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

20 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that the Paddy Marketing Board’s limited purchasing, around 3% of Maha season output, prevents the establishment of a fair paddy price and has allowed market distortion by large purchasers. He asked the Deputy Minister to identify the top paddy buyers and proposed using existing bank lending to support about 4,000 youth entrepreneurs, each handling 50,000 kg, as a structural solution. He urged the Government to adopt the “radical change” it has promised and take up this entrepreneurship-based approach. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Public FinanceEmploymentAgriculture Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake requested the Deputy Minister to identify the three entities that purchased the largest share of paddy, stating that they accounted for 68 per cent of purchases. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Agriculture Read →
20 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for detailed information on the Paddy Marketing Board, including its establishment date, district-wise paddy purchases, procurement centres, storage facilities, and the Government’s share of total harvest purchases over the past three years. He also sought data on State bank financing to paddy mill owners, their purchases by quantity and value, and whether a district-level system would be introduced to convert paddy into rice and distribute it. Oral Question: Paddy Marketing Board - Purchase of Paddy (Q.310/2024) Agriculture Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake thanked the Minister for the reply and highlighted the foreign exchange potential of tourism and worker remittances. He recalled the 2016 policy setting a US$300 minimum for migrant workers and urged the Minister to review and raise the effective minimum to about US$350, arguing that current earnings of roughly US$175–250 limit monthly remittance inflows. Ministerial Statements Foreign AffairsPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
19 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a Question by Private Notice on severe shortages of essential medicines in state hospitals, attributing them to procurement delays and systemic, financial and administrative failures. He sought detailed information on current stock shortages, delayed or failed tenders, institutional responsibilities, procurement timelines, e-procurement and stock-monitoring systems, and reforms recommended by oversight bodies. He also asked whether the Government would introduce a legally enforceable National Medicines Procurement Policy, expand local pharmaceutical production, and use transparent tenders with approved private suppliers for urgent needs. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Medicine Procurement Delays Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformHealthcare Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake warned that Sri Lankan exporters cannot quickly replace the high-value US market with alternatives such as India or SAARC, noting that new markets may take two to four years to develop. He said high domestic taxes, labour and electricity costs are reducing competitiveness, while exporters are already facing thinner margins, stalled new orders and cash-flow pressures despite a temporary tariff suspension. He urged that the planned VAT digitalization and abolition of SVAT be implemented seamlessly, and called for priority attention to existing US, UK and EU markets that support around 1.5 million jobs. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Public FinanceEmploymentForeign Affairs Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns that emerging regional alignments among major economies could disadvantage smaller exporting countries such as Sri Lanka. Referring to Sri Lanka’s USD 3.2 billion in exports to the United States, he asked whether possible universal tax arrangements and reduced cost disparities would weaken Sri Lanka’s competitiveness, and urged the Minister to anticipate these risks in ongoing negotiations. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that his clarification was based on the Answer previously given. No further substantive issue, proposal, or question was included in the recorded remark. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a series of questions on trade policy, focusing on the impact of the United States’ new tariff regime, the status of Sri Lanka’s discussions with US officials, and measures to protect key exports such as apparel, rubber products and tea. He also sought information on market diversification, reciprocal trade policy, and whether economic analyses on inflation, supply chains and employment would be presented to Parliament. He further questioned the Government on EU GSP Plus negotiations, including stakeholder engagement, labour law reforms, the PTA, the Online Safety Act, and contingency plans if preferences are lost. He also asked whether Sri Lanka is pursuing a bilateral or protective trade arrangement with the United Kingdom in response to the UK-India FTA and potential risks to Sri Lankan exporters. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Public FinanceForeign AffairsEmployment Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that Sri Lanka needs to increase its GDP. No specific policy measures or proposals were outlined in the speech. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Public Finance Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that Sri Lanka should support locally produced renewable energy, including battery storage, as a cheaper alternative to oil-based power generation. He questioned why paying local entrepreneurs Rs. 25–30 per unit for renewable electricity is seen as problematic when oil-based electricity costs Rs. 70–100 per unit, and linked the proposal to economic and GDP benefits. He referenced IMF representatives’ advice to “think outside the box” as support for such an approach. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Public FinanceEnvironment Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake briefly prefaced his remarks by stating that he was speaking from the perspective of a former Minister. No substantive policy position, proposal, question, or demand is contained in the provided excerpt. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged the Minister to expedite renewable energy initiatives, citing the risk of a worsening oil situation amid the Iran–Israel conflict. He asked why the Government was proceeding with renewables in the current manner and called for faster action at least until the international crisis is resolved. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy EnvironmentForeign Affairs Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake briefly indicates that he has been granted time to pose a question and proceeds to do so. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand is stated in the excerpt provided. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that the issue under discussion should not be viewed solely as Sri Lanka’s oil problem. He appeared to frame it as a broader concern, though no specific proposal or demand was included in the excerpt. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Public Finance Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake noted that he had raised the matter under Standing Order 27(2) and was now posing a supplementary question. The available extract is incomplete and does not specify the substantive issue, proposal, or demand being pursued. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake warned that Iran’s reported intention to close the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a fuel crisis and argued that Sri Lanka’s response should be to accelerate renewable energy. He said this was why he raised the matter earlier in the day, indicating concern that the issue was not being adequately addressed when brought up with ministers. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy EnvironmentForeign Affairs Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake briefly stated that solar power generation can be stored using battery systems. The remark points to the role of energy storage in supporting renewable electricity use. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy Environment Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that rising oil prices due to Middle East tensions should not be used to question or reduce renewable energy use. He said proposals had been submitted to retain sub-10 MW power supplies locally without foreign tenders, and requested that renewable energy usage be maintained at least at current levels. Procedural: Israel-Iran Conflict Discussion and Ministerial Statement on Energy EnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
17 June 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake formally posed a question in Parliament. No substantive details or context of the question are provided in the excerpt. Oral Question Q.307/2024 (Standalone, Deferred) Parliamentary Procedure Read →