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Sri Lanka
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
  • 24 January 2025 AI summary Moved a procedural resolution to amend the operation of Standing Order 50(2), replacing “Sectoral Oversight Committee” with “Ministerial Advisory Committee” notwithstanding the earlier resolution of 03 December 2024. The amended Standing Order was to remain in force until 14 February 2025, and the motion was agreed to by Parliament. Standing Order Suspensions and Sitting Hours Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to suspend Standing Order 111 of Parliament until 14 February 2025, notwithstanding the resolution agreed to on 3 December 2024. 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 The Leader of the House presented the 2023 Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Railways Department and the 2023 Annual Report of Jaya Container Terminals Ltd. He moved that the reports be referred to the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, and the motion was agreed to. Tabling of Papers and Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake urged that the issue of Rohingya refugees be handled humanely and without partisan politicization, noting Sri Lanka’s own experience with displacement during the war and political exile. He said refugee claims should be addressed through lawful screening procedures rather than automatic blanket recognition, consistent with domestic and international obligations. He stated that the Government would provide maximum assistance within the applicable legal framework. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Foreign AffairsJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved that Parliament adjourn. The presiding member put the adjournment motion to the House. Adjournment Motion: Ensuring Protection for Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Moved approval of the Order under section 3(3) of the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, No. 18 of 2011, relating to the Ports and Airports Development Levy as published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2377/39 of 28 March 2024 and presented to Parliament on 7 January 2025. He noted that Cabinet approval had been granted, and the motion was agreed to. Motions: Strategic Development Projects and Ports Authority Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, for approval of regulations made under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act and published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2384/35 of 17 May 2024. He noted that the regulations had been presented on 7 January 2025 and had received Cabinet approval; the motion was put to the House and agreed to. Motions: Strategic Development Projects and Ports Authority Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, to approve a Gazette notification under the Strategic Development Projects Act relating to JJ Textiles Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. He noted that the notification, issued by the then Minister in charge of Investment Promotion and presented to Parliament on 3 December 2024, had received Cabinet approval; the motion was agreed to. Motions: Strategic Development Projects and Ports Authority Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting hours despite 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 also provided for Standing Order 8(5) to operate at 3.30 p.m. and for Parliament to adjourn at 5.30 p.m. without a question being put; it was agreed to. Motion: Sittings of Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that Government and Opposition status is determined by law and the Elections Commission, and that committee representation is allocated proportionally to the electoral mandate while additional Opposition representation has been provided in some committees. He said the Government had increased Opposition seats in the Parliamentary Business Committee and ensured Opposition chairmanships for COPA and the Public Finance Committee, but questioned the Opposition’s own selections for those posts. He cited incomplete Opposition nominations to the CPA, IPU and SAARC Parliamentarians’ Association, urging the Opposition Chief Whip’s Office to consult all Opposition parties and fill the vacancies, and added that the Government is open to expanding committee sizes with the President’s agreement. Matter of Privilege: Non-Allocation of Time to Speak in Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to a privilege matter raised by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, stating that allocation of Opposition speaking time is the responsibility of the Opposition leadership and not the Government, while affirming the Government’s support for his right to speak. He said the Government had nominated Archchuna to committees and noted that several Opposition committee seats remained unfilled due to lack of nominations. He requested the Speaker and senior officials to address the matter to prevent repeated disruptions, and added that reported traffic or warrant issues involved no Government interference, with any arrest of an MP requiring notification to the Speaker under proper procedure. Matter of Privilege: Non-Allocation of Time to Speak in Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 23 January 2025 AI summary The Minister tabled an answer stating that a Palpola Interchange was not included in the initial Southern Expressway surveys because the Galanigama and Dodangoda interchanges were considered sufficient, and that it was later proposed only to support access to the planned Millaniya Industrial Zone. He said there is currently no need for the interchange because that industrial development is inactive. The response also stated that construction commenced in May 2018 and that Rs. 180 million had been spent, comprising Rs. 100 million for the Palpola Interchange and Rs. 80 million for the Millaniya–Palpola road. Oral Question: Palpola Interchange on Southern Expressway Infrastructure Read →
  • 22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake alleged that members of the former COPE process, whom he called the “footnote gang,” protected former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in relation to the 2015 Central Bank bond issue and named several former MPs in that regard. He argued that such conduct must be addressed as part of the Government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” programme and urged the Opposition to offer substantive criticism rather than personal or minor attacks. He also said the Government was prepared to allocate two days in March for a further debate on the programme. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
  • 22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake referred to a 8 January 2025 Hansard answer by the Prime Minister on the Clean Sri Lanka programme and tabled the relevant extract, stating that its organizational structure and initial awareness phase had already been explained. He said implementation would expand countrywide from 1 February, with village-level public participation and invitations for Opposition MPs to support activities in their electorates, stressing that the programme would evolve through public input rather than a fixed manual. He also linked the programme to political ethics, citing coastal clean-up efforts and the Government’s stance that Ministers and MPs should avoid using bungalows or luxury vehicles at public expense. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Environment Read →
  • 22 January 2025 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake defended the Government’s Clean Sri Lanka programme as a mandate-driven national effort focused on integrity, public service, road safety, social dignity and institutional reform, rejecting opposition claims that it is merely a shramadana project or copied from abroad. He criticized the SJB for alleged political engagement with Ranil Wickremesinghe and association with the Rajapaksa legacy while claiming to support Clean Sri Lanka, and cited the resignation of the former Speaker over certification concerns as an example of responding to public moral expectations. He outlined transport-related measures, including action on road accident blackspots, engagement with the World Bank and private sector, and an investigation into the Ghandara bus accident. He also said Tamil-language Clean Sri Lanka materials would be tabled and made available, and acknowledged the need to improve Tamil signage in institutions. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Corruption & Governance ReformInfrastructureLaw & Order Read →
  • 22 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected that a presentation was made only in Sinhala and English, describing it as discriminatory toward Tamil people. He asked which government institution was responsible for preparing the presentation. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 22 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that time used to address a language-related issue could be deducted from the Government’s allocation rather than the Member’s time. He said the Clean Sri Lanka website is available in both Tamil and Sinhala, expressed regret over the reported omission of Tamil in a PowerPoint presentation, and asked for details on who prepared it and where it was presented. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme (Postponed from 2025-01-21) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s parliamentary sitting hours, setting sessions from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., suspending Standing Order 8(5) at 11.30 a.m., and providing for adjournment at 5.30 p.m. without a question being put. The motion was agreed to, after which he moved that Parliament adjourn. Procedural: Motion on Sittings - Point of Order Raised Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to adjourn the day’s adjournment debate on the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme and to resume it on 22 January 2025. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 21 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that the NPP Government has not issued any new liquor licences and said many existing licences were granted during the final months of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration. He explained that once issued legally, such licences cannot be cancelled by force but may be addressed through lawful administrative and social measures, which he offered to discuss separately. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Read →