Topic
Security & Defence
869 speeches · 214 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. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera, M.P. JJB | 77 |
| 2 | Hon. Ananda Wijepala, M.P. JJB | 65 |
| 3 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 39 |
| 4 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 23 |
| 5 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 18 |
| 6 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 18 |
| 7 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 17 |
| 8 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 16 |
| 9 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 16 |
| 10 | Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam, M.P. ACTC | 15 |
Speeches
869 on this topic- 10 September 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Asked under Standing Order 27(2) why residents of 13 GN Divisions in Valikamam North, Jaffna, displaced since 1990 due to the Palaly camp, military presence and shelling, remain unable to return 15 years after the war. He said over 2,700 acres in areas including Vasavilan, Kattuvan, Myliddy and Palaly remain inaccessible, with families still living in camps or with relatives. He requested from the President and Minister of Defence figures on displaced families and land held as High Security Zones, reasons for continued non-release, actions taken during the past year, and a clear timeline or explanation regarding resettlement. Oral Questions: Jaffna Massacre (Q. 2-117/2024) and Displaced Persons in Valikamam North (Q. 3-1253/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Welcoming the Sri Lanka–UAE investment agreement, Dr. Hizbullah argued that Sri Lanka should improve investor facilitation, including considering 100 per cent foreign ownership in selected sectors such as tourism, agriculture and IT with appropriate safeguards, and pursue similar agreements with other Middle Eastern countries. He said UAE partnerships could benefit ports, aviation, investment and tourism. He also raised concerns about Israeli nationals’ conduct and enforcement issues in areas such as Pottuvil, including the reported opening of a Chabad House near a mosque, and urged Ministers supportive of Palestine to address local concerns for national safety. He welcomed the Cabinet-approved plan to build a Rs. 1,000 million jetty at Valaichchenai and thanked the Government on behalf of the Batticaloa fishing community. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (Continued) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB AI summary The member argued that agreements with economies such as the UAE support the Government’s efforts to stabilize the country and rebuild the economy, while criticizing the Opposition for raising unrelated issues during the debate. He highlighted the impact of narcotics on youth and said recent major drug seizures and arrests were revealing alleged political links, calling for investigations to proceed without premature party action. He also reported progress on reopening Parliament Grounds and the Pahalawatta grounds for public and youth sports use, noting conditional approval by the Parliament Security Council and related UDA approvals. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (Continued) Read →
- 9 September 2025 Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe alleged that information relating to criminal rackets, including claims about 80 politicians and undeclared assets, had previously been suppressed, and said those responsible would be exposed and brought before the law. He stated that the Government would not protect criminals and would take action to eradicate the narcotics trade. He also described the UAE-Sri Lanka agreement signed that day as important for investment, citing rising remittances, foreign direct investment, and national income as signs of economic progress. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera JJB AI summary Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera addressed difficulties faced by disabled service personnel in accessing medicines due to travel and cost burdens. He said the Army, Navy and Air Force commanders are attending to the matter, and that the Army Hospital has introduced coordination mechanisms, including SMS groups and links with nearby camps and Divisional Secretaries, to ensure timely delivery of medicines. Oral Question: Disabled Military Personnel - Reliefs/Allowances Provided (Q.1118/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga JJB AI summary Raised a supplementary question on difficulties faced by disabled war veterans receiving treatment at tri-forces hospitals when prescribed medicines are unavailable and must be locally purchased later. He asked whether arrangements could be made to send such medicines to the nearest tri-forces camp or police station for collection, avoiding an additional hospital visit. Oral Question: Disabled Military Personnel - Reliefs/Allowances Provided (Q.1118/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister detailed the benefits available to tri-forces personnel disabled due to terrorist and non-terrorist causes, including salary and allowances up to age 55, service and disability pensions, ex-gratia or lump-sum payments, permanent monthly allowances after age 55, and widow/dependent entitlements under Cabinet decisions, circulars, and the Armed Forces Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Scheme. He stated that the adequacy of these benefits cannot be determined definitively, but provided sample payment figures as of August 2025. He also said Cabinet approval is being pursued to extend salary and allowance benefits to certain dependents where death before retirement was not medically linked to the disabling incident, and to regularize benefits for disabled personnel absent without leave who were later discharged as services not required. Oral Question: Disabled Military Personnel - Reliefs/Allowances Provided (Q.1118/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 The Hon. Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga JJB AI summary Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga asked the Minister of Defence to detail the reliefs and allowances provided to disabled military personnel who are unable to remain in active service, and to their dependents after death either following medical retirement or while still in service. He questioned whether the current benefits are adequate and whether steps have been taken to increase them. He also sought clarification on whether personnel dismissed after failing to report for duty due to disability receive any relief, and if not, whether the Government accepts the need to provide such support and what action is being taken. Oral Question: Disabled Military Personnel - Reliefs/Allowances Provided (Q.1118/2025) Read →
- 9 September 2025 Mr. Speaker - The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne AI summary Mr. Speaker informed Parliament that, under the Public Security Ordinance, an Order had been made calling out members of the Armed Forces to maintain public order in specified areas, following a message from the President. He stated that the related Public Security Proclamation was being laid on the Table as required under Sections 2(3) and 21(2) of the Ordinance. Opening and Parliamentary Announcements Read →
- 9 September 2025 President - Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake AI summary Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake spoke in his capacity as President and as Minister of Defence, Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy, and Digital Economy. No substantive speech content or policy statement was provided to identify specific arguments, proposals, or questions. Opening and Parliamentary Announcements Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera said the Government’s human rights approach is linked to restoring the rule of law, democratic governance, anti-corruption and social justice, while maintaining national security as a basis for stability. He stated that security forces are being educated on human rights and that an independent investigation is proceeding into the 7 August incident at a camp in Muthiyankadu, with three soldiers arrested. He reported that over 75,000 of 85,486 acres of State and private land held by the military in the North and East since 2009 have been released, with further releases planned, while some land will remain for strategic security needs. He also listed several road and land releases in Jaffna, Pulmoddai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, including sites raised by Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala said the Government had stabilized key economic indicators while re-establishing rule of law, citing revived investigations into the Lasantha Wickrematunge, Keith Noyahr, Eknaligoda and Easter Sunday cases and stressing that officials and politicians are subject to the law. He said commemorations of war dead would be permitted without banned symbols or glorification of terrorism, and that measures were being prepared to facilitate the return of Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu. He announced plans to repeal the PTA by September and replace it with legislation meeting international standards, amend the Online Safety Act after consultations, and review NGO legislation with civil society input. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan criticised the Government for rejecting the hybrid accountability mechanism with international participation accepted at the UN Human Rights Council in 2015, arguing that victims cannot receive justice if alleged perpetrators control investigations. He raised concerns over mass graves and skeletal remains found in Ariyalai and Chemmany-Sindupathy, tabled letters to the President on military involvement in civil matters and mass graves, and condemned the alleged military killing of a young man in Muthaiyankaddu. He urged the Government to address the long-standing Tamil political question through dialogue, mutual recognition, and a clear plan, noting its past opposition to the Indo-Lanka Accord and the North-East merger. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara referred to a claim attributed to a Minister that India was behind the Easter Sunday attacks. He indicated he was making a brief concluding point on that matter, implying the need for clarification or accountability regarding the statement. Procedural Matters and Sittings of Parliament Read →
- 22 August 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Defence, Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera tabled a response stating that wages, training and recognition of private security agency employees are outside the Defence Ministry’s purview, with wages governed by Labour Commissioner regulations. He noted that private security agencies are registered under the Regulation of Private Security Agencies Act, No. 45 of 1999, and that a Defence Ministry-chaired committee with relevant institutions and industry representatives is further studying the sector. Oral Questions (Second Round and Standing Order 27(2) Questions) Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary K. Kader Masthan urged the Minister to ensure the prompt release of Qur’an copies that had been detained in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks. He said the Muslim community, also affected by those attacks, expects a transparent and fair approach, setting aside past pretexts used to withhold the copies. Question Under Standing Order 27(2): Tamil Qur'an Translations Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper asked whether, in connection with the security agreement with the United States, the Government made any concession relating to the security of Sri Lankan Muslims. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that the U.S. tariff imposed on Sri Lanka, initially 44 percent and later reduced to 20 percent, formed part of a wider economic and strategic pressure campaign in the Asia-Pacific region. Referring to the relevant U.S. order, he questioned whether Sri Lanka had made trade and security concessions to regain market access, despite the trade imbalance with the United States. He alleged that the Government had compromised national security and specifically the safety of Sri Lanka’s Muslim community by facilitating the entry of Israel Defense Forces personnel, and demanded that the Government state its position in Parliament. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake said the Opposition supports abolishing MPs’ pensions and proposed that even the reduced annual insurance benefit of Rs. 250,000 per MP be diverted to national development to rebuild public trust. He criticized recent road works on the Malabe-Athurugiriya route, alleging public funds were wasted by resurfacing roads and then cutting them again for water pipelines, and called for better coordination and electronic tolling on expressways. He urged the Government to urgently introduce a Cyber Security Bill and establish a Cyber Security Authority following reported cyber-attacks on banks. He also called for less focus on blaming past governments, credited former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic decisions for improving revenue, and urged unity around economic stabilization and development. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →
- 7 August 2025 The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka AI summary Anura Kumara Dissanayaka affirmed the right of political actors to organize meetings, speak to the public and build movements, but warned that the Government would act against any alleged conspiracies, underworld activity or attempts to create anarchy. He cited the seizure of a T-56 weapon in Kiribathgoda and the discovery of 80 hand grenades in Vavuniya, saying investigations were ongoing and that new laws would be introduced if existing laws were insufficient. He rejected claims that the arrest of the Navy Commander was based on LTTE testimony, stating it followed a court order, and cautioned against spreading conspiracy theories, including remarks about the Cardinal and the Easter Sunday attacks. He said the Government’s priority was reconciliation and economic rebuilding, invited constructive proposals from the Opposition, and stated that political criticism would not be obstructed. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic Status of the Country Read →