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- 6 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake instructed that the matter should be brought forward through the proper procedural channel. No further substantive argument or proposal was made in the statement. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that Members raising points under Standing Orders should clearly identify the relevant provision and that the Parliamentary Secretariat should advise the Chair on its applicability, specifically regarding Standing Order 92(2)(a). While accepting the Deputy Speaker’s ruling, he requested that the question to the Prime Minister be stated clearly and maintained that a point of order should not be raised against the Prime Minister in that manner. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake alleged misuse of state funds and criticized others for accusing opponents of theft while engaging in such conduct. His remark was a brief intervention challenging the credibility of those making corruption allegations. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly responded by noting that the previous speaker had made two specific points. No substantive policy position, proposal, or demand was developed in this intervention. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake challenged an earlier statement by another Member, asking whether they had received money from the President’s Fund. He noted an apparent inconsistency, stating that the Member had previously said they had taken funds but had then denied it. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake challenged another member in Parliament, asking whether their name appeared in relation to the President’s Fund. He demanded that the member state whether they had received money from the Fund. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake asked whether money had been taken from Arjun Aloysius, framing the intervention as a direct question likely referencing allegations connected to the bond scam controversy. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake contrasted past political support for Mahinda Rajapaksa with allegations of taking money from the President’s Fund. He questioned the conduct of those involved and accused them of acting without shame. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake briefly intervened during the sitting, addressing the Presiding Member and referring to another Member. The extract is too limited to identify a substantive argument, proposal, question, or policy issue. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake directly questioned whether money had been obtained from the President’s Fund. He demanded a clear confirmation or denial on the matter. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours notwithstanding Standing Order 8, setting sittings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The motion specified that Standing Order 8(5) would apply at 3.30 p.m. and that Parliament would adjourn at 5.30 p.m. without a question being put; it was agreed to. Procedural: Sitting Time Amendment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake requested that Parliament proceed with the main business of the day. Procedural: Privilege Questions and Sitting Time Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake urged the Speaker to manage time ahead of the main business and to ensure privilege matters are confined to what was submitted in writing. He said complaints about an Opposition member being prevented from speaking were an internal Opposition matter but also affected Parliament. He defended the Government’s handling of committee appointments, stating that Opposition representation had been increased across committees, including offering the COPA chair to the Opposition, and argued that committee composition should follow Standing Orders and parliamentary traditions rather than address internal party issues. Procedural: Privilege Questions and Sitting Time Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Election Commission does not consult political parties on election dates and noted that a Supreme Court directive already requires Provincial Council elections to be held without delay. He said that, in addition to the relevant Bill, existing court judgments must be considered, and that a decision can be made once the Supreme Court’s determination is received. He clarified that the timeline discussed was based solely on constitutional and statutory provisions. Procedural: Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Supreme Court Determination Status Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake outlined the constitutional timetable for the Supreme Court’s determination on petitions filed against the Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill. He explained that, because the Bill was challenged after its First Reading on 9 January, the Court has until 14 February 2025 to communicate its determination, after which Parliament could debate the Bill around 18 or 19 February. He stated that only after passage and certification can the Election Commission call nominations, likely in early March if the determination comes on the final day, making a late-April poll possible under the statutory campaign period. Procedural: Provincial Councils Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Supreme Court Determination Status Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Moved that the specified Auditor-General’s Reports be printed. The House agreed to the motion, and the reports were ordered to be printed. Papers: Auditor-General's Reports - Printing Order Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved Votes of Condolence for former MPs Rukman Senanayake, Sirinal de Mel, and A.A. Reginald Perera, outlining their personal backgrounds, parliamentary service, party roles, and public contributions. He highlighted Senanayake’s nearly 19 years in Parliament, including service as Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, and specifically recalled his intervention to stop illegal clay mining in the Dankotuwa–Puttalam area. He also noted de Mel’s role as a trade union leader and General Secretary of the National Employees’ Union, and Perera’s service in local government and as an MP for Gampaha. He requested that Parliament’s condolences be conveyed to the families of the deceased members. Votes of Condolence: Rukman Senanayake, A.A. Reginald Perera, Sirinal de Mel, and Dr. I.M. Ilyas Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved that Parliament adjourn until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 5 February 2025. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Standing Order Suspensions and Sitting Hours Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 January 2025 AI summary Moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours notwithstanding Standing Order 8, scheduling Parliament to meet from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 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. without putting the question, and it was agreed to. Standing Order Suspensions and Sitting Hours Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 January 2025 AI summary Moved a motion to extend the powers of Ministerial Advisory Committees until 14 February 2025, overriding the earlier parliamentary resolution of 3 December 2024. The motion authorizes the committees to examine Bills, treaties, annual and performance reports, and other referred matters within their jurisdiction, excluding Bills under Article 152 of the Constitution, including matters referred by a relevant Minister. The motion was agreed to by Parliament. Standing Order Suspensions and Sitting Hours Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →