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- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the continued use of the 2022 Aswesuma eligibility criteria, noting that both his side and the current President had previously opposed them, and called for a scientific, data-driven revalidation of targeting and poverty lines. He argued that poverty alleviation should go beyond cash transfers to include investment, savings, production, exports and consumption. He also urged the Government to strengthen trade facilitation by appointing a dedicated trade representative or agency staffed by capable public officers to retain and expand investments. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to questions from the Leader of the Opposition on the welfare benefits programme under the Welfare Benefits Act, stating that payments had continued up to April for about 94% of selected households and giving aggregate disbursement figures for 2023, 2024 and January–June 2025. He said eligibility criteria were those gazetted on 20 October 2022, the methodology had been piloted and would be improved, and more detailed information was expected by end-July 2025, with government using reputable data to strengthen social welfare and support economic empowerment of vulnerable groups. He also addressed concerns about a foam mattress exporter, saying agreements prohibit Sri Lanka being used to bypass anti-dumping rules, and that the issue arose because the investor now sought access to markets it had earlier agreed not to export to. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns that the Aswesuma welfare programme has excluded genuine beneficiaries and may provide insufficient support given current food prices and poor farmgate returns for small cultivators. He asked the Government to state the programme’s objectives, beneficiary numbers and expenditure by category and year, selection criteria, whether the targeting method is scientific, and whether all 8 million applications have been categorized. He also urged the Government to use World Bank and other poverty data to revise the scheme or present alternatives. Additionally, he requested urgent action to retain a Singaporean foam mattress export investor reportedly constrained by an export quota cap, warning of possible loss of investment and jobs. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Chithral Fernando raised concerns that recent increases in charges for Police services at concerts and events have significantly raised costs for the entertainment industry, which he said supports about one million people directly and indirectly. He noted that Police revenue from such services exceeded Rs. 100 million in the first five months of the year compared with Rs. 47 million the previous year, while organizers also pay entertainment taxes and venue fees. He asked whether the Government would consider relief or adjustments to avoid burdening the industry. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 19 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to adopt contingency measures in response to the Israel–Iran conflict, citing risks to Sri Lankan workers in Israel, remittances, fuel costs, tea exports, shipping, tourism, FDI, reserves, inflation and poverty. He called for energy security measures, including supplier diversification and strategic reserves, and urged diplomatic engagement to de-escalate the Gaza crisis while supporting a fair two-state solution for Palestine. He also demanded an impartial investigation into the alleged assault on Colombo Municipal Councillor Uluwaduge Sandamali and raised a procedural concern that parliamentary rulings should be given before adjournment on a point of order, citing parliamentary authorities and Commonwealth principles. Adjournment Debate: Special Audit Report on Advance Payment for Import of 15,000 Dairy Cattle and COPE Report on National Gem and Jewellery Authority Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Herath raised an Adjournment question on the Iran–Israel conflict, citing concerns about the safety of Sri Lankan workers in Israel and potential economic effects on Sri Lanka, including fuel prices. She asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs whether any Sri Lankans had been harmed, what interventions had been made, what contingency measures exist if the situation worsens, and what steps are being taken to address possible economic impacts. Adjournment Debate: Trade Tariffs and Iran-Israel Conflict Impact Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar urged that temporary concessions be provided for low-income elderly electricity consumers facing disconnection. He criticized the Ceylon Electricity Board’s reliance on disconnections and Rs. 3,000 reconnection fees, arguing that reminder calls would be a cheaper and more compassionate alternative, and expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister’s response. Oral Question Q.279/2024: SMS Service for Electricity Bills Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised concerns about electricity disconnections, noting that consumers may face reconnection charges of around Rs. 3,000 and that SMS alerts may be missed by those using basic phones. He asked whether a reminder phone call could be made one day before disconnection. Oral Question Q.279/2024: SMS Service for Electricity Bills Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary No call-based notification system is currently used for arrears, with consumers instead informed by SMS. Disconnections are carried out only after more than 16 days of arrears and after repeated notices, while the SMS-based system is presented as a cost-saving alternative to printed bills. Oral Question Q.279/2024: SMS Service for Electricity Bills Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka indicated that he intended to raise a matter concerning fuel and transport during the oral answers segment. The proceedings then moved to Question No. 279/2024 regarding the SMS service used for sending electricity bills and consumers who had not registered for it. Procedural: Points of Order and Question Scheduling Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy raised concerns about women’s safety, citing recent incidents in Vavuniya involving the decapitation of a woman and the death of a female government officer in a fire. He argued that empowering women would support economic growth, reduce State expenditure, and lessen reliance on subsidies, while thanking the Minister for the responses given. Adjournment: Adjournment Motion and Questions Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake discussed ethanol pricing and the trade-off between importing cheaper ethanol from South Africa and protecting local ethanol factories. He noted that even when ethanol was supplied at Rs. 1,200 per litre under the previous government, liquor prices remained high, and questioned why bottle prices are now around Rs. 3,600 if ethanol costs do not justify such increases. Oral Question: State-Owned Sugar Companies (Q.191/2024) Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Arguing that payments to farmers and workers should not be reduced, Sunil Handunnetti proposed increasing the ethanol price per litre from Rs. 475 to Rs. 800. He stated that this increase would not require arrack prices to rise and appealed for support from Hon. Chamara Sampath. Oral Question: State-Owned Sugar Companies (Q.191/2024) Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem noted the Minister’s statement that the price of ethanol per litre would be increased from Rs. 550 to Rs. 800. He sought clarification on this price increase in the context of the Minister’s announcement. Oral Question: State-Owned Sugar Companies (Q.191/2024) Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe — Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development AI summary Imports of salt have been liberalized subject to permits from the Food Control Administration Unit, with approvals issued for up to 268,000 metric tons, though full importation is not expected. About 15,800–16,000 metric tons had arrived by the previous day at landed costs averaging around Rs. 77 per kilo, but the Minister said some traders were attempting to sell at Rs. 120–280 per kilo. He stated that importers had been warned against excessive profiteering and that action would be taken if consumers were adversely affected, adding that he could provide further details in an adjournment debate. Oral Question: Dedicated Economic Centres (Q.12/2024) Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Consumer protection was raised as a core responsibility of the Ministry in the context of public controversy over salt and rice imports and allegations directed at the Minister. The member requested that an adjournment motion debate be allowed so the Minister could respond, and questioned why local prices had risen sharply despite international price information being readily available. Oral Question: Dedicated Economic Centres (Q.12/2024) Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe — Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development AI summary The Minister answered that there are 18 economic centres across the country, listing their locations from Narahenpita and Piliyandala to Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Batticaloa. He said their purposes include providing marketing facilities for rural producers, improving product quality, supporting fair trade, reducing intermediary influence, managing shortages and surpluses, and lowering transport costs and post-harvest losses. He added that shortcomings have been identified and that Cabinet approval has been obtained for a memorandum to establish a more efficient, accountable framework for managing and regularizing the centres. Oral Question: Dedicated Economic Centres (Q.12/2024) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran supported the Adjournment Motion and raised concern over intensified illegal fishing in Mullaitivu and other Northern and Eastern sea areas, saying it is damaging marine resources and fishermen’s livelihoods. He criticised the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for insufficient enforcement, citing staff shortages and a recent incident in Kallappadu where residents seized six boats themselves before court action was taken. He requested urgent joint action by the Fisheries Department and the Navy, increased capacity to address enforcement gaps, and protection of fishing communities from illegal operators. Adjournment Motion: Prevention of Criminal Activities Affecting Livelihood of Fishermen of Ampara and Batticaloa Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Supported the Bill amending the National Transport Commission Act, noting that it expands the Commission’s remit to school, three-wheeler, office and other transport modes, and urged that the new regulatory powers be actively used. He requested development of Jaffna International Airport and revival of Vavuniya domestic aviation, as well as restarting a Mannar–India ferry service with port development for cargo. He highlighted road accident deaths and injuries as a major health and economic burden, called for improved school transport in the Vanni, and proposed annual roadworthiness and emissions certification for all public transport vehicles. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka welcomed the amendments to the National Transport Commission Act, noting that they would extend regulation beyond inter-provincial buses to school transport, office transport, hired vehicles and three-wheelers. He highlighted major transport challenges including high household transport costs, rail staff shortages and delays, unsafe level crossings, road accidents, drunk driving, and the need for better driver training and enforcement. He urged rapid action to secure unprotected level crossings, improve long-distance bus rest-stop standards, strengthen student bus passes, regulate three-wheelers with better data, and ensure bus fares decrease when fuel prices fall. He also supported reforms allowing route permits to be transferred when buses are sold, while noting political overstaffing in the SLTB. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →