25,000 household payment was not reaching all affected groups fairly and criticized officials for demanding photographic proof of flooding before granting assistance. He also called for urgent coastal protection works in Thirukkovil, Karaithivu, and Pottuvil to protect temples, homes, roads, gardens, and paddy lands from erosion. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir requested that relief supplies, including food items reportedly held in kachcheries, be distributed fairly and promptly before Christmas. He noted that many Catholics living along the coastal belt were facing hardship and said timely distribution before 25 December would assist those communities. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson urged that disaster-response funds be made readily usable by Divisional Secretariats, with clear authority for officers to procure urgent necessities without fear, and called for rapid restoration of electricity because it is needed to supply drinking water. He said the flood-affected Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya remained under severe inundation and criticized the lack of official contact with its Chief Incumbent. Referring to recurring floods in Polonnaruwa that have blocked both the Polonnaruwa–Colombo–Batticaloa road and the railway, he proposed constructing an elevated viaduct from Kaduruwela to Manampitiya to keep the route passable while allowing floodwater to flow underneath. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan corrected the Prime Minister’s account of Tamil historical periods, distinguishing the Sangam, Post-Sangam, Chola and Nayakar periods and noting that figures such as Kulakkottan, Pararajasekaran, Cankiliyan and Pandara Vanniyan form part of Tamil historical identity. He said lessons on Pandara Vanniyan and Cankiliyan that existed in earlier Tamil curricula had been removed, and requested that these elements of Tamil history be reinstated in the curriculum. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister answered a Standing Order 27(2) question by Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, stating that Tamil rulers and polities, including the Jaffna Kingdom, the Vanniyars and Sankili rulers, are included in the current and reformed History curriculum as part of Sri Lankan history rather than as a separate ethnic history. She outlined National Museums holdings and publications relating to Tamil history, including inscriptions, Hindu religious artefacts, Setu coins, palm-leaf manuscripts and scholarly works. She also stated that the reformed Art curriculum includes South Indian and wider Indian artistic traditions and their influence on Sri Lankan art, including Hindu iconography and sites such as the Polonnaruwa Siva Devalaya. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 3 December 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education about the inclusion of Tamil history in the school curriculum. He argued that the histories of Tamil rulers and figures such as Sankili, Pandara Vanniyan, Nallanaachiyar, Ellalan and Arumuga Navalar have been omitted or reduced in textbooks, particularly since the 1980s. He asked whether the Government would include these histories in History, Tamil and Art subjects, give separate recognition to Tamil history, and ensure the preservation of Tamil historical symbols, inscriptions and ola manuscripts. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim said education and higher education are central to national development and social discipline, noting that the Education Ministry has historically been difficult to manage. He argued that Sri Lanka’s cultural, religious and educational foundations helped limit the effects of recent political upheavals, but warned of rising indiscipline among school and university students, including challenges to teachers and principals, unrest in schools, defiance of university directives, and hazing. He urged that these trends be treated as serious social challenges requiring attention. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem raised concerns over the treatment of the Daftar Jailani Muslim place of worship in Balangoda, saying UDA and Archaeology Department interventions had affected devotees and presented an incomplete historical narrative. He urged the inclusion of Kandy’s underserved settlements in urban regeneration, faster development of the vacant Bogambara Prison site, and conservation of heritage buildings to improve tourism. He requested Rs. 23 million for an SLLDC feasibility study on flood mitigation in Akurana, revival of CRIP-related flood control proposals in Kalmunai and wider drainage studies in Ampara. He also called for prioritising the Heda Oya Reservoir, improving Pottuvil bus facilities and Colombo–Pottuvil transport, and addressing land allocation issues at Mahakanda involving the University of Peradeniya. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to a sensitive issue raised by Hon. Srineshan, noting that similar site markings had occurred in Mannar and Jaffna and describing such places as part of national heritage. He suggested that local authorities should preserve and develop such sites for academic study and proposed convening an immediate discussion with the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Minister Ananda Wijepala to resolve any outstanding issues. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary K. Kader Masthan noted that he had raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) to the Prime Minister regarding the scheduling of the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination from 17 to 26 February, which coincides with the beginning of the holy fasting month. He stated that the question was raised due to this overlap and that no answer had yet been provided. Oral Question: Equal Educational Opportunities - Standing Order 27(2) (Q.6) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised concerns about equal access to education for disadvantaged students, particularly those in hardship-stricken and low-income areas who lack shoes and learning materials, arguing that such exclusions affect their mental well-being and rights. He asked whether benefits such as textbooks, uniforms and shoes could be provided equally to all students without categorization. He also questioned the scheduling of the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination during the Muslim fasting month and requested that future examination dates avoid this period to prevent adverse effects on Muslim students’ preparation and performance. Oral Question: Equal Educational Opportunities - Standing Order 27(2) (Q.6) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof asked whether the Government would take steps to designate Muslim national schools in the Trincomalee and Kantale Education Zones, noting that Trincomalee has a significant Muslim population but no Central Government Muslim national school in those zones. He cited the stalled previous pledge to create 1,000 national schools and said Zahira College in Trincomalee and some Muslim schools in Kantale meet the required criteria and perform well academically and in sports. Oral Question: Education Zones in Trincomalee District (Q.4) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen requested the Minister to review proposals from the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum regarding the SLBC Islamic Service, arguing that programme time has been reduced due to increased advertisements and should be restored and properly structured. He also urged action to reopen the closed Al-Qasimi City Hospital in Puttalam, established for displaced communities, noting that facilities remain available but no doctor has been appointed. He further asked that doctor shortages at Hidhaithnagar, Karambai, Kandakkuda, and Alankuda hospitals be addressed. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena — Minister of Science and Technology AI summary The Minister said health sector funding has been increased to Rs. 654 billion and that the Government aims to reach higher spending targets for health and education progressively. He defended the Rs. 6.8 billion allocation for indigenous medicine, stating that Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani services should be strengthened alongside overall health-sector expansion. He called for correcting disparities affecting Ayurvedic officers, improving regulation of practitioner registration, and integrating indigenous hospitals run by different authorities into a coordinated system. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →
- 22 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera defended the 19th Amendment and the Right to Information Act as key good governance reforms, arguing that they reduced opportunities for corruption by compelling disclosure in the State sector. He criticized the failure of several high offices, apart from the Prime Minister, to provide requested information on private staff, allowances, salaries and vehicles, and called on the Government to strengthen rather than undermine the RTI Commission. He also urged priority for upgrading the Panadura Base Hospital and requested the restoration of the Ayurvedic Shasthriya Examination to provide recognized qualifications for traditional practitioners. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Read →