Hon. S.M. Marikkar, M.P.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Colombo

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 141 #28 of 225·#11 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

141 speeches

10 June 2026 AI summary S.M. Marikkar criticised the Government’s economic management, saying it had failed to apprehend wrongdoers or stabilise the economy. He stated that national debt had increased from US$ 93 billion to US$ 107.28 billion since Anura Kumara Dissanayake became President, and urged the Government to take credible measures to increase dollar earnings, reduce debt, restore investor confidence, and remove unnecessary barriers. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned the Government’s disaster relief payments in Kolonnawa, alleging that many flood-affected households have not received rent assistance, and criticized delays in filling key public posts. He challenged Government claims on the exchange rate, inflation, fuel costs, IMF targets, reserves, growth, and tourism, citing figures on reserve sales, rising inflation, fuel imports, and weaker-than-targeted reserve and growth projections. He argued that many state-owned enterprises appear profitable only because of monopolies or budgetary support, with losses in entities such as SriLankan Airlines, the CEB, and the Water Board, and called for the Government to focus on regulation, revenue improvement, and fast-tracking investment rather than engaging in commercial activities. Debate: Central Bank Rules on Export Proceeds Repatriation and Essential Public Services Resolution Cost of LivingPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Citing PUCSL reports, S.M. Marikkar stated that all 17 vessels failed to deliver and that 155,000 MWh of power was consequently not generated, requiring replacement purchases using furnace oil, naphtha, and diesel. He asked the Government to disclose the total penalties recovered, noting that the amount had not yet been quantified. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticized the Government over alleged failures in power generation, stating that 17 vessels had failed to deliver expected outcomes and that costly spot tenders caused losses to the State. He warned that a 155,961 MWh generation shortfall would continue until September and argued that declining investor confidence, rising flour prices, and reduced imports reflected a repeat of the economic mismanagement seen in 2022. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions Security & DefencePublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised concerns over the rupee’s sharp depreciation, arguing that the dollar’s rise from Rs. 344 to Rs. 354 increased the rupee value of debt and was already affecting consumer prices, including milk powder. He alleged that all 17 coal shipments supplied to Lakvijaya Power Plant failed calorific value specifications, citing plant and PUCSL reports which he tabled, and said the resulting generation shortfall had to be covered by furnace oil and diesel at high cost. He claimed losses exceeded Rs. 30 billion and called on the Government to accept responsibility, while also questioning confidence in IMF funding and the adequacy of foreign investment inflows. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions Public FinanceCost of LivingInfrastructure Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar objected to language used by the Leader of the House and asked the Chair to expunge improper words. He criticized the Government’s economic management, citing rupee depreciation, rising debt, increased electricity tariffs, vehicle import restrictions, low FDI, and alleged payment and banking irregularities, and called for investigations into reported vehicle import LC approvals. He argued that the Government had failed to deliver on promises to reduce electricity bills, taxes, fuel costs, prices, and recover stolen assets, and said the Opposition would take these issues to the public. Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformCost of Living Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised a point of Order during the sitting. No substantive argument, proposal, or question is recorded in the excerpt beyond the procedural intervention. Procedural: Motions and Privilege Matter Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary S.M. Marikkar referred to the 2024 controversy over substandard medicines, noting reported deaths and loss of eyesight, and questioned why the complaints division had received no complaints. He argued that this indicated a lack of public awareness and requested that the division’s contact number be publicized. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) HealthcarePublic Finance Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media whether essential drug suppliers are being deliberately discredited through alleged quality failures and removed from state supply, including at regional hospital level, causing some suppliers to avoid State Pharmaceuticals Corporation tenders. He sought details on withdrawals of life-saving or expensive temperature-controlled drugs over the last five years, NMRA batch or product withdrawals, whether withdrawn drugs are being sold in the private market, and the complaints mechanism and number of complaints received in 2024. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Corruption & Governance ReformHealthcare Read →
7 May 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar opposed the extension of emergency powers, alleging it was being used to intimidate public protests and suppress Opposition scrutiny. He cited alleged irregularities including container, coal, palm oil VAT, Treasury payment, banking, telecom, and solar project matters, and demanded accountability, including the resignation of Treasury Secretary Harsha Suriyapperuma. He argued that ministers and officials linked to the President or government allies were being protected, and warned that public mobilisation would continue despite emergency measures. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar seconded the No-Confidence Motion against Minister Punith Kumara Jayakody, alleging large-scale misuse and losses in coal procurement and citing findings attributed to the Auditor General’s Report. He argued that tender conditions and timelines were deliberately altered to favour an unqualified supplier, that the award proceeded without proper Attorney General concurrence, and that substandard coal shipments were accepted despite failed calorific value tests. He also criticised the President and Government for protecting the Minister, claiming the procurement failures contributed to financial loss, power cuts, and electricity tariff increases. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
9 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar clarified that, as Chair, he had verbally instructed the Committee Secretary two weeks earlier to obtain information from Lanka Coal Company on its tender procedures, but the company had not been invited due to an oversight. He stated that a letter dated 2026.04.02 requesting the information had been sent and was tabled, and that when company representatives attended after being contacted, they declined to speak and the matter was not discussed. He rejected the accuracy of another Member’s claims on the issue. Debate on Regulations under Defence Acts and Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2026 AI summary S.M. Marikkar sought a brief clarification after his name was mentioned, stating that in his capacity as Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development he had summoned an entity affiliated with the Ceylon Electricity Board. The remarks were procedural and aimed at clarifying his role in that committee matter. Debate on Regulations under Defence Acts and Extension of State of Emergency InfrastructureParliamentary Procedure Read →
9 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was recorded in the provided excerpt. Debate on Regulations under Defence Acts and Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar alleged serious irregularities in recent coal procurement for the Lakvijaya power plant, arguing that government ministers ignored repeated warnings from the Opposition, Oversight Committee proceedings, and audit findings about non-compliant shipments, defective sampling, delayed vessels, and the failure to use umpire sample provisions. He claimed the delays and tender decisions caused major public losses through higher-priced emergency purchases, demurrage not recovered, low-grade coal, power cuts and tariff impacts, and called for the matter to be taken to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He also criticized the President for defending the responsible minister and said the tender should have been cancelled earlier and supply divided among other compliant bidders. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & OrderPublic Finance Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned whether loan or payment obligations, particularly instalments added during the 2014 Rajapaksa period, could be renegotiated or rearranged. He also raised concerns about SriLankan Airlines’ Colombo–London and Colombo–Melbourne routes, alleging a potential conflict of interest after the airline’s Chairman resigned and a company associated with him began operating on those routes as a local agent, and asked the Minister to respond. Oral Question: Aswesuma Programme - Appeals and Objections Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked, as a supplementary question, how SriLankan Airlines plans to handle previously leased aircraft obtained on costly terms while pursuing new aircraft acquisitions aligned with Government policy. He noted that pre-2014 high-debt acquisitions had burdened the airline and sought clarification on managing those existing liabilities. Oral Question: Aswesuma Programme - Appeals and Objections Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary S.M. Marikkar raised a question to the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation regarding SriLankan Airlines’ acquisition of a newly acquired A330-200 wide-body aircraft. He sought details on the company involved, who recommended it, the aircraft’s manufacture date, whether it was rented or leased, and the monthly lease payment if applicable, noting the context of concerns about “coal fraud” mentioned earlier in the debate. Oral Question: Aswesuma Programme - Appeals and Objections Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar requested additional time to review a Special Audit Report ahead of a Committee meeting scheduled for the following day. He asked that at least a limited number of brief summaries of the report be provided to assist members’ preparation. Oral Question: Fishermen in Puttalam District - Fuel Subsidy (Q.749/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar informed the House that, although the Leader of the House had tabled the Special Audit Report, Members had not yet received copies. He raised this as a procedural concern regarding access to the document. Oral Question: Fishermen in Puttalam District - Fuel Subsidy (Q.749/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →