Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P.

New Democratic Front (NDF)· National List

Profession: Chartered Accountant

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 694 #4 of 225·#1 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 359 speeches

Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Debate

Activity by sitting

114 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.

Speech history

694 speeches

17 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that eight months had passed since he submitted his parliamentary question, implying concern over the delay in receiving a response. Oral Questions and Supplementaries (Q.1-Q.4 and Standing Order 27(2) Question) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the prolonged delay in answering a Question submitted seven to eight months earlier. He noted that while Standing Order 27(2) allows time to be sought for replies, requesting another two weeks after such a delay was unreasonable and sought an explanation for the delay. Oral Questions and Supplementaries (Q.1-Q.4 and Standing Order 27(2) Question) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake briefly indicated that he would ask the Question, making a procedural intervention rather than a substantive speech. Oral Questions and Supplementaries (Q.1-Q.4 and Standing Order 27(2) Question) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
13 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that the Budget largely continues fiscal and open-economy policies begun under UNP-led governments, and welcomed continuity with fiscal discipline while urging the Government to acknowledge earlier stabilization measures. He questioned the presentation of a surplus despite planned borrowing, saying the liquidity buffer has an opportunity cost and should instead be used to lower interest rates and finance high-return development projects. He warned that rupee depreciation increases the debt burden, noted that several ministry allocations decline in real terms under IMF-related spending limits, and called for stronger investment, revenue growth, and pro-growth capital expenditure. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that SMEs and small manufacturers are under severe cash-flow pressure, citing tea auctions where buyers must finance an additional 18 per cent despite falling prices and refund delays of 75–106 days. He said these conditions make importing from countries such as India and China quicker and more attractive than local manufacturing in sectors including printing, rubber, textiles and ceramics. He asked the Deputy Minister to examine the issue, noting falling tea prices and a reported USD 450 million balance of payments deficit in September. Ministerial Statements: Debt Sustainability and SVAT Impact Public FinanceAgricultureEmployment Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake began posing a question to the Deputy Minister, but the provided excerpt is incomplete and contains no substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue to summarize. Ministerial Statements: Debt Sustainability and SVAT Impact Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that his manner of raising questions follows precedents set by former Members, including President Anura Dissanayake when he was a Party Leader. He asked that past parliamentary practice be reviewed to assess the propriety of his approach. Procedural: Question by Private Notice - Financial Bankruptcy Declaration (SO 27(2)) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake briefly requested the Speaker to allow him a short period of time to speak. Procedural: Question by Private Notice - Financial Bankruptcy Declaration (SO 27(2)) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake sought clarifications under Standing Order 27(2) on the April 2022 suspension of external debt service, arguing that the “pre-emptive default” was announced without prior parliamentary approval despite Parliament’s constitutional control over public finance under Article 148. He asked who authorized the decision within the Central Bank, Ministry of Finance or Executive, whether Cabinet, the Attorney-General, the Monetary Board or Parliament approved it, and whether relevant documents would be tabled. He also requested details on measures to restore fiscal credibility and credit ratings, possible legislative reforms such as a Sovereign Debt Management and Accountability Act, recalibration of the IMF programme to protect citizens, lender conditions for renewed borrowing access, and an assessment of the economic and fiscal costs of the default. Procedural: Question by Private Notice - Financial Bankruptcy Declaration (SO 27(2)) Justice & Human RightsParliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that the previous remarks were not incorrect and that he was adding to them. He referred to a similar Budget presentation on 28 October 2016, noting that a proposal had been brought to reduce the VAT threshold. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public Finance Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake rose on a point of order, noting that his name had been mentioned in the debate. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake objected to Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe selectively citing him or his side as examples and referred to earlier comments on VAT. He appeared to dispute the Minister’s characterization and sought to clarify his position in the context of the VAT discussion. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Public Finance Read →
10 November 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a point of order, after which the Speaker recognized him to proceed. No substantive issue or proposal was stated in the provided exchange. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a question under Standing Order 27(2) on the 25-year performance of the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and the need to upgrade economic cooperation with India through the proposed ETCA. He asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism to address the trade deficit, non-tariff barriers, stalled ETCA negotiations, safeguards, value-chain integration, investment and technology priorities, professional mobility through mutual recognition agreements, and sectoral opportunities in tourism, ports and banking. He also requested accountability measures, including tabling a 25-year review of the ISFTA, in the context of the President’s Budget Speech. Question by Private Notice: Benefits of Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and Negotiations on ETCA Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
24 October 2025 AI summary Requested that the answers be presented on the 8th. Procedural Matters: Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Security Concerns Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 October 2025 AI summary Raised concerns that high taxes on the gem industry, including 30 per cent corporate tax and 18 per cent VAT, discourage registration and declaration of domestic earnings. He urged the Minister to make the system more user-friendly, restore conditions to retain processing of Sri Lankan gems locally, and consider duty-free facilities or per-carat relief to increase revenue and help achieve the USD 2 billion export target. Ministerial Statement: Export of Rough Gems and Foreign Currency EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
24 October 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister to clarify whether there is no limit on bringing US dollars into Sri Lanka. The intervention was a brief question seeking confirmation on foreign currency inflow rules. Ministerial Statement: Export of Rough Gems and Foreign Currency Public Finance Read →
24 October 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought clarification on how legal effect would be given to the year’s Cabinet changes through a complementary estimate. He asked whether this would be done through the Budget or by another procedure, and when it would occur. Ministerial Statement: Amendments to Appropriation Bill 2026 and Ministerial Reshuffle Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 October 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a Point of Order concerning questions under Standing Order 27(2), stating that such questions are used to place known facts before the House and the public when the Prime Minister and Cabinet are present. He argued that the newly elected Government appears to be continuing previous policies rather than ending what he described as a “76-year curse,” and specifically questioned the continued presence of a former Central Bank official. Point of Order and Procedural Matters - Budget-related Discussion Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
24 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government’s and Central Bank’s decision to maintain a 5 per cent inflation target, arguing that it weakens real incomes, savings, competitiveness, and investor confidence. He proposed shifting to a 2–3 per cent target alongside supply-side reforms, and asked whether higher interest rates and rupee depreciation impose major fiscal costs of about Rs. 160 billion per percentage point and Rs. 45 billion per rupee respectively. He also sought clarification on whether the Ministry of Finance has assessed the impact on public savings and whether the current target undermines long-term investment, export, and FDI goals. Point of Order and Procedural Matters - Budget-related Discussion Cost of LivingPublic FinanceEmployment Read →