Hon. Anura Karunathilaka, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy

Profession: Academician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 215 #20 of 225·#9 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

215 speeches

25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka clarified that the former North Colombo Private Medical College was integrated into the state university system as the Ragama Medical Faculty, before addressing education sector reforms and Budget support for 2026. He argued that Sri Lanka’s education system is exam-centred, unevenly resourced, insufficiently aligned with employability, innovation and lifelong learning, and constrained by limited access to advanced secondary education, STEM facilities and university entry. He said the tuition problem cannot be solved by law alone, and that reforms must combine curriculum change with teacher development, professionalization, infrastructure, administration, assessment reform and public awareness. He outlined proposed changes for Grades 6–11, including entrepreneurship and financial literacy, transversal skills, Grade 9 proficiency assessments, and advanced pathway modules in senior secondary education. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Public FinanceEducationEmployment Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka moved for parliamentary approval of two sets of civil aviation regulations published in Extraordinary Gazettes Nos. 2422/38 and 2422/39 on 06.02.2025 and presented on 13.11.2025. The regulations were made under the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Act, No. 34 of 2002, respectively, with Cabinet approval. Both motions were agreed to. Civil Aviation Act: Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka moved that the Committee report progress and seek leave to sit again. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary An amendment to the 2026 Appropriation Bill was moved on behalf of the Minister of Finance to create a new Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation expenditure head. It reallocates recurrent and capital provisions from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Mass Transit and Civil Aviation and the Department of National Budget, in line with Extraordinary Gazette No. 2458/65 of 18 October 2025. The amendment sets out allocations for the new ministerial head and brings the Office of the Registrar of Merchant Shipping under the new Ministry. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka outlined plans to position Sri Lanka’s ports as integrated stakeholders in regional growth, including a master plan for all ports, implementation of a Port Community System at Colombo, progress on the Kerawalapitiya dry port, renewed talks with India on Kankesanthurai Port with possible US$ 63.5 million grant support, and tourism-focused development of Galle Port. He reported improved financial performance in airport operations, including at Jaffna International Airport, and said the delayed BIA Phase II project is expected to move toward contract award by mid-2026, with temporary measures introduced to ease congestion. He also highlighted continuing heavy losses at Mattala Airport, noting cumulative losses of over Rs. 66 billion since inception and the need to address its underutilization. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Cabinet approval has been obtained to develop the old Bogambara Prison as a tourist promotion centre, pending an archaeological valuation report and subsequent RFP process. He clarified that 2026 housing assistance includes Rs. 7,200 million through virement and an additional Rs. 3,000 million allocated in the Budget. He emphasized the strategic role of ports and airports in moving from stabilization to growth, noting improved SLPA revenue and profit in 2025 while acknowledging declines in port performance rankings and efficiency. He said the East Container Terminal is expected to begin operations by September next year, adding about 2.5 million TEUs of capacity, with procurement of straddle carriers underway to support this expansion. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka responded to Hon. Harsha de Silva’s concern on the alienation of State lands, stating that decisions should consider both commercial value and the intended purpose and economic impact. He said the President had announced in the Budget Speech that a policy would be formulated to govern future alienation of such lands, and that the Government would proceed on that basis. Brief Procedural Clarification on Committee Report Land & Housing Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary The Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation presented the 2024 Annual Report of Jaya Container Terminals Limited to Parliament. He proposed referring the report to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, and the proposal was agreed to. Tabling of Papers: Regulations and Annual Reports Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructure Read →
20 November 2025 AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka said the 2026 Energy Head is aimed at supporting economic growth through reliable, fairly priced energy, noting that 702 MW was added in 2025 and electricity tariffs had been reduced by 11 per cent, with a longer-term target of about one-third. He outlined plans to expand solar, wind, floating solar and future hydrogen capacity, including feasibility studies, a hydrogen policy by year-end, and related tariff, battery, safety and standards frameworks in 2026. He also detailed fossil fuel security measures, including expanding storage from about 25 days toward 45 days, new tanks at Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela, and Cabinet-approved fuel pipelines from the Dolphin Oil Terminal to Kolonnawa and Colombo Port to reduce unloading times and costs. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2023 Annual Report of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited and proposed its referral to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, which was agreed to. He also tabled two aviation-related Orders published in Extraordinary Gazettes dated 06.02.2025 under the Civil Aviation Act and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Act, and proposed that they be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, which was also agreed to. Opening and Papers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary The Minister outlined the Government’s economic performance in 2025, citing higher public salaries and pensions, restarted infrastructure projects, improved revenue without new taxes, a primary surplus, and gains in employment, remittances, exports, and tourism. He said further growth is needed to address unemployment among qualified youth and remaining hardship among vulnerable groups, and noted forthcoming legal measures in 2026 including PPP legislation, amendments to investment-related Acts, and an Investment Protection Bill. He highlighted Budget allocations for investment zones, SME development, industrial estates, collateral-free lending, and digitalization, including GovPay, GovTech, a Digital Economy Council, and the planned first digital ID by the third quarter of 2026. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate EmploymentPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
9 October 2025 AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka responded to an Adjournment Motion calling for implementation of the NPP policy statement “A Prosperous Country - A Beautiful Life,” arguing that the Government is acting consistently with it and that any remaining issues concern timing rather than policy deviation. He rejected claims that the Government had promised to cancel the IMF programme, citing the policy’s commitment to re-discuss implementation with the IMF while protecting poor and vulnerable groups. He listed welfare and education measures, including increased Aswesuma benefits, school vouchers and supplies, Mahapola allowances, Suraksha insurance allocations, and higher social welfare expenditure. He also cited increased Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise collections as evidence of progress in tax administration and public financial management. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Multiple Speakers Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka stated that a project is planned for completion within three years, with the issue expected to be resolved by around 2030. He said non-revenue water in Galle District is currently about 30 per cent, mainly due to ageing equipment and old pipelines, and that a programme, including World Bank-supported projects, is being implemented to reduce it to about 10 per cent. He added that these measures are expected to increase district water availability by about 20 per cent and provide interim relief. Oral Question: Drinking Water Shortage - Galle District Infrastructure Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the drinking water project for the coastal tourism belt from Aluthgama to Habaraduwa is planned to commence in 2027 and is included in the 2026 priority document. He said approvals are being pursued through the NWSDB Board and the National Procurement Agency, but the project could not be included in the 2026 Budget due to the time needed for NPA approval procedures. Oral Question: Drinking Water Shortage - Galle District Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that water supply interruptions in the Galle District are due to inadequate production capacity, with only 74,270 cubic metres available daily for 146,600 active connections after 30 per cent non-revenue water losses. He said the NWSDB has approved a Rs. 37 billion, 30,000 cubic metres per day treatment plant from the Hapugala intake, now before the National Procurement Agency, with foreign financing discussions under way and commencement expected in 2027. He added that an earlier 50,000 cubic litre tank project was halted during the 2021–2023 economic crisis, and that the new treatment plant is expected to address needs in coastal, adjacent, and some inland areas of Galle. Oral Question: Drinking Water Shortage - Galle District InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
7 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing presented, under Standing Order 119(4), a report on the Ministry’s observations and actions regarding matters raised by the Committee on Public Accounts. He moved that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented - Annual Reports and Ministry Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary The Minister supported the Bill to establish the National Building Research Institute, arguing that it gives a long-needed legal basis to an institution responsible for landslide risk mapping, early warnings, building safety assessments, construction criteria in hazardous areas, and related public safety functions. He contrasted this with past laws he said were used to consolidate power or benefit rulers, stating that the Government’s task is to repeal such laws while enacting necessary public-interest legislation. He also addressed unrest among CEB workers, saying the new electricity sector law keeps five successor companies fully state-owned, preserves employee rights and benefits, and already addresses many union demands, while rejecting demands he described as financially excessive or political. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Law & OrderEmploymentInfrastructure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka, as Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, formally moved that the Bill be read a Second time. The Chair then proposed the question and called on Anton Jayakody to open the debate with a 15-minute allocation. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary A Weerambugedara Water Supply Scheme has been proposed, with plans currently being prepared. Once implemented, it is expected to serve the areas previously mentioned in the question. Oral Question Q.10/2025: Alawwa Water Scheme Infrastructure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary About 80 high-elevation locations cannot be supplied through the main water supply scheme design. Studies and planning are underway to provide drinking water to 64 of these GN divisions, with implementation dependent on completion of plans and securing funding. Oral Question Q.10/2025: Alawwa Water Scheme Infrastructure Read →