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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 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that two Southern Expressway interchanges, at Kapuduwa and Baddegama, were added outside the original design due to political influence, at significant cost. He noted that an interchange can cost over Rs. 1 billion, or at least around Rs. 600 million, and said the current obstacle cited is court action affecting land acquisition. He also observed that the proposed industrial zone connected to the matter had not yet been built. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) Corruption & Governance ReformInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 20 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake provided answers on the proposed Pelpola Interchange and related land acquisition, stating that the expressway section from Kottawa to Mattala has 21 interchanges and that 115 land plots have been acquired, with compensation paid for 45 plots. He said the BOI advanced Rs. 91.5 million in 2017 for acquisition expenses, of which about Rs. 91.13 million has been spent. He further stated there is no plan to relocate the interchange, and that BOI support was halted because a court case over land identified for the proposed Millaniya Industrial Zone affected the related project. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) Infrastructure Read →
  • 20 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly remarks that a Member is reportedly serving as an acting principal, prompting laughter in the House. No substantive policy issue or proposal is raised. Oral Question: Acting Principals in Government Schools (Q.Unspecified/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 June 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2023 Annual Performance Report of the National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka on behalf of the relevant Minister. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resources, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presentation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake raised a point of order regarding Standing Order 40(2), stating that a Private Member’s Motion lapses if the Member does not move it when called and no other Member has written authorization to do so. He said no ruling is required in such a situation and cited a 2018 precedent involving then Opposition Leader Dinesh Gunawardena under Standing Order 19(1), urging adherence to Standing Orders. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved that Parliament adjourn, initiating the adjournment motion. No substantive policy argument or proposal was presented beyond the procedural motion. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours, setting sessions from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., with Standing Order 8(5) to operate at 11.30 a.m. and adjournment at 5.30 p.m. The motion was agreed to by the House. Motion on Hours of Sitting and Leave to Introduce Bill Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Rajarata Rejini train service was limited to Anuradhapura in January 2023 due to low passenger demand during the fuel crisis. He said the service would be re-evaluated in light of current demand, with consideration given to extending it to Vavuniya or operating a smaller shuttle service. Ministerial Statements Infrastructure Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake said Colombo–Kankesanthurai services had been affected by post-Covid demand changes, line rehabilitation, rolling stock reallocations and crew shortages. He stated that the main constraint is the incomplete Maho–Anuradhapura signalling system, currently requiring token/tablet operations, and that work has begun to complete it so services such as Sri Devi and Uttara Devi can be restored or extended. He also said an Anuradhapura–Vavuniya shuttle is under consideration, Train No. 4021/4022 has been made daily from 9 June 2025 with weekend departures from Mt. Lavinia from 21 June, and a coastal substitute is operating because Yal Devi cannot be extended to Mt. Lavinia due to crew shortages. Ministerial Statements InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said he had previously requested the Security Forces Commander in Jaffna to carry out a site inspection with villagers and the District Secretary. He asked the Deputy Minister to send a delegation for a joint site visit, noting that while strategic security needs should be considered, there is significant local demand that also requires attention. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Pallimunai Land and Military Camp Issues Security & DefenceEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary The Minister tabled a written answer detailing Sri Lanka Railways’ passenger and goods transport income from 2015 to 2025 to date, showing annual passenger and freight revenue figures. He also outlined current measures to expand rail freight, including a 2025 pilot project for transporting perishable agricultural produce in the North Central Province, goods transport from Kankesanthurai, a proposed spur to the Kankesanthurai oil terminal, solid waste transport from Kelani Valley to Aruwakkalu, and public-private partnership initiatives to improve passenger and freight services. Oral Questions: Land in Wattala and Sri Lanka Railways Income Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 19 June 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Bimal Rathnayake requested two weeks to provide an answer. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Question No. 7 (918/2025) - Deferred Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that no special rule applies to the Opposition. The remark was made as a procedural point during the parliamentary proceedings. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake cited Standing Order 20 to argue that a matter cannot be presented in Parliament without the relevant Member being present. He maintained that the procedural rule is clear and should be followed. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government had agreed to allow the Opposition’s Adjournment Motion because it was presented as a matter of national importance and had been discussed earlier. He raised a procedural objection that the relevant Member was absent, noting that an Adjournment Motion cannot be taken up when the Member responsible for it is not present in the House. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake addressed the Deputy Speaker but did not make a substantive statement before being interrupted. No policy position, question, or proposal was recorded in the excerpt. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion “That Parliament do now adjourn” was proposed. Procedural: Adjournment Motion Dispute and House Adjournment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake requested the Opposition Chief Organizer to ensure that Opposition Members remain in the Chamber until 5.30 p.m. Procedural: Urgent Debate Motion on Israel–Iran War (Standing Order 19) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that a motion under Standing Order 19(1) may proceed if the required 20 Members rise and the Speaker so decides, with debate under Standing Order 19(3) possible at 3.30 p.m. if consent is granted. He noted that Government concurrence is required and that, since an adjournment motion by Hon. Hector Appuhamy is already scheduled, only one adjournment debate can be held; the Government is willing to take this debate instead from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Procedural: Urgent Debate Motion on Israel–Iran War (Standing Order 19) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 June 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Ministry aims to implement integrated timetables for SLTB and private buses, citing the Southern Province model and planned implementation in the Puttalam Corridor, while addressing passenger inconvenience at hubs such as Pettah and Jaffna. He stated that rebuilding the weakened SLTB is necessary for effective integration and to avoid private monopolies. He also announced plans to study a Budget proposal to subsidize loss-making rural SLTB routes by expanding the “Gami Saraniya” scheme, and asked Members to identify needed routes through District Coordinating Committees. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →