Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P.
Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House of Parliament
Profession: Politician
Speeches 1,262 #1 of 225·#1 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 955 speeches
Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
140 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
1,262 speeches- 3 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake explained that, following Cabinet decisions under the new Government on benefits and powers for ministerial officials, the Staff Advisory Committee aligned parliamentary secretariat posts with equivalent ministry posts. He stated that the Secretary-General of Parliament is equivalent to a Ministry Secretary, the Deputy Secretary-General to an Additional Secretary, and Assistant Secretaries-General to Senior Assistant Secretaries, including related entitlements. He added that ongoing inquiries should be allowed to conclude before further action is taken. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 3 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake requested that the Prime Minister first move the relevant Regulations before a point of order is taken up, indicating a procedural sequencing matter in the debate. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 3 February 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved that Parliament adjourn at its rising until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 5 February 2026. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Adjournment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 3 February 2026 AI summary The Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Road Development Authority and the 2024 Annual Report of the National Transport Medical Institute. He proposed that both reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, and the House agreed. Presentation of Petitions InfrastructureParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The motion was put before the House for consideration. Adjournment Debate: Stock Exchange Activity and Ministerial Response Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that presenting the names was permitted under Standing Orders, citing Standing Order 23(1) on the business of the House. He said the Secretariat had informed the Parliamentary Business Committee accordingly, and that suspending only Standing Order 27 was consistent with previous parliamentary practice. Business of Parliament: Constitutional Council Appointments Resolution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved, following a decision of the Parliamentary Business Committee, that the motion on “Approval of Resolutions under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka” be taken up immediately as the first item on the Order Paper. He requested exemption from Standing Order 27 and approval of the motion the same day with the special leave of the House, which was agreed to. Business of Parliament: Constitutional Council Appointments Resolution Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said congestion at Peliyagoda and Katunayake was not directly caused by changes at Kerawalapitiya, though there had been initial adjustment issues after removing the ticket requirement. He said expressway widening was not a practical response to vehicle growth and that the Government was instead upgrading long-delayed electronic toll collection equipment, installing displays, and adding ETC counters. He stated that, once necessary systems such as displays, machines and cameras are fixed, public transport vehicles would be required to use ETC cards during peak hours while some manual counters remain available for users unfamiliar with the system. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said Ragama’s development should be planned locally, with support from central government and local authorities, around a “Health City” concept linked to the teaching hospital, nursing school and student population, and as a multimodal transport hub. He noted that the Ministry has planned a multimodal transport centre in Ragama and requested that stakeholders be brought together through the District or Divisional Coordinating Committee to update the urban plan for the next 15–25 years. He stated that the removal of unauthorized business places would be undertaken in the public interest. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives HealthcareCorruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said Ragama has been designated a Health City under the Ja-Ela urban development plan, but unauthorized constructions are obstructing related development and road improvements. He warned that structures near the end of a planned flyover could undermine its benefits, and said some individuals were blocking inspections with apparent past political backing. He urged that the law be applied equally and that removals be carried out in the public interest and for Ragama’s development. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Law & OrderInfrastructure Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake reported that the UDA owns 1.74908 hectares in Ragama Town and that unauthorized constructions have been identified along the main road, including six businesses on leased UDA land in front of the Colombo North Teaching Hospital. He said shops around the Police Post near the flyover had been inspected, notices were issued in December 2025 and January 2026 requiring removal or approved plans, and no response had been received. He stated that the UDA Review Committee had decided to pursue legal demolition action if the final notice was ignored, and that removal had not yet occurred but preliminary steps had begun. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Land & HousingInfrastructureLaw & Order Read →
- 23 January 2026 AI summary The Minister moved that the report be printed. The motion was put to the House, agreed to, and the report was ordered to be printed. Papers Presented and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to amend the time in the Motion from 11.30 a.m. to 10.55 a.m. The amendment was put to the House and agreed to. Procedural: Privilege Question and Motion on Sittings of Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake agreed with the concern raised by a Sectoral Committee Chair regarding delays in audit reports. He said that if Committee Chairs submit a concrete proposal, the Government would raise it at the Parliamentary Business Committee to arrange a three-hour or special debate on the issue and obtain views before deciding further action. He added that approving 2021–2022 reports at this stage would be a disservice to the public. Papers: Sectoral Oversight Committee Report on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Use of Resources Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary The Minister rejected Opposition allegations that the Government ignored prior warnings or mishandled reservoir management during the “BOO” cyclone, arguing that forecasts were not sufficiently specific and that such operational decisions involve scientific, social and political considerations. He stated that the Government had moved from rescue to rebuilding, coordinated state agencies, the public and the armed forces, and minimized malpractice in relief efforts. He cited public donations to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” process, land donations, and international recognition as evidence of confidence in the response, while accusing some Opposition figures of politicizing the disaster and opposing government reforms. Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 2) Parliamentary ProcedureLaw & Order Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, as Leader of the House, moved the procedural motion that Parliament adjourn. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or debate was raised in the statement. Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 1) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Moved an amendment to the Motion changing the time from “11.30 a.m.” to “10.40 a.m.” The amendment was agreed to, resulting in an additional 45 minutes being allocated. Motion to amend sitting hours and Select Committee appointment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that opposition to introducing certain sixth-grade modules was based on concerns that students had not yet mastered fifth-grade-level writing skills. He argued that curriculum changes should take account of students’ existing competencies before advancing to higher-level content. Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute Education Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake read Standing Order 33(1) on supplementary questions, emphasizing that such questions must remain within the scope of the original question and may be disallowed by the Speaker if they breach the rules. He urged the Chair to enforce these procedural limits and criticized the Opposition’s conduct in raising supplementary questions. Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly intervened to challenge Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, asserting that he had not read a referenced item and asking him to read it. Procedural matters - Supplementary questions and Standing Orders dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →