Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation

Profession: Investigation Officer

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 28 #142 of 225·#82 in party

Attendance 3/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

28 speeches

5 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku outlined progress on the East Container Terminal, noting that quay works are complete, yard integration is expected by month-end, and straddle carrier procurement has been restarted after earlier irregularities. He said congestion is driven largely by inefficient handling of the domestic import/export share of Colombo Port traffic, and that the Bill would regulate container depot operators through licensing, service standards, pricing oversight, minimum tariffs, and infrastructure requirements. He also referred to plans to open an elevated highway ramp by end-March to move green-channel containers directly to inspection facilities and ease port circulation. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku supported the Bills under debate, including the Container Depot Operators Licensing Bill, as necessary for regulating depot operations and improving efficiency around port activity. He reported that the Port of Colombo exceeded 8 million TEUs for the first time and outlined plans to expand capacity through the WCT, ECT and JCT to approach 15 million TEUs by year-end. He said the ECT project had been accelerated since late 2024 despite procurement-related delays, with partial yard completion and operations expected to commence during the month. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister provided answers to questions regarding crew meals or allowances during flights and the administrative management of the company in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer. He indicated that the response had been previously provided and tabled an annex with the relevant details. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Infrastructure Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku stated that cabin crew receive meals during flights and therefore are not paid a separate allowance for that period. He clarified that allowances are paid only for accommodation and meals while overseas, and that no additional allowances are currently provided or planned. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Employment Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary A CEO has not yet been formally recruited, and an internal officer has been appointed to act in the role. An earlier recruitment process did not identify a suitable candidate according to the interview board’s assessment of the institution’s financial and administrative needs, so the post has been re-advertised. From 200 applications received, 75 have been shortlisted, with an appointment expected from that group. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Public Finance Read →
3 February 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, stated that details and amounts of staff allowances are provided in a tabled annex. He said no accommodation allowances are paid to cabin crew during layovers because accommodation is provided, and no meal allowance is paid for time spent onboard aircraft, resulting in no related expenditure. He also informed Parliament that an Acting Chief Executive Officer has been appointed, naming Mr. Yasanna Dissanayake. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said collection of the Embarkation Levy would resume after Finance Act-related legal steps, with companies already submitting and following payment plans. He outlined plans to expand Ratmalana Airport private operations by negotiating a reduced no-fly zone and adding an Instrument Landing System, rejected claims about paddy storage at Mattala, and said its challenges stem from location and feasibility issues. He said Colombo Port had a 2050 Master Plan and that accelerated work on the East Container Terminal had raised quay wall and yard progress, enabling two large vessels to berth, while interim truck-based operations would be used until straddle carriers arrive. He also said design work had begun for WCT 2 to support future regional port capacity. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku argued that existing rooftop and ground-mounted solar tariffs, set based on earlier cost structures, should be revised to reflect current costs. He said the payback period for rooftop solar can be unusually short and stated that the Government would introduce a tariff structure fair to both consumers and utility providers. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public FinanceEnvironment Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Requested to be allowed to finish his speech and indicated that he would respond afterward. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said the proposed electricity sector amendments seek to modernize outdated laws while protecting State ownership, worker rights, national security and sovereignty. He rejected claims of privatization, stating that core functions would be unbundled into State-owned companies, with the National System Operator and transmission network remaining fully State-owned. He said private investment may be allowed in limited areas such as generation and grid extensions, under PPAs and licensing, to improve efficiency and reduce tariffs. He also outlined a long-term aim to make electricity distribution more competitive, allowing consumers greater choice of distributor based on price and service. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public FinanceInfrastructureLaw & Order Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation requested two weeks’ time to provide a full and detailed answer to the matter raised. Procedural: Standing Order 27(2) – Kankesanthurai Port Renovation Delay Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku clarified that the wording of the Question, which referred broadly to services “between India and Sri Lanka,” led officials to address the overall ferry service rather than a narrower matter. He stated that this was the reason for the misunderstanding. SO 27(2) Question: Ferry Service Thalaimannar-Rameswaram Foreign Affairs Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku addressed the Deputy Speaker, but no substantive remarks, arguments, proposals, or questions are included in the provided excerpt. SO 27(2) Question: Ferry Service Thalaimannar-Rameswaram Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Ferry operations began on 14 October 2023 and are continuing with two ferries, although services are temporarily suspended during rough sea conditions. The Deputy Minister said there are jetty-related issues and noted India’s willingness to assist, while acknowledging that no proper feasibility study had been conducted. He reported that around 17,000 passengers had used the service this year across 153 voyages, with generally two voyages per day except on Tuesdays. SO 27(2) Question: Ferry Service Thalaimannar-Rameswaram Infrastructure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku stated that the airport project had been initiated without a proper feasibility study or business plan. He said funds are being allocated only to complete essential remaining work on the partly built runway, with any further decisions to be made next year after a proper feasibility study. Oral Question: Airlines and Aviation Services (Q.8/2024) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku provided details of unpaid embarkation levies owed by airlines, stating that the total due was Rs. 27,659 million, with SriLankan Airlines owing the largest share at Rs. 24,655 million, and Aeroflot Russia additionally owing USD 1.5 million. He said CAASL had repeatedly notified the relevant parties and liquidated some bank guarantees, but recovery was constrained because the Civil Aviation Act and Finance Act lacked provisions for legal action. He stated that a Cabinet Paper had been prepared to establish the necessary legal framework for recovery. Oral Question: Airlines and Aviation Services (Q.8/2024) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
22 July 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku tabled details of embarkation tax and related aviation-sector arrears on behalf of the Minister, stating that CAASL was owed Rs. 27.66 billion as at 31 May 2025, mainly by SriLankan Airlines, along with a further USD 1.52 million in CAASL dues. He also provided AASL receivables as at 30 June 2025, including USD 7.42 million and Rs. 13.54 million from international airlines, with SriLankan Airlines accounting for 93 per cent of the USD amount, plus smaller sums from ground handlers and domestic operators. On recovery action, he said CAASL had pursued payments through correspondence, meetings, Finance Ministry notification, encashment of bank guarantees, and final reminders, but the Attorney-General had advised that the Civil Aviation Act lacks provisions to recover such levies following changes made in 2003. Oral Question: Airlines and Aviation Services (Q.8/2024) Public Finance Read →
21 May 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister announced the launch of the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Committee to coordinate emergency aviation responses across state agencies, citing gaps exposed by incidents such as the X-Press Pearl fire. He said airport and aviation tax policy should support wider economic objectives, including extending a prior Embarkation Tax reduction for one year, fully exempting departures from Mattala, and strengthening legal mechanisms to recover about US$27.7 million in reported unpaid remittances from airlines. He outlined development plans for Mattala across seven investment sectors beyond passenger traffic, measures to ease overcapacity at Bandaranaike International Airport including eGates and a Terminal 2 contract by September, and a Rs. 750 million terminal investment at Jaffna International Airport to expand services and destinations. Debate: Finance Act Order and Notification on Luxury Tax on Motor Vehicles - Continued (Afternoon Session) Foreign AffairsPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
11 March 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government reopened the Palaly–Achchuveli road after decades of closure and is reviewing other roads closed for security reasons, including in the North, East and South, for possible reopening after field assessments. On the airport-related road, he stated that the existing route cannot be opened because it passes through an Air Force base, but a southern alternative is planned using only Air Force land, with approvals obtained. He also said land permit issues in Manmunai North are being handled through due process, with leases currently issued and outright grants to be considered once rightful owners are verified. Adjournment Debate: Batticaloa Airport Land Acquisition and Release InfrastructureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionLand & Housing Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku stated that regulatory bottlenecks in the aviation sector would be addressed while maintaining compliance with national security requirements and ICAO regulations. He noted that Bandaranaike International Airport handled 8.8 million passengers despite being designed for 6 million, and called for expediting Terminal 2 construction, which would add capacity for 9 million passengers annually. He also highlighted air navigation revenue of Rs. 3,200 million in 2024 and said Rs. 3,500 million had been allocated in the Budget for a new building and technology upgrades. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Public FinanceInfrastructureForeign Affairs Read →