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 February 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticised the 2025 Budget, arguing that the Government had broken election promises on borrowing, debt repayment, taxation, public sector salary increases, senior citizens’ deposits, and relief on food, health and education costs. He questioned the credibility of projected revenue and borrowing figures, warned that welfare and capital expenditure could be cut if targets are not met, and said the Budget continued policies associated with the previous administration, including asset sales, SOE listing and private use of state land. He also raised concerns over taxes on book inputs under the UNESCO Florence Agreement and alleged reduced allocations for women and child affairs. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Dinesh Hemantha JJB AI summary Hon. Dinesh Hemantha argued that the Government’s inaugural Budget is part of a long-term plan to reverse economic contraction, maintain macroeconomic stability, and stimulate demand through public sector wage increases, welfare allowances, pensions, and employment creation. He said wage increases were phased to keep inflation in single digits and support investor confidence, while production growth was needed to meet rising demand. Addressing rice prices, he defended the Rs. 120 per kilo paddy price as a balance between farmer and consumer interests, said surplus stocks would be absorbed by the State, imports would be used to maintain a three-month buffer if needed, and action would be taken against monopoly pricing. He described the Government’s economic approach as a new model aimed at overcoming past policy failures while preserving economic and democratic freedoms. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC NDF AI summary Faiszer Musthapha commended the Budget’s allocations for education, health and sanitary pads, but urged the Government to review vehicle tariffs, restore affordable permit schemes for public servants, and adopt lower duties for electric vehicles. He said high tariffs on building materials and the removal of first-home buyer tax relief were making home ownership unaffordable, and called for concessions for first-time homeowners. He requested stricter regulation of foreign employment and land leasing in the tourism sector, particularly in the South and East, and warned that current rules on 99-year leases and stamp duty could disadvantage Sri Lankans. He also urged the Government to strengthen investment incentives alongside industrial zone development. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake said the inaugural Budget of the National People’s Power Government lays a foundation for advancing the country by reshaping its social, economic and political direction. He identified three main pillars: shifting to a production-based economy, involving all regions and sectors of the population in economic activity, and distributing the benefits of production fairly across groups including workers, public and private sector employees, estate communities, fishers, youth, children in care, and persons with disabilities. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala supported the 2025 Appropriation Bill, arguing that it initiates a broader social and economic transformation under the National People’s Power Government. He criticized Opposition arguments as fear-driven and inconsistent, while stating that the Government intends to use economic policy for public-oriented development rather than technical or personal gain. He highlighted planned State investment across 26 sectors and 287 projects, with particular emphasis on the Rs. 619 billion allocation for education, describing it as central to national development and the continuation of free education’s social purpose. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan defended the Budget as a production- and export-oriented programme aimed at reducing the deficit while prioritizing agriculture, food security, poverty alleviation, infrastructure, and fair distribution of economic benefits. He said allocations for agriculture, Aswesuma, transport and other services were intended to rebuild the economy and involve the wider population, contrasting this with previous Budgets that he said benefited select groups. He criticized the Opposition’s approach to the debate and said it should support national recovery, while noting plans to improve revenue collection and streamline trade through a new Customs Act to address leakages. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan supported the Government’s ceremonial Budget, arguing that it is grounded in the NPP policy framework “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” and aimed at rebuilding a weakened economy. He said the Budget’s foundation is poverty reduction through strengthening production and services, while noting that Sri Lanka must improve its export performance to match faster-growing Asian economies. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan welcomed the 2025 Budget’s focus on economic transformation, digitalization and expanded welfare, but argued that many proposals lack implementation details and measurable outcomes. He called for transparent plans on FTAs, PPPs, state land leasing, digital infrastructure, cyber security, startup support, revenue sustainability, and public sector salary financing. He also urged more targeted and sustainable welfare measures, increased support for female-headed households, stronger agricultural modernization and rural infrastructure, and greater capital allocation to industry. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s earlier assurance that electricity bills would be reduced by one-third, noting that the actual average reduction was only about 20 percent. He sought clarification from the Prime Minister on the promised change to the electricity tariff formula, and challenged the Power Minister’s statement that bills may rise in future. He argued that such uncertainty would burden consumers, ordinary people, and potential investors. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Day 1-7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said Sri Lanka has 26 domestic canned fish manufacturers with capacity far above local demand, producing over 500,000 tins daily against demand of about 180,000. He noted industry concerns over raw fish imports, tin supplies and VAT, but said VAT had not placed local producers at an undue disadvantage. He stated that Maximum Retail Prices of Rs. 380, Rs. 420 and Rs. 517 were introduced at manufacturers’ request, keeping domestic canned fish competitive against imported tins landing above Rs. 520. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns that the guaranteed paddy price applies only where moisture is capped at 14%, while many farmers, especially in the North Central Province, lack drying facilities and are forced to sell wet paddy at about Rs. 110. He said the Nadu rice shortage continues and that large millers are influencing both paddy and rice prices, and urged the Minister to intervene before the New Year to ensure fair prices for consumers and fair returns for farmers during the Maha harvest. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Rs. 65 per kilogram duty on imported rice is intended to protect domestic rice market prices and farmers’ paddy prices during the harvest period, noting the Government’s guaranteed paddy prices of Rs. 120 for Nadu and Rs. 125 for Samba. He said the Consumer Affairs Authority is monitoring mills and retailers for compliance with controlled prices, with 38 shops raided for overpricing. He added that one Polonnaruwa mill with substantial state bank loans was found to be dictating higher prices, and that special action would be taken to ensure prices do not exceed controlled levels. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson questioned the Government about rice import measures taken during a recent shortage, noting that Sathosa, the State Trading Corporation and the private sector were permitted to import 160,000 metric tons and that a Rs. 65 per kg duty generated significant revenue. He asked whether, amid a renewed Nadu rice shortage ahead of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year and market prices exceeding the guaranteed price, the Government would pass any duty revenue relief to consumers or introduce special consumer-protection measures. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister provided year-by-year data on rice imports from 2015 to January 2025, including quantities, CIF values, source countries, and noted that the full list of importers had been placed in the Library as a soft copy. He said major import volumes occurred in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022, and explained that some specialty rice imports were made for diplomatic missions and specific restaurants with official authorization. He stated that 169,470 metric tons were imported between December 2024 and January 2025 in anticipation of shortages, while Government policy remains to promote domestic production, minimize imports, coordinate with relevant ministries to prevent shortages, and purchase paddy stocks to stabilize prices. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 25 February 2025 Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara questioned who ultimately bears SriLankan Airlines’ reported losses of about Rs. 2 billion between April and October 2024, arguing that the burden may fall on the wider public, including those who do not use air travel. He compared the situation to the assumption of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation debt through a fuel levy and asked whether the losses are recovered through ticket prices or met by the Treasury. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe defended the 2025 Budget as aligned with the NPP Government’s “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” programme, arguing it responds to the economic collapse inherited in 2022 and citing bond restructuring, credit rating upgrades, tourism growth, and resumed Japanese projects as signs of restored confidence. He said the Budget prioritizes production, SMEs, fair distribution, essential services, and selective regulation, while rejecting past practices of borrowing, asset sales, tax concessions, and election-oriented handouts. He highlighted major allocations for social protection, health, education, agriculture modernization, public service digitization, and support for vulnerable groups, linking these to poverty and vulnerability data from the 2023 UNDP survey. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Dr. Upali Pannilage stated that the Government has increased several social protection payments, including Aswasuma benefits, disability allowances, and, from April, the kidney patients’ allowance. He said social protection is a core Government policy and described the Budget as strengthening public services and initiating structural transformation. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan said Ministers had highlighted salary increases for various groups but had neglected estate workers, whom he described as the lowest-income earners. He argued that the promised Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers would not be achieved through statements alone and proposed reforming the plantation system into a cooperative model in which workers become partners. He also rejected criticism of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s record on hill country communities and asked the Government to state its land and housing policy for estate workers, including the extent of land to be allocated and whether housing would be individual units or apartments. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka criticised the Government’s inaugural Budget as a reversal of the JVP-NPP’s pre-election positions, arguing that it now accepts the IMF path, private participation, foreign universities, land use for investors, and digital identity despite earlier opposition. He questioned the adequacy of allocations for religious education and highlighted what he said were unfulfilled promises on VAT reductions, public servant benefits, teachers’ salaries, agricultural inputs, school supplies, and Agrahara insurance. He also challenged the structure of the proposed public sector salary increases and said the Budget gives more detail on expenditure than on revenue and debt management. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka defended the NPP Government’s first Budget as a foundation for social and economic transformation, arguing that increased capital expenditure, regional development funding, and planned reductions in recurrent spending are intended to expand production and services while maintaining fiscal discipline. He highlighted social protection allocations, public sector salary increases, tax relief for professionals, and clarified that revised pay and allowance calculations would increase rather than reduce benefits, inviting unions to discuss the figures with the Treasury. He rejected claims that the Budget was externally dictated, stating it provides fair relief within the IMF programme, and emphasized major education allocations aimed at improving school access, quality, and human capital development. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →