Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Gampaha

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning

Profession: ---

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Speeches 368 #11 of 225·#5 in party

Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

368 speeches

9 September 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development questioned whether the matter had reached an agreement before being brought to the Committee on Public Finance. He indicated uncertainty about the final outcome. Adjournment Debate: Tourism Promotion and Finance Company Interest Charges Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Based on information from the Central Bank, the Minister said the Financial Consumer Relations Department had investigated Mr. Aslam Marikkar’s complaint over a 2019 lease and secured a waiver and reductions of penal charges. He stated that after payments and negotiations, the outstanding amount was reduced from about Rs. 397,423 to Rs. 197,000 as a final settlement, but the complainant had not settled it and had altered his complaint. The Minister tabled the Central Bank’s correspondence and said further action would be considered, including in light of the matter being before the Committee on Public Finance. Adjournment Debate: Tourism Promotion and Finance Company Interest Charges Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Moved a resolution under Article 157 of the Constitution to approve the Sri Lanka–United Arab Emirates Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, signed on 12 February 2025 and presented to Parliament on 21 August 2025, noting Cabinet approval and the requirement of a two-thirds majority. He outlined the agreement’s provisions on investment definitions, state and investor obligations, protections against discriminatory treatment and expropriation, transfer safeguards, and dispute settlement through domestic courts and possible arbitration. He argued that the agreement would support economic growth by improving investor confidence, attracting UAE investment, reducing the bilateral trade deficit, and expanding opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, ICT, tourism, and agri-industries. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection Public FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Manpower and Employment. He moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour and Human Resources Development, and the House agreed. Papers Tabled and Committee Reports Parliamentary ProcedureEmployment Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Government would consider both the facts provided in the Answer and relevant practical circumstances. He said the objective was to maintain a highly stable financial sector with reduced volatility and that the points raised would be taken into account. Ministerial Statement: Reviewal of Policies in the Leasing Sector Public Finance Read →
22 August 2025 AI summary The Minister responded on behalf of the Finance Ministry to a question on leasing-sector borrower protections, stating that the Central Bank has not issued separate directions for involuntary defaulters but applies existing financial consumer protection regulations. He said repossession is governed mainly by lease agreements and the Finance Leasing Act, No. 56 of 2000, with institutions generally expected to negotiate and use repossession as a last resort. He noted that past relief measures, including moratoria during the Easter attacks, COVID-19 and the economic crisis, were provided for borrower hardship, and that borrowers may seek redress through Mediation Boards, the Financial Ombudsman, the Central Bank or courts. He added that the Central Bank may consider further policy refinements if systemic issues arise, while balancing borrower and depositor interests. Ministerial Statement: Reviewal of Policies in the Leasing Sector Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
21 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the issue concerning electric vehicles raised by Hon. Mujibur Rahman had already been referred to him by the President one to two months earlier. He said meetings were held with importers, Customs, and the Ministry of Finance, relevant documents were examined, and the matter was not publicized due to possible market price sensitivities. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Public FinanceEnvironment Read →
21 August 2025 AI summary Funds linked to regulatory violations would be handled only within the applicable legal and Gazette framework, including re-export where required, and any court decisions would be followed. Addressing allegations of “money printing,” he distinguished reserve money from broad money and said reserve money had risen by only Rs. 137 billion by June 2025 after sterilization of liquidity from Central Bank dollar purchases and limited government drawings. He argued that the cited Rs. 1.227 trillion increase referred to broad money, driven partly by improved private-sector credit demand, and said the Government was avoiding monetary financing while funding the 2025 deficit through market borrowing within a Rs. 4,000 billion borrowing limit. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Public Finance Read →
21 August 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that a dispute over whether certain vehicle motors are rated at 150 kW or limited to 100 kW by software led Customs to withhold release due to risk concerns. He said court-facilitated discussions allowed some vehicles to be released conditionally, with bank guarantees and further action depending on test results. He also noted cross-border transaction compliance issues and said re-exportation remains an option, but the matter will be resolved through the ongoing court process. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Read →
21 August 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that some vehicle-related Customs matters can be resolved administratively without going to court, noting that previous administrations also released vehicles subject to penalties. However, he explained that under the 2025 Gazette, where regulatory violations occur, Customs has limited discretion and re-export is required in unresolved cases. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Law & Order Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha tabled a written answer on Sri Lanka’s IMF Extended Fund Facility programme, citing public IMF staff reports and reviews available online. The answer states that two IMF reviews were completed before September 2024 and two after the current Government took office, and outlines revenue measures agreed by the previous Government, including property tax proposals, service export taxation, VAT/excise changes, and removal of SVAT. It further states that after September 2024 the Government secured amendments including higher personal income tax thresholds and bands, VAT removal on fresh milk and yoghurt, deferral of deemed rental property tax, reduction of the services export corporate tax rate to 15 per cent, revised withholding tax arrangements, and removal of vehicle import restrictions. Oral Questions (Second Round): Various Ministries Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
20 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Minister requested two weeks’ time to respond to the pending question. The question was ordered to stand down, and the proceedings moved to the second round, including the item on steps taken to establish Smart Courts. Oral Questions (Second Round): Various Ministries Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha clarified that broad definitions in the Bill do not amount to automatic authorization or licensing, and that the relevant Authority will determine permitted activities and conditions. He rejected claims that net foreign assets had collapsed under the Government, stating that overall foreign assets of licensed commercial banks and the Central Bank had increased since it assumed office, and contrasted this with negative NFA figures from 2015 to 2018. He said reserves may fluctuate during stabilization but exchange rate stability had been maintained while funding essential imports, and outlined plans to reach US$7 billion in reserves through exports, remittances, FDI, and possible market intervention. He also stated that broad money growth reflected normal banking activity rather than arbitrary monetary financing, and tabled supporting data. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Law & OrderPublic Finance Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha clarified the distinction between Central Bank currency issuance and monetary financing of the Treasury through purchases of Treasury securities. He stated that the latter had not occurred and that the Treasury surplus reflected normal Treasury cash operations, including revenue, refinancing of existing debt, and maintaining a cash buffer, rather than “money printing.” Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Public Finance Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that unlicensed operations are not limited to ships but also occur onshore. He clarified that under the Bill, Sri Lanka-registered ship operators may apply for licences, but approval would be determined by the relevant Authority according to specified criteria and would not be automatic. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Law & Order Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha clarified that the Bill’s reference to “shipboard” casinos does not imply selective or automatic licensing, but brings such activities within a regulated framework. He stated that licences would be granted only after assessing factors such as economic, social and tourism impacts, and rejected claims that the Bill permits indiscriminate approvals. He also said the Government intends to address shadow share markets operating outside regulated exchanges, emphasizing that the objective is legal regulation rather than permitting unlawful or harmful activities. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Public FinanceLaw & Order Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Monetary financing of fiscal deficits was distinguished from routine Central Bank monetary operations such as open market operations and reserve management, with the clarification that recent changes in reserve and broad money do not amount to Government money printing for expenditure. The statement affirmed adherence to financial discipline under the State Finance Management Act and the State Debt Management Act. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Public Finance Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary The Minister moved the Second Reading of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, stating that it would create a single regulator for gambling, betting and casinos, replace existing fragmented laws, introduce licensing and standards, address illegal activity including money laundering and terror financing, and support Sri Lanka’s efforts to exit the FATF grey list by March 2026. He said the Authority would also address social harms, protect children, regulate emerging forms such as online gambling, and exclude the National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board. He also presented regulations under the State Debt Management Act, explaining that they would strengthen oversight of guarantees, on-lending, lender agreements and financial leasing by state entities through the Debt Management Office and related coordination mechanisms, with the aim of improving transparency and reducing public debt to 95 per cent of GDP by 2032. In addition, he introduced a direction under the Foreign Exchange Act concerning capital account outflows, noting that temporary controls introduced in 2020 were maintained through 2024 as part of economic stabilization. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceLaw & Order Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Tobacco Tax regulation gives legal effect to increasing the beedi tax from Rs. 2 to Rs. 3, following the Budget decision and in line with inflation-based adjustments for other tobacco products. On the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, he argued that the 2024 framework was harmful and that the new amendments retain state governance over generation, transmission, distribution and system operations while allowing investment to improve capacity and efficiency. He said the policy aims to avoid fragmentation and privatization, reduce long-term electricity costs, support industrial development, and reach 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030 through expanded hydro, wind and solar generation. He also noted that the Government’s diplomatic engagement had reduced the United States’ reciprocal tariff rate from 44 per cent to 20 per cent. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha requested additional time to provide answers to the question raised. Oral Question (Standing Order 27(2)): Review of Policies in the Leasing Sector Parliamentary Procedure Read →