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

10 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning requested two weeks to gather the necessary data to respond to a question directed to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions and Government Answers (Questions 342/2024, 7/561/2025, 9/984/2025, 10/1120/2025, 8/625/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha said the Government’s policy statement sets a long-term direction for achieving broad-based prosperity and a dignified standard of living, and argued that progress should be judged against stabilization and direction rather than a complete transformation within 100 days. He stated that the Government has stabilized the economy after crisis conditions, citing returning growth, low inflation within the flexible inflation-targeting framework, improved fiscal discipline, and strengthened revenues. He contrasted this with what he described as unfulfilled pledges, corruption, debt accumulation, and economic collapse under previous administrations. He also said stalled projects such as the Central Expressway are being restarted through renegotiation and loss minimization, while rejecting claims that the Government accepted higher-cost financing from China Exim Bank. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Final Speeches Cost of LivingPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
8 October 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Supplementary Estimate for the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation seeks to reallocate savings within existing Budget provisions, not obtain additional funds, with about Rs. 36 billion to be directed to priority activities. He disputed Opposition claims regarding the President’s expenditure head and debt management, stating that allocations must be compared on a proper basis and that the Government is managing debt within targets to reduce it below 95 per cent of GDP. He also said the Government chose to proceed with and accelerate the Central Expressway work, while managing Exim Bank-related financing risks through negotiated interest-rate parameters. Debate: Supplementary Sum - Head 117 - Programme 02 (Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
25 September 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that the removal of the Simplified VAT (SVAT) mechanism is not merely an IMF requirement but is based on concerns that it is an unsound system causing revenue leakage and enabling fraud and corruption. He said, following Inland Revenue Department analysis, SVAT would be removed from the 1st of the following month and replaced with risk-based VAT refund processing. He stated that exporters should receive refunds within an average of 45 days, with low-risk claimants eligible within 20 days if they submit income tax returns, as part of efforts to improve revenue administration integrity. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
25 September 2025 AI summary Cabinet-approved tourism vehicle import concessions for 750 cars and 250 buses were extended by three months to 30 September 2025 due to technical delays in clearing vehicles, and the relevant Gazette was presented to Parliament for approval. The Minister said the Government has removed vehicle import restrictions in stages while maintaining economic stabilization as its first-year priority, citing controlled inflation, growth above earlier expectations, and increased private-sector credit. He urged reliance on official data and said investor confidence, legal reforms, and policy stability are necessary for continued growth under the Government’s development programme. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Cost of LivingInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
25 September 2025 AI summary The Minister moved approval of regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2449/60 of 15 August 2025 and presented on 12 September 2025, with Cabinet approval notified. He explained that the regulations relate to the earlier suspension of vehicle imports during the foreign exchange crisis following the economic collapse and said they are being brought forward as conditions normalize. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
25 September 2025 AI summary Loans are governed by established regulations and were described as outside the scope of the main question. The Minister said the figure of 513 affected employees was incorrect and attributed the issue to unauthorised salary increments, noting that Circular 01/2025 regularises salaries in three phases so that by 1 January 2026 no employee will be negatively affected. He added that disparities affecting 77 identified employees will be resolved, while any interim relief must await the court’s determination because the matter is pending before it. Oral Answers to Questions Public FinanceEmployment Read →
25 September 2025 AI summary The Acting Minister said the ETF salary issue stems from irregular salary increases granted in 2006, 2013 and 2015 contrary to circulars, which created disparities. He stated that Management Services Circular 01/2025 requires verification of salary conversions since 2006 and that the ETF Board has regularised salaries accordingly, with the increase paid from May 2025. He said there has been no salary cut, only the removal of unauthorised increments or allowances, and noted that the matter is before court in CA/WRIT/709/2025 following union protests. Oral Answers to Questions Public FinanceEmployment Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha responded that the Central Bank would consider the points raised and manage the existing swap arrangement with the People’s Bank of China as part of efforts to build net international reserves. He stated that the exchange rate had remained stable without unnecessary volatility and that the Central Bank would take necessary measures as required. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Executive Presidency and SVAT Public Finance Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha clarified that the IMF-linked requirement concerns Net International Reserves rather than Gross Reserves, and said the Central Bank’s US$1.2 billion foreign exchange purchase was part of managing that position. He noted strong export earnings, remittances, and tourism income, and argued that the Central Bank should be allowed to act independently in maintaining required reserve levels and meeting future targets. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Executive Presidency and SVAT Public Finance Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question, stating that the projected US$7.2 billion in gross official reserves by end-2025 is an IMF projection, not a binding performance criterion under the IMF Extended Fund Facility; the relevant monitored target is Net International Reserves. He said Sri Lanka had met the end-2024 NIR target and was on track for the June and December 2025 targets, supported by Central Bank foreign exchange purchases exceeding US$1.2 billion by end-August 2025. He added that there was no plan to restrict imports, monetary policy decisions remain with the Monetary Policy Board, reserve and debt service data are published regularly, and the Government and Central Bank would continue measures to build reserves and strengthen investor confidence. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Executive Presidency and SVAT Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development requested a two-week period to provide the answer to the matter raised. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Executive Presidency and SVAT Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development moved the adjournment of Parliament. The presiding member put the question to the House. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the relevant Ministers, approval was sought for two supplementary allocations for the 2025 financial year. The first was Rs. 13.2856 billion in capital expenditure under the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing for the completion of the Kandy North Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project, and the second was Rs. 1.5 billion in recurrent expenditure under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs for nutritious food packages for expectant mothers. Both motions noted Cabinet approval and were agreed to by Parliament. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Public FinanceInfrastructureWomen & Children Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment to Clause 15 to insert a definition of “gross negligence” into the Bill, specifying conduct done with awareness of an unjust risk and disregard of reasonable care to avert it. The amendment was agreed to, the remaining clauses and title were approved, and the Bill was reported with amendments. He then moved the Third Reading and sought leave to correct linguistic, printing, grammatical, numbering, and consequential errors, after which the Bill was passed. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment to Clause 8 of the Bill, requiring members of the Surcharge Review Committee to disclose material conflicts of interest before assuming duties and to recuse themselves from related discussions or decisions. The amendment was agreed to, Clause 8 was passed as amended, and Clauses 9 to 14 were also ordered to stand part of the Bill. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary Moved amendments to the Bill on behalf of the Minister of Justice and National Unity, including revised wording on page 3 and a new requirement for the Surcharge Review Committee to publish semi-annual reports on the National Audit Office website. The proposed reporting provisions cover Auditor-General recommendations, surcharge determinations and variations, recoveries within time limits, interest details, and recovery actions initiated. The amendments were agreed to, and Clause 6 as amended and Clause 7 were ordered to stand part of the Bill. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 September 2025 AI summary (Dr.) Anil Jayantha outlined proposed reforms to strengthen audit independence, identifying administrative independence and financial independence as key elements. He noted that some administrative functions would remain with the Audit Service Commission, surcharge decisions would be handled by a new Review Committee, and audit budgetary needs would remain accountable to Parliament through the Treasury to improve efficiency and public finance accountability. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary The Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development stated that the points raised would be taken into consideration. The sitting was then adjourned by the Presiding Member, with Parliament scheduled to meet again at 9.30 a.m. on 10 September 2025. Adjournment Debate: Tourism Promotion and Finance Company Interest Charges Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary The Minister said the matter would be examined further, noting that the Central Bank had indicated a final amount of Rs. 197,000. He stated that if the relevant party disagrees, the facts would be studied and presented to the Central Bank to consider possible further action. Adjournment Debate: Tourism Promotion and Finance Company Interest Charges Public Finance Read →