Topic
Corruption & Governance Reform
2,708 speeches · 349 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 91 |
| 2 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 86 |
| 3 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 80 |
| 4 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 70 |
| 5 | Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri, M.P. SJB | 68 |
| 6 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 68 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 67 |
| 8 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 65 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 64 |
| 10 | Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 64 |
Speeches
2,708 on this topic- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Arun Hemachandra supported the Budget proposals for the Ministry of Digital Economy, arguing that digitalization is essential for transparency, good governance and reducing corruption, fraud and wastage. He defended the proposed digital ID system, including biometric use, stating that security measures such as encryption and encoding would be applied and citing international implementation as context. He said digital tools could improve data-driven decision-making in agriculture, fisheries, transport, livestock, public administration, foreign employment selection and consular services, and noted that GovPay and a proposed single-window investor platform were part of the Government’s broader digitalization agenda. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman questioned whether multimillion- and multibillion-rupee transactions carried out by the previous government had followed proper tender procedures. He sought clarification on whether those deals were conducted transparently. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman stated that the matter under discussion concerned the passport issue, not cases from 2015. He called for an inquiry, arguing that many serious issues had occurred under the previous government. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahman questioned the procedure used to award a biometric data project, noting that a previous tender involving Madras Security Printers had been cancelled and asking whether a fresh tender was called. He raised concerns about reports that the project would be given to an Indian company with Indian grant funding, arguing that this created transparency and data-protection issues and asking what role and locations the company would cover. He also asked how any Sri Lankan company handling data entry was selected and whether it followed a tender process. He criticised reliance on assurances about officials or advisers, citing concerns about past handling of telecommunications data in a criminal investigation. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman supported the shift to a digital economy, particularly in finance and revenue administration, to reduce fraud, corruption, and cash-based transactions. While accepting the digitization of the National Identity Card and basic biodata, he raised concerns over the collection of biometric data such as fingerprints and facial features, warning of risks of leakage, misuse, sale of data, and AI-enabled abuse. He called attention to the need for clarity on how and when such sensitive data would be used. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi supported digitalization as essential to reducing corruption and improving public service efficiency, while noting past failures under ICTA and previous administrations. Focusing on the proposed digital ID, he raised national security and privacy concerns about centrally storing biometric data, citing international and local cyber incidents and the growing value of personal data. He proposed completing a robust cybersecurity framework first, strengthening SLCERT and data protection institutions, enacting the planned cybersecurity Bills, collecting biometric data only after safeguards are in place, avoiding unnecessary centralization, and rolling out the project in phases. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister outlined Budget 2025’s digital economy priorities, including global connectivity, improving ease of doing business, decentralizing citizen services, reducing corruption through digitization, and broadening tax compliance by formalizing economic activity. He cited increased allocations for digital infrastructure and the Ministry of Digital Economy, including higher funding for ICTA and total sector support rising to Rs. 13,623 million. He rejected claims that the Digital Services Tax would reduce revenue, stating the Government had reduced the rate from 30 per cent to 15 per cent after IMF discussions and introduced related reliefs for digital service exporters, including deductible expenses, double taxation treaty benefits, no bank-level withholding, and a 15 per cent cap. He also said public procurement digitization was already under way, with minor procurement workflows connected to digital systems and further progress expected by year-end. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB AI summary Asoka Sapumal Ranwala argued that the Ministry of Science and Technology had suffered from discontinuity, downgrading and institutional fragmentation since 2005, leaving it unable to guide national policy effectively. He said the current Budget gives the Ministry renewed prominence, including allocations for institutional reorganization, development projects, National Quality Infrastructure Systems and innovation. He called for scientific determinations to guide technical decisions across government, stronger inter-ministerial coordination, and a grassroots “scientific renaissance” to counter superstition and promote public trust in science. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam supported the Budget allocations for the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Science and Technology, arguing that digitalization is central to clean administration, efficient service delivery, and reducing waste under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme. He urged priority action on digitizing local authority revenue and property tax systems, land administration, traffic enforcement and fines, health records, and education-related processes to reduce delays, improve compliance, and increase public-sector efficiency. He said the Government’s first Budget should be assessed in light of current economic constraints and emphasized that resources should be used effectively while gradually extending digital systems across sectors. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Debate (Heads 186, 196, 227) Read →
- 11 March 2025 Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri raised allegations that funds allocated for a bridge had been misused by a former Minister or his Secretaries. He asked the current Minister whether an investigation would be conducted and a report presented to clarify the facts. Oral Question: Construction of Liyangastota Bridge (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 10 March 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised allegations of academic misconduct and irregular appointments, tabling documents concerning alleged fake or manipulated publications linked to a promotion and PhD, and questioning the handling of a lecturer’s teaching-hour shortfall and related charge sheet. She also warned that reducing spirit strength and selling alcohol in 180 ml packs could encourage alcohol use among children, citing increased alcohol consumption among schoolgirls and referring to Article 27 of the Constitution. She urged the Minister to address unresolved issues affecting employees across the education sector. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Seventeenth Allotted Day – Committee Stage Read →
- 10 March 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna questioned the Government’s position on the teachers’ salary anomaly and urged greater attention to capital expenditure in education, noting that ministries often receive less than half of allocated capital funds and even less for projects. She raised concerns about alleged political influence in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors at universities including Ruhuna, Rajarata, Eastern and South Eastern, claiming shortlisted candidates were being bypassed after elections. She also highlighted the issue of fake certificates and tabled a Daily FT article by Prof. L.P. Jayatissa on fake journal publications in university systems. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Seventeenth Allotted Day – Committee Stage Read →
- 10 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB AI summary Government teacher transfers are governed by the National Teacher Transfer Policy, though recent implementation lapses were acknowledged; inter-zonal transfers were conducted in several years, with annual transfers to resume from April 2025. The response also stated that irregularities in school admissions had been reported, and that intermediate-grade admissions would henceforth be made only through circulars where vacancies exist, not by ad hoc letters. Vacancies were reported in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service, Teacher Educators’ Service and Principals’ Service, with recruitment processes under way, including pending PSC procedures, Cabinet approval for principals’ recruitment, and further examinations to fill remaining posts. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 10 March 2025 The Hon. Dinindu Saman AI summary Dinindu Saman alleged that over 1,000 acres of conservation land in the Bogahapelessa Reserve, Haldummulla, had been illegally cultivated with the involvement of a former Uva Governor. He stated that political pressure was placed on the Ceylon Electricity Board to supply electricity to these cultivations, including through an elephant corridor, and asked whether the Ministry would recover the public funds spent on the project. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 8 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary On behalf of the Finance Minister, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the removal of the SVAT scheme is not being undertaken abruptly, noting earlier proposals in the 2017 Budget and ongoing stakeholder consultations, training, IT upgrades, and a planned simulation by end-June to test the VAT refund process. He acknowledged exporters’ cash flow concerns but said SVAT had been misused and would not be abolished until a smooth, technology-supported refund system is in place. He also said interest rates should decline gradually through market conditions, with the Central Bank monitoring lending rates, and that tax reform would aim for a transparent VAT system with minimal avoidance rather than planning around expected evasion. Question by Private Notice: Proposed Abolition of Simplified Value Added Tax Read →
- 8 March 2025 Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister stated that 118 employees at Ceylon Mineral Sands Limited had been recruited outside the approved cadre and procedure, including due to political preferences during the election period, and therefore had not been paid salaries. He said the company has sought approval from the Department of Public Enterprises to fill 118 approved labourer posts, after which the current casual workers will be placed properly, initially on contract from March, with no intention to terminate them. He added that payments outside the approved cadre would create audit issues and that job security would be ensured once formal approval is received. Oral Question: Casual Labourers Recruited to Ceylon Mineral Sands Limited (Q.444/2025) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister addressed concerns raised on several matters, noting that Wildlife officers had acted in the case involving the removal of “Sumedha” the elephant’s tusk and that the lorry driver had been remanded under case B/332/2025. He stated that the East Container Terminal of Colombo Port would not be privatized and outlined a phased completion schedule from March 2025 to full completion in 2026, with oversight by officials, unions, experts and a Steering Committee. He said alternative designs for the port access road would be assessed before a decision, emphasizing the strategic importance of Colombo Port. He also alleged inflated contractor claims in the Ruwanpura Expressway project, saying the Government would investigate, prosecute malpractice, and support legitimate contractors, including through overseas opportunities. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. T. B. Sarath JJB AI summary T. B. Sarath stated that the Government intends to recover State losses arising from past allocations of State property that had received Cabinet and parliamentary approval. He said further allocations have been stopped, noting that of 76 units requested, 26 had been granted and the remainder halted, and that future action would proceed through lawful policy decisions. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. T. B. Sarath JJB AI summary Hon. T. B. Sarath alleged that some individuals who received compensation and insurance payments for damaged houses, including cases of limited damage, also obtained State apartments, thereby misusing public funds. He said that when such matters are exposed the Opposition becomes agitated, and argued that concerns raised about limestone at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board relate to a cancelled contractor agreement. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →
- 7 March 2025 The Hon. T. B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB AI summary Deputy Minister T. B. Sarath argued that housing policy had been driven by politically motivated targets rather than verified need, citing incomplete model village projects, overstated construction figures, unoccupied or rented-out houses, and thousands of units left only at foundation stage. He said the Government has allocated Rs. 2,000 million this year to complete part of the unfinished work and raised concerns over past projects including Ranpokunugama, Yakkala Charalawatta, Marine Town, athlete housing promises, and NHDA recruitment. He also alleged irregular procurement, missing files, political allocation of housing units, and State losses from concessionary apartments given to MPs after the Aragalaya-related attacks. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) Read →