Hon. R.M. Gamini Rathnayake, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 18 #181 of 225·#119 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

18 speeches

10 June 2026 AI summary R.M. Gamini Rathnayake defended the Government’s economic management and rejected the Opposition’s claim that the economy is collapsing, citing a reported Budget surplus of Rs. 116 billion in the first quarter of 2026 after earlier deficits and referring to Bloomberg’s recognition of the Sri Lankan rupee as the strongest in South Asia. He argued that past factory closures occurred under previous administrations and criticized the Opposition’s record on employment and apparel-sector policy. He supported the proposed Central Bank rules as legal tools to stabilize the foreign exchange market and maintain rupee strength, contrasting them with what he described as the Opposition’s preference for bans and rigid controls. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Foreign AffairsPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake supported the regulations and orders before Parliament, arguing that the Government has stabilized the economy and created conditions to reduce prices of essential goods. He cited wage increases for public, private, and estate workers, expanded social assistance, anti-corruption and asset recovery measures, removal of MPs’ pensions, lower inflation, higher growth, improved revenue collection, increased remittances, export growth, and stock market gains as evidence of recovery. He stated that savings and improved fiscal performance are being directed toward public relief, including support for schoolchildren and easing commodity prices. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Public FinanceCost of LivingCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake presented the Second Report of the Committee on Public Petitions for the First Session of the Tenth Parliament under Standing Order 125(5). He stated that the report covers observations on 65 petitions examined between 1 June and 31 August 2025, with recommendations to grant relief in 25 cases, and thanked committee members, state officials, and Secretariat staff for their support. Committee Report - Public Petitions Second Report Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 November 2025 AI summary During the Energy Ministry estimates debate, R. M. Gamini Rathnayake criticized a former Deputy Minister over an alleged unpaid CEB electricity bill linked to a 2019 event. He said the Government had abandoned previous plans to restructure the CEB into 12 companies and instead, through the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act, would operate it under four state companies while protecting employees, noting voluntary retirement applications and secured jobs. He argued that future energy policy would shift away from costly fossil fuels toward renewables, targeting 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and addressing projected demand growth through more transparent procurement and long-term planning. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformEnvironment Read →
19 November 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake outlined the 2026 allocations under the Ministry of Labour, including funds for labour law enforcement, worker welfare, occupational safety, and employment-related institutions. He said measures are being taken to improve access to EPF through unified data systems and criticized past political misuse of workers’ funds. He highlighted a Rs. 5,000 million Budget allocation to protect EPF, ETF, and gratuity entitlements of workers in ten loss-making State-owned enterprises, and requested ministerial action to recover long-standing EPF arrears with surcharges. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
14 November 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake defended the 2026 Budget as the Government’s second budget and as a continuation of measures begun after the National People’s Power assumed office in 2024. He argued that the Budget maintains stability without new burdensome taxes or new borrowing, and said Opposition criticism lacked policy substance, citing vehicle procurement claims as misleading because the allocation covered 2,700 public sector vehicles rather than vehicles for MPs. He also stated that proposed state-owned enterprise reforms would protect workers’ EPF, ETF and gratuity entitlements through Treasury support where closures or divestments occur. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Gamini Ratnayake argued that health care should cover the full continuum of services and that patient safety and quality control must be strengthened through the proposed regulations. He said household out-of-pocket health spending in Sri Lanka has risen to an excessive level despite free health care, making medicine price regulation necessary. Referring to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015, and Gazette Extraordinary No. 2446/34 of 21 July 2025, he supported empowering the NMRA to set maximum retail prices for medicines and urged the Opposition to support the measure. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Public FinanceHealthcare Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake supported the NMRA regulations, framing them as part of a patient-centred health policy grounded in the right to health. He said the regulations aim to improve affordability while maintaining quality and ensuring continuity of supply for essential health services and medicines. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Healthcare Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake supported the regulations under the Public Debt Management Act and Foreign Exchange Act, arguing that the 2022 debt crisis exposed misuse of borrowing, weak transparency, and inadequate legal frameworks. He said the 2024 Public Debt Management Act and related regulations, including the establishment of a State Debt Management Office and Committee, respond to World Bank and IMF recommendations for structured borrowing and repayment oversight. He also cited recent economic indicators, including tourism growth, higher Customs revenue, Ports Authority profits, and FDI commitments, as evidence of economic and political stabilization. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
7 August 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake tabled the First Report of the Committee on Public Petitions under Standing Order 125(5), covering observations and recommendations on 70 petitions from the First Session of the Tenth Parliament. He stated that the Committee had made fair and impartial recommendations based on legal and relevant considerations, and requested action under Standing Orders 125(6) and 125(7) to address injustices suffered by petitioners. He thanked Committee members and supporting officials, and moved that the Report be printed, which was agreed to. Tabling of Reports and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
15 March 2025 AI summary Hon. R.M. Gamini Ratnayake stated that petitions submitted to the Ninth Parliament have lapsed and must be re-presented to the current Parliament. He reported that 52 petitions are scheduled and pending, while 34 petitions from the Tenth Parliament have already been examined and concluded, with further Petitions Committee meetings scheduled. Procedural: Point of Order on Public Petitions and Committee Discussion (Q.429/2025 Answer) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
15 March 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake stated that 543 public petitions remained unexamined following the dissolution of the Ninth Parliament, while 351 petitions had been submitted to the Tenth Parliament. He highlighted the backlog before the Committee on Public Petitions arising from the parliamentary dissolution. Procedural: Point of Order on Public Petitions and Committee Discussion (Q.429/2025 Answer) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
28 February 2025 AI summary A petition from Mr. W.D. Senevirathna of Ganemulla, Horagolla, was presented to Parliament by Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake. Petitions - Citizens' Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake supported the 2025 Budget, stating that it fairly distributes the benefits of production and provides record allocations of Rs. 619 billion for education and Rs. 604 billion for health. He also highlighted funding for State digitalization as part of a new economic direction. Responding to Opposition criticism that the Budget is IMF-driven and underfunds key sectors, he cited an international survey indicating increased Government popularity from 24 per cent to 62 per cent within less than six months. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) EducationHealthcarePublic Finance Read →
25 February 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake said the inaugural Budget of the National People’s Power Government lays a foundation for advancing the country by reshaping its social, economic and political direction. He identified three main pillars: shifting to a production-based economy, involving all regions and sectors of the population in economic activity, and distributing the benefits of production fairly across groups including workers, public and private sector employees, estate communities, fishers, youth, children in care, and persons with disabilities. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Public FinanceEmploymentCost of Living Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake supported the Motion to abolish MPs’ privileges and pensions, stating that people’s representatives should serve without such benefits. He noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had initiated legal steps to reduce or abolish privileges for MPs, the President and Ministers, and that a committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Chitrasiri had recommended such reforms. He urged that the Motion be enacted into law and said the Government agreed with the Opposition Member Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s proposal. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
7 February 2025 AI summary R. M. Gamini Rathnayake addressed the Private Member’s Motion on abolishing MPs’ pensions, stating that although the issue has been debated repeatedly, implementation has not occurred. He said the Government is prepared to support and pass the Motion if it is brought in good faith, while providing figures on current pension payments: 330 retired MPs, 182 spouses and seven dependants receive pensions, with about Rs. 35 million paid monthly and Rs. 150 million allocated for January-April 2025. He traced the pension scheme to a 1976 decision and said the current Parliament reflects a new political culture opposed to perks and privileges. Private Members' Motion 5: Abolishing the Pension Scheme of Members of Parliament Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake defended the Government’s Clean Sri Lanka programme as a broad policy framework based on social upliftment, environmental protection and ethical development, rather than a narrow initiative as he said the Opposition portrayed it. He linked the programme to the NPP’s electoral mandate and cited crime, harassment and disability-related concerns to argue for a more humane and respectful society. He also said the Government had begun changing political culture by ending nepotism in ministerial staff, diplomatic and other appointments, and pledged to fulfil the public’s expectations. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →