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- 8 May 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to the asking of supplementary questions without the relevant Member’s consent, referring to Standing Order 27(2). He stated that any such procedure should not be followed in Parliament and, if desired, could be conducted elsewhere, referencing Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s private residence. Oral Question: Currency Printed/Minted Since 2015 (Q.9/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that the Deputy Minister had undertaken to respond during the debate and said that should be sufficient. He indicated the Member could proceed with the second supplementary question. Oral Questions: Foreign Official Visits by Former President (Q.5/2024) and Follow-up Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake said the Customs issue raised by Members relates to the economy but is not directly relevant to the current item under the Order of Business. He noted that a separate debate was unnecessary because a comprehensive debate on the economy was scheduled for the day, during which the relevant Ministers would provide clarifications. Procedural - Interjections on Order of Business Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 May 2025 AI summary Moved that the reports be laid upon the Table and printed. The House agreed to the motion, and the reports were ordered to be printed. Papers - Tabling of Annual Reports and Documents Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Government had allocated two days to debate the Batalanda Commission Report and framed the issue as part of a broader need for justice, reconciliation, and accountability for violence from 1971, 1987–90, and the Northern war. He criticized previous political leaderships for failing to properly conclude the Batalanda process, while stating that the current Government’s approach is reconciliation rather than revenge and that the JVP’s armed phase arose after prolonged repression and failed democratic avenues. He said the Government’s immediate priorities had been economic stabilization and restoring electoral democracy, with a later phase focused on coexistence, addressing disappearances, and healing wounds across communities. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that Parliament consider the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the establishment and maintenance of unlawful detention sites and torture chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme. The report had been tabled in Parliament on 14 March 2025, and the motion formally initiated parliamentary consideration of it. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Moved the adjournment motion that Parliament, upon rising, adjourn until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 8 May 2025. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Procedural: Adjournment Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours notwithstanding Standing Order 88, setting sittings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The motion also provided for the Speaker to adjourn the House at 5.30 p.m., and it was agreed to. Procedural: Adjournment Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake raised a procedural objection that a report or item not listed in the Order Paper should not be presented during the sitting, warning that doing so could create a wrong precedent. He requested a ruling from the Chair and said he would consult the Secretary-General’s Office to resolve the matter, emphasizing that the objection concerned compliance with Standing Orders rather than the content of the poverty analysis. Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the Government had no objection to the content of the report referred to by Hon. Harsha de Silva, but questioned whether its presentation had been properly notified and approved through parliamentary procedure. He requested the Secretary-General’s Office to clarify whether the Hon. Speaker and Secretary-General had been informed, stating that reports should only be presented with due permission to preserve the orderly conduct of parliamentary business. Procedural: Point of Order on Report Presentation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Deputy Speaker then proposed the question for the House’s consideration. Adjournment Motion: Renewable Energy Policy and Rooftop Solar Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake informed the Deputy Speaker that the Chairman of the District Coordinating Committee, Hon. Upali Samarasingha, was present in the House. Debate: Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading (Morning Session) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the sitting hours of Parliament for the day, notwithstanding Standing Order 88. The House agreed to sit from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., with Standing Order 8(5) to operate at 5.00 p.m. and adjournment at 7.00 p.m. without question put. Ministerial Statement and Privilege Question; Procedural Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary Moved that the House be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 27 for the day’s sitting in relation to Item No. 2 of the Order Paper. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Ministerial Statement and Privilege Question; Procedural Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 April 2025 AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question raised by the Leader of the Opposition, noting that the issue involves several Ministries and requires additional time for a coordinated reply. He said the Parliamentary Business Committee had agreed that complex multi-sectoral questions under SO 27(2) need time, and added that broader economic matters could be raised during the VAT (Amendment) debate while preserving the rights of other Members within the Standing Order framework. Ministerial Statement: SO 27(2) Question to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that, as his name had been mentioned, he would respond and provide clarification at a later opportunity under the Standing Orders. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to criticism after his name was mentioned, defending his past position on the Rajapaksa administration and asserting that his party had remained in Opposition despite later disagreements over the war period. He accused the Member concerned of associating with the Rajapaksas and Pillayan after alleged wartime abuses, and contrasted that conduct with the Opposition roles of figures such as Hon. Raviraj and Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam. He also referred to alleged personal attacks and disrespect toward the Chair recorded in Hansard, and tabled two photographs relating to Hon. Rasamanickam. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours, notwithstanding Standing Order 88. The motion set sittings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., with Parliament to be adjourned by the Speaker at 5.30 p.m.; it was agreed to. Procedural: Point of Order on Members' Conduct and Sitting Hours Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake raised a point of Order referring to Standing Order 92(1)(a), which requires Members to enter the Chamber with decorum and in an orderly manner. He argued that the matter cited did not involve a procedural issue, as it related only to a statement made by a Minister, and asked the Member to verify the citation against the Hansard. Procedural: Point of Order on Members' Conduct and Sitting Hours Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 April 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake acknowledged the importance of the issue raised but noted that a full day had already been allocated to debate it alongside the VAT-related economic Bill. He said the impacts could be addressed during that debate and opposed the Opposition’s proposal to continue sittings without a lunch break, requesting that the House proceed to the main debate. Oral Question: MSME Tariff Crisis and Trade Negotiations (SO 27(2)) Parliamentary Procedure Read →