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

5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government on the lack of answers to his earlier queries regarding online accommodation and payment platforms, including Airbnb and Booking.com. He asked for an update on a payment platform reportedly being developed in Brisbane from March 2025 and due within two years, and raised concerns that offshore settlement of tourism-related transactions is reducing revenue captured in Sri Lanka. He urged the Government to explain how it will prevent such leakages and ensure these financial flows are brought within the domestic system. Oral Question Q.3 (467/2025): Tourist Arrivals from 2010 - Details Foreign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
5 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake requested detailed data from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism on Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, including hotel capacity and employment by district, Airbnb and Booking.com activity, tourist arrivals and earnings since 2010, tax payments, average stays, repeat visitors, and source-country arrivals from 2020 onward. He also asked the Minister to identify weaknesses and negative impacts in the tourism industry and explain the steps taken to address them. Oral Question Q.3 (467/2025): Tourist Arrivals from 2010 - Details Foreign Affairs Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a matter of privilege, alleging that unanswered questions to the Central Bank and other authorities on financial regulation, reserves, debt policy, governance, and alleged irregularities are obstructing his parliamentary duties and undermining oversight under Article 148. He asked the Speaker to rule on whether such delays breach privilege, to direct public institutions to provide complete and timely information, and to consider referral to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges or another authority. He also questioned whether the Central Bank’s independence should be re-examined for lack of corresponding accountability, and informed the House that he would complain to police about misuse of his social media byline. Private Notice Questions and Procedural Matters Public FinanceParliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake called for a clearer government economic policy focused on investment, job creation, SME growth, and productive credit, while questioning reliance on IMF and other international prescriptions alongside high domestic interest rates. He raised concerns over cost-of-living relief, rice imports, unpaid or delayed Mahapola stipends, and the need for consistency on privatization or commercialization of state enterprises. He proposed expanding private higher education to address limited university places and retain foreign exchange, and urged stronger Central Bank supervision and internal controls over large financial flows, citing NDB accounts and Section 80(2) of the Monetary Law. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Cost of LivingEducationEmployment Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake complained that questions relating to the Central Bank remain unanswered in Parliament, stating that 11 such questions are outstanding. He questioned whether the Central Bank considers itself outside parliamentary accountability and requested that the Chair intervene to ensure responses are provided. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Digital Payment Platforms in Foreign Exchange Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake began to address the House but did not present any substantive argument, question, or proposal in the provided excerpt. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Digital Payment Platforms in Foreign Exchange Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Minister of Finance on modernizing Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange and payment systems to better support tourism, digital services, freelancers, startups and SMEs. He sought details on recognized hard currencies, barriers to using currencies such as the Indian Rupee, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yen and Russian Ruble, foreign exchange spreads and profits, and the limited availability of platforms such as PayPal, Wise and Skrill for inward receipts. He also asked about regulation of cryptocurrency activity and raised concerns over an alleged NDB fraud and the Central Bank’s supervisory response. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Digital Payment Platforms in Foreign Exchange Foreign AffairsPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported the intent of proposed Standing Order amendments but argued that existing COPE and COPA mechanisms under Parliament’s fiscal powers should be corrected and expedited rather than creating a new process. He raised concern that public officers are deterred from taking discretionary decisions due to overlapping scrutiny from audit, anti-corruption and law enforcement bodies, and urged that international recommendations be adapted to Sri Lankan conditions. He also called for urgent scrutiny of Central Bank bank supervision following reported irregularities at NDB, references to Cargills Bank and Sampath Bank matters, and questioned the role of CBSL supervisory and audit functions, requesting ministerial and Cabinet attention to strengthen bank balance sheets and the supervisory framework. Debate: Amendment of Standing Orders 119(4) and 120(4) and Committee Stage Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake called for bipartisan action on energy security, arguing that fuel supply liberalization and competition among suppliers would reduce burdens on the State, prevent black markets and improve pricing, while urging expanded private power generation, renewables with battery storage, and an end to solar curtailment. He proposed opening bunkering to more suppliers, noting high margins, and said remaining CPC-related energy issues should be addressed through unity. He also urged rapid development of dry ports using existing railway and state lands to ease Colombo Port congestion, and proposed converting Mattala Airport into a Middle East diversion and operations hub by attracting Gulf carriers with incentives. Adjournment Debate (Continuation): Effects of Current Global Situation on Our Economy Public FinanceSecurity & DefenceInfrastructure Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned how Government price relief through approximately 500 Sathosa outlets could benefit the wider population, noting that only a small share of Sri Lankans can access those outlets. He cited official monthly living cost figures for Colombo and Monaragala and asked how households would cope amid declining purchasing power and rising freight and insurance costs. He challenged the Government on its election promise to reduce prices. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that the matter under discussion was unclear and sought clarity from the Speaker. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought the Chair’s permission to ask his question. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake commended Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe as practical and sought a clear response on an unspecified issue, noting Sri Lanka’s population of 22 million as the context for his question. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Foreign Affairs Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government on measures taken to protect consumers from rising prices, noting that 65% of essential goods are still imported and that insurance, freight, and exchange-rate pressures have increased costs. He asked what steps were being taken to ensure fair prices, while acknowledging earlier maximum retail price controls and the subsequent shift toward competition-based pricing. He also challenged the apparent discrepancy between the Central Bank’s claim that inflation has subsided and the continued high prices faced by consumers. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
20 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister which varieties of rice are most prevalent, seeking clarification on rice production or availability. Oral Question: Presidential Vehicle Pool Management (Q.19/2025) Agriculture Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged a non-partisan approach to using the Colombo Port City and Sri Lanka’s geographic position to attract investment, particularly in offshore banking, insurance, digitalization, crypto regulation and service-sector activity. He questioned prioritizing housing within the Port City and called for stronger incentives, Central Bank action, and use of Mattala Airport to capture aviation opportunities arising from Middle East instability. He also pressed for urgent structural reforms, including SOE commercialization, action on SriLankan Airlines losses, trade agreements with Singapore, Thailand and India, and labour reforms to support digital economic growth. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act Regulations Approval InfrastructurePublic FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a procedural point requesting that the Opposition also be given adequate time to pursue matters arising from parliamentary questions, referring to the time allowed for Question No. 9. He acknowledged the Minister’s precise answer and sought permission to pose an additional question aimed at supporting the effective implementation of the Minister’s portfolio. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Economic Challenges and Aviation Sector Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake welcomed the Minister’s answer but asked that the Hingurakgoda Airport, referenced by the President, be included in the Government’s airport development plans. He proposed converting one VIP terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport into an active passenger terminal to ease congestion, noting the airport is operating above capacity. He urged the Government to use Mattala Airport to attract Middle Eastern carriers affected by regional turmoil, including through incentives such as free handling, and to expand cargo capacity to prevent losses in fisheries exports and earn foreign exchange. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Economic Challenges and Aviation Sector Public FinanceForeign AffairsInfrastructure Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised a Standing Order 27(2) matter on the status of Sri Lanka’s aviation sector amid rising tourism, trade and travel demand. He asked the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation for detailed data on operating international airlines, passenger capacity, embarkation tax collection and arrears, arrivals and departures by airport from 2023 to 2025, and the levy due to Government. He also sought information on international and domestic airport capacities, utilization levels, planned infrastructure projects including Terminal 2 and regional upgrades, constraints on tourism growth, and the additional capacity expected from ongoing developments. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Economic Challenges and Aviation Sector Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
17 March 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns over the absence of a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and digital asset transactions, citing a reported Rs. 290 million crypto scam and concerns about capital flight under the Foreign Exchange Act. He asked the Government to state the current policy of the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance, actions taken since his January 2025 queries, estimated crypto transaction volumes, tax treatment of crypto gains, and whether enforcement agencies have a joint mechanism to address fraud, money laundering, and illicit outflows. He also questioned whether Sri Lanka is lagging behind peer jurisdictions and requested a timeline for introducing laws or regulations to govern digital assets and crypto exchanges. Clarification on Country's Energy Security under Standing Order 27(2) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →