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- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised concerns about 170 volunteer health assistants at Jaffna Teaching Hospital who, he said, had worked for three years without proper contracts or promised pay and were later prevented from returning to work despite assurances from the Health Minister. He alleged mistreatment by the hospital administrator and police when he intervened as the elected MP for Jaffna, claiming this violated his parliamentary privileges and formed part of wider corruption and abuse in the Northern and Eastern health sectors. He tabled letters from the affected workers and urged justice for them. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that if details of the cheque in question are provided, a special investigation will be conducted. He also said an administrative arrangement is being developed to legally allocate equipment to the Road Development Authority and to deploy skilled former staff to other projects when required. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB AI summary Hon. Dewananda Suraweera raised concerns about alleged irregularities at “Maga Neguma,” including repeated contract extensions for 65 officers appointed to wind up the institution and an alleged alteration of a cheque from Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 21 million. He further alleged that private companies were being used to profit through bonds amounting to about Rs. 12 billion, and asked whether an investigation would be conducted. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB AI summary Dewananda Suraweera questioned why the winding up of the three Maga Neguma entities, decided in March 2023, had not been completed due to ongoing litigation and court-mediated proceedings. He asked why, despite the entities remaining neither closed nor sold, public funds continued to be spent, including an alleged Rs. 2.5 million per day in legal fees. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa said COVID-19 urgency provisions were used to facilitate procurements from unregistered companies, including entities already issued orders. He referred to public concern over a company from which the Government spent Rs. 2.2 billion on antigen tests without NMRA registration, and stated that a full investigation would be conducted with all information tabled in Parliament. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem questioned reported irregularities in vaccine procurement and NMRA approvals, referring to the Health Minister’s earlier statement on the President’s Fund and the Speaker’s pledge to act against wrongdoing. He asked whether approvals had been granted exceptionally before orders were placed, while lower-priced suppliers were denied approval and favoured companies were selected, and demanded that the matter be investigated. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Concerns were raised that vaccines had been procured at prices higher than international market rates, with the matter linked to earlier issues in PCR and antigen test procurement. It was stated that the Government, in office for one month, would investigate the procurement process and inform Parliament of any fraud or corruption identified. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem criticized the former Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing practices he described as unscientific and contrary to WHO guidance, including the mandatory cremation policy for COVID-19 victims. He also raised concerns about vaccine procurement, suggesting that delays and procurement choices may have benefited certain companies, and asked the Minister of Health whether Sri Lanka could have obtained vaccines at lower prices through timely orders from established manufacturers. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma – Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning provided a written reply detailing FDI inflows from 2015 to the first half of 2024 and tabled the complete figures. He outlined measures to attract investment, including anti-corruption action, merit-based project selection, faster investor visas, digital facilitation, incentives under existing laws, investor aftercare, skills matching, and sectoral promotion. He also listed planned actions, including automation of approvals, implementation of 74 investment projects worth an estimated USD 608 million, establishment of new Export Processing Zones from 2025, upgrading zones to green standards, and prioritising sectors such as maritime tourism, green hydrogen, higher education, ICT and nanotechnology. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake said Sri Lanka Railways is in a serious state due to chronic underfunding, past waste and fraud, and a shortage of locomotives, with only 44 available against an estimated need of 70–75 for reliable operations. He also identified shortages of technical officers and engineers, partly linked to policies encouraging public servants to migrate, as a major cause of service deterioration. He stated that proposals have been submitted to Cabinet to recruit essential staff and said the Government is seeking to halt the decline in the railway service. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation to provide details on locomotives imported since 2015, including numbers, expenditure, engine numbers, and countries of manufacture. He also requested information on how many of these locomotives are operational or not, reasons for any non-deployment, and measures to address allegations of major fraud in the importation process. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the previous Government attempted to lease significant NLDB assets, including land, milk collection centres and dairy factories, to entities linked to the Amul model on low terms, an initiative opposed by farmers’ organizations, trade unions and civil groups and challenged in the Supreme Court. He stated that the plan has now been abandoned and that NLDB lands will not be transferred to those organizations. He said the Government intends to develop farms profitably for public benefit, with possible local private participation after discussion, and no decision to hand them to foreign companies. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti argued that the current Government is stabilizing the economy and advancing IMF-linked debt restructuring despite what he described as debt-restructuring conditions created under the previous administration. He said higher growth and a stronger rupee could reduce the percentage of ISB debt relief under the agreed formula, but maintained that the alternative of renewed default and deeper bankruptcy would be worse for the country. He provided indicative nominal GDP figures for 2025 and 2026 and tabled the IMF Staff Mission press release of 23 November 2024, citing it as evidence that the new Government’s commitment had reduced uncertainty. He also pointed to stock market gains, tourism recovery, stable interest rates, and improved governance as signs of economic stabilization. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Nimal Palihena JJB AI summary Hon. Nimal Palihena argued that Sri Lanka’s debt crisis and repeated reliance on IMF programmes resulted from past economic policies, trade deficits, external borrowing, and governance failures, culminating in the April 2022 default that left the IMF as the main available option. He said the Government has proceeded within existing agreements while restoring confidence, citing Japan’s reactivation of 11 suspended projects and India’s USD 20 million aid write-off after the September 2024 Presidential election. He stated that the Government would continue its mandate to strengthen the productive economy, attract investment, manage future debt obligations, and, if necessary, issue sovereign bonds on more favourable terms. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary D.V. Chanaka objected on a Standing Order point and rejected allegations made in the debate, arguing that reducing military security for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would not save the stated Rs. 60 million because the personnel would continue to be paid and return to camps. He described the withdrawal of security as political revenge and warned of public backlash. He also criticized the Government’s handling of Development Officers who had protested at the Ministry of Education, alleging tear gas, arrests, and continued detentions, and requested that the issue be resolved and “repression” stopped. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath responded to remarks by Hon. Chanaka concerning his earlier statement about a property linked to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Carlton estate near Weeraketiya. He alleged that police and an RDA employee had been used to guard and maintain the coconut land, including harvesting and selling coconuts, and said two police officers involved had since been transferred. He denied making false claims and stated he was prepared to provide names and verify the matter on site. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi argued that Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and 2022 debt default resulted from past mismanagement, corruption, unproductive borrowing, weak revenue administration, and failure to build a sound economic base. She stated that the National People’s Power Government would not abandon its manifesto, “A Prosperous Country and a Beautiful Life,” and would pursue its own stabilization and recovery programme rather than continue a previous administration’s plan. She defended responsible borrowing, said the Government would follow a realistic “middle path” including in relation to the IMF, and invited the Opposition to support national recovery while assuring that people would receive a fair share of economic gains over the next five years. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported continuing the debt restructuring and IMF-backed programme, arguing that the 2022 sovereign default was unconstitutional because Parliament, under Article 148, had authority over debt management. He outlined the sequence of IMF engagement and domestic, bilateral, multilateral, and commercial debt restructuring, including the December 2024 Macro-linked Bonds agreement, and said failure to conclude the process would have risked renewed instability. He urged the Government to use the agreement to restart growth by lowering interest rates, expanding credit, managing vehicle imports cautiously, increasing exports and FDI, and easing high income tax burdens, including raising the PAYE threshold. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake argued that Sri Lanka’s debt crisis resulted from years of borrowing to cover deficits and repay old debt, and said those responsible for the 2022 bankruptcy declaration and economic mismanagement should be held accountable. He stated that, although the IMF programme was inherited from the previous Government, it is now impractical to abandon it, and the Government is pursuing macroeconomic stabilization through exchange rate stability, lower interest rates, increased reserves, and debt restructuring. He cited creditor acceptance, currency stabilization, improved reserves, lower inflation, stock market gains, and expanded subsidies for fertilizer, welfare, fishermen, and exporters as evidence of progress under the current policy direction. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva questioned the Government’s claims on the economy and the restructuring of International Sovereign Bonds, arguing that the high creditor acceptance rate indicated the deal was highly favourable to bondholders. He tabled documents he said the Finance Ministry had released externally but not to Parliament, and criticized the Government for failing to present them. He said the stated 27 per cent haircut could reduce significantly under the macro-linked bond mechanism if USD GDP exceeds IMF baseline levels, while interest rates would rise from 2028 to 2038. He asked the Acting Finance Minister to state the Government’s expected GDP for 2024. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →