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- 12 March 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim raised concerns about the proposed Yatiyantota Wee Oya Reservoir Development Project, a World Bank-supported climate disaster mitigation initiative affecting communities in the Yatiyantota and Deraniyagala electorates. He said over 200 families face uncertainty over land acquisition, compensation, alternative land, livelihoods and resettlement support, particularly smallholder tea growers needing suitable replacement lands. He requested that the Ministry clarify whether and when the project will proceed and ensure officials communicate a fair compensation and resettlement mechanism to affected villagers. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation AgricultureInfrastructureLand & Housing Read →
- 11 March 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim stated that he was raising a matter of national importance under Standing Order 27(2). No further substantive issue, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt. Procedural Matters: Standing Order 27(2) Question on Graduate Unemployment Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim acknowledged another Member’s apology and called on the JVP to apologize for its alleged role in bombing the Sri Dalada Maligawa. He stated that such an apology had not yet been made and was what he expected from them. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Religion & CultureJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 19 February 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim briefly requested one minute of speaking time. No substantive policy, legislative, or procedural argument was made in the quoted remarks. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned whether the Member’s apology was being offered on behalf of the JVP or on behalf of the Tamil people. The remark sought clarification on the political or communal capacity in which the apology was being made. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim briefly intervened to note that his name had been mentioned and that an issue had been raised concerning him. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was recorded in this excerpt. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim criticised the Budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arguing that it continues Ranil Wickremesinghe’s IMF-aligned economic programme through debt restructuring, cost-reflective pricing, tax increases, public-private partnerships, privatization and private-sector land release. He accused the JVP of abandoning its past socialist and anti-IMF positions, misleading voters who expected a “system change”, and betraying those who supported or sacrificed for its earlier Marxist politics. He also contended that the JVP had contributed to Sri Lanka’s economic setbacks by opposing foreign investment, free trade zones and education reforms, while stating that the SJB acknowledged past faults and had formed to correct them. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
- 5 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim argued that the Government and President failed to address a Customs-led work-to-rule and related “container crisis” at the Port, which he said delayed imports and exports, increased demurrage costs, and harmed foreign exchange earnings. He stated that the problem reflected longstanding resistance to Customs reform and alleged that union influence had prevented effective intervention, while many ordinary Customs officers had worked to clear the backlog. He questioned the President’s explanation for congestion and requested detailed data from the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning and the Committee on Public Finance on container examinations, examination capacity, recoveries, staffing costs, demurrage payments and examination yard charges. He estimated delay-related losses at over Rs. 10 billion and called on the Government to address entrenched “mafias” in Customs and other sectors under its “Clean Sri Lanka” agenda. Procedural: Committee Composition and Debate Commencement Law & OrderForeign AffairsPublic Finance Read →
- 24 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim expressed condolences on the deaths of former Members Rukman Senanayake, Sirinal de Mel, A. A. Reginald Perera and Dr. I. M. Ilyas. He recalled Senanayake’s service to Kegalle, his role in the UNP and his personal integrity, and noted de Mel’s leadership of UNP-affiliated trade unions such as the JSS. He also acknowledged Perera’s popularity in Gampaha and Ilyas’s work representing Jaffna and issues affecting displaced persons. Votes of Condolence: Rukman Senanayake, A.A. Reginald Perera, Sirinal de Mel, and Dr. I.M. Ilyas Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim stated that debt rose by 42 per cent during his government’s tenure, from Rs. 9,953 billion to Rs. 14,210 billion by 2019, but argued that 90 per cent of the increase was used to repay existing debt rather than for wasteful spending. He said his side took responsibility for correcting prior financial mismanagement and accused others, including the JVP, of contributing to the country’s debt burden and associated dealings. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Public Finance Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim responded to claims about International Sovereign Bonds by citing debt figures across successive governments. He argued that Sri Lanka’s debt rose sharply under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, increasing from Rs. 1,996 billion in 2004 to Rs. 9,953 billion in 2014, including an 83% rise between 2009 and 2014, before his side came to power in 2015. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Public Finance Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim briefly indicated his intention to respond to a question raised in the House, addressing the Deputy Speaker. No substantive policy position, proposal, or detailed issue was presented in the excerpt. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim criticized the Government for not using rice import tax revenue to support fertilizer provision or compensate farmers for crop losses at Rs. 40,000. He questioned the JVP-led Government’s approach to debt restructuring, saying it had previously opposed “odious debt” and promised audits similar to Ecuador’s 2008 debt review but had not acted on this in office. He also argued that domestic debt restructuring unfairly burdened workers through impacts on the EPF and ETF, and said the Government had failed to deliver the “system change” it pledged. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Public FinanceAgricultureEmployment Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim argued that the Government’s first 100 days had not delivered the “system change” promised to voters, particularly on reducing living costs, addressing food insecurity, reforming debt-related burdens, and tackling corruption. He compared current prices with reductions achieved under the 2015 Yahapalana 100-day programme, citing high rice and coconut prices and recent WFP/FAO findings on rising food insecurity. He alleged that large rice millers and related business and financial networks continue to benefit while farmers and consumers remain disadvantaged, and demanded a clear Government plan to dismantle such monopolies and ensure fair prices. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Corruption & Governance ReformAgricultureCost of Living Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim requested that his allotted speaking time be extended from 13 minutes to 15 minutes. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim noted that Harsha de Silva continues as Chair of the Public Finance Committee and reiterated the position that a regulatory authority should be established before any licence is accepted. He questioned why the Government had still not appointed such an authority despite three months having passed. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Public Finance Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim spoke in relation to the Casino Business (Regulation) Bill, addressing the need for a clear regulatory framework for casino operations. He focused on the policy and legislative context of regulating the sector, including oversight and compliance requirements. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Law & Order Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim’s recorded intervention consists only of addressing the Deputy Minister, with no substantive remarks, questions, proposals, or arguments provided in the excerpt. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned the Government on delays to the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, noting that it had undergone extensive study and was considered advantageous to Sri Lanka. He asked why the agreement was being held up despite being simpler than the proposed ETCA, and sought the Government’s position on both trade agreements. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Public FinanceForeign Affairs Read →
- 8 January 2025 AI summary Kabir Hashim briefly sought permission from the Deputy Minister to intervene during the proceedings. No substantive policy point, proposal, or question was recorded in this excerpt. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Parliamentary Procedure Read →