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- 28 February 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara moved the customary Rs. 10 cut on the expenditure heads under discussion at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025. He questioned the Government’s progress on its pledges to combat fraud and corruption, punish offenders, and recover stolen assets, noting that the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, must be fully implemented. Referring to his previous Private Member’s Bills on anti-corruption and restitution of stolen assets, he asked why the Government had not yet presented its promised stolen-assets recovery legislation 158 days after assuming office. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage Debate (Defence & Public Security Heads) Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on stalled or incomplete playground and sports infrastructure projects in Mannar District, citing Pallimunai, Emilnagar and Naruvilikulam. He said allocated funds had been unutilized, returned, or reportedly spent without visible progress, and requested the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to investigate possible irregularities and ensure completion of the works. He also asked that funds be reissued and pending works under the School Cricket Development Programme, including side-wickets and school ground development projects, be completed. Questions by Private Notice - Construction Work in Mannar & Release of Tamil Political Prisoners Read →
- 28 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake noted a disparity between the number of registered active companies and those paying tax, stating that only about 23,800 of roughly 205,000 registered companies pay Inland Revenue. He urged the Government to ensure all 202,426 active companies are brought online, can be registered within a day, and are covered by a mechanism to ensure tax compliance. Oral Question 2 - Companies Registered with Registrar of Companies (Q.426/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister said the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, established after the 2019 gazette revising the Ambagamuwa Division, is currently operating from a 1,500-square-foot Grama Niladhari office despite serving over 200,000 people with 110 staff. He noted that a proposal was submitted to move it to an unused Railway Department building in Hatton with about 7,000 square feet of completed space, but stressed that no final decision has been made. He said the Ministry will study this and any alternative proposals after consulting relevant parties, and clarified that the matter was discussed openly at the District Coordinating Committee rather than decided secretly. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam urged ruling party Members representing the upcountry community to actively advocate for their constituents rather than merely follow party or procedural directions. He called for the Divisional Secretariat matter affecting those communities to be addressed immediately, while stressing that any related decision should remain only at the proposal stage for now. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB AI summary Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran raised concerns about severe overcrowding at the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, where 110 staff serve a population of over 250,000 from a 1,500-square-foot office. He noted that relocating temporarily to the upper floor of the Hatton railway station building had only been discussed at the DCC meeting on 30 January 2025 and was not a final decision. He urged the authorities to make immediate alternative arrangements to reduce hardship for staff and the public and ensure uninterrupted, efficient services. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman supported the Adjournment Motion and said the proposal to expand Divisional Secretariats in Nuwara Eliya had originated under the previous “Good Governance” administration but was delayed until sub-offices were later secured at Talawakele and Norwood. He objected to reported moves to relocate the Norwood Divisional Secretariat above the Hatton Railway Station, arguing that no consultation had been held with residents, civil society or MPs and that the move would inconvenience about 200,000 people in areas such as Maskeliya, Polwaththa, Abbot and Ambagamuwa. He called for a cross-party solution to keep and strengthen the Divisional Secretariat in Norwood rather than moving it to Hatton. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe listed several former Presidential Advisors and associates who, he said, had received vehicles from the Presidential Secretariat, arguing that 64 such vehicles had been issued in a manner that burdened the public. He contrasted this with the current administration’s reduced vehicle use and expenditure, stating that wasteful costs on vehicles, premises, and related facilities had been curtailed to protect public trust. He defended the Budget as delivering the largest salary increase in Sri Lanka’s history for public servants, with intervention for private sector workers, and said the Government was working to rebuild the country after bankruptcy caused by corruption and waste. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe criticised the misuse of parliamentary vehicle permits, stating that personal relationships do not excuse wrongdoing. He referred to former Members who allegedly served briefly, obtained vehicle permits and left Parliament, arguing that the present controversy is a consequence of such practices. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe referred to a list of vehicles used by private staff, along with related allowances and fuel expenses. He noted that the list included appointments such as Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara as Trade Union Advisor/Senior Advisor to the President and Saman Rathnapriya as Director, Trade Unions, with details of the vehicles assigned to them. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe – Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe defended the Government’s mandate and rejected Opposition claims about the President’s Fund, saying decentralization to Divisional Secretariats had increased access and applications within its first 20 days. He said the National Procurement Commission’s guidelines must be updated, with greater transparency and technology to allow bidders to track tenders, and called for stronger performance auditing through COPA, COPE, the Audit Service Commission and the National Audit Office. He also said CIABOC would be strengthened with resources, staffing and infrastructure, citing past political interference, low case completion rates and Sri Lanka’s corruption perception ranking. Responding to criticism of appointments, he argued that Government appointees were qualified and contrasted them with alleged patronage under previous administrations. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman criticized Government members for condemning Rajapaksa-era waste while recalling that they supported Mahinda Rajapaksa’s rise to power in 2005 despite controversies such as “Helping Hambantota.” He argued that the Government’s claimed “system change” is limited to expenditure cuts and has not delivered transparency or depoliticized appointments, citing the concentration of 94 institutions and 27 per cent of the Budget under the President, political appointments to senior posts, and eight ambassadorial appointments from outside the Foreign Service. He said the Opposition’s role is to scrutinize the Government and questioned unmet promises, including on accountability and governance reforms. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala defended the 2025 allocations under the President’s Head, stating that expenditure had been reduced while funding for independent commissions and oversight bodies such as CIABOC, the National Audit Office, the National Procurement Commission and the Human Rights Commission had been increased. He said the Government had reduced staff and monthly costs at the Presidential Secretariat, opened it to the public, and was ending what he described as past misuse of the President’s Fund. He argued that improved revenue collection, reduced waste and a proposed Rs. 232 billion public sector salary increase would support a more efficient, citizen-friendly public service under independent institutions. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna criticized government remarks on the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic by recalling the 1988–89 threat to the Temple of the Tooth and urged sensitivity to that history. She warned against interference with independent Commissions, questioned proposals to formalize and tax informal remittance channels, and argued that some Budget expenditure reductions appear to be accounting shifts while heritage maintenance is being undervalued. She also raised concerns about procurement accountability, delays and investigations relating to the President’s Fund, and urged officials not to be discouraged from lawful decision-making, emphasizing that the institutions under the Special Spending Unit are essential to democratic checks and balances. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe raised concerns over Parliament’s failure to implement Public Administration Circular No. 06/2006 for 18 years, arguing that about 850 parliamentary staff had faced unfair treatment in service restructuring and pay anomaly corrections. He rejected broad corruption allegations against his former political group, contrasted its record with the Rajapaksa administration, and accused the current governing party of having previously supported leaders it now criticizes. He urged the Government to reduce wasteful expenditure, disclose concrete savings, address underworld violence as a national security and international credibility issue, and act consistently on wage and governance commitments. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam criticized proposed changes to the Tax Appeals Commission process, particularly the requirement for a 25 per cent cash deposit before an appeal and the restriction on submitting new evidence or raising new issues at appeal hearings. He argued these measures would deter investors, undermine natural justice, and create risks of corruption, and asked the Government to reconsider them. He also urged the Government not to follow previous approaches toward minorities, especially Tamils in the North and East. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera urged the Government to act on its mandate to abolish the Executive Presidency, establish a parliamentary system with a ceremonial President, and introduce a new electoral system, noting that both the Government and main Opposition support these reforms. He argued that the current dual executive-parliamentary structure is costly and unnecessary, and called for power devolution to support both reconciliation and balanced development. He said the Government’s 159-seat majority creates a rare opportunity to begin constitutional reform immediately and complete it by the second parliamentary session. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera argued that the Parliamentary Staff Act of 1953 is outdated and should be replaced to strengthen Parliament’s administrative and financial autonomy while maintaining accountability for expenditure. He said independent commissions must remain constitutionally independent but be substantively scrutinized by Parliament through the Constitutional Affairs Committee under Standing Order 126, and cited the Acting IGP’s public dispute with the National Police Commission as a matter that should be handled through institutional channels. He also called on the Government to honour its policy pledge to draft a new Constitution, abolish the executive presidency, and move toward a parliamentary system. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced that, with religious approval and at the President’s request, an Exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic would be held from 18 April and invited Opposition MPs to attend. He said the Government was reducing public expenditure, citing cuts to vehicles, fuel, staff and allowances in the Chief Government Whip’s Office, and contrasted current monthly spending with previous costs. He also presented figures on the costs of Presidential Commissions of Inquiry since 2016, questioned the rapid implementation of compensation related to the 2022 “Aragalaya” incidents, and said a full list of recipients would be tabled at Committee Stage. He further listed 2024 maintenance costs for former Presidents, highlighting the share attributed to Mahinda Rajapaksa. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake argued that independent commissions and Parliament itself must be accountable to the public, while retaining necessary independence, resources and respect. He said the newly established Constitutional Affairs Committee would engage such institutions on their conduct, and criticized what he described as past entitlement and misuse of official residences, vehicles and public funds by former office-holders. He defended the current Government’s policy of restraint on official privileges, stated that official housing should be used only where justified, and said Parliament had initiated audits of its own expenditure, tabling audit reports on costs linked to the Speaker’s residence and vehicle use by former parliamentary office-holders. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →