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- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa argues that the Government’s promise of “a prosperous country – a beautiful life” is contradicted by worsening economic hardship, rising costs, and unmet public expectations. He questions the Government’s policy direction and calls for practical measures to address people’s livelihoods and essential needs, framing the issue as a failure to deliver on stated commitments. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Morning) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Manjula Suraweera Arachchi asked how the Government would address the impact of the Broadlands hydropower project on water rafting along the Kelani River, a key tourism activity. He said river closures from late afternoon to the following morning delay rafting operations and inconvenience foreign visitors, and requested a solution that balances hydropower generation with tourism needs. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government had intervened in potato and onion markets by imposing duties from 25 August, raising the duty from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50, and setting an onion purchase price of Rs. 130 per kilo through the private sector and Sathosa based on cost calculations. He said prices had fluctuated due to weather, but the Government was monitoring the situation and preparing long-term measures, including storage facilities, a purchasing programme funded by a Rs. 1,000 million Budget allocation, and pre-announced farm-gate prices based on production costs plus a margin. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Ministerial Clarifications Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns under Standing Order 29(2) about shortages in wholesale markets and ongoing protests by potato, onion, and paddy farmers over low farm-gate prices and imports during local harvest periods. Citing the Code of Conduct duty to act in the public interest, he said farmers were demanding the resignation of the Agriculture, Trade, and relevant State Ministers and asked the Government to state its concrete plan to ensure fair prices for potato and onion farmers. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Ministerial Clarifications Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB AI summary Hon. Roshan Akmeemana defended the 2026 Budget, rejecting Opposition claims that it merely follows an IMF agenda and arguing that the Government has stabilized the economy, improved public finances, restored investor confidence, and achieved higher-than-expected growth. He highlighted Budget measures including concessional housing loans and a contributory pension scheme for migrant workers, as well as funding to raise plantation workers’ wages. He said the Government’s engagement with the IMF is focused on negotiating terms that protect welfare and citizens’ rights, contrasting this with the 2015 administration’s IMF-linked VAT increases, subsidy cuts, and privatization efforts. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad criticized the Budget for lacking measures to reduce essential prices, create jobs, improve the business climate, and attract sufficient investment to sustain the Government’s stated 7 per cent growth target. He argued that higher imports reflect increased consumption goods, especially food, rather than productive capital or intermediate imports, and said previous capital allocations were not effectively implemented in the field. He questioned whether the Government had funded forensic audits to identify corruption and urged it to grant financial independence to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He also criticized the Government’s past use of students and graduates in political mobilization while now advising them to study and avoid mass recruitment expectations. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that VAT registration thresholds would raise costs for ordinary consumers, citing examples of small retailers and long-distance buses whose daily turnover could trigger 18 percent VAT and increase fares. He questioned whether the proposed tax approach was socially just and criticized the allocation of Rs. 5,000 million for plantation wage increases, arguing that profitable private estate companies should bear much of that cost. He concluded by criticizing the Budget Speech and the Government’s claims of economic stability. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper criticised the 2026 Budget as repeating earlier promises while failing to reduce recurrent expenditure, arguing that capital spending has been cut to meet fiscal targets and that ministry allocations obscure the recurrent-capital split. He said promised capital projects in the Eastern Province, including the Rs. 150 million Kalmunai-Sandankeni indoor stadium, had not progressed, and questioned whether the new Rs. 300 million allocation for a Nintavur auditorium would be spent. He also criticised low capital allocations for Ampara and Batticaloa and challenged the Government’s reduction of the VAT registration threshold from Rs. 60 million to Rs. 36 million annually, saying it would bring more small businesses into VAT without clear revenue justification. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna criticised the 2026 Budget as a continuation of IMF-aligned open-economy policies while blaming previous governments, arguing that it favours business interests over farmers, pensioners, teachers and public servants. She cited rising central government debt, falling foreign reserves, rupee depreciation and unresolved pension anomalies as evidence against claims of debt stabilization and economic relief. She demanded attention to retirees’ pension discrepancies, the difficulties faced by teachers and principals, and the situation of potato, onion and other farmers who she said are unable to sell their produce. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake warned the Government not to create continuous political crises or act vindictively, saying public anger could be reflected both on the streets and at elections. He argued that Uva and surrounding districts such as Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Monaragala have long suffered from inadequate roads, electricity and loss of farmland, unlike areas that produced national leaders and influential patrons. He also questioned whether leaders and Ministers from Anuradhapura, Kalutara and Badulla were adequately addressing local grievances, citing anger among onion farmers and urging Ministers to respond fairly to people’s concerns. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government would continue strengthening the economy during 2026–2028 while reducing the cost of living and supporting farmers. He noted that implementation of the 2025 Budget had been limited to about six months due to late passage and elections, and that pending capital projects were at tender, procurement, or negotiating committee stages, with efforts planned to maximize execution in the next two months. He urged the Opposition to engage substantively in the Budget debate and argued that the Budget was intended to benefit the whole country. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary The member argued that recent cooperative election results indicate declining support for the Government and challenged it to hold Provincial Council elections, criticizing references to pending delimitation as a delaying tactic. He used a supermarket analogy to question the Government’s capacity to manage supplies and governance, saying essential items were lacking and warning of failure. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe argued that Sri Lanka had been returned to macroeconomic normalcy before the present Government assumed office, citing the 2024 Annual Economic Review and World Bank assessments on inflation, growth, exchange rates, Central Bank independence, debt restructuring and reforms. He said the Government’s Budget followed IMF parameters too closely and should give greater attention to poverty, Aswesuma applicants and households vulnerable to economic shocks. He criticized Ministers for remarks about welfare applicants, for discouraging protests despite previously opposing development projects, and for allegedly using policing, prosecutions and political lists as tools of retaliation. He also questioned the Government’s handling of Sri Lanka’s international image, referring to a US travel advisory and the President’s comments at the UN in the context of tourism promotion. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe argued that the 2025 Budget does not sufficiently reflect the promises made in the NPP manifesto and by the Government before taking office, including pledges on housing, worker protections, fuel and electricity prices, VAT relief, and investigations such as the Easter attacks. He said public expectations were high because the Government received its mandate amid economic collapse, but the Budget contains mostly intentions rather than concrete delivery. He urged that recovery requires specific measures to raise revenue, attract foreign direct investment, create jobs, advance technology, and expand production, warning that poverty could rise further if the economy faces another shock. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe defended the 2026 Budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arguing that the Government had restored economic conditions to 2019 levels within a year and improved indicators such as poverty and unemployment. She highlighted allocations for poverty eradication through Praja Shakthi, district-level development, education, housing, children leaving care, rail gatekeepers’ allowances, and support for vulnerable groups. She also rejected Opposition criticism, stating that the Budget demonstrated fiscal discipline and that public funds would be managed for public benefit. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman urged the Government to closely monitor plantation companies over wage commitments, warning that firms may reduce workdays or impose conditions while appearing to grant increases. He argued that repeated daily wage hikes are not a sustainable solution and called for a shift to productivity-linked income models, including pilot outgrower or revenue-sharing schemes, while addressing the future of JEDB and SPC. He questioned the sustainability of the Rs. 5,000 million allocation for a Rs. 200 attendance incentive, asked that it be tabled in Parliament at the final stage, and suggested legislating an annual Rs. 200 increase if the policy is to continue. He also highlighted infrastructure gaps in Upcountry schools, hospitals, roads and housing, and questioned the allocation and relocation of housing resources intended for Nuwara Eliya. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi defended the President’s Budget, arguing that Opposition criticism ignored clarifications already given and failed to recognize the circumstances under which the first Budgets were prepared. He said implementation of the 2025 Budget was progressing better than in previous years, with district-level progress expected around 70–80 per cent, and described the 2026 Budget as continuing that work. He highlighted proposed measures including public-sector digitisation, recruitment of 75,000 public servants, support for casual workers, and interest support for senior citizens’ deposits, framing the Budget as aimed at stabilising institutions and improving livelihoods. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified, on a Point of Order, the Government’s role in increasing plantation workers’ daily wages despite an existing collective agreement. He stated that employers had agreed to add Rs. 200 to the daily wage after Government-facilitated discussions with stakeholders, and that the Government would provide a further Rs. 200 for 14 days, not 28 days. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Read →
- 8 November 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage outlined a five-pronged empowerment programme for low-income families, covering livelihood promotion, human capital development, psychosocial support, social protection, and skills guidance. He said families are identified through Samurdhi Development Officers, supported with business plans, Rs. 150,000 grants, credit facilitation, and assistance from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and Treasury allocations. He also noted the “Next Sri Lanka” programme aims to provide vocational training to 50,000 persons, while a contributory pension scheme is being introduced through the Social Security Board for informal-sector workers. Oral Question: Financial Assistance Provided to Public During COVID Pandemic (Q.1492/2025) Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Government does not plan to discontinue ongoing programmes or reorganize institutions without purpose. He said Aswesuma benefits will continue through the Welfare Benefits Board, while the Samurdhi Development Department is being redirected toward community empowerment and developed into a microfinance institution for low-income communities. He added that related community empowerment programmes have already begun. Oral Question: Financial Assistance Provided to Public During COVID Pandemic (Q.1492/2025) Read →