Topic
Infrastructure
2,546 speeches · 378 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. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 137 |
| 2 | Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 105 |
| 3 | Hon. Anura Karunathilaka, M.P. JJB | 83 |
| 4 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 76 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 62 |
| 6 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 47 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 46 |
| 8 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 43 |
| 9 | Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, M.P. JJB | 36 |
| 10 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 34 |
Speeches
2,546 on this topic- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that investment and tourism in underdeveloped regions are being constrained by administrative delays and approval bottlenecks. He cautioned that abolishing SVAT should be accompanied by timely VAT refunds, otherwise delayed Inland Revenue refunds would deter investors. He also called for faster BOI and Port City approvals and urged officials to enable initiatives such as night visits to Sigiriya to increase tourism revenue, citing the President’s own concerns about lengthy approvals across multiple institutions. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB AI summary The Prime Minister tabled a response outlining Government initiatives to advance Sri Lanka’s digital economy, emphasizing digitized public services, automated administrative processes, transparency, and cashless transactions. The response identified priority projects including the Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity linked to the E-NIC and other official systems, online access to civil registration certificates through overseas missions, online applications to the President’s Fund, and the expansion of GovPay and LankaQR-based payments. It stated that these measures are intended to reduce bureaucracy, improve service delivery and accountability, expand financial inclusion, and support more efficient implementation of Government policy. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the port clearance crisis had been used to advance reforms, including moving Port and Customs operations toward 24/7 service and integrating ASYCUDA requirements. He said banks involved in trade finance and some port-related institutions also needed to adjust to support continuous operations, noting that many containers are cleared in the evening and night. He added that, with the President’s intervention, progress had been made and any emerging issues would be addressed promptly. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake clarified that “24-hour” Customs operations should mean the ability to clear goods at all times, not merely to have staff working. He said Customs inquiries currently stop at 5.00 p.m. on Fridays and urged that clearance be enabled on Friday nights, weekends, and holidays. He noted that efforts from 2015 to 2020 had not fully achieved this and called for remaining resistance to be removed. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Port of Colombo continues to operate 24/7 and that recent measures have extended weekend operations to shipping lines and relevant inspection agencies, including Customs, Food Control, Plant Quarantine and Animal Quarantine. He said additional officers have been recruited and deployed around the clock, helping to largely clear the container backlog. He also noted that two acres at Bloemendhal were handed over to Customs for inspections, though containers had not yet been moved there, and said the Government plans to introduce a dashboard to improve port efficiency. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB AI summary The Prime Minister stated that a short-, medium- and long-term plan had been presented to address the issue under discussion, including increasing staff and other measures. She added that the Minister for Ports had been requested to provide further details. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked whether the Government has established the legal and operational framework to enable 24-hour cargo clearance at Colombo Port, beyond Sri Lanka Customs’ existing round-the-clock presence. He noted that administrative functions still operate only during office hours and holidays, unlike competing ports such as Singapore, Port Klang and Dubai, and urged adoption of a continuous 24/7 clearance model in line with references made by the President. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister replied to a deferred question, stating that Central Bank monetary easing since June 2023 had reduced policy rates and market interest rates, supported increased private sector credit in 2024, and that any further rate reductions would depend on inflation and growth conditions while affecting depositors. She said the Government was pursuing foreign exchange generation beyond exports, addressing exporter concerns through Budget 2025, and implementing short-, medium- and long-term measures to improve Colombo Port cargo clearance, including 24/7 examination yards, additional holding capacity, Customs risk-management automation, AI-supported scanning and new scanners. She also outlined digital payment and ease-of-doing-business initiatives, citing expanded payments through the National Payment Platform, the launch of GovPay on 7 February 2025, and investment facilitation through the BOI Investor Facilitation Centre and related coordination mechanisms. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister tabled a response confirming awareness of disaster-risk housing affecting estate families in Kegalle, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, including 22 families in Levant, 51 in Poonagala, 5 in Dabettanne, and 105 in Wedamulla Estate. He stated that these families have been living in such conditions for about 2–5 years and that housing is planned this year for 3,627 affected families under the Indian Housing Project, with Levant and Poonagala projects to be funded by the Government of Sri Lanka. Oral Question: Question No. 5 - 453/2025 (Plantation and Community Infrastructure) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that industrial zones handed over to Divisional Secretaries lack clear accountability for infrastructure and administration, despite rent collection. He said the Government intends to bring such zones under the Ministry and the Industrial Development Authority, and to prevent unauthorized commercial sub-leasing of State plots unless conducted under Ministry oversight and proper agreements. He added that future regularization through Divisional Secretaries would follow formal procedures. Oral Question: Question No. 2 - 446/2025 (Industrial Zones) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga asked what measures the Ministry is taking in relation to the Budget allocation of Rs. 1.5 billion for infrastructure development in 32 existing zones and the opening of new zones. She raised concerns about neglected maintenance, loss of opportunities for genuine investors, unauthorized occupation or residence within some zones, and asked about interim sub-leasing and steps to expedite the 15-step process so existing factories can function smoothly. Oral Question: Question No. 2 - 446/2025 (Industrial Zones) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that delays in issuing leases for enterprises in government zones have discouraged investors and created problems such as informal transfers and unclear occupancy. He said mobile services involving relevant agencies will be launched to expedite lease issuance, with a target of completing approvals within 22 days and finalizing leases within 62 days. He also noted that inter-agency clearances should ideally be secured before inviting industries into government zones. Oral Question: Question No. 2 - 446/2025 (Industrial Zones) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Several new industrial zones and estates are being planned or developed by the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board, including ongoing infrastructure work in five zones expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and proposed sector-based and regional zones across multiple districts. The Minister said land allocation is intended for at least 50 investors and listed planned sites, including Kankesanthurai and six IDB estates now undergoing preparatory work. He explained that lease agreements are delayed because approvals depend on land-owning agencies and a multi-stage process, but said mobile service sessions will be held to process 176 pending leases after 206 permits have already been issued. An Investor Facilitation Committee has been established to reduce timelines, with targets of allocating land within 22 days and issuing lease permits within 62 days, subject to Cabinet approval and monitoring. Oral Question: Question No. 2 - 446/2025 (Industrial Zones) Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Oshani Umanga asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development whether new industrial zones are planned in Sri Lanka and, if so, sought details of those plans. She raised concerns about delays faced by investors in obtaining approvals and preparing lease agreements for industries in such zones, and asked what measures would be taken to reduce delays. She also asked whether a linked, streamlined process involving all relevant institutions could be established, and the expected timeframe for doing so. Oral Question: Question No. 2 - 446/2025 (Industrial Zones) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody argued that the 2025 Budget is aimed at broad-based economic growth through modernization of education, health, land use, finance, transport, energy, and import-export systems. He said salary increases and revised tax thresholds are intended to retain professionals and reverse brain drain, citing resignations of engineers from institutions under his Ministry. He highlighted allocations for public transport, rail modernization, domestic production through a motor vehicle and rubber-based industrial zone, and major energy projects including grid upgrades, waste-to-energy, solar installations, island renewable systems, and preparatory work for future nuclear power. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Lalith Kumara JJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Lalith Kumara supported the 2025 Budget, stating that the Government’s mandate enabled it to redirect savings from reduced political privileges toward public benefits, including salary increases, support for workers, domestic industry, and production. He emphasized agriculture and food security, citing fertilizer support, irrigation allocations, and the goal of meeting a significant share of nutritional needs domestically. He urged officials to implement allocations efficiently within the remaining months of the year and called on the Opposition to contribute constructively to rebuilding sectors such as transport, health, and education. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Aruna Panagoda JJB AI summary Aruna Panagoda supported the Budget’s Rs. 483 billion allocation for transport, arguing that public transport must be made reliable, safe, efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable after years of politicization and deterioration. He called for modernizing SLTB services, introducing structured bus services on the main corridors into Colombo, strengthening rural and late-evening bus operations, and improving the conduct and public-service culture of transport staff under the Clean Sri Lanka programme. He also raised unresolved compensation issues from land acquisitions for the Ruwanpura Expressway in the Homagama area, stating that Budget funds should be used in stages to address payments and related administrative gaps. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam argued that the 2025 Budget shows no significant policy shift and questioned whether the Government can finance and implement its stated capital projects, noting past underutilization of capital expenditure and a projected Rs. 2.2 trillion deficit. He said allocations for the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including roads, bridges, the Vattuvagal bridge and the Jaffna Library, are inadequate or risk remaining only on paper, despite electoral support from those areas. He also raised unresolved issues concerning the disappeared, political prisoners, mass graves, and the need for a new Constitution and power-sharing political settlement, stating that development alone cannot address Tamil political concerns. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Second Reading Debate (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government restored electricity within about four hours and would not permit power cuts during A/L examinations, contrasting this with previous periods of prolonged outages. He said the Government, in office for only three months, is studying unresolved issues in the power sector and taking measures, though some actions require time because necessary steps had not been taken earlier. He added that recent threats of Sunday power cuts were managed with low-cost solutions, acknowledged possible customer issues with existing systems, and called for cooperation while denying any “deals” in the sector. Ministerial Statements: Elephant Deaths from Train Collisions and Power Outage Read →
- 22 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary The Hon. Kumara Jayakody acknowledged existing issues in energy-related public services, including access and distance difficulties, and said he had raised and discussed them even before the outage. He stated that the Government is pursuing a people-centric energy transition, is gathering information, and needs time to address and resolve many of the problems. Ministerial Statements: Elephant Deaths from Train Collisions and Power Outage Read →