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

6 August 2025 AI summary The Member rejected claims that a government visit for discussion had been an attack on a protest, stating that the NPP Government would not obstruct democratic rights to protest or express views. He said the proposed Amendment Bill is intended to enable future transformational changes in the energy sector and invited support for its passage. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public FinanceEnvironment Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka said the amendments to electricity sector legislation are intended to strengthen state intervention and regulation while retaining scope for private sector participation. He argued that the 2024 Act weakened state control, particularly by allowing only about 50 per cent state ownership in the transmission company and enabling share divestment, and said the new amendments would make the transmission company fully state-owned. He stated that the reforms align with the NPP policy framework and would establish a national energy policy basis while restructuring the CEB into five principal state companies rather than 12 ad hoc entities. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing stated that the question involved technical issues and required policy decisions. He said a comprehensive response would be provided after sufficient time for consideration. Oral Question (Standing Order 27(2)): Review of Policies in the Leasing Sector Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka stated that the President’s Fund is intended to support poor people with health and urgent needs, while acknowledging concerns about its misuse. He said that no action had been taken from 2014 to 2025 to verify whether scholarship recipients had returned or fulfilled their obligations, and undertook to gather information on agreements and compliance before taking appropriate action. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Anura Karunathilaka answered Question 569/2025 regarding President’s Fund payments for higher education. He said funds were granted for foreign scholarships between 2005 and 2014, tabling an annexure with recipient details, and listed annual totals amounting to payments for 263 individuals. He stated that an audit observed funds had been provided to children, relatives and friends of Ministers and Members of Parliament, but that available records do not identify who returned to Sri Lanka, so no legal or recovery action has been taken against scholarship recipients who may not have returned. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceEducation Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Under the Construction Industry Development Act, No. 33 of 2014, the Minister presented regulations published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2430/13 of 1 April 2025. He moved that the regulations be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development, Construction and Housing, and the House agreed. Papers: Reports and Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka urged members across Government and Opposition, regardless of language or religion, to support the proposed education reforms as a generational responsibility. He framed the reforms as necessary for positive social transformation and for securing a better future for children. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Education Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary The Minister argued that the Government’s education reform agenda is based on a policy process developed through public consultation since 2018 and reflected in the NPP policy document “A Prosperous Country - A Beautiful Life,” rather than being an ad hoc proposal. He said the reforms aim to ensure 13 years of schooling by integrating structured vocational education into the school curriculum, noting high dropout rates before O/L and limited progression to university. He also highlighted the need to address disparities among schools, particularly in remote areas with shortages of teachers and limited capacity to provide quality education. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Education Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka stated that the government is uncovering alleged links and actors behind the Easter Sunday attacks, including claims relating to Pillayan and associates of Zahran. He said the National People’s Power government, in office for six to seven months, has accepted responsibility for fulfilling its promises to reveal the truth and deliver justice. He pledged that the matter would be resolved within the government’s first term, rather than being left to a future administration. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Security & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka stated that Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, was in Batticaloa Prison in connection with the Joseph Pararajasingham murder case at the time of the Zion Church bombing. He highlighted an alleged remark by Pillayan to an associate immediately after the 9.05 a.m. explosion, suggesting prior awareness or identification of the attack as a suicide bombing. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Law & OrderSecurity & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka condemned the Easter Sunday attacks and argued that they must be understood in the context of political extremism, failures in national security, and attempts by former power blocs to regain authority through fear and communal narratives. He alleged that false claims about an LTTE resurgence, including in relation to the Vavunativu police killings, were promoted with the involvement of some intelligence elements, while responsibility also lay with the Maithripala Sirisena–Ranil Wickremesinghe Government’s internal power struggle and inaction. He criticized former officials and Ministers who, despite prior warnings or responsibility at the time, now use national security arguments in Parliament. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionSecurity & DefenceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka clarified that the matter being cited was not contained in the Presidential Commission report but in the Imam Committee report. He challenged the other party to identify the specific volume and location supporting their claim. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka clarified that the names referred to by Hon. Chanaka do not appear in the available Presidential Commission reports. He stated that the references are instead found in a separate committee report led by an Imam, which he described as “Ranil’s committee,” and argued that it should not be treated as a Presidential Commission report. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka stated that the objective is to complete the work and hand it over to the Ja-Ela Pradeshiya Sabha. He said the proposals made would be discussed with the Pradeshiya Sabha and implemented within its management framework. Oral Question: Ragama–Peralanda Tank Development (Q.6511/2025) Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Anura Karunathilaka said the Government was concerned that Rs. 199.8 million had been spent from an estimated Rs. 233 million without adequate results. He explained that, given the public funds already committed, the decision was to complete remaining essential works such as safety fencing and bridge strengthening to secure usable benefits from the project. Oral Question: Ragama–Peralanda Tank Development (Q.6511/2025) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Existing procedures require acceptance of cost estimates from relevant agencies when their concurrence is needed for projects. The Minister indicated willingness to consult the relevant Ministry on the possibility of providing relief specifically for community water projects, in response to a Member’s proposal. Oral Question: Community Water Projects - Costs and Progress Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Preliminary inquiries into some projects have been completed and their recommendations are being implemented. Anura Karunathilaka said that if specific details on failed projects are provided, the authorities will reinvestigate, determine whether failures were due to political reasons or administrative inefficiency, and take action based on the findings. Oral Question: Community Water Projects - Costs and Progress Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary In response to a question on community water projects in the Galle District, Hon. Anura Karunathilaka stated that annexes provide project details and completion timelines. He said only 9 of 29 projects had completed construction and provided water, with about 593 of the planned 4,887 beneficiary families receiving supply, indicating a low success rate for projects planned and implemented during 2019–2021. He added that while investigations had not established procurement corruption, weaknesses in contract administration involving some community-based organizations and contractors had been identified, with preliminary recommendations to be acted upon. Oral Question: Community Water Projects - Costs and Progress InfrastructureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary No allocation was made in the 2025 Budget for the relevant component, so no amount can be stated at present. The Minister said the matter could be considered subject to provisions being made in the 2026 Budget. Oral Question: Drinking Water Supply Projects and Deduru Oya Reservoir (Q. 793/2025) Public Finance Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Grama Niladhari Divisions referred to are among nine not included in the original plan. He said detailed expenditure figures were not immediately available, but estimated that about USD 27 million is needed to complete the works, with discussions under way with the Eximbank of Korea to secure the funding. Oral Question: Drinking Water Supply Projects and Deduru Oya Reservoir (Q. 793/2025) Land & HousingPublic Finance Read →