Hon. Kabir Hashim, M.P.
Profession: Consultant Economist
Speeches 85 #60 of 225·#19 in party
Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 35 speeches
Last spoke 21 May 2026 in Procedural
Activity by sitting
34 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
85 speeches- 21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim moved for leave to introduce a Bill to incorporate the Al-Hashimi Association. Private Members' Bills: Al-Hashimi Association Bill Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim made a brief statement indicating that the matter under discussion was important to him. No specific policy position, proposal, question, or legislative reference was provided in the recorded speech. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 May 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim indicated his intention to pose a question to the Minister of Highways. No substantive details of the question or issue are provided in the excerpt. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was stated in the provided excerpt. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 May 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim argued that the Government has failed to recover large VAT and tax arrears, citing Rs. 309 billion allegedly paid by consumers to private companies and Auditor General findings on missing files related to court cases. He criticized Clause 34 introducing Section 185A as a draconian criminal-law approach to tax compliance that would intimidate small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially amid IMF revenue pressures. He also questioned the consistency of launching an SME strategy while introducing measures he said would deter businesses, and urged the Government to amend the clause. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Justice & Human RightsEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
- 19 May 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim, speaking for the Opposition on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill, argued that effective taxation depends on public trust, fairness and a social compact, citing earlier periods of higher revenue used for social programmes and warning that its erosion contributed to fiscal collapse. He welcomed the reported withdrawal of several clauses after Supreme Court petitions, but urged amendments to Clause 31(4), saying provisions allowing tax default certificates to be treated as criminal fines and limiting judicial scrutiny had been found constitutionally problematic. He also opposed Clause 34, which criminalizes failure to file returns and delays in TIN registration, arguing that it is disproportionate and could affect young people and small online earners. He called on the Government to revise punitive provisions to protect trust in the tax system and consider broader social and economic consequences beyond narrow constitutional compliance. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
- 7 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim criticized government tax policy as favoring foreign investors through 10-year tax holidays while imposing heavier taxes and enforcement on domestic small industries, citing the beedi sector’s increased tendu leaf import duty, higher per-stick tax, raids, fines, closures, and declining number of licensed producers. He argued that cigarette tax policy had reduced State revenue by not applying the pricing formula, estimating a Rs. 9.48 billion loss and a decline in the tax-in-price ratio from 74 percent to 68 percent. He said foreign investment should be encouraged through consistent trade and investment policy, rule of law, investment protection, foreign exchange safeguards, the National Single Window, and accession to the Madrid Protocol rather than tax holidays. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading and Related Orders (Chair Change - Introduction) EmploymentCorruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 7 April 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim criticized the Government’s tax policy and the regulation under the amended Strategic Development Projects Act, arguing that it remains insufficiently transparent and could allow discretionary tax concessions despite the 2025 reforms. He cited concerns raised by the Committee on Public Finance and questioned why tourism projects receive longer tax holidays than manufacturing and ICT if the Government prioritizes a production economy. He also argued that increased tourist arrivals have not translated into strong net earnings, citing lower per-tourist spending and foreign exchange leakages. He further opposed the SSCL and the reduced VAT registration threshold, saying these cascading tax burdens would affect small businesses and consumers amid high operating costs. Debate: Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading and Related Orders (Chair Change - Introduction) Public FinanceCost of LivingCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 20 March 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned the Government’s foreign policy stance, arguing that the JVP-led administration has departed from its long-held anti-imperialist positions and now appears unclear on neutrality amid the Iran-Israel conflict. He cited media reports and diplomatic developments to argue that Israel initiated hostilities and asked whether Sri Lanka’s reported expression of solidarity with Qatar over “Iranian aggression” implied support for the US-Israeli position. He demanded clarification from the Foreign Minister on Sri Lanka’s neutrality, the reported 11-hour delay in assisting an Iranian vessel, obligations under UNCLOS, the meaning of “Net Security Provider”, and whether sovereign decision-making had been affected by external consultations. Adjournment Debate: Effects of Current Global Situation on Our Economy Foreign Affairs Read →
- 6 March 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim tabled COPA’s Fourth to Ninth Reports for the First Session of the Tenth Parliament under Standing Order 119(3). He noted that earlier reports covered inquiries from the Ninth Parliament based on Auditor General’s reports, highlighted serious unresolved audit issues at the Colombo Municipal Council, and observed implementation progress by Sri Lanka Railways. He also presented the Ninth Report on the 2023 online assessment of 836 public institutions’ financial discipline and operational performance, stating that the system helps COPA identify weak institutions for scrutiny. The Fourth to Eighth Reports were presented in Sinhala only, with English and Tamil versions to follow. Tabling of Reports Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 4 March 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned provisions in the Bill that would subject community-based organizations, including funeral aid societies and voluntary groups, to uniform regulation as lending entities and expose them to CRIB reporting. He argued that such treatment could undermine not-for-profit, women-centered community loan programmes and called for amendments, asking whether the issue was accepted. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Public Finance Read →
- 4 March 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim briefly sought permission from the Deputy Speaker to ask a question. No substantive issue, proposal, or policy matter was raised in the excerpt provided. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim argued that the microfinance Bill is timely but inadequate, noting past attempts in 2016 and 2023 were halted after Supreme Court intervention and insufficient consultation. He said the Bill must protect the informal sector, which he described as the majority of the labour force, and proposed amendments to bring licensed banks and non-bank finance/leasing companies under explicit micro-lending conduct rules. He also called for lighter, tailored regulation for genuine community and voluntary organisations, alongside caps on charges, fair collection practices, and client-protection standards across all micro-lenders. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) EmploymentLaw & OrderPublic Finance Read →
- 4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim said the Bill under debate is important and timely, but raised concern that the Government’s promised amendments had not been clearly circulated or made readily available to Members. He placed the Bill in the historical context of Sri Lanka’s microfinance development, citing early credit co-operatives, post-1977 UNP support, President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s “Jana Saviya” programme, and the 1990 Integrated Rural Development Programme as key milestones in expanding access to finance for low-income groups and voluntary organisations. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
- 4 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim rose on a point of order. No substantive argument, proposal, or policy issue was recorded in the provided excerpt. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 January 2026 AI summary Kabir Hashim informed the House that a letter had been submitted to the Speaker requesting the convening of the Committee on Public Accounts. Petitions and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 6 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim rose on a point of order. No substantive issue, proposal, or argument was recorded in the excerpt provided. Petitions and Procedural Matters Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 5 December 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim said the Budget does not adequately address the country’s crisis but should be passed to meet IMF commitments, while urging the Government to present an urgent Supplementary Estimate for public works and recovery, with Opposition support. He questioned why the National Council for Disaster Management was not convened in mid-November despite rainfall warnings, arguing that earlier political leadership, a possible disaster declaration under the Disaster Management Act, and systems such as cell broadcast alerts could have reduced losses. He also objected to any privately managed disaster fund, insisting on parliamentary oversight through public funds, and warned against using emergency powers to intimidate social media users. He called for recovery efforts to involve Parliament and the Opposition and to be conducted without politicization. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Opening and Scheduling Law & OrderSecurity & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 1 December 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim stated that his side did not intend to obstruct the Government or waste parliamentary time, but announced that they would withdraw from the Chamber. He described the situation as unfortunate. Procedural: Opposition Statement and Parliamentary Scheduling Dispute Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 1 December 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, said Parliament had not been given adequate time to discuss policy responses to the current disaster despite prior meteorological warnings. He argued that reservoir management failures, including sudden spill gate openings at Kotmale and earlier precedents such as Deduru Oya in 2016, had worsened the impact and called for a proper policy framework to prevent further loss of life. He urged the Government to acknowledge mistakes, enable cross-party discussion, and work jointly with the Opposition to assist affected communities. Procedural: Opposition Statement and Parliamentary Scheduling Dispute Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →