Sitting of Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1750240054043973 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
Order of business
Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.
- 1 Opening Parliament Opening and Papers Tabling 5 speeches
- 2 Procedural Procedural Matter: Access to Hansard and Tabled Annexes 11 speeches
- 3 Papers Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports 11 speeches
- 4 Oral question Oral Question: India–Sri Lanka Agreements and Education Policy 26 speeches
- 5 Oral question Oral Questions: NYSC Training Centres, Preschools, and Education Reforms 20 speeches
- 6 Oral question Question by Private Notice: Colombo–Kankesanthurai Train Service and Tourism Promotion 5 speeches
- 7 Debate Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill — Committee Stage 3 speeches
- 8 Debate Debate: Anti-Corruption Act Regulations 58 speeches
- 9 Adjournment Adjournment Questions: Tax Revenue and Decentralized Budget Provisions 26 speeches
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Thilanka U. Gamage JJB
AI summary Hon. Thilanka U. Gamage asked the Minister of Finance about the Government’s “Tax Shakthi” programme, citing past concerns over transparency in tax collection and expenditure and low taxpayer compliance. He sought details on the programme’s objectives, whether revenue targets for the first five months of the year had been met, the number of new income tax files opened, measures to broaden the tax base, and steps to improve the efficiency of the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs, and the Department of Excise.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary The Minister replied to an adjournment question on the Government’s “Tax Shakthi” programme, stating that it aims to raise tax revenue toward 15.1 percent of GDP in 2025 by improving compliance, reducing avoidance and evasion, broadening the tax base, and building public trust in how tax revenue is used. He reported that in the first five months of 2025, Customs, Excise and Inland Revenue all exceeded their revenue targets, while 121,493 new tax files had been opened by 30 April. He outlined measures including reduced VAT and SSCL registration thresholds, mandatory Taxpayer Identification Numbers for adults, integration of revenue IT systems, and public awareness activities linked to the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative and “Tax Week.”
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Thilanka U. Gamage JJB
AI summary Asked the Minister to clarify whether there is a programme to raise public awareness about perceived improvements in tax policy.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary A taxation Monitoring Unit has been established at the Presidential Secretariat following the recent “Tax Week,” with related work continuing. Public awareness efforts are also being carried out by individual departments through media channels, focusing on the civic responsibility and importance of paying taxes.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Prime Minister about the non-receipt of decentralized budget provisions for Members of Parliament in 2025. He sought details on annual per-MP and total allocations from 2022 to 2024, the 2025 allocation under the Appropriation Bill, the criteria for disbursement, the amount per MP, and the date on which funds would be released.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Minister provided figures on decentralized budget allocations for MPs and district development. He stated that Rs. 15 million per MP was allocated in 2022, no allocation was made in 2023, and in 2024 allocations were made district-wise amounting to Rs. 50 million per MP, with Rs. 11,250 million allocated plus Rs. 2,000 million for suspended projects. For 2025, he said Rs. 2,250 million has been allocated for district-based development programmes and offered to provide a district-wise breakdown if required.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara requested that the Minister provide the relevant information broken down by district.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha provided the district-wise breakdown of Rs. 2,250 million allocated for development projects, clarifying that funds are allocated by district rather than directly to individual MPs, though the average is about Rs. 10 million per MP. He said expenditure is governed by Finance Ministry circulars setting six criteria, including food security, livelihood upliftment, value-chain development, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and technology. He noted that project submission deadlines were extended to 20 May 2025, and that Rs. 2,243 million in projects has been approved, with the remaining proposals under review.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary No substantive speech content is provided beyond the opening address to the Presiding Member, so there are no arguments, proposals, questions, or policy references to summarize.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned the Minister’s statement that a letter dated 29 January 2025 had been sent to District Secretaries to inform MPs about the matter. He stated that he and many other Members present had not received such communication.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha corrected a point made in the debate, stating that it was incorrect to say the matter applied to Members.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara briefly requested permission for one minute to raise a matter or ask a question. No substantive policy issue or proposal was presented in the excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha clarified that Circular MF/2/2025 had not been sent directly to Members of Parliament. He stated that it was instead transmitted to the Committee through the District Secretaries.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected that Opposition MPs had not been informed about decentralized fund allocations despite having voted to approve them. He said District Secretaries should notify all relevant MPs or raise the matter at District Coordinating Committees, and asked the Minister not to justify the omission. He argued that such funds should be administered without distinguishing between Government and Opposition MPs, citing the scheme’s origins under N. M. Perera in 1974.
- The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary The Member requested an additional minute from the Presiding Member to continue speaking, stating that the matter was important.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara objected to the suspension of funds previously promised to Opposition MPs, arguing that such allocations had been provided even when the JVP had only three MPs. He requested that the President be consulted to end what he described as unfair treatment and to establish a mechanism allowing the 66 Opposition MPs to participate in the relevant funding process.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary (Dr.) Anil Jayantha disputed a preceding statement, stating that the characterization was incorrect. He clarified that the funds in question are not allocated to Members of Parliament.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha said district MPs should be informed of development allocations through the District Coordinating Committee, noting that opposition MPs attend the Gampaha District committee and that non-attendance by others should be examined. He argued that earlier practice of allocating decentralized budget funds per MP led to scattered spending with limited economic impact, and said the Government changed this approach in 2024 by allocating funds for district development rather than to individual MPs.
- The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB
AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara briefly acknowledged the Minister’s response and thanked him. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was raised in this intervention.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Rs. 2,250 million has been allocated as a decentralized district-level budget for development activities. Dr. Anil Jayantha stated that all Members of Parliament should be involved in ensuring the funds are properly utilized for development.
Public Finance Full speech →