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- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government over a proposed 11.8 per cent electricity tariff increase linked to the delayed IMF fifth tranche and CEB financial requirements. He asked whether the cost of removing 2,600 CEB employees, estimated at Rs. 11,931 million, and street lighting charges would be passed on to consumers, and whether further increases would follow due to exchange rate changes. Oral Question: Private Electricity Generating Companies (Q.313/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary In response to a question on electricity generation, the Minister of Energy provided details, with annexes placed in the Library, on generating companies, their capacities, units supplied to the Ceylon Electricity Board, and payments made from 2015 to date. He outlined measures to increase CEB generating capacity under the 2025–2044 Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan, including greater renewable integration, grid expansion, battery and pumped hydro storage, thermal plants where required, and studies to improve existing hydro stations. He stated that most planned additions are renewable, mainly solar and wind, while some thermal capacity is planned for system stability and energy security, and listed projected capacity additions from 2026 to 2030. Oral Question: Private Electricity Generating Companies (Q.313/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised Question No. 313/2024 to the Minister of Energy seeking details on private electricity generating companies operating from 2015 onward. The question requests information on the companies, their generation arrangements, and related particulars concerning private power supply to the national electricity sector. Oral Question: Private Electricity Generating Companies (Q.313/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary The Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for 2024 was presented on behalf of the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation. It was proposed and agreed that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development. Papers Presented: Government Reports and Annual Reports Read →
- 3 February 2026 Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir raised concerns over the Kivul Oya planned settlement project, arguing that forest protection policies appear inconsistent if forests are to be cleared to obtain water for the project. He also highlighted disruptions affecting the Mannar–Puttalam road, stating that the longstanding route from Colombo to Jaffna via Puttalam and Mannar is no longer passable for the public. Adjournment Debate: Muthurajawela Wetland Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB AI summary Moved an Adjournment Motion calling for an urgent programme to protect the 6,232-hectare Muthurajawela Wetland, citing its biodiversity, flood-control role for Gampaha District, and increasing risks from human activity and weak institutional coordination. He said the District Coordinating Committee’s Environment Subcommittee had appointed an expert committee, whose report was approved for submission to the Ministry, and highlighted legal and gazette changes that had reduced protected areas over time. He urged revision of the current framework and creation of a unified national mechanism or authority to coordinate agencies, noting past concerns including a COPE-referenced sale of wetland land by the Department of Agrarian Development. Adjournment Debate: Muthurajawela Wetland Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekera wound up the debate on regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act to establish a framework for shared use of telecommunications infrastructure among service providers, with TRCSL empowered to issue technical and regulatory guidance. He said the measures aim to promote competition, reduce deployment costs, avoid duplication of infrastructure, and strengthen network resilience for national security, public safety, and economic development. Referring to communications failures during recent cyclones, he argued that shared infrastructure, data exchange, emergency calling, public alerting, and core connectivity would improve disaster response and continuity of services. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir spoke during debate on regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, urging action on unresolved telecommunications failures in Sainthamaruthu, including an unrepaired tower device affecting fishermen’s safety and poor service during the “Tithva” cyclone despite continued billing. He also asked the Government to provide teacher appointments for approximately 16,000 development officers serving in schools, following the President’s proposed solution. He called for Parliament to resolve the delayed Nuraicholai tsunami housing scheme for affected families and urged immediate remedial measures for severe coastal erosion linked to the Oluvil Port, citing extensive land loss and damage in several eastern coastal areas. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Approved the regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act while urging that expanded telecommunications infrastructure, including additional towers, prioritize rural, fishing and farming areas where poor signal affects education, livelihoods and economic activity. Raised the protest by development officers and asked the Government to address their grievances by filling subject-based teacher vacancies, especially in science, commerce, IT and English, with qualified officers already teaching in schools. Also tabled a document on coastal erosion affecting Dutch Bay and Kirimundalama in Kalpitiya, including damage to churches, and requested Government solutions for those communities. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga supported the regulations on shared use of telecommunications infrastructure under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, arguing that they would reduce duplication, lower costs, improve coverage and speeds, accelerate 5G deployment, and create a more competitive and environmentally efficient telecom sector. She linked the regulations to the Government’s digital economy agenda, citing opportunities for IT exports, rural connectivity, online public services, anti-corruption measures, and globally competitive employment for youth. She also urged the Opposition to engage constructively with the policy and called for greater dignity and discipline in parliamentary conduct. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan supported the Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Act, No. 39 of 2024 as a major modernization of the 1991 telecommunications law, expanding TRCSL from a licensing body into a regulator with powers over market competition, tariffs, spectrum, numbering, infrastructure providers, and submarine cable protection. He highlighted provisions on significant market power, cost-oriented tariff regulation, number portability, infrastructure sharing, stronger penalties, and wider consumer protection. He also noted criticisms that the Ministry Secretary serving as Commission Chair may affect regulatory independence and that mandatory infrastructure sharing could raise concerns for private investors. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara introduced the Telecommunications Infrastructure Sharing Regulations, 2024, under Section 17(1)(d) of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, as amended. He stated that the regulations aim to facilitate and encourage the sharing of passive and active telecommunications infrastructure, including ducts, poles, antenna structures, base stations, spectrum, and core network capacity, among operators. He also urged the Chair to ensure Members confine their remarks to the subject, citing Standing Order 91(e). Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary Hon. M.K.M. Aslam supported the regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, arguing that they are necessary to modernize communications infrastructure, support education reforms and economic recovery, and ensure reliable services in underserved areas. He said tower-sharing regulations would reduce duplication and costs, improve competition, lower tariffs, and allow the TRC to monitor operators and service quality, noting plans for additional towers and projected TRC revenue and expenditure changes. He also criticized Opposition parties for raising unrelated and ethnic issues during the debate, and defended development activities in the North, East, and hill country as necessary to meet basic needs and promote national unity. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised several constituency and administrative issues, including changing Pothuvil’s telephone code from 063 to 067, establishing passport services in Ampara, enabling divisional-level medicals for driving licence renewals, expanding the Ampara Land Registry, and improving postal and local government staffing and facilities. He urged the Government to regularize Development Officers serving as teachers, confirm acting principals, revise principal allowances and salary structures, and extend benefits to deputy and assistant principals. He called for immediate presidential intervention to stop proposed ilmenite sand mining by Capital Metals PLC along the East Coast, citing public opposition and risks to the environment, livelihoods, fisheries, coastal stability, and tourism in areas including Arugam Bay. He also proposed a provincial residential school for children with special needs and a dairy processing factory in Pothuvil to create employment. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra supported regulations on telecommunications infrastructure sharing, arguing that shared towers, fibre networks and related facilities would reduce duplication, costs, foreign exchange outflows and urban planning conflicts while improving rural and disaster-related connectivity. He cited international examples from the EU, UK, India and China and stated that the reforms would not undermine competition but strengthen sector efficiency and service access. He also said the Government would continue anti-corruption investigations impartially despite political opposition, and responded to Hon. Nizam Kariapper on the Akkaraipattu Nurachcholai housing issue, noting that delays stemmed from a Supreme Court order and that a fair allocation process would be pursued with relevant agencies. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake defended the Government’s policy and rejected Opposition criticisms, including claims about vehicle procurement and state institutions’ performance. He explained that the 2024 No. 1 Regulations on Shared Use of Telecommunications Infrastructure would allow the TRCSL to regulate infrastructure sharing, pricing, feasibility and dispute mediation to improve service quality and reduce capital costs. He said the Government is expanding rural connectivity through the “Gamata Sannivedanaya” programme, with 79 towers built and 150 more targeted, and is introducing licensed infrastructure providers to accelerate telecom development. He also noted that 5G deployment requires regulated sharing to avoid excessive urban infrastructure, visual pollution and environmental impact. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Hasara Liyanage supported the Regulations on shared use of telecommunications infrastructure, arguing that they are needed to prevent duplicative tower and network construction, reduce capital and environmental costs, improve coverage, and support the Government’s digitalization policy. She said the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission would be empowered to oversee sharing agreements, including terms, pricing, duration, public-interest review, publication of decisions, and a 10-day public comment period. She also criticized the Opposition for not engaging substantively with the Regulations and asked the Speaker to examine alleged threatening statements made in Parliament against prosecutors in high-profile cases. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act would empower the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to require operators to share passive and access infrastructure, including towers, power systems, cabling and radio access facilities, in order to reduce capital costs, unit costs and environmental impacts. He stated that core network sharing would remain prohibited for national security reasons, while shared infrastructure would support digitalization, 5G expansion and Sri Lanka’s positioning as a regional ICT hub. He also criticized the Opposition for requesting a debate on the Regulations but, in his view, not addressing their substance. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samarawira AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samarawira supported the Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, arguing that shared telecommunications infrastructure would reduce duplication, lower costs, support urban planning and environmental goals, and help prevent monopolistic practices. He said the suspension-related action concerning the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament followed petitions, RTI disclosures, Staff Advisory Committee consideration and formal disciplinary procedures, and should be allowed to proceed lawfully. He criticised the Opposition for diverting the debate to unrelated matters and using unparliamentary language, and requested the Speaker to examine why such conduct was being permitted under Standing Orders. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody rejected allegations that the Government had altered coal tender specifications, stating that any changes were made in 2023 and that the current tender conditions remain unchanged. He said coal quality deviations are governed by contractual adjustment and penalty formulas, noted that six shipments had arrived with notices issued over low GCV in two consignments, and said suppliers are selected through tender boards rather than by Ministers or Cabinet. He also defended possible emergency procurement of 300,000 tons of coal as necessary and usable, and said a previous LNG tender had lapsed by bid validity while its capacity terms would have imposed excessive costs on Sri Lanka. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →