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- 9 January 2025 AI summary Moved approval of an Order under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2412/38 of 30 November 2024 and presented to Parliament on 7 January 2025. He stated that Cabinet approval had been granted, and the motion was agreed to by the House. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public Finance Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, for parliamentary approval of an Order under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007. The Order, issued by the Minister of Finance and published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2408/15 of 1 November 2024, had Cabinet approval and was agreed to by the House. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public Finance Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Moved, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the approval of an Order made under Sections 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007. The Order, issued by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Policy Implementation, Planning and Tourism and published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2406/02 of 14 October 2024, had Cabinet approval and was agreed to by the House. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public Finance Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary A motion was moved on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to approve an Order under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007. The Order, imposed by the Minister of Finance and published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2404/19 of 02.10.2024, had received Cabinet approval and was agreed to by the House. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public Finance Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Moved approval of an Order under Sections 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2395/32 of 31 July 2024 and presented to Parliament on 7 January 2025. He stated that he was moving it on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, with Cabinet approval already granted; the motion was agreed to. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public Finance Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake, on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, moved for parliamentary approval of an Order under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007. The Order, originally made by the then Minister of Finance and published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2384/31 of 17 May 2024, had Cabinet approval and was agreed to by the House. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the matter raised by Hon. Harsha de Silva under Standing Order 31 was important but did not fall within the scope of that provision, which applies to matters under specific ministerial responsibility. He also said the Prime Minister had addressed Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen’s concerns on humanitarian and international law grounds, and that the Navy had acted properly in response to a recent boat arrival. He noted that UNHCR is not operating in Sri Lanka as it had previously and urged Members to work within the Government’s stated position. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake proposed that the parliamentary proceedings be concluded by 5.30 p.m., seeking agreement from the House on the day’s schedule. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated briefly that Members of Parliament and Ministers are also affected, indicating that the issue under discussion impacts both legislators and members of the Government. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake questioned whether reducing the time allocated for the Adjournment Debate by 10 to 15 minutes would cause any procedural or practical issue. The intervention appears to support adjusting debate time to accommodate parliamentary business. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake noted that extending sittings beyond 5.30 p.m. creates additional costs and logistical difficulties for Parliament and Members. He emphasized the need for better time management in parliamentary proceedings. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that proceedings could not continue unless an accommodative approach was adopted. The remark indicated a procedural concern about the need for cooperation or flexibility to move forward. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake requested that the Opposition shorten the Adjournment Debate slightly so the sitting need not be extended. He said the Government side could reduce its participation to one remaining speaker if necessary to ensure proceedings conclude by 5.30 p.m. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake explained that the allotted one hour for the proceedings could not be managed as planned due to competing needs. He said some Members had given up earlier speaking slots, but extending the sitting beyond 5.30 p.m. would create additional costs and staff constraints, so speaking times were reduced for practical reasons. Special Commodity Levy Act: Orders and Related Motions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary The Member stated that no debate was intended at the First Reading stage of the Bill, which had been presented with advice from the Attorney-General’s Department. He noted that substantive debate and consideration of proposals could take place during the Second Reading, Third Reading, and Committee Stage. Bills Presented and Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved a procedural motion to vary the day’s sitting times, setting sessions from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. notwithstanding Standing Order 8. The motion also provided for Standing Order 8(5) to apply at 11.30 a.m. and for the House to adjourn at 5.30 p.m. without Question Time; it was agreed to. Bills Presented and Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Requested that the matter be inquired into and reported, with the relevant document placed in the Library. Oral Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake requested that the rule limiting supplementary questions to two be observed and that no more than two supplementaries be permitted. Oral Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 January 2025 AI summary Moved that the reports presented to Parliament be printed. The motion was agreed to, and the reports were ordered to be printed. Opening and Announcements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Presiding Member then proposed the question on the adjournment motion. Adjournment and Adjournment Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →