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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
  • 7 March 2025 AI summary The Minister informed Parliament about allegations that an SLTB conductor in the Matugama area had asked schoolchildren to leave a bus. He stated that SLTB policy requires all schoolchildren with season tickets and all passengers to be accepted on SLTB buses, and that the conductor has been removed from duty pending an inquiry and will not be reassigned until investigations are completed. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Public FinanceLaw & Order Read →
  • 7 March 2025 AI summary The Minister outlined the Ministry’s priorities for transport safety, service quality, and infrastructure under the new Government, citing plans to secure about 400 unsafe level crossings, install traffic-signal countdown timers, review transport safety laws, and introduce measures such as seat belts in public transport. He announced railway service improvements, expansion of rail freight, feasibility and development proposals including the Avissawella–Ratnapura extension and Nanu Oya–Nuwara Eliya tourism line, and initiatives to recruit women into SLTB and railway roles. He also proposed organizing three-wheeler and app-based drivers into cooperatives with social security support, strengthening accident investigations, and developing commercial activity at stations and depots. On ports, he stated that the East Container Terminal would remain fully public while private investment would be sought competitively for other port projects such as West Container Terminal 2 and Colombo North Port. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) InfrastructureWomen & ChildrenLaw & Order Read →
  • 7 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake tabled a detailed answer on Port of Colombo operations, providing terminal-wise data from 2015 to 2024 on ship calls, container throughput, operational profits, efficiency indicators, general cargo volumes, projections, and Sri Lanka’s global container-handling ranking. The figures show total container handling rising to 7.79 million TEUs in 2024, with major contributions from CICT, SAGT and SLPA-operated terminals, while SLPA operational profits increased substantially over the period, reaching Rs. 36.3 billion in 2023 after a higher figure in 2022. Further supporting tables, including efficiency and projection data, were tabled for the House. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Ports Authority Terminals Operations (Q.304/2024) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 7 March 2025 AI summary The answer provided figures on Land Reform Commission lands and other State lands in the Haputale and Haldummulla Divisional Secretariats, with detailed breakdowns by Grama Niladhari Division and allocation basis placed in the Library as annexes. It stated that LRC lands total 634.3690 hectares in Haputale and 2,755.2279 hectares in Haldummulla, with specified extents granted for housing and on lease. It also recorded approximately 545.2 hectares of non-LRC State land in Haputale, about 84.480 hectares identified as agricultural land there, and 42.377 hectares under cultivation, while further Haldummulla details were provided in the annexed material. Oral Question: Haputale and Haldummulla DS Divisions (Q.253/2024) Parliamentary ProcedureLand & Housing Read →
  • 7 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, presented a report under Standing Order 119(4) on observations and actions taken regarding matters raised by the Committee on Public Accounts. He proposed that the report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the House agreed. Papers: Ministerial Reports and Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 March 2025 AI summary The Minister presented the 2020 Annual Report of the National Livestock Development Board on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. He moved that the report be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Ministerial Reports and Performance Reports AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the motion that Parliament be adjourned. The Presiding Member put the question to the House. Adjournment Motion: Challenges Faced by Medical Specialists (Postgraduate Trainees) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake urged the Indian Government and the Tamil Nadu Government to address the recurring fisheries-related problems affecting northern Sri Lankan communities, particularly in areas such as Mannar, where he said livelihoods have been severely reduced. He argued that assistance to post-war communities should focus on enabling people to sustain themselves rather than only providing relief or cash support. He also commended the Fisheries Ministry and requested that the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation be strengthened and its retail outlets expanded to provide affordable, quality fish to the public. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Foreign AffairsAgricultureCost of Living Read →
  • 5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake highlighted the economic potential of northern fisheries and related products, including marine plants in Kilinochchi and the jaggery industry beyond the planned Vaddakandal bridge, while noting that northern fishing communities remain poorer than those in the South. He welcomed Budget allocations for the Vaddakandal bridge and called for targeted support for northern fishermen. He urged the Tamil Nadu and Indian Governments to prevent illegal fishing that harms the livelihoods of northern Sri Lankan fishing communities, asking India to enforce its own laws. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEmploymentAgriculture Read →
  • 5 March 2025 AI summary The Minister expressed support during the Committee Stage debate for the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, noting its relevance to the Northern Province and its fishing communities. He commended Minister Ramalingam Chandraseker, Deputy Minister Ranna Gamage and officials, and urged attention to areas such as Kurunagar, the islands, Mullaitivu and Nayaru through fisheries-based livelihood development. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionAgriculture Read →
  • 5 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake requested the Deputy Chairperson to grant another member an additional four minutes to speak. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary Moved that the privilege matter raised by Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha on 3 March 2025 be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges under Standing Order 118. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Notices of Motions: Privilege matter Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake cited Standing Order 92(2)(a) to argue that points of order must be limited to procedural matters and not used to raise unrelated incidents. He warned that misuse of one-minute points of order could disrupt parliamentary business, asked the Secretariat to guide the Chair and House accordingly, and stated that the Opposition was responsible for delaying the start of the Committee Stage. Ministerial Statements and Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to an interruption by noting that a question had already been asked. No substantive policy issue or proposal was raised in this brief remark. Ministerial Statements and Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 4 March 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Environment, Bimal Rathnayake presented reports on observations and actions taken concerning the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and its institutions, as submitted by the Committee on Public Accounts under Standing Order 119(4). He proposed that the reports be referred back to the Committee on Public Accounts, and the House agreed. Papers presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament. The motion, “That Parliament do now adjourn,” was proposed for consideration. Voting on Head 119 and Adjournment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to Government participation during time allocated to the Opposition and pointed to the apparent lack of Opposition Members present. He stated that the Government need not take part in the debate during Opposition time. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake observed that only three of the 66 Opposition Members were present in the House at that time, drawing attention to the low Opposition attendance during proceedings. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that during the Committee Stage, 60 percent of speaking time is allocated to the Opposition. He asked whether Members should speak from their seats, addressing a procedural matter on how the debate would proceed. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake noted the absence of most Opposition Members during the debate, with only Hon. Ajith P. Perera present. He questioned whether proceedings should continue or whether the House should proceed to a vote. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Parliamentary Procedure Read →