Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka, M.P.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)· Anuradhapura

Profession: Businessman

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 26 #149 of 225·#36 in party

Attendance 0/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

26 speeches

4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka questioned the Deputy Minister on the adequacy of Paddy Marketing Board purchases, noting they represented only 2.11 per cent of total production. He also raised concerns about delayed fertilizer subsidies and sought clarification on compensation for partial crop damage caused by the “8960” cyclone, asking whether payments would be made and whether subsidies would be delivered on time next season. Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies AgriculturePublic Finance Read →
4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka questioned whether the Government has a concrete plan beyond Paddy Marketing Board purchases to ensure a fair paddy price for farmers in the current season. He argued that PMB purchasing has been insufficient, noting that paddy prices had fallen from earlier levels of Rs. 120–130 per kilo to Rs. 75–80, and raised concerns about alleged market manipulation by large millers. Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies AgricultureCost of Living Read →
18 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka criticised the Special Commodity Levy regime, arguing that the Rs. 80 per kg levy on imported potatoes has failed to protect domestic farmers amid a sharp fall in production and alleged profiteering in imports. He questioned how levy revenue is used to develop local potato cultivation and claimed similar problems affect paddy farmers, citing low purchase prices in Polonnaruwa and continued benefits to large millers and traders. He also called for reductions in rice prices when miller margins rise and urged the Government to pay overdue disability and elderly allowances. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Public FinanceAgricultureCost of Living Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka questioned the limited five-day public consultation period for the Draft National Electricity Policy, noting that at least 14 days is generally expected. He raised concerns that the policy gives insufficient attention to renewable energy, particularly solar power, and asked what concrete steps are being taken to support solar-based generation, including battery capacity and related technical measures. Oral Question: Electricity Generated by Solar Panels (Q.2/2025) InfrastructureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka raised a supplementary question concerning alleged national losses arising from substandard coal procurement, with part of the remarks expunged by order of the Chair. He asked what action the Ministry and Minister would take to recover any losses and sought the current status of related inquiries. Oral Question: Electricity Generated by Solar Panels (Q.2/2025) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary A petition from a resident of Yaya 06, near Sarakkugala, Angamuwa, Anuradhapura, was presented to Parliament. It was ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Raised a matter under Standing Order 33(1). Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was presented in the recorded speech. Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Suranga Rathnayaka requested permission from the Speaker to make a clarification arising from the Minister’s reply. No substantive policy issue or proposal was stated in the excerpt. Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka asked whether the Samurdhi and Aswesuma welfare schemes are being converted into a Community Empowerment programme. He sought clarification on the formation and functions of proposed Grama Niladhari-level committees of about 25 members, including four officials, and whether Samurdhi Banks would be renamed as Community Empowerment Banks. Oral Question No. 6 (1222/2025) - Aswesuma welfare benefits Public Finance Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Asked whether the Aswesuma benefits for recipients enrolled in 2022 under the three-year transitional category, which ended in December, would be extended. He also sought clarification on whether the Government had selected any new beneficiaries since taking office and, if so, how many. Oral Question No. 6 (1222/2025) - Aswesuma welfare benefits Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for details on the current number of “Aswesuma” beneficiaries and whether all eligible persons are receiving the benefit. He further sought clarification on steps to include eligible persons not yet receiving the benefit, including the date from which payments would be provided, or reasons if such action is not being taken. Oral Question No. 6 (1222/2025) - Aswesuma welfare benefits Public FinanceCost of Living Read →
19 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka expressed sympathy for those affected by the “BOO” cyclone and thanked District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, and Grama Niladharis for their response, while stating that Opposition MPs also carried out relief work without party bias. He criticized government ministers for alleged lack of awareness of affected areas and rejected claims that the Opposition distributed aid on political grounds. He said weather and reservoir warnings issued after meetings of the Meteorology Department, Disaster Management Centre, and Water Panel were not acted upon, and claimed that timely action could have prevented much of the reservoir-related damage in the Mahaweli region. He called for a formal investigation, including at ministerial level and through a special Parliamentary committee, into decisions made after 24 December. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Parliamentary ProcedureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka yielded his second supplementary question to the Hon. Leader of the Opposition. Oral Question Q.7/2025: Maize Production and Pricing Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Suranga Rathnayaka raised concerns that import permits issued during the previous harvest season depressed crop prices and harmed farmers. He questioned the Government’s guaranteed price of Rs. 135 per kg, arguing that the costing excludes family labour and does not reflect field conditions, and asked that it be reconsidered. He also highlighted distress among black gram farmers. Oral Question Q.7/2025: Maize Production and Pricing AgricultureCost of Living Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka criticized the Government for continuing to blame predecessors after a year in office and argued that its manifesto promise of a “contented farming life” has not been met. He said import timing for crops such as onions and potatoes undermines local farmers, and cited inconsistent official statements on paddy production costs, tabling National Farmers Union estimates ranging around Rs. 105–115 per kg. He questioned the adequacy of the Paddy Marketing Board’s 46,000 MT stock against a projected 2.4 million MT Yala 2024 output and said many medium millers cannot access the cited Rs. 5 billion credit line due to bank blacklisting. He called for a more effective mechanism to ensure the Yala harvest is purchased fairly, warning that farmers would be mobilized if the issue is neglected. Adjournment Debate: Fair Guaranteed Price for Paddy Agriculture Read →
21 August 2025 AI summary The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka addressed the Customs Ordinance Resolution, welcoming the reopening of vehicle imports but criticizing high vehicle taxation and arguing that promised relief for public servants and middle-income earners had not materialized. He questioned the government’s claim of improved cash reserves, saying revenue growth relied mainly on indirect taxes that burden low-income households, and asked why promised relief measures, including a Rs. 5,000 goods pack for poor families, were not implemented after the election. He also raised concerns about farmers’ difficulties in selling paddy, debt burdens, price-setting decisions, and the government’s handling of negotiations with large millers, urging the government to honour its commitments. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) AgriculturePublic FinanceCost of Living Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka formally raised the listed parliamentary question. No substantive details, arguments, or policy proposals were included in the statement. Oral Question: Q.10/1102/2025 (Deferred) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka supported the Motion as timely, noting public concern over MPs’ privileges and the Government’s earlier promises to reduce them. He argued that the Government has not taken substantial action and called for practical measures to limit benefits to what MPs need for their duties, alongside stronger systems to prevent fraud and corruption. He also proposed that benefits be determined with reference to MPs’ asset and liability declarations, so that genuine public servants are not left without means after service. Private Members' Motion (P.2/2024): Curtailing Privileges of MPs and Former Heads of State Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
21 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka criticised the 2025 Budget, arguing that the Government was claiming credit for an economic recovery that official reports show began in 2023, and questioned the medium-term plan to manage the primary balance given recurrent expenditure exceeding revenue. He said the Budget relies heavily on increased indirect taxes that burden poorer households while providing a smaller allocation for public sector salary increases, and warned that planned new borrowing of Rs. 4,000 billion would add future burdens. He acknowledged some expenditure control but raised concerns over agriculture, paddy prices, fertilizer support, and the feasibility of the Government’s rice market interventions. Appropriation Bill 2025: Second Reading (Fourth Allotted Day) Corruption & Governance ReformAgriculturePublic Finance Read →