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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
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that Parliament be adjourned. The Speaker put the question to the House. Adjournment Debate: Fourth Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours notwithstanding Standing Order 88, setting sittings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The motion also provided for Standing Order 8(5) to be enforced at 11.30 a.m. and for the House to be adjourned by the Speaker at 5.30 p.m.; it was agreed to by the House. Standing Orders Amendment (Standing Order 120) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway had been stalled due to earlier procurement, financing, exchange-rate, and debt-suspension issues, causing local disruption and significant arrears. He stated that Cabinet had approved settlement of USD 189.51 million in arrears, paid as Rs. 57 billion, and that China EXIM Bank had agreed to provide a Yuan-equivalent USD 500 million facility to resume work. He argued that continuing with the existing contractor would cost about Rs. 217 billion, compared with an estimated Rs. 263 billion if the contract were terminated and re-procured, and rejected claims that the project would cost Rs. 450 billion or Rs. 12 billion per kilometre. Ministerial Statement: Central Expressway Project Corruption & Governance ReformInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary The Minister provided budget and implementation details for Palaly Airport and Kankesanthurai Port, stating that Palaly received Rs. 651 million in 2025 allocations with Rs. 150 million spent by 21 September, while requested allocations for KKS had not been disbursed because rehabilitation works remained stalled pending Indian EXIM Bank and Government of India approvals. He said Palaly land acquisitions from 1950 were legally completed with compensation paid, while any current land acquisitions for expansion are handled by the Ministry of Defence. He stated that KKS is not presently economically viable as an international commercial port due to limited hinterland, high dredging costs, and unresolved financing issues, whereas Palaly Airport has become profitable and will be developed gradually using Katunayake Airport revenues. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Palaly Airport Allocations Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Urban commuters face inadequate public transport and high taxi costs due to weaknesses in SLTB operations and depot management. District-level officials and Police OICs have been asked to intervene to improve depot performance, with some successful coordination between private and SLTB services, such as on the Kalutara–Colombo route. In response to concerns about Route 155, it was stated that 20 trips had operated the previous day and that specific lapses should be reported for inquiry. Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) InfrastructureCost of LivingEnvironment Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the driving licence backlog of about 1.1 million had been cleared by April, while acknowledging earlier delays and long-standing problems at the Department of Motor Traffic involving weak institutional capacity, vendor dependence, expired contracts, and alleged corruption. He stated that new licences with updated features are being developed and that tender procedures for number plates have been completed. He said number plates with enhanced security features are expected to be issued by 15 November, with possible interim arrangements before then. Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) Corruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake provided a written answer on the 2018 agreement to re-engineer Department of Motor Traffic services for vehicle registration, transfers and related activities using new technology. He stated that the agreement was approved by Cabinet and signed on 19 July 2018 with Metropolitan Advanced Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., selected through a SCAPC procurement process with TEC evaluation. He further said no government expenditure was borne, no related issue had been reported, and other parts of the question were not applicable. Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) Infrastructure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Vacancies in certain Sri Lanka Ports Authority grades have been approved for recruitment, reportedly for about 215 posts, under the Prime Minister’s committee, with further proposals pending. Bimal Rathnayake said SOR-related issues are being addressed, bonuses have been paid, Port profitability has increased by about 100 percent, and partial operations at the East Container Terminal are beginning. He urged public officers to act prudently and in good faith in light of past mismanagement. Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) InfrastructureEmployment Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary President-appointed committee findings have been referred to investigative authorities for further action. Bimal Rathnayake said the matter is outside his Ministry’s purview, but based on information received from the State Minister of Finance a week earlier, investigations were still ongoing. Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary The Minister said there is no current congestion in releasing import containers at the Port of Colombo, though difficulties have arisen in inter-terminal trucking of export and re-export containers due to increased capacity and traffic. He outlined measures being implemented in response to Chamber of Commerce proposals, including reactivating the Speedy Clearance Committee, extending scanning and screening toward 24-hour operations, expanding Green Channel access, increasing RCT capacity, adding staff, and introducing a real-time port operations dashboard. He also cited steps to diversify trucking operators, provide an off-dock Customs inspection bay, address private sector clearance delays, and improve agency staffing, while noting that incomplete Customs digitalization, delays at the East Container Terminal, and regional disruptions have contributed to pressure. He stated that congestion has eased but may recur around December-January, and planning is underway. Oral Question: Container Release from Colombo Port (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented, under Standing Order 119(4), a report on observations and actions taken regarding Department of Motor Traffic matters arising from a Committee on Public Accounts report. He moved that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Auditor-General's Report and Annual Report of Bank of Ceylon Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 26 September 2025 AI summary The Minister moved that the reports referred to in Parliament be printed. The motion was put to the House, agreed to, and the reports were ordered to be printed. Auditor-General's Report and Annual Report of Bank of Ceylon Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that the Government is fulfilling its mandate by rebuilding the economy, combating corruption and the underworld, and restoring democracy rather than engaging in “media spectacle.” He cited the President’s remarks at the UN General Assembly on anti-corruption, reconciliation, and representation for women and persons with disabilities, and referred to improvements in democracy and rule of law indices. He rejected the Opposition’s allegation of “constitutional autocracy,” pointing to multiparty representation in Parliament, fair elections, local authority administration, and planned vehicle allocations to Pradeshiya Sabhas, including those outside Government control. Debate Continuation: Vehicle Import Regulations Women & ChildrenCorruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 25 September 2025 AI summary The Minister presented Supplementary Estimate No. 03 of 2025 and moved that it be referred to the Committee on Public Finance. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Papers Presented Public Finance Read →
  • 25 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Speaker’s further clarification was consistent with the original ruling and only elaborated on it. He noted that the Speaker was not obliged to table every document sent to him but had done so in the interest of transparency, and urged the Opposition to review the documents and proceed according to the Standing Orders. He called for Parliament to move on to the next item of business. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 25 September 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake raised a point of order citing Standing Order 76, stating that the Speaker’s ruling could not be debated. He asked the Chair to clarify whether the Attorney-General’s and Secretariat’s letters requested by a Member would be tabled, arguing that if they had been tabled as stated by the Speaker, further debate was unnecessary and proceedings should move on. Opening and Speaker's Ruling on No-Confidence Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake supported the Bill as a modern response to physical, emotional, and public forms of harm against children, arguing that corporal punishment and humiliating language by adults can cause lasting psychological damage. He rejected fear-based objections, cited international moves away from corporal punishment, and said the measure should be aligned with forthcoming Code of Criminal Procedure amendments before passage. He also highlighted cyberbullying and public shaming as contemporary harms the law must address, and proposed that MPs view the film Taare Zameen Par to better understand children’s experiences. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human RightsLaw & OrderEducation Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved that the business under Item No. 2 of the Main Business on the Order Paper be exempted from Standing Order 27. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Questions under Standing Order 27(2): Executive Presidency and SVAT Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake tabled a written answer on the status of Maga Neguma companies, stating that production and construction activities have ceased and only winding-up-related functions, security, and custodial work continue with minimum staff. He said Cabinet decisions in 2023 and 2025 provide for winding up the companies and releasing certain plants to State or semi-State institutions on a tax-waiver basis, subject to legal authorization. The answer detailed the status of the Road Construction Equipment, Emulsion Production, and Consultancy and Management companies, including plans to recommence the emulsion plant under the Road Development Authority. It also listed assets at the Ganewalpola yard, valued in September 2024 at Rs. 91 million for plants and Rs. 72.71 million for vehicles, while noting that pending court cases prevent their use without court permission. Oral Questions 6, and continuing questions on Seeds, Tanks, and Immigration Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the Sri Lanka Transport Board Annual Report for 2023 to Parliament. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented: University Reports and Government Documents Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructure Read →