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- 19 March 2025 Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha stated that a Rs. 5,000 provision would only cover basic food items such as 2 kilograms of rice, sugar, dhal, potatoes, and dried fish. His remark questioned the adequacy of that amount for household needs in the relevant policy or relief context. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe clarified that the Government will provide a relief goods pack to over 800,000 applicants awaiting Aswesuma assessment, offering items worth over Rs. 5,000 for Rs. 2,500. He stated that Cabinet had increased the allocation from Rs. 1,000 million to Rs. 1,500 million on the Food Security Committee’s request, with the Finance Minister to present the amendment, and that Lanka Sathosa had completed supplier and tender arrangements pending a Treasury advance. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha questioned the Government’s proposed Rs. 1 billion allocation for essential food relief packs during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year season. He asked for clarification on the intended beneficiaries, including whether the relief would go to Aswesuma recipients, workers, office staff, or the wider public. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana, speaking during the debate on the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development’s expenditure, urged the Government to reduce taxes and prevent the announced increase in milk powder prices, particularly ahead of Ramadan and the Sinhala-Hindu New Year. He argued that high prices of rice, coconuts and other essentials were worsening living conditions, and called for Sathosa and cooperative networks to be expanded so lower prices reach rural consumers. He also raised concerns about alcohol price increases encouraging illicit liquor, asked for legal action against corruption without exception, and urged the Government to handle graduate job protests and recent law-and-order incidents democratically and firmly. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan argued during the Committee Stage debate on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development that Sri Lanka lacks adequate domestic food standards, export facilitation systems, and implementation of food safety protocols. He said policy remains too focused on imports rather than ensuring safe and nutritious food throughout the production-to-consumption chain. He also raised concern that closed paddy storage warehouses and control of rice distribution by “mafias” are undermining food security and fair returns. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that the lapse of the US GSP on 31 December 2020 affected all beneficiary countries and has not been renewed by the US Congress. He said Sri Lanka plans joint discussions with the United States in September, including on apparel sector issues, and welcomed constructive Opposition support. He added that the Government is reviewing existing trade agreements and exploring new arrangements, including with Vietnam and Iran, with the aim of using trade policy to reduce prices and ensure supply. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa argued that the Ministry must strengthen consumer protection, trade promotion, food security policy, and support for MSMEs through better laws, enforcement, market access, infrastructure, innovation, and public–private collaboration. He questioned whether the official poverty line reflects current living costs, criticized the Aswesuma beneficiary selection process as insufficiently evidence-based, and called for a fairer, data-driven approach. He urged durable debt resolution and rehabilitation for MSMEs affected by recent economic shocks, rather than only suspending parate execution. He also asked the Government to clarify its trade policy and negotiating capacity, proposed a Sri Lanka Trade Representative mechanism, and called for strategies to retain EU GSP Plus and restore US GSP access while also considering broader well-being indicators such as Gross National Happiness. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to issues raised during the Committee Stage debate, outlining reforms across institutions under the Trade Ministry, especially Lak Sathosa, including closing or relocating loss-making outlets, opening 150 new shops based on surveys, recruiting staff transparently, investigating past malpractices, and enforcing supplier quality controls. He said the Government retained the rice import duty imposed by the previous administration to balance farmer protection and consumer interests, and cited price reductions at Sathosa compared with March 2024. He also highlighted savings from revised STC ammonium nitrate procurement, a 50 per cent increase in the Mahapola scholarship from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500, and the need to address the status of SLIIT in relation to Mahapola land and prior Cabinet decisions. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Moved a token cut under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development and urged investigations into alleged corruption, particularly in Sathosa, citing past complaints to CIABOC and the CID and specific concerns over a December 2024 rice procurement tender, the Acting CEO’s dual role, and the transfer of an official who alerted auditors. He criticised the Government for not fulfilling campaign pledges to remove VAT on essential goods and the fuel levy, and argued that rice import duties, controlled price increases, and rising milk powder and consumer prices had worsened the cost of living. Citing national and Colombo consumer price data and Health Ministry nutrition indicators, he said households were cutting food consumption because essential non-food costs could not be reduced, and called for VAT removal and price reductions on essentials. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 18 March 2025 The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage responded to a comment by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, stating that he shops at a Food City in Kotte rather than supermarkets in Colombo 07. He then raised a rugby-related issue from May 2014, alleging that three Fijian players were improperly brought to play in a Colombo tournament, resulting in World Rugby imposing a £50,000 fine that Sri Lanka continues to repay at £5,000 per year. Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-third Allotted Day - Committee Stage: Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Youth Affairs and Sports) Read →
- 15 March 2025 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister to adopt a consultative approach and consider constructive Opposition proposals, given the importance of these sectors to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. He noted that war, the Easter attacks and COVID-19 severely affected tourism and remittances, but highlighted the recovery of tourism earnings from 2022 to 2024 and over two million arrivals in 2024. He argued that resolving structural issues in tourism and foreign employment is essential to secure sustainable foreign exchange inflows, especially ahead of increased external debt servicing from 2028. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025, Twenty-first Allotted Day - Committee Stage, Head 112 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism) Read →
- 15 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary As Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage tabled figures on Samurdhi staffing, vacancies, retirements and pensions, noting 17,624 Samurdhi Development Officers and 2,093 Samurdhi Managers in service as of 31 January 2025, with approval sought to fill 2,513 Development Officer vacancies. He outlined the supervisory structure, functions and promotion schemes for Samurdhi Development Officers and Managers, and reported that most pending pension files for retired officers had been forwarded to the Department of Pensions or were being regularized. He also detailed Samurdhi programme plans, including 1,097 Samurdhi Bank Societies, the 2025–2029 empowerment of two million low-income families under Aswasuma, the “Sipdora” scholarship programme for 56,000 A/L students in 2025, and concessional microfinance lending through Samurdhi Banks. Oral Question: Samurdhi Development Officers and Samurdhi Managers Details (Q.382/2025) Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Upali Samarasingha JJB AI summary Upali Samarasingha said domestic production shortfalls must be addressed through imports where necessary, while protecting farmers and ensuring consumers receive quality goods at fair prices. He noted that domestic supply had fallen from about 50% in 2019 to around 20% over the past four to five years, attributing the decline to administrative failures, and emphasized the need to manage the situation as the March harvest begins. Adjournment Motion: Control of Potato Imports During Harvesting Season Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Upali Samarasingha - Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister responded on behalf of the absent Minister to concerns raised about potato farmers in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, noting that Jaffna is also a significant cultivation area. He said the Government seeks to balance protection of domestic producers with fair prices and quality food for consumers, within a production-based economic policy and annual planning with relevant ministries and the private sector. He stated that because national consumption is about 200,000 MT while 2019 domestic production was 101,642 MT, imports remain necessary, but measures are needed to protect local producers during harvest periods. Adjournment Motion: Control of Potato Imports During Harvesting Season Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake moved an Adjournment Motion urging the Government to protect upcountry potato farmers during the March harvesting season in areas such as Badulla and Nuwara Eliya. He said high seed, chemical, fertilizer and labour costs, reduced yields, and import competition have left farmers without the relief given in past seasons. He requested the Ministry of Trade to either suspend potato imports for several months or impose a substantial import levy, while maintaining fair prices for consumers. Adjournment Motion: Control of Potato Imports During Harvesting Season Read →
- 14 March 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake said estate companies were neglecting maintenance, cutting estate trees for firewood, overusing herbicides, and failing to invest in fertilizer, drains, terracing and weeding, leading to deterioration in the plantation sector. He noted a sharp decline in estate labour as youth move to tourism or better-paid work in Colombo, leaving only areas with fewer alternatives still dependent on estate employment. He urged the Minister to deliver visible results for plantation communities, arguing that expectations in the Province are now focused on the Minister and that stronger powers, including over lands, would have improved implementation. Appropriation Bill 2025: Committee Stage - Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (Heads 135, 293, 337) Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government’s commitment was to achieve and sustainably maintain an approximately 30 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs over three years, rather than respond to short-term quarterly fluctuations. He explained that daily fuel price changes have limited impact because fossil fuel use in generation has declined and coal is procured through annual fixed-price tenders, with logistical constraints limiting midstream adjustments. He reaffirmed the goal of implementing tariff reductions for the benefit of the economy and the public. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 14 March 2025 Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha asked whether the Government would fulfil the President’s election pledge to reduce electricity bills by one-third at the next tariff revision. He cited recent declines in Brent crude and coal prices and urged the Government, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, to align the revision with that promised reduction. Oral Questions and Answers Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka urged the Health Ministry to address safety and accommodation deficiencies for doctors, especially female on-call staff, following the Anuradhapura incident, calling for immediate security measures and repairs while noting that he was not justifying strike action. He also clarified that reports of a ban on politicians attending school functions were inaccurate, saying the Prime Minister had instead called for schools not to be politicized. On agriculture and rice prices, he questioned the Government’s management of controlled rice prices and paddy purchasing, arguing that a Rs. 10 increase had imposed a significant financial burden on consumers and asking who benefited from it. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →
- 12 March 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that the Budget’s agricultural support is inadequate and uneven, citing limited disbursement of the Rs. 35 billion fertilizer subsidy and exclusion of many non-paddy farmers. He questioned the Government’s paddy procurement and buffer stock plans, rice imports, price controls, and handling of millers, while calling for fertilizer support to all crops and a guaranteed price for maize amid import licences and falling local prices. He also contrasted past irrigation and agricultural development with current policy, rejected a return to all-organic farming, and urged urgent action to address the crisis in the sugar sector, including blocked ethanol and sugar sales and unpaid workers. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Read →