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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
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the RDA has filed a Police complaint against Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha over an allegation that Rs. 380 million had been paid twice to contractors, which the RDA rejected at a media briefing. He said audit queries on toll revenue discrepancies are not proof of wrongdoing and may relate to staffing shortages or compromised toll gates. He added that the RDA will provide full responses while taking steps to reduce leakages and strengthen the toll system. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) InfrastructureCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that factors including the economic crisis, fraud and corruption, delays, exchange rate fluctuations, design issues, and contractor delays had created additional fiscal burdens. He said these could be quantified separately and offered to compile and present such an analysis, possibly during the next Budget. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that expressway and road contracts have been awarded only through open tender procedures. He attributed cost escalations to economic-crisis-related delays, exchange rate changes, and inadequate initial design or geotechnical investigations, citing over Rs. 60 billion in delay costs on the Central Expressway and unexpected rock removal costs on the Potuhera–Rambukkana section. He said steps are being taken to improve upfront design to prevent similar variations during construction. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary Provided detailed data on the Road Development Authority’s staffing, road network, expenditure, construction and rehabilitation costs, and expressway operations in response to a parliamentary question. He stated that the RDA manages 12,262.84 km of central government roads, with expenditure rising from Rs. 4,606.02 million in 2021 to Rs. 14,591.16 million in 2025, while information on provincial roads is not available to the RDA. He also reported that five expressways totalling 312.57 km are in operation, with annual maintenance costs of Rs. 5,180.90 million and 2025 toll revenue of Rs. 16,330.14 million, but said no comprehensive return-on-investment calculation has been conducted. Future plans cited included ongoing and planned sections of the Central Expressway and the proposed Ruwanpura Expressway. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Infrastructure Read →
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Bimal Rathnayake presented the 2017 Annual Report of the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka. 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: Annual Reports and Ministry Reports Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructure Read →
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented, on behalf of the relevant Minister, reports under Standing Order 119(4) detailing observations and actions taken by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government and the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council on matters raised by the Committee on Public Accounts. He moved that the reports be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Ministry Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 May 2026 AI summary The Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development presented the 2024 Annual Report of the National Housing Development Authority. He moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Ministry Reports Infrastructure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary The Leader of the House, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion was proposed for the House’s consideration. Adjournment Motion: Sustainable Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the authorities had been in contact for two days with Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Türkiye and relevant activists regarding the matter raised. He noted that the individual concerned had not yet boarded at the time and that the Palestine Solidarity Committee was also aware of the situation, adding that the Deputy Minister would provide a formal response. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Foreign Affairs Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that he expected the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs to respond. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified ministerial responsibility for certain institutions, noting examples such as Immigration and the Ceylon Electricity Board falling under specific Ministers. He stated that the question would be referred to the Ministry of Digital Economy for a response. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the matter should be directed to the Ministry of Digital Economy, as it concerns data breaches and the National Cyber Security Operations Centre falls under that ministry. He noted that the institutions involved span multiple ministries and undertook to arrange for the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy to respond, preferably within the week. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that a question had been directed to four Ministers and proposed that it be referred to a single ministry. He asked whether the Deputy Minister of Finance would respond on behalf of the relevant ministries collectively. Questions by Private Notice and Ministerial Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake urged that Parliament follow proper procedure when presenting Committee Reports, stating that the Committee Chair should represent the Committee rather than raise unrelated matters. He said any concerns about newspaper reports or disputes involving Members should be addressed separately, not during the formal presentation of a Committee Report. Papers and Reports Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake cautioned that when Committee Reports are presented, Committee Chairs should primarily convey the Committee’s collective position rather than personal views. He said that allowing Chairs to make substantive remarks outside a specific debate could make Committee proceedings appear biased or one-sided, while noting he did not object to the Member responding to a newspaper report. He added that issues relating to the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill should be addressed during the relevant debate. Papers and Reports Tabled Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary The Minister presented several fiscal and monetary documents on behalf of the Prime Minister, including Central Bank inflation deviation and financial reports for 2025 and regulations under the Stamp Duty, Ports and Airports Development Levy, Excise, and VAT Acts, and moved that they be referred to the Committee on Public Finance. He also presented reports under Standing Order 119(4) on actions taken regarding matters concerning the Colombo Municipal Council and the Office of the Leader of the House, and moved that they be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts. Both motions were agreed to. Opening and Announcements Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
  • 19 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake presented several Auditor-General’s Reports to Parliament under Article 154(6) of the Constitution, covering selected parts for the financial years 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. He also presented a Special Audit Report on tax, fines and interest recoverable by the Department of Inland Revenue from registered taxpayers as at 30 June 2024. Parliament agreed to his motions that the reports be printed. Opening and Announcements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake informed the House that the Minister of Public Security was present and could respond to Members, including Mano Ganesan or Thondaman, on the earlier issue if they were available. The intervention was procedural, directing relevant Members to raise the matter while the responsible Minister was in the Chamber. Debate: National Transport Commission Act Regulations, Motor Traffic Act Regulations, Immigrants and Emigrants Act Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 May 2026 AI summary Moved approval of regulations issued under the National Transport Commission Act and published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2471/68 of 17 January 2026, noting Cabinet approval and prior presentation to Parliament on 07 April 2026. He also moved approval of related regulations under the Motor Traffic Act and the Tourism and Travel Act, after which the question was proposed. Debate: National Transport Commission Act Regulations, Motor Traffic Act Regulations, Immigrants and Emigrants Act Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 May 2026 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the opposing party collectively resisted increasing estate workers’ wages, noting that one of its Members filed a complaint and that the Party Leader had not withdrawn it. He demanded that the Party Leader first express regret for that action. Presentation of Bills and Regulations Approval Employment Read →