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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
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the question had been directed to the wrong Ministry and did not fall within his Ministry’s purview. He said the Cabinet of Ministers’ Secretariat had been informed and requested that the matter be referred to the relevant Ministry. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Minister of Health would respond when present, clarifying that this was not due to the significance of the newspaper reference. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake asks for the name of the newspaper being referred to, seeking clarification during the debate. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development, Bimal Rathnayake requested two weeks’ time to respond to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions and Answers (Q.846/2025, Q.1024/2025, Q.1068/2025, Q.1070/2025, Q.1073/2025, Q.1076/2025, Q.1092/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, on behalf of the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, presented Supplementary Estimate No. 01 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 →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Plantations and Rural Infrastructure, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the Palmyrah Development Board’s Annual Report for 2020. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Use of Resources, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the 2020 Performance Report of the Department of Agrarian Development on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Use of Resources, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary ProcedureAgriculture Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the 2021 Annual Report of Lanka Thriposha and the 2023 Annual Report of Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. He moved that the reports be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that while his side agrees to debate the substance of the matter, parliamentary procedures must be observed. He said the House should await a ruling from the Speaker and the Secretariat and proceed in accordance with that decision. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said railway improvements are being pursued under the Budget framework, acknowledging weak service beyond Chilaw on the Puttalam line. He stated that unprotected locations in the district would be secured, flood risks addressed, and several Puttalam District stations modernized, with further service improvements expected as more locomotives become available. He added that major upgrades depend on strengthening railway management and the Ratmalana Workshops first. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary The Minister acknowledged major inefficiencies in the railway system while noting the dedication of many staff. He said the Government has taken a Cabinet policy decision to fill technical vacancies, though implementation was delayed by some departmental heads, and is now working with the new General Manager, State Minister, volunteer engineers, and trade unions. He stated that reforms would be systematic and projected about a 50 percent improvement in rail services within a year. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) InfrastructureCorruption & Governance ReformEmployment Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that measures are in progress to address staffing needs, including the Committee’s approval of 106 Station Master posts. He noted that recruitment processes and examinations for the relevant categories are currently underway. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) Employment Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that Sri Lanka Railways currently has 24 Sri Lanka Technological Service officers and 4,425 departmental technical officers, with 35 vacancies in the former and 3,644 in the latter. He outlined recruitment measures, including examinations and applications for technical and operational posts such as train controllers, locomotive drivers, station masters, supervisory managers, technical management assistants and basic technical officers, with several appointments targeted for September 2025. He also noted constraints in filling some Special Grade posts due to a lack of qualified officers and said further vacancies had been referred to the Cabinet-appointed Officials’ Committee on public service recruitment and human resource management. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) InfrastructureEmployment Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake presented the Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation regarding the Sri Lanka Railways Department’s 2023 Performance Report. The report had been referred to the Committee and was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers: Reports and Agreements Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the 2024 Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Railways Department 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: Reports and Agreements Tabled InfrastructureParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 August 2025 AI summary Moved that the reports be printed. The motion was agreed to, and Parliament ordered the reports to be printed. Papers: Reports and Agreements Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that it had been clarified that magistrates and district judges can be transferred by a body that includes the Chief Justice. He referred to Hon. Kaushalya’s statement as providing that clarification. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 20 August 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that, in addition to Standing Orders, parliamentary proceedings are also governed by Speakers’ Rulings. He explained that his citations were made on that basis. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 August 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake sought clarification under Standing Order 83 on the limits of parliamentary discussion concerning judges. Citing Speaker’s rulings from 1958 and 1997, he argued that not only judges’ personal conduct but also their administrative conduct in relation to court proceedings has been ruled out of order for debate in Parliament, with such references previously expunged from Hansard. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake addressed concerns over the arrests of Sri Lankan refugee returnees from India, including Ramasamy Thecharaja and Thecharaja Pushprani, stating that such arrests under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act were not Government policy and that those arrested had been released on bail. He recalled past parliamentary action to grant citizenship to 28,500 war-displaced refugees in India and said the Government welcomes returnees and will support their resettlement. He said relevant Ministers, including the Justice Minister, are being consulted to remove legal obstacles and prevent further arrests, while urging Members not to communalize isolated administrative errors. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →