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- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Nihal Galappaththi JJB AI summary Nihal Galappaththi defended the Government’s economic and social policy measures, saying they were aimed at stabilizing the economy, reviving collapsed businesses, and supporting domestic entrepreneurs, including through import-export regulations to allow vehicles for tourism transport. He listed increases in public and private sector wages, pensions, education allowances, farmer and fisher support, and welfare payments under programmes such as Aswesuma. He criticized the Opposition’s conduct and past governance, alleged waste in abandoned projects in Hambantota, and said ongoing anti-drug investigations should proceed without interference. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva disputed the Government’s claims on inflation, growth and economic recovery, arguing that stabilization began under the previous administration and that official growth projections remain inconsistent. He said poverty remains high, citing a CEPA survey, and questioned how the Government intends to reduce poverty and achieve high growth without private investment or fiscal space. He criticized the reversal of power sector reforms, warning that retaining full CEB ownership without private investment would undermine tariff reduction and energy planning. On rice imports and Paddy Marketing Board stock milling, he alleged that tender conditions disadvantage small and medium millers, questioned the reduced milling outturn standard, and argued that rice should not be imported while domestic stocks are being handled in a way that could create private gains. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera said tourism growth should be viewed as the result of measures across successive governments, after setbacks from the Easter attacks and the pandemic, rather than attributed solely to the current administration. He highlighted continuing difficulties faced by small hotels and tourism operators, including unresolved loan burdens, taxes, electricity costs, water and municipal charges, and VAT, and called for targeted relief and stronger attention from the Tourism Minister. He also urged a proper development plan for Kitulgala water rafting in Kegalle District to support local youth and expand that tourism segment. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticised the Government for failing, after one year, to deliver on pledges in its manifesto, citing issues including prices of rice, fuel, electricity and essential goods, tax relief, recruitment targets, graduate employment, social security and pensions, Easter Sunday accountability, repeal or amendment of security and online laws, Provincial Council elections, and teachers’ salary anomalies. He questioned claims about investment, reserves, exports, tourism earnings and economic growth, arguing that the data did not support the Government’s presentation of progress. He also criticised the Government’s position on Palestine and relations with Israel, and urged it to answer these concerns and implement its promises in the coming year. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB AI summary Dewananda Suraweera defended the NPP Government’s record while speaking in the context of regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, arguing that it inherited a bankrupt and criminalized state linked to drug networks and weakened rule of law. He cited increased state revenue, improved reserves, anti-drug and anti-crime efforts, and welfare measures including higher public and private sector minimum wages, pension increases, education support, Aswesuma expansion, and assistance for kidney patients. He also referred to Sri Lanka’s improved democracy ranking, World Bank recognition of recovery, President Anura Dissanayake’s election, and the President’s UN General Assembly speech calling for collective global action. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that the import control regulations are only a temporary response and called for coherent policies on vehicle imports, cross-border LCs, public transport, renewable energy, tourism transport, and export facilitation. He said declining public transport capacity is increasing reliance on private vehicles and fuel imports, and urged renewed attention to projects such as LRT and to renewable energy as a state policy. He supported a shift away from government-run businesses toward facilitation and public-private participation, citing telecom and sugar as examples, while raising concerns over productivity, wage policy consistency, and selective participation by foreign banks. He also warned that rising external debt repayments from 2028 require stronger export earnings, faster container clearance and approvals, and specific support for sectors such as apparel and tourism. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s decision to abolish the SVAT scheme from 1 October, arguing that it would create cash-flow difficulties, delays and higher costs for exporters, particularly MSMEs, and urged reconsideration or deferral until Inland Revenue digitalization is complete. He also raised concerns about future external debt servicing from 2028, the scope of Aswesuma as a poverty-relief programme, and the need for broader measures covering investment, production, savings and exports. He further criticized the Speaker’s handling of the Opposition’s attempt to move a No-Confidence Motion against a Deputy Minister, citing parliamentary reports, the Attorney-General’s position and Westminster and Indian precedents to argue there is no legal impediment to proceeding. 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 Cabinet-approved tourism vehicle import concessions for 750 cars and 250 buses were extended by three months to 30 September 2025 due to technical delays in clearing vehicles, and the relevant Gazette was presented to Parliament for approval. The Minister said the Government has removed vehicle import restrictions in stages while maintaining economic stabilization as its first-year priority, citing controlled inflation, growth above earlier expectations, and increased private-sector credit. He urged reliance on official data and said investor confidence, legal reforms, and policy stability are necessary for continued growth under the Government’s development programme. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Minister Upali Pannilage provided data on Samurdhi Community-Based Banks and Bank Societies as of 30 June 2025, stating that 1,097 banks held assets of Rs. 316.65 billion and 335 bank societies held assets of Rs. 196.27 billion. He said they are not supervised by the Central Bank because the Samurdhi Act, No. 1 of 2013 excludes the application of the Banking Act and Finance Business Act, with oversight handled through a management board within the Department of Samurdhi Development. He reported recent annual figures for 2023 and 2024, noted that no consolidated balance sheets had been prepared because each bank is treated separately, and said a consolidated balance sheet is planned from 2025 onward. He also outlined membership/shareholding arrangements and deposit interest rates, and tabled the detailed answer for the Library. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB AI summary Hon. Ashoka Gunasena asked whether water from the Pothuhera tank could be used to supply nearby Weerambugedara, noting that the area lacks a natural water source and faces difficulties even in identifying sources for community water schemes. He requested ministerial intervention to provide an alternative solution if use of the Pothuhera tank is not feasible. Oral Question Q.10/2025: Alawwa Water Scheme Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Family labour was included in maize cost calculations, with Rs. 106 per kilogram given as the average cost and district-level variations acknowledged. A 30 per cent margin was added to set a Rs. 135 per kilogram price, agreed by the Task Force with farmer organisations and experts led by Prof. Buddhi Marambe. He said farmers generally received good prices, while problems mainly affected intermediaries who had stockpiled, and noted that projected imports had fallen from about 253,000 metric tons last year to 67,000 metric tons this year, with a plan to progressively reduce maize imports to zero. Oral Question Q.7/2025: Maize Production and Pricing Read →
- 23 September 2025 The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB AI summary Suranga Rathnayaka raised concerns that import permits issued during the previous harvest season depressed crop prices and harmed farmers. He questioned the Government’s guaranteed price of Rs. 135 per kg, arguing that the costing excludes family labour and does not reflect field conditions, and asked that it be reconsidered. He also highlighted distress among black gram farmers. Oral Question Q.7/2025: Maize Production and Pricing Read →
- 12 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the feasibility and sustainability of increasing Sri Lanka’s official reserves from US$6.1 billion in August 2025 to the IMF EFF target of US$7.2 billion by December 2025. He asked the Minister of Finance to clarify whether the reserve build-up would come from durable inflows such as exports, remittances, tourism and FDI, or from borrowing, swaps, IMF tranches, import compression, higher interest rates, or short-term portfolio inflows. He also sought transparency on gross versus net usable reserves, related liabilities and repayment risks for 2026-2027, including implications for ISB holders and macro-linked bonds, and asked what contingency plans exist if the target is not met. Questions by Private Notice: Issues in Education and Higher Education Sectors (Standing Order 27(2)) Read →
- 12 September 2025 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna asked what measures the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development has taken to develop the 18 economic centres under its purview. He cited serious problems faced by traders, consumers, and the wider public at these centres as the basis for his supplementary question. Oral Question: Economic Centres Details (Q.5/2025) Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka addressed the Supplementary Estimate for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, seeking clarification on how much of the proposed allocation for nutrition support packs would directly benefit pregnant mothers. He cited economic hardship, declining births and antenatal registrations, and World Food Programme findings to argue for urgent nutrition interventions, including unconditional cash top-ups for pregnant mothers and malnourished children and a daily meal for preschool children. He also raised concern over more than 5,000 child abuse complaints received by the National Child Protection Authority in the first seven months of 2025, calling for stronger child protection measures alongside nutrition support. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Government to take immediate action to address emerging issues affecting public security and living conditions. He warned that failure to act would worsen social hardship and cause problems to surface more broadly. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government’s handling of the paddy and rice market, arguing that the minimum guaranteed price had not been fully implemented and that farmers were exposed to private traders while consumers continued to face high rice prices. Citing a reported 2025 Maha harvest of about 2.6 million metric tons, he asked why imports were being considered, why storage facilities and price regulation were not being used effectively, and why fertilizer shortages and high cultivation costs remained unresolved. He demanded details on rice imports, duties and future import plans, and asked what immediate measures would protect farmers, reduce consumer prices and safeguard food security. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that the measure was intended to provide a minimum guaranteed price while ensuring rice remained affordable for consumers. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake, raising a question under Standing Order 27(2), stated that national well-being depends on both farmers and consumers. He referred to the Government’s undertaking to ensure fairness for farmers, including through a minimum price, framing the issue as a matter of balancing producer and consumer interests. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 10 September 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister rejected the Opposition’s Motion alleging inadequate paddy prices, insufficient purchasing, and delayed fertilizer, stating that only about 54 percent of the Yala harvest had been completed and the season was still ongoing. He said Yala cultivation had increased by about 80,000 hectares, with expected production exceeding 2.3 million metric tons, supported by fertilizer assistance and Rs. 21 billion already disbursed for the season. He also stated that credit had been provided to millers, including small and medium operators, and that the Government would continue rehabilitating stores, expanding dryers, and stabilizing market prices for farmers and consumers. Adjournment Debate: Fair Guaranteed Price for Paddy Read →