Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
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
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly indicates that he can proceed, noting the presence of a clock, likely in reference to managing speaking time during the debate. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake urged the Deputy Speaker not to create a precedent by allowing a privileges matter to be raised under the guise of a Point of Order. Citing Standing Order 91(c), he said the Member was entitled only to raise a Point of Order within the allotted time, and asked that proceedings continue strictly in accordance with the Standing Orders. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that allegations of breaches of a Member’s privileges should be handled according to the established parliamentary procedure. He requested the Chair to ensure that the relevant Standing Orders are followed. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake raised a Point of Order during the proceedings. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue is recorded in the provided excerpt. Procedural: Privilege Matter and Standing Orders Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Bimal Rathnayake tabled answers to a question on health services, stating that there are 112 relevant hospitals or units, with 2 under the Central Government and 110 under Provincial Councils. He indicated that staff allocations are made according to personnel requirements, with detailed information provided in tabled annexes. He also listed planned developments at Teaching Hospital Ratnapura, including a new Cardiology Unit and Phase II of the Oncology Unit, and at District General Hospital Embilipitiya, including a five-storey Out-Patient Department. Oral Question: Hospitals in Ratnapura District Healthcare Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said he could not immediately commit to providing an SLTB bus without further consultation, but indicated that a temporary permit could be considered if a private operator is available. He stated that the RDA Chairman would be sent to the area within a week and advised the Member to also take up the bus service issue with the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Passenger Transport Authority. Oral Question: Yatiyantota Garagoda Bridge Renovation (Q.3/2025) Infrastructure Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that he would instruct the Road Development Authority Chairman to visit the relevant site within a week, inspect it with officials, and take necessary action. He also invited the Member who raised the matter to participate in the visit. Oral Question: Yatiyantota Garagoda Bridge Renovation (Q.3/2025) Agriculture Read →
  • 25 November 2025 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake responded that the bridge renovation contract, begun by the Road Development Authority on 31 August 2023, was extended from 456 to 699 days, with completion now due on 30 July 2025. He said traffic has been limited to pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and three-wheelers to reduce risk and inconvenience, while flooding of the Kelani River affected pier construction but should have been anticipated. He stated that contractor underperformance is a major cause of delay, with some stronger companies already blacklisted, and that the RDA is expediting work through a temporary bridge, deck replacement preparations and fortnightly progress review meetings. Oral Question: Yatiyantota Garagoda Bridge Renovation (Q.3/2025) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion “That Parliament do now adjourn” was then proposed. Adjournment Motion: Land Issues in Verugal DS Division, Trincomalee Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that no special certificate was required, responding in the context of discussions involving the Leader of the Opposition. He argued that the matter had become driven by hostile politics and, referring to Dr. Shafi’s case, said the officers who fuelled the related media campaign were responsible. He questioned how political processes could proceed under what he described as vindictive politics. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake provided timelines for sections of the Central Expressway, stating that Kadawatha–Mirigama is targeted for 1 September 2028, Pothuhera–Rambukkana for March 2027 with an expectation of earlier completion, and the full project by 2029. He said funds for Dambulla land compensation had been allocated by the President while the funding source is being finalized. He also said advertising on roads should be considered with road safety as the priority, and urged media responsibility, warning against content that incites the public. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake began to address the Presiding Member, but no substantive remarks, arguments, questions, or proposals are included in the provided excerpt. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to the Leader of the Opposition’s remarks about the Chair, saying he should not imply that the Presiding Member was instructed to switch off the microphone. He noted that the Chair had allowed the Leader of the Opposition to continue even when another member was due to speak, and urged the House to proceed properly while respecting the dignity of the offices involved. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Government had clarified in Parliament that no circular requires approval from Public Security or Civil Defence Committee chairpersons for police character certificates, and urged the Opposition not to spread contrary claims based on isolated examples. He also argued that media freedom must be upheld but false reporting should be challenged, citing the Dr. Shafi episode as an example of media-driven public unrest. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Parliamentary ProcedureLaw & Order Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the Government has neither decided to proceed with nor finally cancel the LRT project, but is unlikely to begin it within four years, prioritising road development and other measures to reduce Colombo congestion. He stated that the CoMTrans 2012 plan is being updated, with a policy to develop multimodal centres, including about 15 initially and around 50 over four years. He said SriLankan Airlines remains burdened by debt but is improving operationally, and urged assessment by performance rather than individuals. He also said regulations to resolve private bus ownership transfers after an owner’s death are expected this month, enabling proper transfers under amended law. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Law & OrderPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said damage to lifts is linked to drug addiction and cannot be addressed solely through additional funding or repeated repairs. He noted the issue causes serious hardship to residents and said the Government is considering practical solutions as part of broader efforts to address the drug menace. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Law & OrderPublic Finance Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, a project has begun to renovate 50 bus stands. The Member also urged the introduction of card payment facilities on buses, noting that the programme was launched that day. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Infrastructure Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to a sensitive issue raised by Hon. Srineshan, noting that similar site markings had occurred in Mannar and Jaffna and describing such places as part of national heritage. He suggested that local authorities should preserve and develop such sites for academic study and proposed convening an immediate discussion with the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Minister Ananda Wijepala to resolve any outstanding issues. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Religion & CultureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary The Minister linked the Ministry’s expenditure debate with the International Day for Eliminating Gender-Based Violence, announcing planned January guidelines for school and office vans and mandatory CCTV in school vans to address harassment of women and children in transport. He said the Ministry expects 82–88 percent progress by year-end across roads, transport and urban development, with highways targeted at 90 percent, while identifying procurement capacity as a key bottleneck in implementing additional Budget allocations and Presidential proposals. He outlined the Ministry’s wide institutional scope and recent recruitment of 3,975 staff across agencies, and urged the Finance Ministry to address low remuneration and allowances at the Road Development Authority, noting its major role in capital expenditure. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 InfrastructurePublic FinanceWomen & Children Read →
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified that the matter raised by the Chief Opposition Whip cannot be included in the formal Order Paper, but may appear in the Order of Business circulated to Members. He urged adherence to the procedure already adopted by Parliament. Oral Question: India Trade Relations - Standing Order 27(2) Response Parliamentary Procedure Read →