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Women & Children
458 speeches · 144 speakers
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By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
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Speeches
458 on this topic- 25 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya defended the Government’s inaugural Budget as a value-based shift toward “Economic Democracy,” emphasizing social strengthening, equality, citizen participation, State regulation, and public investment rather than what she described as past cronyism and politicized economic management. She highlighted increased allocations for health and education, child protection reforms, support for women’s economic participation, special needs education, the removal of VAT on packaging inputs for locally produced medicines, and a Rs. 300 million “Sri Lankan Day” initiative for national unity. Responding to Opposition claims, she said the Budget implements the Government’s manifesto, denied that promises had been broken, and stated that salary increases would raise principals and teachers to among the higher-paid public service grades while restoring dignity to the public sector. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Minister supported Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s proposal on persons with disabilities, noting its significance in the context of disability representation in Parliament. He said the Government is updating the 2003 disability policy in line with current needs, a social model of disability, and United Nations conventions. He emphasized the need for accurate data, citing discrepancies in previous figures, and stated that the 2025 Budget allocates an additional Rs. 100 million to establish a data system for persons with disabilities. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa criticized disruption of the debate as disrespectful to persons with disabilities and supported Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s proposal to ensure they can live without impediments. He said Sri Lanka has failed to provide adequate accessibility in transport, workplaces, towns and public facilities, leaving many persons with disabilities confined at home despite existing laws and regulations. He stated that the government and the relevant Ministry have prepared plans and a special programme to implement the proposals. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa JJB AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa objected to an interruption during a half-hour debate allocated for issues affecting persons with disabilities, saying it disrespected and took time away from that community. He stated that the present government had given unprecedented attention to persons with disabilities, including before the election and in its party commitments. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Wasantha Piyathissa briefly thanked Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva for presenting the Adjournment Motion concerning persons with disabilities. He noted that the matter was important to the wider community of persons with disabilities, following a prior response by Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma to a related query. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Welcoming the increase in the disability allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000, the MP argued that it could be raised further if tax exemptions for large corporations and multinationals were reduced and revenue was better collected. He questioned why major concessions continued despite the Government’s mandate, contrasting them with taxes borne by ordinary citizens and the cost of social welfare schemes such as Aswesuma. He also called for Parliament and proposed disability legislation to address accessibility comprehensively, and urged inclusion of people disabled by the war in the North and East, citing gaps in allowance coverage in Batticaloa. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam supported the Adjournment Motion on persons with disabilities and special needs and urged the Government to continue the work previously undertaken by the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. He asked the Deputy Minister of Finance to clarify whether the disability allowance had been increased in the current year, noting that he had not seen such an increase in the Budget document. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake emphasized the need for updated, properly categorized data on persons with disabilities to support data-driven policymaking, equal rights, and economic inclusion. He called for new accessibility policies for public transport, access points, buses, hospitals, and buildings, noting that existing designs create barriers for persons with disabilities and the wider public. He also urged measures beyond increased Budget allowances to improve ICT access and connect persons with disabilities to modern economic opportunities. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva argued that Sri Lanka must implement the long-standing 3 per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities in the public sector before expecting compliance from the private sector, noting high unemployment and unfilled opportunities in areas such as railway call services and Braille publishing. He called for a review of placements made under the Multipurpose Development Task Force and for welfare and social empowerment measures to support disabled persons and their families. He also urged enactment of domestic legislation aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including implementation and monitoring mechanisms under Article 33, and proposed a time-bound, evidence-based service delivery system built on updated national disability data. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva cited 2012 Census data indicating that over 1.7 million persons with disabilities were recorded in Sri Lanka, 57 per cent of them women, and that 71 per cent were outside the labour force. He noted that the data is outdated and the current situation may be more severe, and highlighted limited economic access for disabled persons. He pointed to poor implementation of the 1988 circular requiring 3 per cent of public sector jobs to be reserved for persons with disabilities. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva moved an Adjournment Motion calling for a rights-based welfare and empowerment programme for persons with disabilities, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He proposed drafting new national legislation, collecting classification and data needed for evidence-based policy, and developing plans to use the economic capacities of the disabled community for social development. He also noted that, as a visually impaired Member, he was presenting and reading an Adjournment Motion in Braille for the first time in the House. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Thushari Jayasingha supported the Budget as a programme for economic, social and political transformation, highlighting the increase to public sector basic salaries as a measure that could improve access to bank loans and reduce reliance on high-interest private lending and microfinance, particularly among women. She cited allocations for women and children, including increased preschool breakfast payments, Rs. 5,000 million for Thriposha, and Rs. 250 million for an early childhood development centre for autism and related disorders. She also called for need-based development and improved public transport, raising concerns about encroachment on railway lands in Nawalapitiya, and welcomed the proposal for a unifying Sri Lankan Day. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Shantha Padma Kumara Subasingha supported the Budget as reflecting a participatory economic model and highlighted allocations affecting Ratnapura, including Rs. 250 million to begin restoring and extending the Kelani Valley railway to Ratnapura, with later phases to Kahawatta, Ambilipitiya and Sooriyawewa, while assuring fair treatment and compensation for affected residents. He also cited provisions for children with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, children in care institutions, Malaiyagam Tamil housing, livelihoods and schools, and Rs. 100 million for the restoration of the Jaffna Library as measures aimed at welfare and reconciliation. Responding to Opposition criticism, he argued that the Budget contains substantive allocations and referred to proposed public servant salary increases, particularly for teachers, while contrasting them with past treatment of public sector workers. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe supported the 2025 Budget as a “people’s Budget” focused on a production economy and social upliftment. She highlighted allocations for children in care institutions, including monthly support, proposed legal changes to allow them to remain in care until economically integrated, and marriage support after leaving care. She also cited Indian-supported projects for Ampara and the Eastern Province, increased education funding, higher allowances for chronic kidney disease patients, livelihood support for Aswesuma beneficiaries, and land-permit issues being addressed through Mahaweli Revival Week. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda supported the inaugural budget, describing it as a people-centred programme based on social justice, good governance, economic democracy, and fairer distribution of growth. She highlighted allocations for child nutrition, Triposha, pregnant mothers, preschool meals and preschool teachers, as well as a Rs. 200 million national programme for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and district-level care support over five years. She also noted funding for preventing violence against women, youth entrepreneurship, and support for children in care homes, arguing these measures would promote inclusive participation in the economy. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha described the 2025 Budget as women-centered, citing allocations for pregnant mothers’ nutrition, Thriposha, rural hospitals, school breakfasts, preschool teachers, scholarships, and student athlete nutrition. She highlighted a proposed five-year national programme for children with neurological conditions, beginning at Lady Ridgeway Hospital with Rs. 200 million, and support for children without birth certificates or parental protection, including birth registration and a Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance. She argued that these measures address burdens often borne by mothers and women, including in vulnerable families and communities affected by crime. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 February 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala stated that the Government is not responsible for all media reports and that police action would apply to all suspects regardless of gender. He said periodic updates could be provided, but cautioned against making statements that could undermine ongoing police investigations. Ministerial Statement and Points of Order: Shooting Incidents in Colombo Magistrate's Court and Middeniya Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Chamindranee Kiriella argued that the 2025 Budget relies heavily on taxes such as income tax, VAT and the Special Commodity Levy, making it inconsistent with Government claims of being people-friendly and with NPP promises to remove VAT on essentials. She urged the Government to promote exports and foreign investment, citing Adani Group’s withdrawal, and to protect the independence and perceived independence of the legal system to maintain investor confidence. She welcomed the allocation for sanitary napkins for schoolgirls but called for stronger action to increase women’s labour force participation, specifically proposing that the State fund maternity benefits, estimated at Rs. 7.4 billion, in line with practices in many other countries. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 20 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi highlighted Budget allocations intended to support under-resourced but talented young athletes, including Rs. 500 million for specialized sports schools in five provinces and an increase in the monthly nutrition allowance from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000. She noted the absence of a national sports information database by province, district and school, and said this gap was raised with officials at the Youth and Sports Ministry Advisory Committee. She also referred to allocations for women’s empowerment and protection, including Rs. 120 million to prevent violence against women and children and Rs. 720 million to strengthen institutional support. In addition, she cited Rs. 250 million for child-friendly transport for minors in detention attending court, arguing that the Budget focuses on practical support for vulnerable groups. Budget Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Ravindra Bandara AI summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara defended the 2025 Budget, rejecting Opposition claims that it continued previous privatization policies, lowered the PAYE threshold to Rs. 50,000, or cut research funding. He cited allocations for R&D, Triposha, estate housing and infrastructure, plantation youth training, orphaned children, disaster compensation, student stipends, and health benefits, with particular reference to projects in Badulla and Haputale. He also stated that elections would not be postponed, criticized communal politics and misinformation, and said the Government was reducing official expenditure through more restrained practices by the President and Ministers. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →