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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
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake urged that a matter he referred to as the “pumpkin thief” be left for the courts to decide. He asked that the debate proceed and that the Deputy Minister be allowed to speak. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that no speaking time would be allocated. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that his side would not allocate time to the opposing side. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to allegations raised by Hon. Nalin Bandara, stating that he would not elaborate because the matter was before court and that the Police and the court process should proceed. He also addressed an issue concerning the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, explaining that an officer had applied for five years’ leave and that a replacement senior administrative officer had been appointed under ministerial authority, not as a political appointment. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Law & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified that, under the applicable rules, medically fit persons aged 23 to 65 may drive buses, while those over 65 may drive private vehicles if medically fit. He stated that this resolved the issue and requested that his remaining six minutes be allocated to Hon. Thanura Dissanayake. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Law & Order Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified, in response to a question raised by Jagath Vithana, that existing gazetted regulations allow medically fit persons aged 23 to 65 to obtain licences for passenger transport, including buses, with the required endorsement. He said the Motor Traffic Commissioner General confirmed that public transport licences are not issued after age 65, though medically fit persons above that age may drive private vehicles, and that age 60 is therefore not a legal barrier to driving public transport. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Law & Order Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly responded to a remark about left politics, noting that followers of Champika Ranawaka were discussing Bolshevism on Facebook. He framed it as a learning opportunity, without raising a substantive policy issue or proposal. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake states that he does not need to view something again and reiterates that he has already explained what he did. No specific policy issue, legislative matter, or procedural proposal is raised in the provided excerpt. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake challenged another Member’s assertion by stating that he had met the Australian High Commissioner that day and that the High Commissioner was still present in the building. He offered to introduce the Member to the High Commissioner and questioned whether the Member had met him. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Moved that main business items Nos. 1 to 14 on the Order Paper be taken up that day notwithstanding Standing Order 27B. The motion was agreed to, and the House proceeded to the main business, with items Nos. 1 to 6 to be presented by the Prime Minister. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) Question and Exemption Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake addressed concerns about time management in Parliament, contrasting the previous Parliament’s difficulties with efforts in the current Parliament to manage speaking time more effectively. He clarified that oral question time runs for one hour from its commencement, that both Government and Opposition Members may ask questions under established practice, and that deferrals or special time allocations should be handled cooperatively within Table Office procedures. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified the procedure for scheduling oral questions, responding to an Opposition claim that Government MPs receive more opportunities. He said the Table Office processes questions through the relevant ministries and lists them when answers are ready in all three languages, with up to ten questions scheduled per day and no Government–Opposition bias. He also urged members not to criticize Table Office staff, stating that they work to uphold parliamentary procedure. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake tabled the Government’s response on the Southern Expressway projects, stating that four phases comprising 32 subprojects and a further four extension subprojects had been completed. He reported that 36 connected subprojects were implemented using civil-works contract savings and gains from USD appreciation, with Cabinet approval, and that loan, utilization and savings details were provided in annexes placed in the Library. He also stated that there were no unresolved audit queries, with routine issues addressed under the Ministry of Highways and the Road Development Authority. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act Infrastructure Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake made a brief remark stating that certain individuals could not be removed from Gampaha and would have to be kept in Rajanganaya. No further context, proposal, or policy detail was provided in the excerpt. Procedural Matters and Standing Order 27(2) Question on Prevention of Terrorism Act Law & Order Read →
  • 8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake presented the Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for 2023 and moved that it be referred to the relevant committee. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 January 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the earlier proposal to establish a domestic airport on 46 acres in Digana had not progressed, with no feasibility report, Cabinet Paper, or lawful land transfer recorded by the Ministry. He said the land belongs to the National Livestock Development Board, not private owners, and that the Sri Lanka Air Force is acquiring 20 acres there for a Disaster Management Training School and a heliport. He added that no private housing loss or related compensation issues arise. Oral Question: Proposed Domestic Airport in Digana Area (Q. unspecified) Infrastructure Read →
  • 7 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake argued that if Parliament agrees to continue sittings without a lunch break, Members should remain in the Chamber and participate rather than leaving after proposing an extended debate. Referring to a previous six-hour flood debate where attendance was low, he said meaningful debate requires the presence of MPs and officials, and noted that the Government side still had 16 minutes of speaking time to use. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake referred to a Committee on Parliamentary Business decision to suspend sittings for a lunch break irrespective of the debate schedule. He said this was necessary not only for MPs but also for parliamentary staff, including Hansard staff and interpreters, and argued that sittings should continue through lunch only in special circumstances decided by the Chair or after reconsideration by Party Leaders. Adjournment Debate: 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 January 2025 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Speaker then proposed the question for consideration. Procedural: Amendment to Sitting Hours and Adjournment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 January 2025 AI summary Moved a procedural amendment to change the time specified in the Motion from “10.30 a.m.” to “11.10 a.m.” The amendment was put to the House and agreed to. Procedural: Amendment to Sitting Hours and Adjournment Motion Parliamentary Procedure Read →