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

8 January 2026 AI summary The Minister, responding on behalf of the Finance Minister, provided data requested on quarterly economic growth rates, annual inflation and annual growth for 2004–2014, noting that clarification had been sought because “ratio of the national account” was not clearly defined. He explained that GDP growth figures use constant prices and different base years, while inflation was historically measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index and later by the National Consumer Price Index. He stated that GDP deflators and consumer inflation figures are not expected to reconcile exactly because they measure different price baskets, and that no strict annual reconciliation with money supply data is applicable due to changes in velocity. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Public Finance Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary The Minister said the Government had stabilized the economy and was now seeking production-oriented investment, with the Port City positioned as a key vehicle for that purpose. He outlined amendments to the 2021 Port City Act to replace discretionary concessions with rules-based incentives, including capped corporate tax holidays tied to investment and employment, limits on personal income tax exemptions, and strengthened filing, audit, and monitoring requirements. He also stated that offshore banking oversight would be reinforced through the Foreign Exchange Act and Central Bank powers, and rejected claims that statutory public finance reports under Act No. 44 of 2024 had not been submitted on time. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved that Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara left the Chair and Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake assumed it. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that no procedural errors had occurred in relation to the Rs. 500 billion Supplementary Estimate, noting that the documents required under Section 10 of the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, had been tabled and could be resubmitted if necessary. He said capital reallocations were transfers within Heads and did not increase any aggregate amount, and asked Members to identify any specific missing document, adding that he would address the details in his reply speech. Ministerial Statements and Points of Order Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
7 January 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Minister tabled an answer confirming that two Central Bank-owned holiday bungalow buildings are located near the Somawathiya bridge and are managed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The response stated that the Central Bank spent Rs. 50,606,995 on their construction in 2010 and that both buildings are currently used as holiday bungalows. Oral Question: Holiday Bungalows in Somawathiya National Park (Q.1631/2025) Public Finance Read →
19 December 2025 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha outlined a supplementary estimate allocating Rs. 500 billion in 2026 for disaster relief and reconstruction, using emergency provisions under Section 16 of the State Finance Management Act to exceed the normal primary expenditure cap with parliamentary approval. He said 2025 relief needs were met through contingency funds and virements without additional borrowing or taxes, and that the 2026 allocation would similarly be funded from improved fiscal performance and cash buffers. He described immediate relief measures and longer-term reconstruction plans, said future disaster risk-transfer mechanisms would be redesigned after past insurance losses, and cited revenue overperformance, growth figures, debt-management progress, and governance arrangements for the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) EnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
19 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Minister moved a motion seeking parliamentary approval to allocate up to Rs. 500 billion from the Consolidated Fund, other government funds, or loan proceeds for the 2026 financial year. The allocation is under Head 240, Department of National Budget, for Development Programme expenditure, comprising Rs. 150 billion in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 350 billion in capital expenditure, with Cabinet approval obtained. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Public Finance Read →
18 December 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning requested time from the Speaker to provide answers to the questions raised. Question by Private Notice: Credit Expansion and Ministerial Statement on Tourism Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha presented an Order made under Section 66 of the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act relating to the Department of Labour. He moved that the Order be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Tabled: Reports, Supplementary Estimate, Regulations, Orders and Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Moved a series of Government motions, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, seeking approval for finance-related regulations, orders and rules already gazetted and presented to Parliament. These included measures under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act on incentives for Projects of Strategic Importance, the Finance Act, the Value Added Tax Act, the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, the Excise Ordinance, and the Imports and Exports (Control) Act. Each motion noted Cabinet approval or notification and was put to the House and agreed to. Procedural - Bills and Resolutions: Second Reading and Approvals Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved committee-stage amendments to a Bill, including commencement dates for provisions and a revised provision on financial services under section 111A of the Value Added Tax Act, after which the Bill was passed as amended. He then moved the Second and Third Readings of the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill on behalf of the Minister of Finance, with amendments setting operative dates of 1 January 2026, and it was passed as amended. He also moved the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Bill on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education; it proceeded through Committee without amendment and was passed. Procedural - Bills and Resolutions: Second Reading and Approvals Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved that the Bill be read a Second time. The motion was agreed to, the Bill was read a Second time, and Parliament resolved to refer it to a Committee of the whole Parliament. Procedural - Bills and Resolutions: Second Reading and Approvals Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved that the Appropriation Bill, as amended, be read a Third time. He also sought leave to correct typographical, grammatical, and numbering errors in the Bill’s Schedules and to make consequential amendments to the detailed Estimates and related documents. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Third Reading and Division Vote Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary At the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, amendments were moved to revise Government Officers’ Advance Account limits for the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Ministry of Housing, Buildings and Water Supply. The proposed changes substitute new figures for Items 11701 and 12301, respectively, in line with Extraordinary Gazette No. 2458/65 dated 18 October 2025. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Public Finance Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary An amendment was moved at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026. The amendment concerned Head 241, Programme 01. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary At the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, an amendment was moved relating to Head 240, Programme 02. The intervention was procedural and did not include further details on the substance or purpose of the amendment. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, relating to Head 237, Programme 01. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary An amendment was moved at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, relating to Head 102, Programme 02. The intervention was procedural, with no further policy argument or explanation provided. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha moved a Committee Stage amendment to the Appropriation Bill, 2026. The amendment proposes revising the Ministry’s allocations to Rs. 330.584 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 227.948 billion for capital expenditure. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Public Finance Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha defended the Government’s response to the recent cyclone, stating that agencies acted once the cyclone’s path became clear and that evacuations and relief were provided promptly, while rejecting allegations of misuse or privatization of the National Disaster Management Fund. He outlined Finance Ministry allocations under the 2026 Appropriation Bill, including recurrent and capital expenditure, social protection, SOE equity injections, revenue IT modernization, and externally funded projects. He also reported on fiscal management measures under the State Finance Management Act, debt management reforms, public debt levels, Treasury cash operations, planning priorities, and MSME credit programmes, arguing that fiscal discipline and accountability have been maintained. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Budget Debate on Disaster Response and Government Allocations InfrastructurePublic FinanceSecurity & Defence Read →