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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House of Parliament

Profession: Politician

Roster profile ↗
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
  • 5 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Industry and Enterprise Development, the Minister presented the Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board Annual Report for 2023. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Affairs and International Relations, and the House agreed. Papers - Annual Reports and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Requested that copies of the relevant documents be provided to Members of Parliament. He tabled the motion, the Supplementary Estimate, and the Cabinet-approved memoranda for the House’s consideration. Debate and Supplementary Estimate: Relief for Cyclone Ditwah Affected Persons Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented Supplementary Estimate No. 6 of 2025 following a special Cabinet decision prompted by severe islandwide weather-related disasters. He stated that the estimate was intended to enable urgent relief and restoration of normal public life, sought the House’s special permission to proceed notwithstanding Standing Order 22(4), and moved that it be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, which was agreed to. Debate and Supplementary Estimate: Relief for Cyclone Ditwah Affected Persons Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that he and the Chief Government Whip were ready to present a Supplementary Estimate. He then presented the estimate for relief to persons affected by Cyclone “Ditwah.” Debate and Supplementary Estimate: Relief for Cyclone Ditwah Affected Persons Public Finance Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to adjourn the Committee Stage debate on the Heads of Expenditure for the Ministries of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development; Irrigation and Community Infrastructure; and Finance, Procurement and Economic Development. The motion was agreed to, and the debate was adjourned until 9.00 a.m. on Friday, 05 December 2025. Debate and Supplementary Estimate: Relief for Cyclone Ditwah Affected Persons Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake described relief efforts in difficult areas such as Kotmale, including Tri-Forces camps, airlifting food to Gamini Dissanayake Vidyalaya, and the work of Divisional Secretaries, police officers, and volunteers. He said essential supplies were being dispatched and that, while road repairs would take time, people were not starving to his knowledge. He urged unity, public service without seeking credit, and responsible conduct during the crisis, while stating that the Government would rebuild and hand over a better country. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Law & OrderCorruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake outlined emergency transport and relief measures following severe flooding, including interventions to ensure safe travel to Delft and Nainativu, plans to operate 4,200 SLTB buses, expanded rail services with coordinated ticket acceptance, and airline fee waivers for weather-affected passengers. He said agencies, the Tri-Forces, officials, and volunteers were engaged in water release, camp establishment, airlifts, and forthcoming cleaning operations, and called for unity during recovery from what he described as the largest flood in a century. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) InfrastructureSecurity & Defence Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake outlined government relief and recovery measures following severe weather in the Northern and other affected provinces, including inspections of Delft–Nainativu ferry boats, support to District Secretaries, and emergency assistance to stranded communities. He said damaged paddy lands in Mannar could be re-seeded early in the Maha season with Agriculture Ministry support, and that a Bailey bridge was being installed at Nayaru with a target completion date of 15 December. He announced eased emergency spending procedures, including Rs. 50,000 advances for Grama Niladharis and up to Rs. 5 million cash authority for Divisional Secretaries, and noted that Rs. 25,000 payments for schoolchildren and household cleaning had begun in several districts with funds sent to affected Northern and Eastern districts. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Public FinanceAgricultureInfrastructure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Budget debate was necessarily being shaped by the recent natural disaster and outlined the Government’s focus on urgent relief, temporary measures, and longer-term reconstruction under the “Rebuild the Nation” programme. He reported uneven impacts in the Northern Province, with limited damage in Jaffna, some flooding and access issues in Kilinochchi and Vavuniya, and severe flooding in Mannar and Mullaitivu, particularly Mannar where 83 camps were operating and about 150 of 162 GN divisions were under water. He noted that MPs, officials, volunteers and district authorities were coordinating relief and recovery efforts. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) EducationCost of LivingInfrastructure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that the privilege matter raised in Parliament on 18 November 2025 by Hon. Attorney-at-Law Hirusha Wijesinghe be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges under Standing Order 118. The motion was put to the House and agreed to, and a further privilege matter submitted by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna by letter dated 21 November 2025 was noted. Bills Presented: Universities (Amendment) Bill and Privilege Matters Referrals Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Environment, Bimal Rathnayake requested two weeks to provide an answer to the pending matter. The question was ordered to stand down, after which a Question by Private Notice under Standing Order 27(2) by Sivagnanam Shritharan was taken up. Oral Questions: Multiple Questions Nos. 3, 4, 5 and Private Notice Question (Q.27/2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Bimal Rathnayake requested a two-week extension to provide an answer. The question was accordingly ordered to stand down. Oral Questions: Multiple Questions Nos. 3, 4, 5 and Private Notice Question (Q.27/2) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Bimal Rathnayake tabled an answer giving national and Anuradhapura dairy farmer numbers, milk production figures, and average milk prices. The answer stated that the Government has not imposed a milk price ceiling because prices are set by collection companies and producers are considered to be receiving prices commensurate with production costs. It outlined a proposed Dairy Hub programme to reach 75 per cent dairy self-sufficiency by 2030 through 300 hubs, expanded production, breeding, fodder, training, health, finance and quality-improvement measures, including support under the World Bank-funded ICDP. The tabled answer also said concessional loans would be provided to SMEs for paddy purchases and that 2025/26 Maha minimum paddy purchase prices would be fixed later by variety, based on production cost plus a 30 per cent profit margin. Oral Questions: Multiple Questions Nos. 3, 4, 5 and Private Notice Question (Q.27/2) Agriculture Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Committee on Public Finance, with participation from both Government and Opposition Members, is performing an important role. He explained that consultant appointments and pay scales were revised through the Staff Advisory Committee chaired by the Speaker, and that consultants have been provided to address technical issues, including those delaying the release of vehicles. He also noted that COPE, COPA and other committees are working actively and should continue to do so. Papers: Regulations and Reports Presented Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Bimal Rathnayake presented the 2023/2024 Annual Report of Kalubovitiyana Tea Factory Company Limited. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Regulations and Reports Presented AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved that the referenced report be printed. The motion was agreed to, and Parliament ordered that the report be printed as part of the presentation of papers. Papers: Auditor-General's Special Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 December 2025 AI summary Moved that the referenced Report be printed. The motion was agreed to, and the House ordered that the Report be printed. Papers: Auditor-General's Special Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 December 2025 AI summary Parliament was adjourned on the motion of Hon. Bimal Rathnayake. The House agreed to adjourn until 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, in accordance with the Resolution of Parliament dated 13 November 2025. Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 December 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said Parliament should expedite or pass the scheduled Committee Stage Heads and adjourn early so Members and officials could focus on coordinating the national disaster response. He outlined Government actions, including convening disaster management bodies, declaring an emergency limited to disaster management, appointing an Essential Services Commissioner-General, restoring essential services, conducting rescues, and addressing major disruptions in areas such as Kotmale, Badulla, Kandy and Puttalam. He proposed suspending sittings until the Budget could be passed later, invited Opposition input and possible further engagement with the President, and urged cross-party cooperation rather than politicization during the crisis. Procedural: Opposition Statement and Parliamentary Scheduling Dispute Security & DefenceParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 1 December 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, as Leader of the House, began to make a procedural request to the Speaker. The provided excerpt is incomplete and does not state the nature of the request, any proposal, or the policy context. Procedural: Opposition Statement and Parliamentary Scheduling Dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →