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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
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake urged the Speaker to enforce Standing Orders governing oral questions, citing Standing Order 35 on the one-hour limit and the restriction of two oral questions per Member, as well as Standing Order 139 on the Speaker’s authority where rules are unclear. He supported the Chief Opposition Whip’s position that only two supplementary questions should be allowed, and cautioned against extending or misusing the Questions period beyond the Standing Orders. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake rejected criticism over fertilizer distribution, stating that the Government could only have distributed fertilizer if it had already been available and loaded when it assumed office. He urged Members to keep Question Time procedural, with Ministers answering questions and only two supplementary questions allowed, and asked that proceedings move on without further political exchanges. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) AgricultureParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake noted that, despite references to 76 years, Hon. Namal Karunaratne had been in office for less than a month. He implied that criticisms or expectations should be considered in light of the short time since assuming the position. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake objected to the Chair allowing an additional supplementary question after the Deputy Minister had already answered the main question and two supplementaries. He argued that such practice could disrupt proceedings and noted that the Government’s Ministers had only recently assumed office, implying they should be given reasonable time before being pressed for results. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that matters concerning the Batticaloa District should be brought before the District Coordinating Committee chaired by Minister Arun Hemachandra, where the relevant Member is also present. He said the Government would examine whether relief could be provided, taking into account the prevailing financial situation. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Public Finance Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to a proposal for the Vattuvakkal Bridge, asking that it also be raised with the President and at the District Coordinating Committee. He said the matter could be considered at the next Budget, subject to the country’s fiscal constraints and Treasury allocation, while noting that such projects are not legally within his ministry’s purview. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake replied that the proposed bridges and related road works raised in the question fall under the Provincial Road Development Authority of the Eastern Provincial Council, not the Road Development Authority or his Ministry. He nevertheless provided estimated details, noting existing ferry use at Mandur and indicative bridge costs of about Rs. 9 billion, Rs. 10 billion, and Rs. 2 billion for the identified crossings. He added that a 2012 feasibility study on Batticaloa Lagoon crossings had mapped the proposed locations and prioritized two bridges based on funding and public need, and tabled the relevant map in the Library. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Infrastructure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake indicated that the matter raised had been concluded and there was no further issue to address. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake objected to the manner of proceedings, stating that Parliament should not be treated like a “Montessori or a madhouse.” He refused to answer a second supplementary question. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that he had already provided full answers and further clarification, and invited any legitimate supplementary question. He cautioned that if the process was misused, he would rely on the Standing Orders to decline further answers. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake said Sri Lanka Railways is in a serious state due to chronic underfunding, past waste and fraud, and a shortage of locomotives, with only 44 available against an estimated need of 70–75 for reliable operations. He also identified shortages of technical officers and engineers, partly linked to policies encouraging public servants to migrate, as a major cause of service deterioration. He stated that proposals have been submitted to Cabinet to recruit essential staff and said the Government is seeking to halt the decline in the railway service. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
  • 18 December 2024 AI summary The Minister provided details on 44 locomotives purchased between 2019 and 2022 at a total FOB cost of USD 115,111,596, including units from India and China across Classes 513, 514 and M11. He stated that all locomotives had been deployed, with 12 temporarily withdrawn for minor repairs. He further said the prescribed procurement process through Technical Evaluation and Procurement Committees had been followed, no fraud had been reported, and any credible future information on irregularities would be investigated. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Infrastructure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to adjourn the House. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake supported the explanation given by Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma and said that Members willing to understand the matter could do so. He requested that all relevant documents be provided to the House in due course, stating that this was important for the country. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake raised a point of order concerning the use of Standing Orders by Members seeking to speak when their names are mentioned. He referred to Standing Order 91(3), stating that a response is warranted only in cases involving improper imputations or references to personal affairs, and not merely because a Member’s name has been mentioned. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved the adjournment of Parliament. The Deputy Chairperson put the motion to the House. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to adjourn the debate on the Supplementary Allocation under Head 102, Programme 01, listed as Item 1 on the Order Paper. The motion was agreed to, and the debate was scheduled to resume on 18 December 2024. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake moved to extend the time allocated for the main business by ten minutes, from 3.00 p.m. to 3.10 p.m., as the proceedings could not be concluded within the scheduled time. The motion was agreed to, and an additional three minutes were then allocated to Hon. S.M. Marikkar. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Bimal Rathnayake emphasized that the debate should be conducted fairly and that speaking time must be managed to ensure proceedings conclude by the scheduled 3.00 p.m. deadline. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 December 2024 AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake addressed the Chair’s management of debate time, noting that Members may rise when named but urging that further remarks be deferred to the following day. He emphasized the need to conclude the debate by 3.00 p.m. and asked the Member to finish within one minute to avoid repeated interruptions from Members whose names are mentioned. Debate: Supplementary Sum for School Stationery Allowance (Head 102, Programme 01) Parliamentary Procedure Read →