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

19 May 2026 AI summary The Minister of Labour rejected reports that the Employees’ Provident Fund would be converted into a pension-only scheme, stating that no such decision, actuarial valuation, or proposal exists. He said any EPF-related policy or legislative changes would be made in consultation with the National Labour Advisory Council, trade unions, employers, and other stakeholders. He noted that EPF assets stood at Rs. 4,965 billion as at 31 December 2025, and that consultations had agreed on establishing a tripartite governance mechanism with technical experts to oversee EPF matters, including investments. He also stated that discussions were focused on simplifying the 30 percent withdrawal process, not removing existing benefits. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha requested additional time to answer the question before the House. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha explained that maintaining a primary surplus is central to Sri Lanka’s debt sustainability programme, as it reduces the need for new borrowing to meet large interest obligations. He said government debt had fallen from about 104 percent to 96.8 percent of GDP, with a target of 86 percent by 2030, while targeted relief would continue through additional revenues and social protection allocations. He noted that 2025 revenue collections exceeded targets due to improved compliance and administration, that multilateral funds are tied to specified programmes, and that a temporary vehicle import surcharge was introduced to conserve foreign exchange amid external pressures. He also clarified that the poverty line is a statistical minimum-needs measure, not a standard for comfortable living, and said rural poverty requires longer-term structural measures. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha said the rupee’s 2026 depreciation was driven by external pressures including Middle East tensions, higher oil prices, tourism disruptions, capital outflows, and foreign exchange market expectations, while stressing that the Central Bank maintains a flexible exchange rate and sees no disorderly volatility. He outlined expected IMF, ADB, World Bank and other multilateral inflows, continued QR-based fuel allocation, and a temporary surcharge on certain private vehicle imports to conserve foreign exchange. He said the Government does not accept that most citizens face an unbearable burden, citing expanded relief through Aswasuma, fuel, electricity, agriculture, tea, fisheries and other targeted support amounting to about Rs. 100 billion. He also acknowledged rural household and micro-entrepreneur indebtedness linked to unregulated microfinance and low financial literacy, particularly among women, and said measures had been initiated to address it. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements Cost of LivingPublic FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary The member rejects allegations that the person in question holds dual citizenship, stating that although he previously lived in Australia, he regularized his citizenship status before contesting the election. He challenges those making the claim to provide proof outside Parliament rather than repeating what he describes as false propaganda. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that the individuals in question were first transferred and subsequently interdicted. The remark appears to clarify the sequence of administrative actions taken against them. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Justice & Human Rights Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha said investigations are ongoing into the alleged diversion of USD 2.5 million intended for Export Finance Australia during bilateral debt restructuring payments, and into a related attempted email-based interference in an Indian EXIM Bank payment stream. He outlined the payment-processing chain, the detection of a suspicious email anomaly on 22 March, subsequent notifications to SLCERT, the CID and cybercrime authorities, the appointment of a technical committee, and the transfer and interdiction of several officers connected to the process. He rejected claims of government complicity and other alleged financial irregularities as misinformation, stating that findings would be presented to Parliament after law enforcement and technical inquiries conclude. Adjournment Debate: Failure to Report Foreign Debt Repayment Diversion to Parliament Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Minister moved approval of an Order under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2471/52 of 16 January 2026 and presented on 9 April 2026. He also moved approval of the related Orders listed as items 2 to 5 on the Order Paper, noting that Cabinet approval had been obtained. Debate: Port City Economic Commission Regulations and Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning requested additional time to respond to the question before the House. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha stated that, due to the complexity and technological aspects of the alleged offence, the Government needed accurate information before commenting. He said premature statements could mislead the public, so authorities waited for progress in the investigation before providing clarification. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Justice & Human Rights Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary The Minister said the incident discovered on 23 March was reported to the CID and remains under investigation, so the Government would present details to Parliament only once adequate quantitative and verified information is available. He said questions about officer involvement, prior knowledge, and internal controls are still being examined, and there was therefore no immediate requirement for an earlier statement. Addressing public suspicion, he stated that reports indicate a suicide and cautioned against unverified claims, clarifying that the written complaint was lodged by the Director-General of the ERD. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha responded to eight questions raised under Standing Order 27(2) on state debt management and a suspected cyber-related diversion of external debt payments. He outlined the legal framework under the Public Financial Management Act and State Debt Management Act, explained the transfer of debt management functions from the Central Bank to the Public Debt Management Office from January 2026, and detailed the payment procedures and affected remittances. He stated that the issue was discovered on 23 March 2026, complaints were made to SLCERT, CID and the Financial Intelligence Unit, four officers have been interdicted following an internal inquiry, and investigations are continuing. He added that advisers indicated the incident is unlikely to be treated as a technical default, and said further information would be provided through Ministry Statements. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Debt Service Payment and Central Bank Justice & Human RightsParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Central Bank has separate investigative units for banking and non-bank financial activities, but microfinance providers currently operate under varied registration statuses or outside existing legal frameworks. He said the newly established Microfinance Regulatory Authority will bring all non-bank microfinance activities under oversight, enabling supervision and intervention. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the matters raised by the Member would be examined to determine any further action. He said the Rs. 950 million mobilization and subsequent permissions were undertaken within the legal and regulatory framework then in force, including in the context of requests to revive the entity after a licence cancellation notice. He added that further fund-raising was not permitted after licence cancellation and that, during liquidation, employee and depositor payments were made according to preferential payment orders. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha answered on behalf of the Minister of Finance, stating that a Cabinet Memorandum on The Finance Company PLC submitted by Hon. Ajith Nivard Cabraal was later withdrawn and therefore no Cabinet decision on restructuring was taken. He said the Central Bank had provided opportunities from 2019 to identify an investor, but after those efforts failed the licence was cancelled in May 2020 and liquidation proceedings were filed in the Colombo Commercial High Court in February 2021. He detailed payments under the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance Scheme, noting that Rs. 12.96 billion had been paid to 36,479 depositors up to 21 May 2024, with compensation limited by law to Rs. 1.1 million per eligible depositor, or Rs. 1.2 million where applicable under later provisions. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Employees’ Trust Fund. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour and Human Resources Development, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Reports and Regulations Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha responded to questions on debt restructuring and CESS, stating that prior answers and annexures would be tabled and that borrowers who engaged with banks received available relief. He said the phasing out of para-tariffs, including CESS changes, was not an IMF condition but part of tax streamlining and fiscal consolidation based on an HS-code framework developed with stakeholder consultation. He added that MSMEs currently contribute less than 10% of export earnings and that the Government plans to present a strategy to raise this to 25%. Ministerial Statements on Economic Policy Public FinanceEmploymentCost of Living Read →
9 April 2026 AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on MSMEs, stating that they contribute about 52 percent of GDP and less than 10 percent of export earnings, with 1.037 million establishments operating and 108,000 closed due to the economic crisis according to 2022 survey data. He outlined 2025 credit disbursements across five schemes and said Rs. 95.686 billion in credit packages is planned for 2026, including refinance, ADB-funded and interest-subsidized schemes, plus a collateral-free credit guarantee programme backed two-thirds by the Treasury. He also referred to Central Bank circulars providing loan restructuring, interest waivers, moratoria and working capital support for MSMEs affected by economic conditions, natural disasters and Cyclone “Micha,” and placed related documents in the Library. Ministerial Statements on Economic Policy AgriculturePublic FinanceEmployment Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Moved three sets of regulations for parliamentary approval on behalf of relevant Ministers: the 2026 Prohibited List under the Convention Against Doping in Sports Act; a regulation under the Strategic Development Projects Act; and Central Bank rules on repatriation of export earnings under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act. He noted that each had been published in the relevant Gazette Extraordinary, presented to Parliament on the specified dates, and received Cabinet approval; all three motions were agreed to. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Clarified that VAT and the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) should not be treated as equivalent, noting that VAT applies to value addition across the supply chain while SSCL issues, particularly for motor vehicles, relate to imports and resale practices. Explained that charging SSCL at import and not again on resale is intended to ensure fair and balanced taxation. The related Bill was then passed with amendments to Clauses 2–4. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) Public Finance Read →