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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
  • 17 March 2025 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake moved a motion under Standing Order 111 to appoint seven Sectoral Oversight Committees, each comprising 12 Members nominated by the Committee of Selection with a quorum of three; the motion was agreed to. He also outlined which committees would be chaired by the Government or the Opposition. Additionally, he invoked Standing Order 91(f) to request an inquiry and appropriate action regarding an allegation that an MP used extreme sexual vilification against Attorney-at-Law Swasthika Arulingam. Sectoral Oversight Committees Appointment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 15 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake tabled documents relating to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s September 2023 visit to Wolverhampton and London, arguing that Foreign Ministry funds were used for what was initially described in official correspondence as a private visit. He cited requests and budget allocations amounting to about £40,000, plus related rupee releases, including accommodation, protocol costs, and other expenses, and noted that later internal documentation reclassified the trip as an “Official Programme.” He questioned how public expenditure was incurred for a private visit by the former President and spouse, and requested an investigation and action against responsible officials. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
  • 15 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the Committee on Public Petitions faces delays due to the large volume of petitions and noted that past Parliaments have not been able to complete even half of them within a term. He proposed establishing line-ministry-based subcommittees, such as for Defence-related petitions, to examine matters and refer near-final recommendations to the main Committee for decision. He also requested the Secretariat to provide the necessary officials to support the Committee’s work. Procedural: Point of Order on Public Petitions and Committee Discussion (Q.429/2025 Answer) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 15 March 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake acknowledged the issue raised by another Member and requested that the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions be allowed to examine it and report back to the House. Procedural: Point of Order on Public Petitions and Committee Discussion (Q.429/2025 Answer) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 15 March 2025 AI summary The Minister tabled an answer stating that part of the Kolonnawa Junction–Gothatuwa road is in poor condition, with 600 metres scheduled for rehabilitation under the 2025 work programme while interim maintenance continues. He said the final section has already been widened to standard two lanes, and the remaining Km 0+000 to Km 2+770 is planned for widening after land acquisition begins in 2026, with funding expected in 2027 through Treasury provisions to the Road Development Authority. Oral Question: Road from IDH to Kolonnawa Junction Development (Q.275/2024) Infrastructure Read →
  • 14 March 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the Cabinet position on the Batalanda Commission report, detailing the historical context of alleged unlawful detention, torture, and state violence during the late 1970s and 1980s. He said the 1998 report had not been acted upon or sent to the Attorney-General, despite being printed as sessional papers, and criticized past governments for using it politically rather than pursuing accountability. He formally laid the 208-page report before Parliament, stating that the current Government has a duty to make it public and respond to long-standing demands for truth and justice. Ministerial Statements Law & OrderJustice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake tabled certified schedules on Parliament’s electricity, telephone, food, and fuel expenses for 2023 and 2024, emphasizing the need for full transparency and frugality in the use of public funds. He highlighted fuel expenditure by former office holders, including the former Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Chairman/Deputy Chairman of Committees, and contrasted these figures with lower fuel expenses recorded under the current Parliament. He requested that, where audit findings justify it, the Speaker consider initiating legal action. Ministerial Statements Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified that expenditure information he tabled on 27 February about former Speakers, office-bearers, vehicles, fuel and the Speaker’s Residence was obtained in writing from the Speaker’s Office with approval, responding to public claims by former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that it was inaccurate. He said Parliament’s administrative spending involves public funds and should be accountable, welcomed the decision to subject such expenditure to audit, and sought to table finance-officer-certified reports. He specified that the reports include fuel expenditure for relevant office-bearers across periods in 2023, late 2024 and early 2025. Ministerial Statements Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 12 March 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Mass Media, a request was made for two weeks’ time to provide an answer to the question raised. Oral Question: Mass Media (Q.74/2024(1)) - Postponed Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake interjected to question a prior point by asking whether Harin, described as having been the other member’s friend, was the person who had crossed over. The remark appears to challenge or seek clarification on a political crossover referenced in the debate. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake interjected to clarify that the preceding reference did not explicitly identify the previous government. The remark sought precision in attributing responsibility during the debate. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the equipment in question had been procured by the previous government for the relevant programme. He disputed any implication that the current speaker or administration had brought in the machines themselves. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Public Finance Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that all cases filed in 2015 remain ongoing. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that any specific allegations could be investigated if supporting documents are provided after being tabled. He said the matter would be looked into once those documents are received. Oral Question: Construction of Liyangastota Bridge (Q.4/2025) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that a bridge scheduled for completion in 2019 remains unfinished, with work stalled for nearly six years, and said estimates are being prepared in 2025 to complete the remaining work. He noted that similar infrastructure gaps exist elsewhere, including around twenty bridges in Hambantota District lacking proper connecting roads, and said the Government would prioritize and address the necessary cases. Oral Question: Construction of Liyangastota Bridge (Q.4/2025) Infrastructure Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake provided a written answer on the Liyangastota Bridge, stating that construction began in December 2017 under SD&CC and has reached about 75 per cent physical progress, with completion dates revised from June 2019 to July 2022. He detailed the original and revised institutional responsibilities under Cabinet decisions in 2017 and 2020, the contract value and balance-work estimates, and identified the relevant ministers at those times. He said the contractor halted work in January 2023, mutual termination is being pursued, a 2025 estimate for remaining work is being prepared, and the completed structure is reported to be stable. Oral Question: Construction of Liyangastota Bridge (Q.4/2025) Infrastructure Read →
  • 11 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that the relevant reports be printed, and Parliament agreed to the motion. The sitting also recorded the presentation of a note on supplementary allocations under the Development Activities Programme for 1 January to 28 February 2025, pursuant to the Vote on Account passed on 6 December 2024, which was ordered to lie upon the Table. Opening Announcements and Papers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 10 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion “That Parliament do now adjourn” was then proposed. Adjournment Motion: Development of North-Western Province as a Tourist Destination Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 10 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake requested the Deputy Chair to grant another member an additional five minutes to speak. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Seventeenth Allotted Day – Committee Stage Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 10 March 2025 AI summary At the time the relevant contract was terminated, the road project had reached 76 per cent physical progress, with asphalt laid on 51 km of the 64.62 km package and 23.57 km fully completed. The total package estimate was Rs. 1,458 million, and responsibility lay with the Ministry of Highways and the Road Development Authority. Further work cannot proceed because the Supreme Court, in SC/HCCA/LA/254/2021, has ordered the maintenance of the status quo pending conclusion of the case. Oral Answers to Questions Infrastructure Read →