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

19 February 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that parliamentary questions should receive satisfactory answers rather than mere recitations. He emphasized the expectation of substantive responses within parliamentary proceedings. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument is stated in the provided excerpt. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government’s handling of IMF discussions and debt policy, asking why the visiting IMF Managing Director was not requested to raise the PAYE threshold, reduce the 30 per cent tax rate, or secure softer and longer debt repayment terms. He argued that Parliament’s approval is required for any debt standstill or declaration of bankruptcy and called for a separate debate on whether such actions violated Articles 148, 149 and 150 of the Constitution. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned whether Parliament’s constitutional authority over public finance under Articles 148, 149 and 150 had been violated by declaring a debt standstill without parliamentary approval. He also raised concern that, according to the Minister’s answer, some debt-related payments were selectively made rather than uniformly suspended, and stressed that such decisions affecting the national economy require parliamentary oversight. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary Asked whether the relevant materials or documents would be tabled in Parliament. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
19 February 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister whether the documents or items referred to were being tabled. Statement and Procedural: Legal Basis of Financial Bankruptcy Declaration and Standing Order Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake requested an urgent Government statement on the integrity, composition and usability of Sri Lanka’s Gross Official Reserves, including usable reserves after encumbrances, swaps and pledged funds, income earned from reserves, and detailed holdings of gold, currencies, SDRs, IMF positions and swaps. He also asked for information on Central Bank margins and profits from foreign exchange transactions with the Government, audit oversight by the Auditor General, and the rationale for a recent circular under the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017. He questioned whether foreign exchange and tax leakage through foreign credit cards and payment gateways has been quantified, cited a possible loss of about USD 3 billion, and asked why stricter binding action is not taken against non-compliant businesses using foreign gateways while domestic institutions are regulated. Procedural: Question Under Standing Order 27(2) - Gross Official Reserves Public FinanceForeign AffairsLaw & Order Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that the reference to the “Provincial Council Elections Act” had been removed from the Motion, allowing it to proceed without obstructing Provincial Council elections. He said there was therefore no impediment or delay to holding those elections and expressed agreement. Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that he had acted in response to Members’ requests and did not wish his Motion to hinder the holding of Provincial Council elections. He expressed support for resolving matters related to those elections and suggested removing references to the “Provincial Council Elections Act” from his Motion if the relevant Special Committee completes its report within three months, enabling his Select Committee’s work to conclude in a similar timeframe. Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment Parliamentary ProcedureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake briefly sought clarification from the Chair, asking the Speaker to repeat or clarify what had been asked. Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake stated that all pending elections, including Provincial Council elections, should be held without delay. He said he removed reference to the Provincial Council Elections Act from the Motion to avoid prolonging the process, while expressing support for the Government’s initiative on the matter. He emphasized that his actions were intended to assist, not obstruct, the expeditious conduct of elections. Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake moved for a Select Committee to review Sri Lanka’s election laws, including laws on voter registration, local authority, parliamentary and presidential elections, and to recommend amendments, consolidation or reforms. He noted that previous reform efforts and committee reports had not been implemented. He proposed excluding Provincial Council elections to avoid duplication with a separate government process and suggested the committee report within six months rather than one year. Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake moved the Motion and noted that the Government had introduced a Bill concerning Provincial Council elections. He argued that the Committee need not spend further time on that issue, as it could be addressed within the relevant Committee process. Select Committee on Electoral Laws - Motion with Amendment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake registered a protest during the proceedings, stating that the matter in question was not being accepted. No further details or substantive arguments were provided in the extract. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Committee Stage Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake moved two new clauses relating to parliamentary pension reforms. The first would preserve existing pension entitlements for former Members of Parliament aged 65 or above at the commencement of the Act, while the second would allow hardship-based exemptions for former MPs whose sole livelihood depends on the parliamentary pension, subject to review by an independent committee comprising judicial, audit, and Treasury representation and based on financial disclosure. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Committee Stage Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake moved amendments to insert a new clause limiting the Act’s application to persons elected to Parliament on or after its commencement date. He proposed that the Act should not operate retrospectively to deprive former Members of Parliament of pension rights accrued before commencement. Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Committee Stage Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns about a directive on direct power feeding and alleged that officials had instructed those involved not to speak about it. He stated that there was an 80 MW electricity deficit and warned that covering it with fuel oil generation would result in financial losses. Ministry Statement: Reforms of Ceylon Electricity Board Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Ravi Karunanayake seeks the Speaker’s permission to pose a question. Ministry Statement: Reforms of Ceylon Electricity Board Parliamentary Procedure Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Energy Minister on the rollout of renewable energy, alleging resistance from vested interests and warning that electricity tariff increases of 13.56 per cent could be followed by a further 20 per cent increase due to coal imports. He asked how CEB cashflows would cover cyclone-related expenditure, how major transmission investment gaps would be bridged, and how coal quality, procurement, and load port certification issues at Norochcholai would be addressed. He urged the Minister not to permit an additional tariff hike and raised concerns that fuel oil generation was being used to cover an 80 MW shortfall, creating further losses for consumers. Ministry Statement: Reforms of Ceylon Electricity Board EnvironmentCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged the Government to advance the use of technology and modernize outdated legal frameworks. He specifically called for amendments to the 150-year-old Customs Ordinance as part of moving administrative and regulatory systems forward. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Public Finance Read →