Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P.
Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House of Parliament
Profession: Politician
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- 11 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the rights of Government Members must also be protected. The remark appears to be a procedural intervention emphasizing equal protection of parliamentary privileges or speaking rights for Members on the Government side. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake requested the Deputy Speaker to restore order in the House or issue a ruling. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to an allegation he described as a serious national issue and requested time to respond in Parliament. He stated that he and his party had not entered politics through corruption and had no fear of addressing the claim, while indicating he lacked authority over the matter being discussed. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake denies allegations that he released the containers in question, noting that earlier claims linked them to the Western Province Governor. He states that if accusers believe he was responsible, they should take the matter to court and name him as a suspect rather than making shifting public accusations. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake rejected allegations that he was involved in releasing containers from Customs. He said earlier claims, based on a Customs trade union statement, had alleged in Parliament in January that the containers belonged to the Western Province Governor. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake asked to be allowed to finish his remarks before another member was given the opportunity to speak. The intervention appears procedural, seeking orderly conduct of the debate. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake requested permission from the Deputy Speaker to continue speaking after an interruption. No substantive policy issue, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that he rose only because his name had been mentioned, accusing others of making false claims under Parliamentary Privilege both inside and outside Parliament. He also referred to the matter as involving national security and asked Hon. Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna to remain calm and sit down. Points of Order - Customs Container Matter and Questions of Privilege Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake referred to a British High Commission news alert on new UK trade measures allowing Sri Lankan apparel and other goods tariff-free access under liberalized rules of origin. He said he would table material on how other countries had secured relief from US tariffs, noting that some had offered significant concessions such as aircraft purchases. He urged a national, serious approach to trade negotiations, acknowledged the work of the Minister, officials, and industry organizations, and called for any debate on the matter to provide equal opportunity to both sides. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Public FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that, under the Standing Orders, Members do not have a right to make such remarks. He agreed that the Chief Government Whip could be permitted to make a brief remark on this occasion due to his responsible conduct, but stressed that it should not become a practice, convention, or entitlement. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 11 July 2025 AI summary The Minister moved that the relevant reports be printed, which was agreed to by the House. He then presented the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, which was also agreed to. Tabling of Annual Reports - Ministers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake argued that the Easter Sunday attacks were part of a wider political and security failure, alleging that conditions of anti-Muslim sentiment and instability were cultivated after 2015 to enable the Rajapaksas’ return to power. He accused the then Government and later administrations of ignoring intelligence warnings, failing to prevent the attacks, and not conducting proper investigations, including sidelining officers such as Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne. He linked the attacks to subsequent economic damage, especially the collapse of tourism, and said the current Government has revived stalled cases and seeks judicial proof of the planners and operators behind the attacks. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that the relevant document available is the Imam report, and said that Anura Karunathilaka had also referred to it. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified that his brief interventions in the House were made with the consent of Hon. Chanaka and the Chair, not by virtue of his position as Leader of the House. He added that such opportunities would be available to others if they became Leader of the House, and expressed the wish that Hon. Rasamanickam would also have that opportunity. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake questioned the relevance of criticisms directed at Secretaries based on a Presidential Commission report. He specifically asked which President had appointed the Commission, indicating that this context was important to the discussion. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake interjected to seek clarification on which President appointed the Commission under discussion. The remark was a brief procedural question aimed at establishing the relevant context of the Commission’s origin. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake asked for clarification regarding a Presidential Commission report referenced by Hon. Chanaka, specifically inquiring which President had appointed that Commission. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that an apology had just been made to Minister Ananda Wijepala for a misstatement. The intervention appears procedural, drawing attention to the correction rather than advancing a substantive policy argument. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly challenged another member’s remark, asking whether they had just said “sorry.” The intervention appears to seek clarification of the member’s statement rather than to advance a substantive policy argument. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly questioned why an apology had been made to a Minister. The remark appears to be an interjection seeking clarification rather than a substantive policy statement or proposal. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →