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- 25 September 2025 Hon. Gayan Janaka JJB AI summary Hon. Gayan Janaka defended the Government’s first year in office, citing economic stabilization, improved revenue, higher exports, tourism arrivals, remittances, foreign investment, reserves, lower interest rates, and a stable exchange rate. He linked these outcomes to what he described as a new political culture, restoration of the rule of law, action against organized crime and narcotics, and the President’s international engagement, including at the UN General Assembly. Responding to Opposition concerns about debt repayments in 2028, he said the Government had begun the process of rebuilding the economy to meet those obligations. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that the removal of the Simplified VAT (SVAT) mechanism is not merely an IMF requirement but is based on concerns that it is an unsound system causing revenue leakage and enabling fraud and corruption. He said, following Inland Revenue Department analysis, SVAT would be removed from the 1st of the following month and replaced with risk-based VAT refund processing. He stated that exporters should receive refunds within an average of 45 days, with low-risk claimants eligible within 20 days if they submit income tax returns, as part of efforts to improve revenue administration integrity. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said any nurseries not reflected in Tea Board or TSHDA records would be investigated, including whether they were supported through other projects or in previous years. He stated that if state funds had been politically misdirected and projects had failed, the matter would be inquired into and findings provided. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary Hon. Nishantha Perera questioned why tea nurseries funded in 2022–2023, including unregistered nurseries around Elpitiya, are no longer operating and in some cases are derelict. He argued that nursery development should follow Tea Research Institute varieties and standards, and asked what action would be taken regarding alleged politically motivated allocations that distorted varietal adoption and harmed the tea industry. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary The Minister said the fisheries and aquaculture sector is being refocused through expansion in the North and East and renewed attention to Puttalam’s contribution. He stated that past political interference had damaged the sector, and that the Ministry will convene exporters and engage stakeholders in producing districts to address issues. He also outlined plans for modernisation, including breeding centres and hatcheries, aimed at sectoral transformation. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar said he would correct and resubmit a question later, then raised a second supplementary regarding NRR procurement. He asked why lower bidders were not awarded contracts due to the Central Bank’s lack of dollars, while higher-premium suppliers were paid on arrival or within short periods, and sought comment on instances where even USD 5 million was unavailable but paid months later. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage stated that the Samurdhi programme, established in 1995 and later reorganized under the 2013 Act, was addressed in accordance with the current legal framework. He said the Government recently amended the law to bring all Samurdhi Bank activities under the audit and supervision of the Auditor General, and added that any move to place them under Central Bank supervision would be considered through further legislative amendments if required. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara expressed concern that he had waited a long time to raise his adjournment question and said the delay was unfair. He asked the Prime Minister for detailed information on single-member and two-member commissions established by the current Government, including their names, membership, members’ prior positions, salaries and allowances, locations, monthly expenditure, and the share of such costs relative to national revenue. Adjournment Questions and Adjournment Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara disputed claims made by another member, stating that he had proved there was no relevant order and rejecting the assertion that a transfer from Magistrate’s Court to District Court in Kesbewa constituted a promotion, citing differences in the judicial cadre structure. He also challenged accusations about forming a government with the UNP by alleging that the opposing side had themselves formed local authorities with UNP members and others, including through inducements and controversial alliances. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law — Deputy Minister JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister contrasted earlier political divisions between the Senanayake and Bandaranaike camps with the present situation, arguing that the NPP represents the people’s camp. He claimed rival groups associated with Sirikotha had failed to attract public support, citing the Colombo Municipal election defeat, and characterised their recent activities as a reaction to that loss. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned whose names were included in a “B” report by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau. He challenged whether he should read out the names in the report, suggesting they included names of Members present. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna criticised the proposed Bill to remove corporal punishment, arguing that some form of corporal punishment should be retained and even suggesting an amendment allowing Government MPs to administer it. He linked this argument to concerns over alleged drug trafficking through port containers, questioning why authorities and media focus on cases against him while, in his view, not adequately investigating who is responsible for containers allegedly carrying “ice.” He also referred to statements by other MPs and said cases against him arose from his public comments on alleged hospital frauds. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna alleged selective and politically influenced action by the police and State institutions, citing delays in recording statements in a case he filed in Jaffna and contrasting this with police action taken against him. He referred to his interdiction and salary payments, claiming he returned the money to the Ministry on advice from Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa, while alleging the Attorney-General had misrepresented the matter in court. He also raised concerns about medical record-keeping and patient care, and claimed that transfers and appointments in the North were being used against him because of his criticisms. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe raised a point of order denying claims circulated on YouTube and attributed to Dayasiri Jayasekara that the Mount Lavinia Court had ordered the arrest of Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and Mayor Ranjan Jayalal. He stated that the court had only required them to record statements before 22 August, which they had done, and challenged anyone alleging otherwise to table the court order. He also referred to Labour Department letters which, he said, confirmed that a trade union faction had been fraudulently registered through misuse of political power by former Minister John Seneviratne, and demanded withdrawal of the alleged false statement. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged procedural irregularities in recent judicial and Bribery Commission actions, including the handling of warrants and the arrest of Dr. Rajitha Senaratne during court vacation. He also questioned judicial promotion and posting processes, claiming senior judges were bypassed and asking whether the system was being “fixed.” He requested that the Chief Justice examine the matter and that a committee be appointed to inquire, warning that if unresolved the issues would be raised with international legal and governance bodies. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama supported the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill as part of the Government’s wider legal reform agenda and said the colonial-era Penal Code must be modernized in line with contemporary child rights standards. He urged Members to engage substantively because courts may use Hansard to interpret legislative intent, and rejected Opposition claims that the Bill would victimize teachers or elders. He also denied allegations of Government interference in the judiciary, police, or independent commissions, contrasting the current administration’s approach with past instances of politicization, and called for support for the reform process. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman raised concerns about delays in accountability over the death of child Hamdi Fasleen after alleged medical negligence, noting that CID findings had been sent to the Attorney General six months earlier but no indictment or ministerial report had followed. He criticised the Government’s new merit-based judicial promotion and transfer process, alleging lack of transparency, bypassing of seniority, incomplete Judicial Service Commission participation, and no appeal mechanism, and proposed a special parliamentary committee to examine the matter. He also cited a Dehiwala Magistrate’s Court case involving alleged forcible acquisition of property, questioning why police had not acted on judicial arrest orders allegedly because a Government Minister was involved, and alleged unequal application of the law and interference with judicial postings. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera questioned a Deputy Minister’s public statement to Dinamina on 22 September claiming that a government-appointed committee had already uncovered fraud. He asked how such a conclusion could be known before the committee’s report was released, arguing that the statement was either procedurally improper or baseless. He demanded that the report be tabled or the allegation withdrawn. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary Gamagedara Dissanayake clarified matters concerning the Central Cultural Fund, stating that over Rs. 8,000 million had been spent between 2016 and 2019 without Board approval. He said a three-member committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Pradeep Jayatilake was appointed on 07 July to investigate, and that its report was nearing completion. He indicated that preliminary findings suggested fundamental breaches of the Central Cultural Fund Act and that further discussion could follow once the report is released. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised a privilege issue concerning asset declarations published by CIABOC, citing the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament, the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities law, the Foreign Exchange Act, and the RTI Act. He questioned declarations indicating that Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe held 3,000 units of cryptocurrency and Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne held USDT 1,850 in a Binance account, noting Central Bank restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions. He requested that both Members disclose how these holdings were obtained and that an immediate inquiry be conducted, with any offences referred to CIABOC, the Police, and the courts under due process. Privilege Question and Matter of Privilege Read →