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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

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
  • 14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised Question No. 302/2024 seeking details on student enrolment in Grade One and admissions to government and private universities. The question requested information relevant to the education sector, likely including comparative figures and policy implications for school and higher education access. Oral Questions and Answers Education Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake called for the establishment of a cybercrime task force with adequate support to ensure effective outcomes. He urged that it should deliver measurable success rather than remain merely rhetorical, and concluded by linking the proposal to improving Sri Lanka’s future. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Law & OrderSecurity & Defence Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake urged greater emphasis on STEM education, including coding, artificial intelligence, and robotics, to prepare students for future employment. He noted that while about 176,000 students pass the Advanced Level Examination, only around 55,000 enter government universities, and called for private universities to expand higher education opportunities. He also requested the introduction of data protection laws and linked legal reform to the issue of roughly one million pending court cases. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) EducationJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake called for value-for-money assessment of the 1.6 million public servants and urged the Government to use digitalization to improve revenue collection, efficiency and economic growth. He proposed tax incentives for digital start-ups, a stronger cashless economy, and wider use of digital tools and artificial intelligence in agriculture, including weather reporting and yield improvement. Citing Bank of Ceylon-supported drone initiatives, he argued that technology-led reforms and industrial automation should be implemented rather than repeatedly discussed, with cross-party focus on national development. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) AgricultureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake informed the Chair that Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka would allocate him an additional three minutes of speaking time. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that the allocations for the Digital Economy and Science and Technology Ministries are far too small relative to Sri Lanka’s development needs and urged greater investment in R&D, digitization and technology-enabled public services. He proposed full tax exemptions or enhanced deductions for digital economy and science and technology expenditure, including R&D, software, royalties, hardware and labour costs, citing past incentives and international practice. He called for urgent implementation of a Unique ID system, paperless government, blockchain-based document management, AI adoption, integrated export systems and smart metering at the CEB to reduce inefficiency, corruption and costs. He also said digitization should be used to improve social welfare targeting, public administration and service delivery, while warning that technology must support rather than replace the human element. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) EnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
  • 8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake welcomed the Deputy Minister’s response on SVAT but urged that it should not be removed until a reliable VAT refund mechanism is operational, preferably through a point-of-sale approach rather than further bureaucracy. He argued that delays in linking ASYCUDA with 34 government institutions and high interest rates compared to regional competitors undermine exporters and economic growth. He also said IMF-related timelines should not dictate policy and called for coordination with the Central Bank to align monetary policy with government revenue and growth objectives. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
  • 8 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake thanked the Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to speak and apologized for the delay, explaining it was due to a medical test. He clarified that he did not intend to create a precedent. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the planned abolition of the Simplified VAT system in September 2025, warning that doing so without a reliable VAT refund mechanism could harm exporters’ cash flow, competitiveness and the Government’s US$ 19 billion export target. He asked the Minister of Finance whether exporters and business chambers had been consulted, what measures would guarantee timely refunds, and whether abolition would be postponed until a modernized and tested refund system is in place. He also questioned high commercial bank interest rates, possible expenditure-based tax relief for exporters, and the Government’s estimate of annual revenue lost through tax evasion. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax Public FinanceEmployment Read →
  • 8 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake thanked the Deputy Speaker for facilitating interventions under the Standing Orders and sought permission to raise a Question under Standing Order 27(2). He explained that he was delayed briefly due to a medical matter. Statement on International Women's Day Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Ceylon Electricity Board be operated with a business-oriented approach, including through public–private partnerships and greater involvement of entrepreneurs. He raised concern that electricity had reportedly been disconnected to 600,000 to 700,000 consumers, questioned the proposed soft-loan response, and asked how consumers would be compensated if the CEB disconnected supply without prior notice. He said these issues should be addressed as part of a broader effort to rebuild the country. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that electricity and petroleum pricing, sector finances, and infrastructure investment are central to economic growth, competitiveness, and modernization, noting the recent return to profitability of the CEB and CPC after large losses. He urged the Government to expedite India–Sri Lanka grid connectivity, consider oil pipeline links and use of Trincomalee oil tanks, and bring forward delayed power sector reform legislation, including possible private participation in transmission and distribution. He raised concerns about future generation costs, LNG delays affecting the Sobadanavi plant, rejection of the generation plan by the PUCSL, and the need for contingency planning, renewables, battery storage, and carbon trading. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) InfrastructurePublic FinanceEnvironment Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a point of Order concerning proposed reductions in margins, referring to a possible decrease from 6 per cent to 3 per cent. He asked whether any resulting benefit would be passed on to consumers, emphasizing the need to assess the measure from the consumer’s perspective. Debate: Fuel Supply and Energy Crisis (Discussion under Standing Order 27(2)) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government’s fuel pricing and taxation approach, arguing that a nominal 14 per cent tax has effectively risen to 36 per cent and that outdated cost calculations no longer reflect current conditions. He said costs had increased substantially over 11 years and urged the Minister to account for the practical realities faced by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation rather than relying on theoretical figures. Debate: Fuel Supply and Energy Crisis (Discussion under Standing Order 27(2)) Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned inconsistencies between stated Government policy, the Minister’s explanation, and CEB actions on electricity pricing. He asked why renewable energy unit rates had been reduced from about Rs. 30 to Rs. 18–20 despite cost revisions suggesting around Rs. 40, warning that this destabilizes investors. He said the issue has persisted at the CEB for years and emphasized that consumers should benefit from any pricing decisions. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Public FinanceInfrastructureEnvironment Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought a brief opportunity to respond to the Minister’s answer, indicating he wished to comment on or question its implications. The intervention was cut short by interruptions, and no substantive argument or proposal was recorded. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that the occasion provided an appropriate opportunity to obtain a government response with ministerial involvement. The remark was made amid interruptions. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake briefly questioned the Speaker on whether a particular procedure being followed in the Chamber was a new practice. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or legislative matter was raised in the statement. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought clarification from the Minister on whether competitive bidding would be introduced for energy projects under 10 MW. He also asked whether the previously available 6,688 incentives would be altered. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 1 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns that the PUCSL had rejected the CEB’s 2025-2030 Least Cost Long-term Generation Expansion Plan due to inconsistencies with the National Energy Policy, and tabled the PUCSL’s letter. He questioned the Government on CEB resistance to renewable energy, tariff structures for renewable producers, investor confidence, continued reliance on thermal generation, and steps to revise energy planning in line with renewable and climate commitments. He also sought data on 2025 generation costs, source mix, projected demand growth, possible emergency power purchases, and whether consumers would be compensated for unplanned power cuts given CEB profits from high tariffs. He additionally asked the Minister to address the fuel distribution issue arising from the reduction of filling station owners’ discount. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Public FinanceEnvironmentInfrastructure Read →