Sitting of Monday, 30 June 2025
Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1752037071094166 ·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 Opening and Summoning of Parliament 2 speeches
- 2 Papers Papers: Presentation and Tabling of Reports and Annual Reports 9 speeches
- 3 Petitions Petitions: Presentation of Citizens' Petitions 3 speeches
- 4 Procedural Procedural: Points of Order and Debate Preparation on Fiscal Strategy Statement 25 speeches
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake rose to raise a point of order before the Deputy Speaker. No substantive issue, proposal, or question is included in the provided excerpt.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake referred to the Prime Minister’s statement and reports concerning the Central Bank, comparing its status with the independence demonstrated by the US Federal Reserve Chairman’s appearance before Congress. He asked the Government to consider bringing the Central Bank within Sri Lanka’s framework of independent institutions, noting that it is not currently among the eleven such bodies.
- Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake clarified that his intervention was not a point of order. He requested that the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and relevant Ministers address the matter during the course of the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB
AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Minister presented the first statement required under the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024. He said it comprises a five-year Fiscal Strategy Statement for 2026–2030, approved by Cabinet on 23 June, and a Statement of Fiscal Risks for 2026, with targets including revenue of 15.1 per cent of GDP. He noted that the statement sets out fiscal objectives, risk factors such as external shocks and macro-fiscal deviations, and mitigation measures, and will be published on the Ministry of Finance website for public awareness.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake moved procedural motions to vary the sitting hours for the day, setting sessions from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., with adjournment by the Speaker at 4.30 p.m. He also moved that Parliament adjourn at the conclusion of the day’s business until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 8 July 2025; both motions were agreed to.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Bimal Rathnayake formally moved the adjournment of Parliament, after which the Deputy Speaker put the question. He then indicated that the adjournment motion would be moved by Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne and allotted her 12 minutes to speak.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne moved a motion seeking cross-party support for the Fiscal Strategy Statement presented under the Public Financial Management Act as a medium-term public finance roadmap for 2026-2030. She said the statement aims to prevent a recurrence of the economic crisis by strengthening transparency, accountability, fiscal discipline and parliamentary oversight under Article 148 of the Constitution. She highlighted targets including maintaining a primary surplus of at least 2.3 per cent of GDP, raising revenue above 15 per cent of GDP from 2026, limiting primary expenditure, reducing public debt below 95 per cent of GDP by 2032, and lowering the overall deficit below 5 per cent by 2028.
- Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake seconded the Motion and linked the Fiscal Strategy Statement to Sri Lanka’s post-2022 recovery and the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024. He outlined the 2026 targets, including maintaining a primary surplus, capping primary expenditure, increasing revenue and public investment, reducing the deficit, and bringing public debt below 95 per cent of GDP by 2032. He also cited recent fiscal performance, including the 2024 primary surplus, lower deficit, improved revenue collection, and Q1 2025 growth, attributing progress to reforms, fiscal administration, exports, FDI, and SOE restructuring.
Public Finance Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a point of order under Standing Order 26(3) regarding compliance with Section 11 of the Public Financial Management Act. He argued that the Fiscal Strategy Statement placed before Parliament lacked key required elements, particularly a clear timeframe for reducing public debt to a sustainable level, as well as fuller details on fiscal targets, responsible fiscal management, and macroeconomic impacts.
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the necessary provisions are contained in the Public Financial Management Act and that debt sustainability indicators are set out in the Annual Borrowing Plan and related documents. He said the Government’s Fiscal Strategy Statement targets reducing debt to 95 per cent of GDP by 2032, with debt sustainability analysis scenarios indicating it could approach 90 per cent. He added that further details would be provided in the corresponding statements.
Public Finance Full speech → - Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake emphasized that the debate should be grounded in the Act’s statutory four-year target. He argued that discussing the matter without reference to that specific legal requirement would be of little practical value.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary The speech states that the Statement presents a four-year medium-term plan, including targets, identified risks, and mitigation measures. It frames the plan as a structured policy document for the relevant period.
Public Finance Full speech → - Mr. Deputy Speaker procedural
- The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB
AI summary A procedural clarification was made that the matter or document under discussion consists of both Part I and Part II.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the main statement required to be presented by 30 June had been tabled. He added that two ancillary detailed reports had been approved by Cabinet and would be presented during the debate.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF
AI summary Ravi Karunanayake requested the Deputy Speaker to ensure that, for the first debate under the relevant Act, the required policy statement is presented properly with all necessary components.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the debate had begun and indicated that 17 speakers would provide details during the proceedings. He noted that their presentations would include material from two supporting documents approved by the Cabinet.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech → - The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB
AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, speaking as Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, raised a point of order regarding the presentation of a law previously opposed by the Chair. He suggested that the document be reformatted to address eight specific points in a clear structure, noting that relevant material was included but scattered, so that the first presentation under the Act would be easier to understand.
- The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB
AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that, although the law in question was not enacted by the current Government, it would comply with its provisions. He explained that the special sitting was convened to present the required Statement, and that two related reports would also be tabled during the debate as required by the Act.
Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
- 5 Debate Debate: Motion to Adjourn on Fiscal Strategy Statement 2026 77 speeches