Topic
Cost of Living
1,181 speeches · 246 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. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 83 |
| 2 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 78 |
| 3 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 42 |
| 4 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 27 |
| 5 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 27 |
| 6 | Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, M.P. JJB | 24 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P. JJB | 24 |
| 8 | Hon. S.M. Marikkar, M.P. SJB | 21 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 20 |
| 10 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 18 |
Speeches
1,181 on this topic- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva expressed condolences over flood-related deaths and urged prompt relief for displaced people. He questioned the procurement of 15 million pre-printed polycarbonate National Identity Cards, arguing that digitization through a Super App or DigiLocker could reduce the need for costly cards and that cheaper PVC cards could be used during transition; he tabled tender documents and asked the Government to clarify whether the quantity had in fact been reduced. He also urged the Government to allow small and medium rice millers, not only large-capacity mills, to mill part of the Paddy Marketing Board’s 49,500 MT paddy stock, citing rice price concerns and the need to support competition. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson expressed condolences to flood-affected families and urged swift government relief before criticising agriculture budget allocations as not translating into effective delivery. He questioned the low uptake of youth agriculture loans, delays and adequacy of the paddy fertilizer subsidy, and the failure of state institutions to purchase wet paddy at the announced price, urging timely inputs, drying facilities, and clear implementation instructions. He proposed abolishing the wet paddy price for the Maha season, reducing VAT on agricultural inputs, ensuring quality fertilizer, and increasing the fair price for paddy if costs are not reduced. He also highlighted losses faced by big onion farmers in Polonnaruwa and called for a storage and market mechanism to address import dependence and low farmgate prices. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa expressed condolences for deaths and damage caused by severe weather and thanked officials and security forces involved in relief work, while urging the Government to immediately declare a state of disaster under Section 11(1) of the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005. He called for swift compensation and updated relief circulars for affected households, farmers and fishers, and questioned delays in past disaster relief, including in Ampara. He also criticized the Government’s agricultural policy, alleging failures in fertilizer support, input affordability, fair prices, irrigation rehabilitation and human-elephant conflict management, and demanded a national programme to revive agriculture and strengthen food security. He further urged reforms to the Disaster Management Act and framework, including improvements to early warnings, inter-agency coordination, risk mapping, community preparedness and infrastructure. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Namal Rajapaksa expressed condolences to those affected by adverse weather and said the Opposition would support disaster-response efforts, while urging the Government to prioritize evacuations and lifesaving measures in high-risk flood and landslide areas. He criticized agricultural and food import policies, arguing that farmers had been unfairly blamed for overproduction while imports of rice, vegetables and fruit had harmed producer prices without reducing consumer prices. He called on the Government to compensate and support flood-affected farmers, strengthen local agriculture rather than rely on imports, and consider adjourning Parliament so MPs and local committee chairs could assist disaster response in affected villages. Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage - Eleventh Allotted Day (Heads 118, 281, 282, 285-289, 292, 327, 337) Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about freshwater fishers in Batticaloa, arguing that the revised fingerling subsidy and pricing model leaves fishermen’s societies unable to meet the planned Rs. 8.4 million stocking programme, and urged the Government to restore the previous system of lower-priced fingerlings or additional subsidized supplies. He also asked the Deputy Minister to address access issues at the Valaichchenai shore, where he alleged a private party linked to former State Minister Pillayan had fenced off boat-berthing areas. He further highlighted the arrest of a fishermen’s society chairman over an archaeological monuments allegation and questioned the unauthorized operation of fisheries fuel sheds in Kalluvankerny and Palamunai-madu after agreements had expired, asking whether irregularities or corruption were being allowed. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa argued that the Government’s promised fuel relief for the fisheries sector, including the stated Rs. 150 fuel relief, had not reached fishers despite rising fuel costs. He said required technology and implementation processes were lacking, and cited Department of Census and Statistics data to claim that previous Budget allocations had not translated into village-level outcomes, casting doubt on the implementation of the current year’s Budget promises. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana recalled the President’s campaign pledge to provide fishers with SMS alerts on fish aggregation zones, sea temperatures and weather conditions, similar to systems he said were used in India. He asked the Fisheries Minister whether such alerts are being sent and to identify the harbours or multi-day vessels receiving them, asserting that fishers have not received the promised service. He argued that the fisheries community, like farmers and other groups, had been misled by unfulfilled election promises. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi said promised fisheries fuel concessions, levy removals, and duty reductions had not been implemented, and proposed supplying diesel to about 7,000 multi-day boats at a Rs. 150 per litre concession through designated harbours. He urged the Government not to proceed with proposed bans affecting mechanized beach-seine support systems and Ambalangoda light-coarse operations, instead calling for controlled, stakeholder-based regulation to protect livelihoods. He also requested revival of traditional value-added fish processing through concessional salt access, operationalization and staffing of inland aquaculture centres, procurement of fast medical evacuation boats for fishers, and renewed attention to earlier Blue Economy planning. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi moved the customary token reduction of Rs. 10 from the recurrent and capital expenditure under the relevant Heads during the Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2026. He raised concerns over fuel and kerosene concessions for multi-day vessel and outboard motor craft owners, restrictions affecting beach-seine operations, protests by fishing communities, and hardship caused by the decline of related industries such as dried shark, Maldive fish and salmon processing. He stated that he wore black in solidarity with protesting fishers and criticized the Government for not resolving these issues. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Under Standing Order 27(2), Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan raised concerns over frequent delays on the Colombo–Mannar train service and requested immediate measures to ensure punctual operations. He also called for a proper access road to Mannar railway station, an affordable connecting bus service from Mannar town, and the introduction of online ticket reservations at the station, citing difficulties faced by passengers, residents, and government officers. Oral Questions: Second Round - Colombo-Mannar Train Service and Related Questions Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB AI summary Hon. Waruna Liyanage raised education and vocational training issues affecting Ratnapura and plantation communities, including concerns over closing schools with fewer than 50 students where transport access is limited despite proposed free buses. He requested measures to protect Grade 1 admissions for families without land deeds due to LRC disputes, light regulation of international schools, fee waivers for VTA students in low-income districts, Cabinet approval to recruit 53 over-age VTA candidates affected by delays, and higher NAITA trainee allowances. He also called for an A/L Tamil-medium stream in Ratnapura and a Tamil administrative structure with a Tamil Director in Sabaragamuwa. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi said education reforms were necessary but should be clear, evidence-based, socially sensitive, and suitable for children in rural and disadvantaged areas, citing reversals on the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, debates on History, longer school hours, and uncertainty over pre-school reforms. He urged the Government to clarify its reform programme and honour campaign commitments, particularly removing VAT on school supplies and addressing tuition culture. He also raised concerns over unemployed graduates, Development Officers teaching in schools without regularization, and unresolved salary anomalies among education and teacher educator administrative officers. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Dr. Upali Pannilage defended the “Praja Shakthi” National Movement to Eradicate Rural Poverty, describing it as an integrated community-led development mechanism rather than a fund distribution scheme. He outlined its national and village-level structure, including Community Development Councils in all 14,008 active Grama Niladhari divisions, and said it transfers local development decision-making to communities with social audit mechanisms. He noted that Rs. 25,000 million has been allocated for 2026 and said welfare policy will combine assistance with empowerment, supported by government funds and World Bank and ADB assistance. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Anushka Thilakarathne rejected Opposition claims that the NPP Government had damaged a stable country, arguing that it inherited serious drug, corruption and governance problems and citing Police Media Division data on narcotics arrests, seizures and raids as evidence of action toward a drug-free country. She said the Government’s Community Empowerment Programme aims to empower two million families from 2025 to 2029 through livelihood, financial inclusion, social protection, training and mentoring initiatives supported by ADB and World Bank projects. She listed current progress, including family development plans, assistance to selected families, youth registrations, microfinance schemes, housing grants and Samurdhi-related programmes, and defended “Praja Shakthi” Committees as officer-led village development mechanisms rather than politicized bodies. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara raised concerns over rising sugar production costs, citing high fertilizer, fuel and electricity prices, and urged government intervention to protect cane farmers and the sugar industry amid delayed payments at Siyambalanduwa and Pelwatte. He referenced past violence linked to the Siyambalanduwa sugar factory and questioned whether current policies risk undermining the industry. He also criticized the Rs. 25 billion “Praja Shakthi” programme, alleging that poverty alleviation is being politicized through divisional Community Development Councils chaired by political appointees, and called for such programmes to be administered by officials and village communities rather than party actors. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha JJB AI summary Manoj Rajapaksha spoke in support of the Committee Stage allocations for the Ministries of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, and Rural Development, Social Protection and Community Empowerment, arguing that past economic approaches had left key productive sectors weakened and rural poverty entrenched. He defended the Government’s current programmes, including the national anti-narcotics initiative and the “Praja Shakthi” rural development programme, and said these align with the President’s Budget proposals to eradicate rural poverty through village-level economic empowerment, infrastructure, education, health, and social protection. Citing high rural and estate-sector poverty, including in the Kegalle District and Dedigama electorate, he said social protection and empowerment measures must directly target poor rural and estate communities. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara JJB AI summary The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara supported the allocations under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, arguing that past welfare programmes had not eliminated poverty and that poverty remains concentrated in rural areas. He outlined Budget allocations for community empowerment, rural development, social security, “Praja Shakthi,” and cash transfers, framing them as part of a 2025-2030 programme for national recovery and poverty eradication. He also highlighted funding for persons with disabilities, school meals, uniforms and footwear, and support for elders, stating that the Government aims to ensure dignity, security, and poverty relief within five years. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB AI summary Hon. Waruna Liyanage called for measures to revive industry and employment, citing the closure of two garment factories in Nivitigala that affected about 4,000 workers, and supported a temporary suspension of PAYE implementation to ease recovery. He urged tax relief and regulatory reforms for the Ratnapura gem sector, including removal of VAT and SSCL on gem imports, rationalization of export levies, and safeguards around new rules permitting export of certain rough stones. He also criticized high rental costs paid by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and requested renewed training programmes and cost-effective administrative arrangements to support cutters, polishers, and legal exports. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Dilith Jayaweera said his party would support the Government if it was convinced that the Government’s programme was genuine, nationally focused and not influenced by external interests. Referring to the Tangalle rally on drugs, he argued that addressing drug use requires broader economic development and opportunities for youth, including access to capital, credit, training and scholarships, rather than relying only on political campaigns around a single issue. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →
- 21 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Minister Upali Pannilage outlined the Ministry’s 2025 work and 2026 plans in rural development, social security and community empowerment, including new institutions for rural development and an integrated approach to poverty reduction through assistance, empowerment and production. He said the Samurdhi Department has been reoriented toward community empowerment, with family development plans prepared and around 292,000 families economically supported, while 65,670 low-income youth have enrolled in the “Next Sri Lanka” employment and vocational training programme. He also noted reforms to subject 1,097 Samurdhi Banks to government audit, introduce a unified financial system, expand scholarships and housing assistance, address Samurdhi employee issues, and allocate Rs. 27,381 million to the Samurdhi Department in the 2026 Budget. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Read →