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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
  • 24 November 2025 AI summary The Minister requested that the guidelines prepared by the Secretary-General’s office on questions raised under Standing Order 27(2), already presented at the Party Leaders’ meeting, be circulated to Ministers as well. Oral Question: India Trade Relations - Standing Order 27(2) Response Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, as Leader of the House, moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Presiding Member then proposed the question for consideration. Adjournment Motion: Improvement of Facilities for Salt Production in Kinniya DS Division Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake asked whether the addressee would attend the Nugegoda rally taking place that day. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Deputy Minister of Defence had presented the relevant document on his own initiative and could respond later if necessary. He emphasized that Members are responsible for the accuracy of documents they present, and requested the Speaker to allow Minister Ananda Wijepala to respond to the issue raised unexpectedly by the Leader of the Opposition. Ministerial Statement and Points of Order: 'Aruna' News Report (19.11.2025) and Related Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly asked whether there was an alternative mechanism available. The intervention appears to seek clarification on the procedural or administrative mechanism under discussion, but the excerpt is too limited to identify the specific policy or issue involved. Ministerial Statement and Points of Order: 'Aruna' News Report (19.11.2025) and Related Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that Members are responsible for the statements and documents they present in Parliament, and their accuracy must be established through other appropriate means. He noted that the Deputy Minister of Defence had independently obtained time from the Speaker to present a document, and emphasized that Parliament has no separate mechanism to verify the correctness of such documents. Ministerial Statement and Points of Order: 'Aruna' News Report (19.11.2025) and Related Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 November 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2022 Annual Report and Accounts of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation to Parliament. He proposed referring the report to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, and the proposal was agreed to. Papers Presented: Annual Reports (National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel, National Science Foundation) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake asked the Opposition to consider adjusting the parliamentary schedule on days when divisions are requested on Budget Heads, noting that multiple votes and divisions had extended proceedings the previous day and placed strain on staff. He proposed that, on such days, the House proceed to voting at 6.00 p.m. without holding the Adjournment Debate, allowing proceedings to conclude by around 6.30–6.45 p.m. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural resolution to reorganize existing Ministerial Consultative Committees, notwithstanding Standing Order 112 and in line with a prior parliamentary resolution of 19 March 2025. The motion proposed replacing the previously established committees on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and on Urban Development, Construction and Housing with three new committees covering Transport/Highways/Urban Development, Ports/Civil Aviation, and Housing/Construction/Water Supply. The motion was agreed to by Parliament. Procedural: Ministerial Consultative Committees Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to disorderly conduct in the chamber and urged that unruly Members be restrained. He stated that such behaviour would not be allowed and questioned what was taking place in Parliament. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake appealed to the Chief Opposition Whip to assist in maintaining the proper conduct of parliamentary proceedings. He warned that, if cooperation was not provided, the House would have to record that lack of cooperation. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly made a request directed to the Chief Opposition Whip. No further details of the request or related policy matter were provided in the excerpt. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government was not responsible for delays, arguing that the real delay was the seven-year period without elections. He cautioned that hastily creating an electoral system could cause problems, citing local government experience, and said the process would proceed through dialogue without any intention to postpone elections. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government was prepared to make a statement on the Provincial Council electoral system, after which a proper procedure should be determined. He noted that the existing law provides for a mixed first-past-the-post and proportional representation system, with delimitation being the main technical obstacle. He stated that party and individual views would be sought following the statement, and said the process was intended to proceed democratically rather than delay elections. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Parliamentary ProcedureEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake informed Parliament that a rock-blasting operation to stabilize an NBRO-identified unsafe slope between Idalgasinna and Ohiya on the Badulla railway line caused rocks to fall onto the track, suspending services on that section. He stated that the Army, Railways Department staff and the contractor had been mobilized, with the aim of restoring Badulla line operations by the following night, while trains were operating only up to Nanu Oya that day. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Law & OrderInfrastructure Read →
  • 19 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the question had reached the Ministry only at 4.00 p.m. the previous day, but an answer had nevertheless been prepared. He asked that the current time, 9.26 a.m., also be recorded. Procedural: Ministerial Statements and Parliamentary Business Management Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that the Committee report progress and seek leave to sit again, indicating a procedural request to adjourn the Committee stage and resume proceedings at a later time. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake rejected claims that military-run businesses and checkpoints have undermined the Northern economy, citing figures on Army-operated cafeterias, shops, tailor shops and salons and stating that any operations outside camps should be stopped or transferred to local people. He argued that a false narrative was being promoted domestically and internationally, including in Geneva, and said the NPP has a broad Tamil mandate in the North through MPs and local councillors. He urged MPs not to fear national reconciliation, criticised nationalism-based politics, tabled a 2002 Hansard extract from Nimal Siripala de Silva on arrests and remand practices, and expressed support for reconciliation while acknowledging the work of the Police and Armed Forces. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionSecurity & Defence Read →
  • 18 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Public Security and Defence sectors are central to public safety and argued that the current administration has improved transparency and effectiveness, particularly in police-led drug operations. He cited figures on raids and seizures of heroin, ice, cannabis, hashish and cocaine, and called for national unity across North and South to combat narcotics while acknowledging that some officers may be complicit. He rejected ethnic blame over drug issues and recent social incidents, accused past administrations of politicizing the police and mishandling Easter attack investigations, and said the Government is working to rebuild investigations and depoliticize law enforcement. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Security & DefenceCorruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Read →
  • 18 November 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to a reference to his name, criticizing the use of personal or petty comparisons involving cricketing credentials and citing Muthiah Muralitharan’s career as context. He expressed regret over an incident in the Presiding Member’s district and argued that political leaders should calm rather than inflame communal or social tensions. He accused the opposing Member’s speech of attempting to stoke tensions and warned against politics reminiscent of the violence associated with Black July. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Defence and Public Security Expenditure Heads Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →