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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- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister explained that the Order under the Shops and Office Employees Act permits women to work at night as food and beverage attendants, particularly to support longer operating hours in the hospitality sector, with safeguards requiring suitable rest accommodation or secure transport after duty. He said the change was requested by employers, employer associations and trade unions, and discussed at the National Labour Advisory Council. He also outlined broader labour law reforms, including a consolidated bill, ratification of ILO Convention C190 on violence and harassment at work, improved industrial relations, and measures to increase women’s labour force participation through safer workplaces, care economy support, and protections against discrimination. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi welcomed the Regulation under the Shops and Office Employees Act to facilitate women’s night employment in the tourism sector. She argued that despite women comprising a majority of the population, low female labour force participation and unemployment require legal measures to expand work opportunities, particularly amid increased tourist arrivals in 2025. She supported the Regulation’s provisions on accommodation, transport and safety, saying they would address parental concerns and enable more women, including those from the hill country, to work without fear. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran supported the regulations under the Shops and Office Employees Act, noting women’s economic contribution and calling for protection of their rights, safety and basic pay. He urged that education reforms preserve Tamil identity, arts, culture, traditions and history, following discussions with the Prime Minister. He also questioned the requirement for low-revenue local authorities to contribute 20 per cent of employees’ salaries, saying they first need income-generating plans, and called for basic wages and pension schemes for three-wheeler drivers, farmers, fishers and similar workers. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Thushari Jayasingha supported the Order under the Shops and Office Employees Act enabling women’s night work, linking it to ILO obligations, tourism growth, and women’s labour force participation. She emphasized that the regulations followed tripartite consultation and include safeguards such as written consent, Labour Commissioner authorization after 10.00 p.m., limits on night duties, overtime pay, welfare committees, meals, rest facilities, and transport-related protections. She also briefly addressed allegations about changes to the Dharmachakra in textbooks, stating that religious leaders had been consulted and the approved symbol was included. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary The Member supported the amendment to the Shops and Office Employees Act to permit women to work as food and beverage service attendants at night, subject to safeguards including accommodation, safe transport, and express consent for such assignments. He argued that the measure would support tourism growth, economic recovery, and higher female labour force participation. He also responded to Opposition criticism by asserting that the Government is addressing longstanding issues faced by the Malaiyagam community and implementing broader worker- and public service-related reforms, including salary increases, pension restoration, and loan benefits. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Welcoming the new Order under the Shops and Office Employees Act, she said it would support women’s employment, particularly by allowing women in the hotel sector to work at night, and urged speedy accession to ILO Convention 190 to ensure protection from violence and harassment. She requested that suitable work-from-home arrangements be introduced for women in the public service where possible, to increase women’s economic participation. She also raised constituency issues in Kandy, calling for alternative trading spaces for displaced pavement vendors and asking the Government to review steep Kandy Municipal Council assessment rate increases, especially following cyclone-related hardship. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Mrs. Hiruni Wijesinghe said disaster relief measures announced by the President apply nationally and rejected claims of discriminatory treatment of Malaiyagam people, citing assistance and housing initiatives in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala. She criticized the Opposition for diverting debates from the Orders before Parliament, then supported amendments under the Shops and Office Employees Act allowing women in specified hotel and hospitality roles to work evening and night shifts with safeguards such as rest facilities, transport, and welfare measures. She said these changes, along with Sri Lanka’s ratification of ILO Convention C190 on violence and harassment at work, are intended to remove legal barriers, improve workplace dignity and safety, and increase women’s labour force participation. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne rejected claims of an internal NPP attempt to displace Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, stating that the party respects her role in women’s political advancement. She defended the Government’s education reforms as part of broader social transformation and said the Regulation under the Shop and Office Employees Act would strengthen women’s economic participation. She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment at work, noting its broad coverage and the need for workplace policies and complaint mechanisms. She added that the Government is preparing further legal reforms, including abolishing MPs’ pensions. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe supported the Regulation under the Shop and Office Employees Act to allow women to work night shifts in food and beverage service within tourism, subject to consent and provision of transport or accommodation between 6.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. He argued that the measure would help increase women’s participation in Sri Lanka’s tourism workforce, which he said remains far below regional levels, and would support rural youth employment alongside the Rs. 500 million “Hospitality Labour Corps” training initiative. He also cited record tourist arrivals in 2025 and praised coordinated disaster management during Cyclone Michaung, before requesting parliamentary support for the Regulation. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 9 January 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister moved an amendment to the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act regulations to include food and beverage stewardesses in residential hotels among categories of women over 18 permitted to work before 6.00 a.m. or after 6.00 p.m., with mandatory safeguards on transport, accommodation, health, safety and welfare. He said the measure supports women’s labour force participation and the expanding hospitality sector, and cited recent approvals and complaint-resolution figures relating to women’s night work. He also noted Sri Lanka’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment at work, recent wage increases, and the reconvening of the National Labour Advisory Council, before requesting approval of the regulation. In closing, he rejected allegations of media suppression, said the Government would challenge misinformation, and referred to past attacks on journalists and media institutions. Debate: Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Regulation Amendment Read →
- 8 January 2026 [Unnamed Minister - Ministry of Women and Child Affairs] AI summary The Minister said the proposal was important but required coordinated action beyond the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. She proposed convening relevant ministries, provincial councils, local authorities, and other officials to develop an appropriate course of action. She added that the Ministry would consult UN agencies and private institutions willing to assist, and prepare a work plan for necessary interventions. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana - Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana supported the Adjournment Motion on child protection, noting that despite existing ministry officers at divisional level, gaps remain in providing safe environments for children, particularly after school hours in urban, plantation, and other high-risk areas. He proposed developing local authority pre-schools and day-care centres into safe centres with provincial and local government coordination, and exploring after-school protection programmes within schools in collaboration with the Education Ministry. He endorsed a pilot project for protective centres in the Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat area due to drug-related risks and cramped housing, with a view to evaluating and scaling the programme to other districts, including the North and East. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Samanmali Gunasingha stated that a proposed initiative would begin as a pilot project, with practical conditions assessed before expansion through all Divisional Secretariats in every province, including the North and East. She emphasized that no area would be excluded and framed children’s safety as a shared responsibility. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna supported the Motion and highlighted malnutrition, educational gaps, and safety risks affecting hill-country children, drawing on his experience as a doctor and teacher. He urged stronger state oversight of orphaned and war-affected children, particularly in the Northern Province, including surveys of private childcare homes and faster child protection interventions. He also called for an investigation into the reported death of a 12-year-old girl at Mancholai Hospital after alleged improper medical treatment, and requested that any childcare programme explicitly include low-income and war-affected districts in the North. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper supported the Motion on establishing day-care and after-school support, arguing that changing family and economic conditions have left many children unsupervised before and after school. He proposed service-based centres attached to schools or run at community level through local authorities, provincial councils and education institutions, with pilot projects in low-income and dense housing areas using monitoring systems and possible international support, rather than relying primarily on a rigid legal mandate. He also raised an urgent matter regarding Hajj arrangements, noting approaching nusukmasar.com deadlines, the non-appointment or non-departure of group leaders, and issues at the Sri Lankan Consulate General in Jeddah, and requested Government action through the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Hon. Krishnan Kalaichelvi supported the Adjournment Motion, arguing that the State must provide safe after-school spaces for children, particularly in estate, rural and urban areas where parents are absent due to work. She said such programmes should protect children from risks including sexual violence, while supporting their education, health, sports and cultural development. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha moved a proposal to establish daytime safe centres or after-school centres for children in densely populated urban areas, housing complexes, and other high-risk environments. She argued that children left unsupervised after school are vulnerable to abuse, narcotics-related influences, unsafe surroundings, and excessive phone use while parents or guardians are at work. She proposed using existing government institutions, coordinated through Divisional Secretariats with Child Development Officers and Probation Officers, and supported by relevant ministries and Provincial Councils, to provide protection as well as creative, cultural, and personality development programmes under an appropriate legal and policy framework. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister said preschool teachers are in a privately run sector under State regulation and therefore cannot be paid as members of a closed public service, but noted that their stipend has been increased to Rs. 6,000. She outlined plans, in discussion with the Ministry of Education, to professionalize the sector through NVQ certification, higher diploma and possible degree pathways, and a closed service framework. She also said preschools are monitored through MOHs, nutrition support has been increased by raising the breakfast allowance from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 for undernourished children, and relevant institutions are coordinating to improve teacher quality and preschool nutrition. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question, stating that Sri Lanka has 18,982 preschools and that no eligible preschool teacher has been excluded from the stipend scheme, which was increased by Rs. 6,000 from June. She said preschools are a Provincial subject under the 13th Amendment, but the Government is working towards a national preschool programme through a National Policy and National Statute, including common standards for teacher diplomas, registration, curriculum implementation and teacher training. She outlined plans for infrastructure support through grants, loans and local authorities, and said a contributory pension scheme for preschool teachers is being proposed in line with the 2025-2029 Early Childhood Care and Development action plan. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Government is addressing neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, through treatment protocols in 20 hospitals and by identifying the need for coordinated caregiving support beyond the health sector. He said inter-ministerial action is required, particularly involving social security, rural development, and women and child affairs authorities. He noted Budget allocations to improve treatment centres and protective care centres, groundwork for a dedicated centre at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, and plans to establish a dedicated autism-related unit under the Family Health Bureau. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.117/2024-(2) through Q.1715/2025) Read →