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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
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake informed Parliament that the Deputy Minister of Finance and several Ministers had been urgently called by the President for a Budget-related discussion. As a result, he said the scheduled response, including one prepared by the Minister of Power and Energy, could not be delivered that day. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly calls for a press briefing to be held. He indicates disagreement with an implied urgent need or justification raised in the debate. Procedural: Second Round and Ministerial Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake notes that Obituary References and a discussion with the President are scheduled, and asks that the question be directed to the relevant Minister. He advises the Member to speak with the Minister, who had been present, or otherwise raise the matter through a press briefing. Procedural: Second Round and Ministerial Statements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said Ministers should generally answer parliamentary Questions with reference to the date on which they were asked, but noted that Members often seek information on the current situation. Citing paddy procurement as an example, he argued that a rigid date-based approach may be impractical when circumstances have changed, and called for a common understanding to avoid confusion. Oral Question: Ambassadors and High Commissioners with Dual Citizenship AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that ministerial answers to parliamentary Questions reflect the position at the time the response is prepared, not necessarily the situation when the Question was first submitted or later debated. He said delays in answering can mean circumstances change, including on matters such as dual citizenship, and argued this should be understood as normal parliamentary practice rather than concealment. Oral Question: Ambassadors and High Commissioners with Dual Citizenship Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that matters raised regarding the issue should be clarified through the CID investigation, noting that Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara had been summoned to give a statement and had claimed to know relevant facts. He said the investigation should establish the truth and that any evidence Jayasekara provides to the CID would be appropriate. Procedural and Oral Question: Airport and Aviation Services and Standing Orders Clarification Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said that during the previous day’s debate on the National Transport Commission Bill, he and his Deputy Minister had already addressed the death of a man in an elephant-train collision in substantial detail. He stated that the matter had been sufficiently clarified and required no further elaboration. Procedural and Oral Question: Airport and Aviation Services and Standing Orders Clarification Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly rose to address a question before the House. The provided extract contains no substantive details on the issue, proposal, or argument raised. Procedural and Oral Question: Airport and Aviation Services and Standing Orders Clarification Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake provided the Government’s answer regarding the Board of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, naming Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) Harsha Duminda Abeywickrama as Chairman and listing his academic and professional qualifications. He stated that the Board has eight members and tabled detailed information on their qualifications, previous positions, and current appointments, with annexures placed in the Library. He added that part (b) of the question was not applicable. Procedural and Oral Question: Airport and Aviation Services and Standing Orders Clarification Public Finance Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake rejected allegations by a trade union and said the procurement of diesel straddle carriers involved fraud, leading to legal action and the inability to import 15 units. He stated that a USD 18 million tender was revived and signed shortly before the 2024 Presidential Election under the previous administration, but was later cancelled on Attorney General’s advice, with fresh Cabinet approval obtained and new tenders now being called. He added that port equipment must be built to order, that the Colombo East Terminal work has now begun after delays since 2023 with completion expected around 2027, and that no new port workers have been recruited while the Government seeks to address operational shortcomings. Oral Question: Major Ports Revenue and Expenditure (Q.95/2024) Corruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified that customs duties collected on containers are not part of Sri Lanka Ports Authority revenue, which consists of port service charges such as handling fees, and said Cabinet has received a proposal to revise port service tariffs unchanged since 2022. He rejected claims that containers are released through political or official influence and stated that the CID is investigating the publicly discussed case of 323 containers. He also said investigations have begun into large-scale corruption at the Port and related individuals. Oral Question: Major Ports Revenue and Expenditure (Q.95/2024) Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake provided a written answer listing Sri Lanka’s major ports and stating that income and expenditure figures from 2015 to 2024 are given in an annex. He outlined current development plans, including investment for Colombo West Container Terminal II, preparatory work for Colombo North Port, efforts to complete at least 50 per cent of the East Container Terminal this year, and logistics or industrial development plans for Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai. He said Galle Port’s proposed investment-model development is not being broadly implemented due to environmental and social issues, and that large-scale commercial development of Kankesanthurai is not being pursued because feasibility studies did not support it. Oral Question: Major Ports Revenue and Expenditure (Q.95/2024) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 6 June 2025 AI summary Arguing on a point of procedure, Bimal Rathnayake said Standing Orders 31 to 37 should be read together in governing parliamentary questions. He maintained that oral questions must follow the Order Paper and that supplementary questions under Standing Order 33(1) must be confined to clarifying the given answer without introducing new matters. He urged the House to proceed with scheduled business, including Votes of Condolence, and said parliamentary time should not be used for unrelated questions. Procedural: Standing Orders Discussion and Oral Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary Moved the Third Reading of the Bill and requested leave to correct typographical, grammatical, and numerical errors and make consequential amendments. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill was read a Third time and passed. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the National Transport Commission’s School and Rural Services are being subsidized by Rs. 1.5–2.0 billion annually for routes where private buses are not viable, and asked Members to identify underserved localities while the Government works to improve reimbursement rates. He noted that 500 SLTB buses are being repaired, with about 300 already deployed, and invited proposals for feasible new inter-regional routes that reduce reliance on Colombo and other hubs. He also outlined action on unsafe railway level crossings, elephant-train collisions through visibility, signage and sensor pilots, and said the Government would address corruption in transport agencies, citing recent arrests at the Department of Motor Traffic. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading EnvironmentCorruption & Governance ReformInfrastructure Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly responded to Hon. Adaikkalanathan, stating that the concerns raised could have been addressed more easily if local authorities had been constituted promptly. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that, under the President’s direction, gold held by the military has been transferred to the Police through the courts and will be subject to proper assay reports. He said the Government intends to return items to claimants who can prove ownership, while using unclaimed gold, along with government contributions, to establish a fund for Northern development with possible diaspora participation. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary Requested the Vanni District representative to submit relevant proposals to the Mannar District Coordinating Committee. He stated that, if approved by the Committee, the proposals would be included in the following year’s Budget. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Public Finance Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary The Annual Performance Report of the Department of Export Agriculture for 2023 was presented on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. It was 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: Annual Performance Reports Parliamentary ProcedureAgriculture Read →
  • 5 June 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2022 Annual Performance Report of the Government Printing Department on behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Annual Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →