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

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Colombo

Profession: ---

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Speeches 141 #28 of 225·#11 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

141 speeches

5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked for the number of housing units, seeking a specific figure in the context of the parliamentary proceedings. Oral Question: UDA Housing Units and Deed Distribution (Q.295/2024) Land & Housing Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked for the total number, likely in reference to a figure under discussion in the debate. No substantive argument or policy proposal is provided in the excerpt beyond the request for the total. Oral Question: UDA Housing Units and Deed Distribution (Q.295/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing to provide details of housing units in multi-storey flat complexes built by the Urban Development Authority in the Colombo District since 2010, broken down by complex and Divisional Secretary’s Division. He requested the number of units for which deeds have already been granted and asked whether and when deeds will be issued for units still without deeds, or the reasons if no action will be taken. Oral Question: UDA Housing Units and Deed Distribution (Q.295/2024) Parliamentary ProcedureLand & Housing Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised concern that coconut oil imports initiated under Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Government had continued under the current Government, stating that over four million kilograms had been imported in the past three months. He said he would submit supporting details and copies of relevant letters to the Prime Minister, while indicating he would not ask a further supplementary question. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary S.M. Marikkar raised concerns over alleged non-payment of VAT on large volumes of unrefined coconut oil imported in 2024, citing correspondence between a company, the Department of State Finance Policy, and the Inland Revenue Department. He stated that more than Rs. 5.8 billion may be recoverable from four companies and asked whether the Ministry of Finance would instruct the Inland Revenue Department to collect the outstanding taxes. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned the Prime Minister on the Government’s policy regarding the import of refined and unrefined coconut oil and the applicable tax regime. He asked whether the provisions of the Gazette dated 01 January 2024 apply to such imports, whether VAT and the Social Security Contribution Levy are payable when unrefined coconut oil is imported, refined, and sold locally, and what procedure the Government uses to collect those taxes. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary S.M. Marikkar cited newspaper reports alleging that approximately Rs. 700 million in taxes were evaded during October–December after the current President took office. He asked the Minister to respond the following day and urged the Government to address financial fraud and tax evasion as part of its broader clean-up efforts. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar welcomed the Clean Sri Lanka programme if it addresses substantive failures, but urged it to investigate alleged fiscal fraud, citing reports of around Rs. 5 billion in unpaid VAT and levies on imported crude coconut oil refined and sold locally after the VAT exemption ended on 1 January 2024. He referred to correspondence involving the Fiscal Policy Department, Inland Revenue Department, and Sena Mills Refineries, and asked that tax enforcement be applied as seriously as other clean-up efforts. He also argued that following the Public Utilities Commission’s 20 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs, water tariffs should be reduced because they had previously been increased in response to electricity price hikes. On Meethotamulla, he accepted that relocation may be necessary for UDA development land but criticised the manner of evictions, water disconnections, and unaffordable rehousing terms, requesting UDA housing in Kolonnawa with a lower initial payment and instalment scheme for affected low-income families. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised concerns about the UDA demolition of five houses at Kolonnawa 101 Watta, disputing reports that affected residents had refused alternative housing and noting that 15 more houses were due to be demolished. He said earlier compensation or payment requirements of Rs. 1 million and Rs. 500,000 were unaffordable for daily wage earners, including vulnerable residents with serious health and disability issues. While accepting that the land was required by the UDA, he requested a humane solution by allocating remaining units in Sahindra Sewana or other housing schemes, with a smaller initial payment and instalment arrangements. Oral Question: Housing Scheme Non-Completion in Vavunativu (Q.3/2025) Justice & Human RightsLand & Housing Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar did not raise a substantive issue, instead thanking the Minister and yielding his second supplementary question to Hon. Mujibur Rahman. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar proposed that, instead of preparing separate development plans for two local authorities within the same Divisional Secretariat Division, the Urban Development Authority should prepare a single integrated plan for the entire area. Referring to earlier opposition to a 2013-era plan that led to its division, he asked that the approach be reconsidered and also raised whether Kolonnawa Petroleum Corporation lands should be reclassified as commercial in light of an oil refinery proposal. Oral Questions (Multiple Questions) Land & HousingInfrastructure Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticized the Government for failing to fulfil election pledges on rice prices, essential goods, tax reductions, utility bills, and senior citizens’ deposits, arguing that controlled prices and import decisions contradicted earlier promises. He questioned the Government’s debt and reserve management, stating that only part of sovereign bond principal is under standstill and asking what new revenue streams or investments had been secured to maintain debt sustainability. While saying the Opposition would not sabotage the Government and would support beneficial measures, he urged the Government to admit past campaign claims were false and to use the forthcoming Budget to provide relief, reduce taxes and bills, and implement its promises. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report AgricultureCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticized the 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Report, arguing that increased revenues from taxes, electricity, fuel and water charges had not improved living conditions, nutrition, education or incomes. He questioned why CEB’s reported Rs. 139 billion surplus was not used to reduce electricity tariffs for low-consumption households and said election promises on reducing fuel prices and electricity bills had not been implemented. He also alleged that the Government had departed from pledges on the PAYE tax threshold and senior citizens’ fixed-deposit interest and withholding tax, placing additional pressure on workers and retirees. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised a supplementary question regarding the Low Level Road upgrade in the Kolonnawa electorate, begun in 2017 with foreign assistance and reportedly completed except for two outstanding bridges. He requested Government intervention to allocate funds, resolve the stalled bridge contracts, and expedite completion, noting that the project would reduce traffic congestion for commuters travelling from Parliament Road towards Kaduwela. Oral Question: Proposed Flyover over Kirulapona Junction Funding (Q.242/2024) Infrastructure Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked the Minister to clarify the Government’s policy on a flyover project for which preliminary studies, surveys, and land acquisition compensation had already been funded. He argued that abandoning the project would waste public expenditure and fail to achieve its intended objectives, noting that the previous Government had decided not to proceed. Oral Question: Proposed Flyover over Kirulapona Junction Funding (Q.242/2024) Infrastructure Read →
7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation whether the proposed flyover at Kirulapona junction will be constructed, and if so, the expected timeframe. He also sought clarification on whether funding for the project would be sourced locally or from abroad, and requested reasons if the project is not proceeding. Oral Question: Proposed Flyover over Kirulapona Junction Funding (Q.242/2024) Infrastructure Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned the Government’s position on India-related agreements and projects, including ETCA, the IL/UCC agreement, the proposed oil pipeline, the Adani project, Trincomalee oil tanks, and the Sampur 500 MW plant, and called for a detailed report to Parliament on investments, security implications, and trade effects following the President’s visit to India. He also asked whether the Government had negotiated with the IMF for reductions in VAT, PAYE tax, electricity tariffs, and water tariffs, noting concerns over the reported ISB haircut and revenue collections. He urged the Government to state whether promised tax and tariff relief, especially for young professionals, would be implemented or used instead to support debt-restructuring targets. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Public FinanceForeign AffairsCost of Living Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar welcomed the Government’s stationery allowance for students but urged that benefits be provided without distinctions among children, as with earlier universal textbook, uniform and meal programmes. He demanded disclosure to Parliament of the number and locations of Muslim COVID-19 victims forcibly cremated, while accepting that names may be withheld on ethical grounds. He called for detailed parliamentary reporting on the President’s India visit, including positions on ETCA/UCC, oil pipelines, the Adani project, Trincomalee oil tanks, Sampur power plant, investment values, national security and trade implications. He also questioned whether the Government had discussed VAT, PAYE, electricity and water tariff relief with the IMF in light of ISB restructuring and higher tax revenue, and asked for the Government’s position on PUCSL recommendations to reduce electricity tariffs. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) EducationForeign AffairsCost of Living Read →
17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar objected to repeated reductions in his allotted speaking time during the debate. He questioned the procedural basis for the time being cut from twelve minutes to seven minutes. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2024 AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar said the Government should enforce its anti-communal stance through the law and questioned whether promised savings from reducing corruption, waste and theft are reflected in the expenditure estimates. He challenged the Government’s proposed borrowing, its position on the IMF and debt restructuring, and asked whether it would address losses to EPF/ETF members from domestic debt restructuring and clarify claims about removing 500,000 public servants. He sought timelines and implementation plans for pledges on fuel taxes, electricity tariff reductions, Trincomalee oil tanks, rice imports and supply, PAYE and VAT relief, and removal of taxes on food, education and health. He also asked for concrete proposals on FDI, grants, and tourism strategy, stating that the Opposition would support sound plans while urging stronger checks and balances. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Cost of LivingPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →