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

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Gampaha

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 368 #11 of 225·#5 in party

Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

368 speeches

7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha said investment incentives would be assessed case by case against national interest criteria such as foreign exchange, employment, technology transfer and infrastructure, replacing blanket tax holidays with a maximum 10-year limit and no extensions. He stated that a 15 per cent minimum tax aligned with BEPS principles is proposed to address profit shifting, while broader investment promotion would depend on political stability, transparency and ease of doing business. He also clarified that SSCL on motor vehicle imports would not cascade on secondary sales, and noted that new Central Bank Act rules allow exporters to invest domestically in dollar bonds. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) EmploymentPublic FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha makes only a brief procedural interjection, requesting an Hon. Member to proceed or comply. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question is raised in the recorded statement. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha said the Government had achieved macroeconomic stability by 2025 despite major shocks, including the “8962” cyclone and global war-related disruptions affecting energy and fertilizer, and had provided relief through fiscal discipline, a Rs. 500 billion supplementary allocation, use of Budget reserves, and adjustments to other expenditure heads rather than a new Budget. He said targeted allocations would cushion vulnerable groups and that details of funding adjustments would be presented to Parliament. On the Strategic Development Projects Act regulations, he said amendments would make incentives more rule-based, using criteria such as foreign exchange inflows, job creation, technology transfer, and infrastructure development. He added that projects would undergo independent cost-benefit and socio-cultural assessment before approval and periodic review afterward, including possible termination if targets are not met. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill and Related Orders - Continuation (Post-Lunch) EmploymentInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha presented the 2024 Annual Report of the National Institute of Labour Studies. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Auditor-General's Report and Ministry Annual Reports Tabling Parliamentary ProcedureEmployment Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha said Sri Lanka is facing an external shock from war-related disruptions to shipping, fuel, insurance, freight and aviation costs, but that the Government’s objective is to prevent it becoming a domestic crisis. He outlined measures to contain inflation and maintain financial stability, including an estimated 8 percent domestic fuel price adjustment, prioritising scarce fuel for essential services, protecting reserves, supporting exporters, tourism and remittances, and encouraging reduced non-essential fuel use. He stated that low recent inflation, a relatively stable rupee, reserves above US$7 billion, debt restructuring progress, and expected IMF, ADB and World Bank inflows provide resilience, while a Prime Minister-led committee will prepare targeted relief for vulnerable groups. Adjournment Debate: Effects of Current Global Situation on Our Economy Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary The Minister presented the second amendment to the Colombo Port City Development Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act for Parliamentary approval, stating that it seeks to facilitate investment through rule-based land-use reallocations while keeping the total land extent unchanged. He outlined changes to land-use categories, public utilities, open spaces, transport facilities and service-use limits, with conditions to protect traffic circulation, internal mobility and external impacts. He linked the regulations to broader efforts to raise economic growth and investor confidence, citing forthcoming or ongoing legislation on public-private partnerships, investment protection and promotion, SOE reform, insolvency, and AML/CFT compliance. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act Regulations Approval Corruption & Governance ReformInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary In response to a parliamentary question, details were tabled on proposed labour law reforms covering four areas: labour standards, industrial relations, occupational safety and health, and trade unions. The answer listed multiple statutes identified for amendment, including laws on maternity benefits, wages, shop and office employees, gratuity, minimum wages, retirement age, industrial disputes, factories, and trade unions. It stated that a Cabinet-appointed committee chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour is preparing proposals after consulting the National Labour Advisory Council, trade unions, employer associations, and the public, with completion expected within the year. Oral Question: Multi-Purpose Service Centres in Mannar District (Q.1455/2025) Employment Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Minister requested a two-week extension to provide an answer to the question. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Deferred Question (Q.1716/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 March 2026 AI summary The Minister supported the proposal to determine improved remuneration and service conditions for CIABOC officers, arguing that stronger staffing, resources, and legal capacity are necessary to combat technologically complex corruption and wider corruption networks. He said the Government proposes revised pay scales for senior CIABOC positions and an enhanced “anti-corruption risk allowance,” developed with the Management Services Department and Ministry of Finance to attract and retain specialized forensic, investigative, and prosecutorial personnel. He also noted that current fuel supply constraints were due to external logistics rather than domestic fiscal issues, and requested prudent public consumption while the Government manages stocks. Continuation of Debate: CIABOC Remuneration and Service Conditions Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha formally moved that Parliament adjourn. No substantive policy argument, proposal, or question was presented beyond initiating the adjournment motion. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary The Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill completed Committee stage, with amendments focused on customer protection, transparency, lending assessments, repayment grace periods, and restrictions on abusive recovery practices. Further amendments prohibited excessive or improper interest charges, undue influence, humiliation of borrowers, and offsetting social security benefits against loan repayments. The Minister also sought leave to correct typographical, grammatical and numbering errors and make consequential amendments, after which the Bill was read a third time and passed as amended. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Public Finance Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved the Second Reading of the Bill to establish the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority, regulate moneylending and microfinance, protect clients, and repeal the Microfinance Act, No. 6 of 2016. He said the existing framework was inadequate amid unregulated village, online, and app-based lending, and outlined the Bill’s provisions on licensing, supervision, investigations, penalties, and an independent fund for the Authority. He noted that the revised Bill followed earlier Cabinet approvals, Supreme Court proceedings, withdrawal of a previous version, and further committee review, with some outstanding matters to be addressed by regulations. He also stated that the Finance Ministry would link regulation with debt-relief and livelihood programmes, including Rs. 95.6 billion in concessional and interest-subsidised schemes for 2026 through the Praja Shakthi programme and Community Development Councils. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved the Second Reading of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill. The intervention was brief and procedural, with no substantive argument or policy detail recorded beyond the reference to the Bill. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading Public Finance Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha began to address the Deputy Speaker but was interrupted before making any substantive remarks. No policy position, proposal, or question was recorded in the excerpt. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha requested time in Parliament to respond to a question raised by an Hon. Member. No substantive policy issue or proposal was presented in this brief intervention. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Central Bank Inflation Target Deviation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
3 March 2026 AI summary The Minister presented regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act to extend existing foreign exchange liberalizations for six months and introduce further relaxations for Business and Personal Foreign Currency Accounts. He said BFCA investment usage limits would rise from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000 and PFCA limits from USD 20,000 to USD 25,000, with Central Bank monitoring, in order to mobilize part of the USD 3.2 billion held in such accounts for productive investment. He argued that external sector conditions had stabilized by 2025, citing reserves support from tourism earnings, record remittances, a positive current account balance, managed imports including vehicles and fuel, and improved secondary-market pricing of restructured bonds. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Public FinanceForeign AffairsEmployment Read →
20 February 2026 AI summary The Minister rejected the Opposition’s adjournment motion alleging irregularities in the coal procurement tender, stating that the cited volume and four main allegations were incorrect. He said the tender followed National Procurement Commission procedures, incorporated earlier COPF guidance on competition and supplier assessment, selected the lowest compliant bidder, and did not involve improper deviations. He explained that delivery timing and coal quality were managed under contract terms, with load and discharge port testing by accredited third parties, penalties imposed where specifications were not met, and no legal basis for cancellation absent a breach. He warned that premature cancellation could expose the State to damages and argued that procurement decisions must be based on documented compliance rather than unauthenticated claims. Adjournment Motion: Issues Relating to the Power Sector (Coal Procurement for Norochcholai) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
20 February 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved that Hon. Kins Nelson take the Chair. The House agreed, and Hon. Kins Nelson assumed the Chair in place of Hon. Chanaka Madugoda. Adjournment Motion: Issues Relating to the Power Sector (Coal Procurement for Norochcholai) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 February 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that economic indicators show a recovery, moving from contraction in 2023 to 10% growth in 2024 and 25% in 2025. He said around one quarter of the increase was linked to pawning, leasing, and motor vehicles, including commercial vehicles for transport, while about three quarters went to SMEs and other business sectors. He argued that quarterly growth above 5% indicates that government policies are supporting economic recovery. Ministerial Statements: Credit Expansion and State Security Mechanism Public FinanceEmployment Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha stated that the relevant actions had been taken through the proper parliamentary and Cabinet-approved procedures and that there had been no violation of the Constitution. He said discussions with the IMF Managing Director focused on Sri Lanka’s restored stability, confidence in the Government, and prospects for recovery, rather than any separate demand to further increase reserves. He added that the improved stability was creating conditions for renewed public confidence and elections. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →