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 February 2025 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake defended the 2025 Budget as the National People’s Power Government’s inaugural programme to restore economic stability, expand production in agriculture, industry and services, and ensure wider participation and fair distribution of benefits. He rejected Opposition claims that it is an election, IMF, or anti-private-sector Budget, citing proposals for investment protection, port and logistics development, exporter support, and measures to improve GDP growth, inflation stability, and the current account. He highlighted allocations and initiatives for social protection, health, education, early childhood nutrition, public transport, prisoners, orphans, persons with disabilities, youth employment, and youth mental health. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the Government’s first Budget, arguing that it responds to the public mandate to stabilize the economy, strengthen social welfare, and change prior political and economic practices. He highlighted provisions including allowances for orphans and children in remand homes, salary increases and higher annual increments across public sector grades, and revised remuneration for doctors. He stated that the Budget provides relief to workers, pensioners, plantation communities, and vulnerable groups without new burdens, asset sales, or additional debt, while redirecting reduced wasteful expenditure toward welfare, infrastructure, and the production economy. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa criticized the Budget as relying on pre-Budget tax increases while adopting policies similar to those previously opposed by the Government, and questioned whether revenue targets under the IMF programme are realistic. He welcomed digitalization initiatives such as the Unique Digital Identity, but urged the Government to operationalize the Data Protection Authority and raised concerns about taxes on digital services, ICT exports, and creator-economy earnings. He questioned the affordability of vehicle imports under current taxes, the viability of a development bank without collateral-lending reforms, the removal of SVAT for exporters, and the Government’s approach to FDI and investor relations. He also contrasted current education allocations with earlier pledges and raised concerns about transport spending priorities. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. Nimal Palihena JJB AI summary Hon. Nimal Palihena defended the 2025 Budget as the National People’s Power Government’s first effort to address hardship through targeted welfare, poverty alleviation, agriculture, employment and tourism support, while acknowledging fiscal and administrative constraints. He cited planned expenditure of Rs. 8,835 billion, expected revenue of Rs. 4,990 billion, school supply and footwear grants for low-income children, and post-climate damage repairs in areas such as Anuradhapura. He argued the Government would follow principles of meritocracy, pragmatism and honesty, reject corruption, and strengthen public sector basic salaries while raising the PAYE/APIT tax-free threshold from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000. He also detailed salary increases for categories including university academics and medical officers, presenting them as fair adjustments based on analysis rather than agitation. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Second Reading Read →
- 19 February 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa questioned the basis for identifying Aswesuma beneficiaries, arguing that the programme was implemented without updated national poverty statistics or a current HIES-based poverty line, resulting in inclusion and exclusion errors. Citing LIRNEasia and World Bank-related poverty figures, he asked why Sri Lanka lacks its own updated data and urged a more scientific, data-driven poverty eradication strategy integrating consumption, savings, production and exports. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha outlined the status and funding of the Aswesuma programme, stating that 1,800,032 families had been selected by year-end and that a further 0.8 million applications would be reviewed through village-level committees. He said 2025 expenditure for Aswesuma would total Rs. 232.5 billion, including Rs. 72 billion in World Bank support, and that the nature of that support would be verified. He also described poverty-reduction plans to integrate low-income families into productive economic activity, with allocations for empowering 25,000 families and village-level production. On trade, he set out export promotion measures including the National Export Development Plan 2025–2029, a US$ 19 billion export target for 2025, economic diplomacy, trade digitalization, infrastructure improvements and industrial zone development. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 19 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined the poverty and census data used in preparing the Budget, including official poverty lines, HIES 2019, the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019 and a 2023 household survey, and gave timelines for forthcoming statistical releases. He said the next HIES will run from January 2025 to January 2026, with reports due in June and August 2026, and updated Parliament on the Population and Housing Census, including delays in Colombo and Gampaha and a preliminary enumeration report due on 5 March 2025. On Aswesuma, he stated that cash transfers alone cannot eradicate poverty and that the Government is developing an integrated, data-driven poverty-exit approach, while acknowledging beneficiary selection issues and describing the appeals and additional application processes. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 19 February 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa, raising questions under Standing Order 27(2), asked what updated poverty data and sources were used in preparing the Budget and when new HIES and census reports would be released. He sought the Government’s position on whether the Aswesuma programme can eradicate poverty, its beneficiary selection issues, funding sources, and sustainability. He also asked whether the Government has a broader poverty-eradication strategy beyond cash assistance and what plans exist to protect exporters and poor communities affected by global tariff changes and protectionism. Question by Private Notice (Standing Order 27(2)): Data on Poverty, Aswesuma Programme and Law and Order Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama supported the President’s Budget, highlighting allocations for the Karasnagala Integrated Water Supply Project in Gampaha, an inland container terminal at Veyangoda, and tourism development in Attanagalla and surrounding historic sites. He cited welfare and education measures including increased allowances for schoolchildren, preschool meals and teachers, scholarship recipients, sports school students, TVET trainees, and university students. He also referred to policy moves on digital payments, support for persons with autism and special needs, restoration of the Jaffna Public Library collections, and the removal of MPs’ vehicle permits and concessions. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake criticised the Budget as making politically attractive promises without adequate allocations, questioning how 30,000 public service jobs could be funded with Rs. 10,000 million if salaries are to reach about Rs. 60,000. He argued that the Mahapola and student stipends, dry-ration parcel value, and preschool teacher allowance increases are insufficient, and warned that limited parcel distribution could create local disputes ahead of elections. He also said district development allocations are inadequate, especially for Badulla, and raised concerns about the fairness of allocating Rs. 6,000 million to the North while other provinces share Rs. 9,000 million, though he stated he did not oppose assistance to the North. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake criticized the CEB for disconnecting consumers even over small unpaid bills while failing to provide uninterrupted electricity, citing repeated daily outages. He asked whether consumers would be compensated for power interruptions and said the response given was inadequate, calling for a more diligent and secure answer on the issue. Question by Private Notice: Recent Islandwide Power Outage Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned the Government’s earlier statements that fuel taxes, including around Rs. 50 per litre, were unfair and would be reduced. He asked whether those assurances were inaccurate or whether the Government still intends to reduce the taxes, noting that five months had passed without action and requesting a timeframe for any reduction. Oral Question No. 1 (98/2024): Sale of Petroleum by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Read →
- 17 February 2025 Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies AI summary The Prime Minister said the 2022 crisis reflected both economic collapse and political failure, creating humanitarian hardship and leading to a public mandate for systemic change at the 2024 elections. Presenting the Budget as the foundation for that mandate, he argued that the new Government had stabilized the economy, strengthened reserves and the rupee, lowered Treasury Bill rates, restored investor and international partner confidence, and expected about 5 per cent growth in 2025. He acknowledged the role of the IMF-supported reform programme and debt restructuring in stabilization, while stating that the Government seeks greater economic sovereignty and sensitivity to the pressures placed on citizens by measures such as higher taxes, interest rates and cost-reflective energy pricing. Appropriation Bill, 2025: Second Reading - Debate Adjourned Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa requested additional time for the Opposition to speak, citing parliamentary practice and the need to present views. He asked the Government to clarify whether further electricity power cuts would occur, noting the presence of the subject Minister, and also raised concern that political reprisals were continuing. Points of Order and Procedural Matters: Supreme Court Determination and Parliamentary Procedures Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara urged the Government to ensure paddy procurement prices are competitive with prevailing market rates, warning that otherwise farmers will sell to private traders and state purchasing efforts will fail. He proposed expediting Yala cultivation, considering an additional crop where possible, and providing prompt credit support to small millers through District Secretaries to strengthen procurement and supply. He also called for proper stock management and rotation of purchased rice to avoid past mismanagement, framing the motion as a cooperative effort to protect both farmers and consumers. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government is implementing a programme to maintain rice availability and price stability through guaranteed paddy prices, state procurement, and market intervention via the Paddy Marketing Board, SATOSA, and cooperatives. He stated that Rs. 5 billion has been allocated to the PMB, with additional bank-backed financing including a planned Rs. 10 billion pledge loan for SATOSA, and that the Government aims to procure about 10 per cent of the season’s paddy, store it mainly as paddy, and mill and sell rice below market prices. He also outlined plans to use private and state mills, reopen storage and milling capacity, and increase Yala production to offset flood-related Maha shortfalls and prevent further market instability. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri welcomed Hon. Rohana Bandara’s private member’s motion and said the Government was already taking steps to address paddy and rice price stability. He argued that current paddy prices reflect reduced production costs compared with 2021–2022, citing lower fertilizer and land preparation costs, and said prices were being set to balance farmer and consumer interests. He stated that the Government was strengthening SATOSA and cooperatives through a public-private programme to maintain rice reserves, including inspections of storage facilities such as the Ambilipitiya rice store, and aimed to prevent stock shortages and price instability. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan supported Hon. Rohana Bandara’s Private Member’s Motion calling for the Government to maintain an official rice reserve and storage system. He argued that despite the East’s role as a major paddy-producing region, Sri Lanka continues to face shortages and imports, while private hoarding and profiteering affect poor consumers. He urged the Government to ensure fair prices, equitable distribution, prevention of shortages and price spikes, and proper storage standards to avoid spoilage and protect rice quality. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna supported Hon. Rohana Bandara’s motion on paddy and rice sector issues, stating that the Government had already begun interventions after reviewing the decline in Paddy Marketing Board procurement and storage capacity. He said 166 stores had been refurbished, Treasury funds allocated for paddy purchases, and warehouses opened in key producing provinces, while abandoned facilities and mills were being restored to supply rice at subsidized prices. He also said the Government was addressing seed quality through local production and regulating substandard agrochemicals, and cited official estimates that current paddy prices generally covered production costs for farmers. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi supported the proposal to maintain a government buffer stock of rice but argued that storing paddy alone is insufficient because emergency rice supply depends on milling capacity, which he said is limited and contributes to market concentration. He proposed that the Government maintain buffer stocks of milled rice as well as paddy, citing a 2012 pilot project near Veyangoda using mechanical aeration that reportedly stored rice for over 15 months at low cost. He said such a system would support national food security, bridge seasonal supply gaps, enable emergency access to rice, and help stabilize retail prices. Private Members' Motion 3: Making Arrangements for Maintaining a Rice Reserve Read →