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 April 2025 AI summary Moved that the amended Bill be read a Third time and requested permission to correct language, typographical, grammatical, and numerical errors and make consequential amendments. The House agreed to the motion, and the Bill was read a Third time and passed. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha moved amendments to Clause 13 of the Bill, including revised date references up to October 1, 2025, provisions on monthly periods for eligible exporters, new businesses or projects complying with specified requirements, and suppliers to Strategic Development Projects. He also proposed a revised definition covering plant-derived products cultivated on land or in greenhouses, including those subject to preliminary processing for sale. The amendments were agreed to, Clause 13 as amended and Clauses 14 and 15 were approved, and the Bill was reported with amendments. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary Moved three amendments on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to revise commencement and import-related dates in the Bill, including references to 1 October 2025 and machinery imported prior to 1 October. The amendments were agreed to, Clause 2 was approved as amended, and Clauses 3 to 12 were ordered to stand part of the Bill. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha said the VAT amendments aim to maintain a simple, predictable tax system while improving administration, enforcement, and compliance rather than repeatedly changing registrations or rates. He noted that the 18% VAT rate is high regionally and stated the Government’s intention to reduce it gradually, while seeking exemptions where possible for essential food items. He also referred to related discussions on increasing and extending Aswesuma benefits for low-income groups, and said the Bill corrects defects and omissions as a step toward a stronger VAT regime. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Public Finance Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Government is proceeding with a planned programme for tax administration reform, with a July simulation expected to confirm its functionality. He said any issues identified would be addressed within the available timeframe, while further decisions would be taken if unforeseen problems cannot be resolved. He emphasized that the Bill aims to establish integrated revenue management, strengthen fiscal discipline, and improve efficiency in domestic revenue administration. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Public Finance Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the VAT (Amendment) Bill seeks to improve revenue administration, clarify definitions from 1 January 2024, prevent misuse in areas such as agriculture, and bring aircraft engines, parts, and non-resident digital service suppliers within the VAT framework while maintaining exemptions for international air transport. He said VAT would be removed from domestically produced liquid milk and yoghurt, anomalies on naphtha used for power generation would be corrected, and changes to service export income tax were separate from VAT on non-resident e-services. He also outlined plans to phase out the Simplified VAT system by improving refund mechanisms, with a July simulation linked to the IMF programme and a target date of 1 October subject to readiness. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Afternoon Session and Reported Business) Public FinanceAgricultureEmployment Read →
9 April 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Minister moved that the relevant Bill be read a Second time. He also moved the Order Paper motion concerning a scheme for payment of gratuity under the Gratuity Act, and indicated that the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning would open the debate for the Government. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Morning Session) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that a zero-tariff approach is not the only option under consideration and that the Government is exploring alternatives in response to the issue raised. He said a meeting with US authorities would be held that night and that information would subsequently be provided to Parliament. He also argued that tariff comparisons should not focus on a single country, noting differing rates in India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, and said the matter relates more to the trade deficit than to tariff levels alone. Oral Question: MSME Tariff Crisis and Trade Negotiations (SO 27(2)) Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha said the Government had engaged diplomatically with the White House, USTR, the IMF and Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Washington before and after the 2 April 2025 US tariff announcement, and that a Presidential Special Committee was appointed to propose responses. He said discussions focused on mitigation options linked to reducing the trade deficit used in the US tariff formula, with further virtual talks with USTR scheduled and a letter from the President to President Donald Trump acknowledged by the White House. He rejected claims of inaction, noting the US applied a global formula and that negotiations were expected only after figures were issued. He also outlined efforts to diversify markets through EU GSP+, the UK DCTS and opportunities in China, the Middle East, India and South Asia, while identifying apparel and food exports as priority sectors affected by the US measures. Oral Question: MSME Tariff Crisis and Trade Negotiations (SO 27(2)) Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary A response will be provided to a question submitted under Standing Order 27(2) on the matter. Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha indicated that he would make a detailed statement when answering that question. Oral Question: EPF and ETF Files (276/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that he would discuss with the relevant Ministry the establishment of a procedure to link online publication of monthly data with Parliament. He said data from January 2024 to February 2025 could be tabled if required, and noted that it had been placed in the Library. Oral Question: EPF and ETF Files (276/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2025 AI summary The Minister answered a question on EPF and ETF registrations, stating that such data are useful indicators of formal-sector economic activity, workers’ rights, social protection, investment trends, and female labour force participation, while noting the need to adjust for inactive or closed files. He reported 6,332 new EPF member registrations and 2,777 new ETF member registrations in November 2024. He said monthly data could be provided from January 2025 on request, and that six-monthly data, including gender-based labour force information, would be published on the Ministry website and in the annual performance report. Oral Question: EPF and ETF Files (276/2024) Public FinanceEmployment Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary Moved the Third Reading of the Appropriation Bill, as amended, on behalf of the Minister of Finance. He also sought leave to correct typographical, printing, grammatical and numerical errors and to make consequential amendments to the Schedules and related documents containing the detailed estimates. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary The Minister said the 2025 Budget is intended as the first step in implementing the Government’s mandate for social, political and economic transformation, with priorities including economic stabilization, poverty reduction, digitalization, investment promotion and regional development. He cited positive growth in late 2024, the Public Financial Management and Public Debt Management Acts, strengthened Aswesuma benefits, support for SMEs and capital markets, transport and technology infrastructure, and agriculture, health and education allocations as key measures. He defended the Government’s debt management and public sector salary reforms, stating that basic salaries and increments would rise substantially and that phased payments would be reflected in payslips without salary cuts. He also emphasized reducing Western Province-centered development by expanding industry, infrastructure and foreign investment to rural areas while using Sri Lanka’s location as a maritime hub without aligning with geopolitical conflicts. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Public FinanceEmploymentCost of Living Read →
21 March 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that the stock market reference should be to the Price-to-Earnings ratio, noting that Sri Lanka’s P/E of about 9.28 implies an earnings yield broadly aligned with domestic interest rates and should not be compared internationally without accounting for interest rate differences. He also stated that liquor taxation adjustments are not hidden measures, but part of inflation- and rate-linked revisions affecting categories such as alcohol and electronics to support fiscal consolidation during economic recovery. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
20 March 2025 AI summary Moved that the Bill be read a Third time and requested permission to make corrections to language, typographical, grammatical, numerical, and consequential errors in the Bill. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 March 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Amendment Bill supports the 2025 revenue proposals and defended the proposed maximum 15 per cent tax on service export income, arguing that such taxation has a basis in the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017 and is not unprecedented. He said the measure is intended to address fairness and compliance concerns, including among digital earners, while avoiding full exemptions that allow some taxpayers to pay no income tax. He also outlined the Government’s approach to direct tax reform, stating that the personal income tax threshold was raised from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000 per month due to fiscal constraints, while broader tax-base expansion should focus on reducing avoidance and evasion through technology. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
20 March 2025 AI summary Moved the Second Reading of the Bill on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The House proceeded to the question on the motion. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 March 2025 AI summary Prof. Anil Jayantha moved for parliamentary approval of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Annual Reports for 2020 and 2021, including the Auditor General’s observations, under Section 18 of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Act, No. 38 of 2009. He noted that both reports had been presented on 18 July 2023, considered by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education on 24 August 2023, and reported to Parliament on 21 September 2023. Both motions were put to the House and agreed to. Papers Presented: Finance Act Regulation and Annual Reports Parliamentary ProcedureEmployment Read →
20 March 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha clarified the distinction in tax law between individuals and corporate entities, noting that “person” can include individuals, companies, and bodies corporate. He stated that while the discussion had focused on individuals exporting services, companies are subject to a standard 30 percent corporate tax rate, with a 15 percent rate applying to service exports, and said these categories should be considered separately. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage Debate Public Finance Read →