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- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the claim about possessing “files” on everyone was made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, not President Anura Dissanayake. He emphasized that the remark should be attributed to Mahinda Rajapaksa in the relevant context. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake raised a procedural concern about the length and language of ministerial replies, noting that Members may not understand responses given in a Minister’s mother tongue. He said his observation carried no ill intent and urged Ministers to answer briefly to avoid the government side gaining undue speaking time. Oral Question: Fish Catch, Import and Export (Q.637/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to the Speaker allowing a Point of Order during a Member’s question to the Prime Minister, arguing that it interrupted the Member’s Standing Order right to ask supplementary questions. He urged that the established procedure be respected and stated that the intervention did not constitute a proper Point of Order. Procedural: Points of Order on Question Time Conduct Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved that the referenced report be printed. The motion was agreed to, and Parliament ordered that the report be printed. Petitions Presented by Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Moved that the relevant Report be printed. The motion was put to the House, agreed to, and the Report was ordered to be printed. Announcements and Papers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that, although the law in question was not enacted by the current Government, it would comply with its provisions. He explained that the special sitting was convened to present the required Statement, and that two related reports would also be tabled during the debate as required by the Act. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the debate had begun and indicated that 17 speakers would provide details during the proceedings. He noted that their presentations would include material from two supporting documents approved by the Cabinet. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the main statement required to be presented by 30 June had been tabled. He added that two ancillary detailed reports had been approved by Cabinet and would be presented during the debate. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament, after which the Deputy Speaker put the question. He then indicated that the adjournment motion would be moved by Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne and allotted her 12 minutes to speak. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved procedural motions to vary the sitting hours for the day, setting sessions from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., with adjournment by the Speaker at 4.30 p.m. He also moved that Parliament adjourn at the conclusion of the day’s business until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 8 July 2025; both motions were agreed to. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified that his intervention was not a point of order. He requested that the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and relevant Ministers address the matter during the course of the debate. Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the 2018 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka National Freedom from Hunger Campaign Board on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Presentation and Tabling of Reports and Annual Reports AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Moved that the Report be printed. The motion was agreed to, and the Report was ordered to be printed. Papers: Presentation and Tabling of Reports and Annual Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 30 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved that the reports be printed. The motion was agreed to, and the House ordered the reports to be printed. Papers: Presentation and Tabling of Reports and Annual Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that the escalating Israel-Iran conflict should not be fuelled by other states and called for urgent negotiations, while noting risks to Sri Lankan citizens abroad and possible economic effects such as rising oil prices. He linked the conflict to the unresolved Palestine question, stating that the failure to establish a free Palestinian state alongside Israel has prolonged instability and led to severe humanitarian consequences. He urged responsible international action, criticized the justification of military escalation as self-defence, and cautioned against blaming entire populations for the actions of their governments. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified media reports that around 700 vehicles were stuck at the port, stating that about 4,020 imported vehicles were parked there as of 10.00 a.m. and that the issue was not due to SLPA charges or yard facilities but to Customs procedures and related Gazette requirements. He said Sri Lanka Customs, the Controller General of Imports and Exports, and the Attorney General’s Department were discussing a solution, which was expected shortly, while noting Customs is not under SLPA control. He also referred to global disruptions and the Iran–Israel conflict, stating that a requested parliamentary debate had not proceeded because the proposing Member was absent, and placing the conflict in the context of Israeli actions against Iran and Gaza. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Foreign AffairsInfrastructure Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that answering the question would require consulting all ten relevant commissions. He informed that if the question is to be revised, it must be resubmitted. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Constitutional Commissions (Q.Unspecified/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister, Bimal Rathnayake requested additional time to respond to the question raised by Ravi Karunanayake under Standing Order 27(2). Question under Standing Order 27(2): Constitutional Commissions (Q.Unspecified/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said he had examined the previously raised BOQ-related issue and discussed it with Minister Nalinda Jayatissa and his Ministry Secretary, noting that a site visit had also taken place. He stated that the proposed expressway crossing or related work was not in current plans due to its high cost and past deviations in Southern Expressway planning, but said it could be reconsidered if the Industry Ministry, the relevant Members and Ministers resolved litigation and funding issues through the BOI and line ministries. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
- 20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the proposal in question is not currently included in the Government’s plans, noting that it is estimated to cost over Rs. 1 billion. He indicated that, given this cost, it is not being pursued at present. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) Public Finance Read →