10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

New Democratic Front· National List· 19 December 2025 ·Debate: Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion)

Public FinanceInfrastructure
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Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported the Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate as a temporary measure for disaster recovery and called for coordinated efforts to rebuild the economy and affected areas. He thanked the armed forces, police, disaster management services, and citizens for their relief work, while comparing the scale of the current disaster to the 2004 tsunami. He also noted that securing the sixth IMF tranche of about US$357 million following the September review would have been particularly useful in the present circumstances.

Verbatim record (translated)

Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for this opportunity.

¶ 02 Though the Budget was passed, Parliament has been reconvened due to the subsequent disaster. We must discuss how to strengthen the economy and rebuild effectively. I extend appreciation, on behalf of myself and the United National Party, to the armed forces, police, disaster management services, and all citizens for their humane service. I support approving this Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate as a temporary measure.

¶ 03 After the 2004 tsunami, US$7–8 billion came for relief; this disaster is even larger. We must rebuild without causing further harm, working together. Though the Finance Minister and Power and Energy Minister are not in the Chamber, I note that securing the sixth IMF tranche after the September review—about US$357 million—would have been even more beneficial now.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am glad you are in the Chair; your magnanimity may allow me a little extra time. On that basis, I continue…

Provenance

Source
Hansard, Friday, 19 December 2025 ·No. 23115 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 19 December 2025. No. 23115. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/16334