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- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri sought clarification on the safety of the Udawalawa bund, noting that it was built in 1968, is now heavily used by tourist and local traffic, and could endanger wider areas if compromised. While accepting the Deputy Minister’s response and the existence of an alternative route, he urged that the lower alternative road be rehabilitated urgently rather than awaiting further reports, so it can be used if the bund road is closed in an emergency. Adjournment Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath – Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Udawalawa reservoir, constructed in 1968, is a major Mahaweli irrigation system serving agriculture, drinking water supply and hydropower, with a bund-top road gazetted as the B427. He stated that vehicle movement over the bund may affect its integrity, with cracks already observed in surface concrete slabs, and that a technical report is being obtained by the Mahaweli Authority and Irrigation Department. He said only light vehicles and passenger buses are currently permitted, and if studies confirm safety risks, traffic will be stopped and diverted. The Government also plans, with the Road Development Authority, to improve an alternative road below the bund for public use. Adjournment Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri raised an Adjournment Question to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation on reservoir safety following Cyclone “Diva,” focusing on concerns about the Udawalawa Reservoir after recent spilling. He asked for details on the reservoir’s construction year, objectives, storage capacity and irrigable area, and sought clarification on whether national highways run over reservoir bunds in Sri Lanka. He further questioned whether the main road on the Udawalawa bund poses a safety risk and whether the Ministry has considered alternative arrangements. Adjournment Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the Minister of Environment on whether a national wild elephant census has been conducted, the current population, and the number of elephant deaths in 2025, stating that 409 deaths had been recorded amid the human-elephant conflict. He urged measures including limiting proposed cultivation releases near Palukadawala–Nakolagane, establishing monitoring near the Getadiwula bridge, improving railway lighting/signalling and driver arrangements on the Meenagaya service, standardizing electric fences, investigating hakka patas poison supplies, and protecting the tusker “Kavantissa.” He argued that continued elephant deaths, habitat loss, and train collisions threaten tourism and Sri Lanka’s elephant heritage, and called for coordinated action in 2026 to reduce deaths. Adjournment Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government had stabilized the economy and was now seeking production-oriented investment, with the Port City positioned as a key vehicle for that purpose. He outlined amendments to the 2021 Port City Act to replace discretionary concessions with rules-based incentives, including capped corporate tax holidays tied to investment and employment, limits on personal income tax exemptions, and strengthened filing, audit, and monitoring requirements. He also stated that offshore banking oversight would be reinforced through the Foreign Exchange Act and Central Bank powers, and rejected claims that statutory public finance reports under Act No. 44 of 2024 had not been submitted on time. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC NDF AI summary Hon. Faiszer Musthapha welcomed the appointment of the Port City Commission Chairman and urged the long-vacant BOI Director-General post to be filled, while raising concerns that proposed amendments could weaken Central Bank oversight of offshore banking in the Port City. He warned that excluding the Banking Act, allowing the Commission to license offshore banks, and permitting borrowing from domestic banks in US dollars could create shadow banking risks, drain reserves, and create an uneven regulatory field. He proposed preserving Central Bank discretion on prudential standards, reconsidering income tax on Sri Lankan professionals working in the Port City, and introducing one-stop, time-bound approval processes to attract investment and prevent capital flight. He also criticized delays and costs faced by investors, called for competitive concessions, and urged reconsideration of the Commission’s licensing role and the BOI’s effectiveness. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi JJB AI summary Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi supported the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill, stating that it seeks to make the Port City a competitive special economic zone for attracting foreign direct investment while improving ease of doing business. He said the amendment addresses practical issues in the original Act by creating a more transparent, criteria-based framework for tax concessions, including regular reviews and investment and employment thresholds. He rejected claims that the Bill removes benefits, arguing that the Commission will retain powers to review and refine concessions while aligning with international standards to prevent misuse such as money laundering or illicit fund flows. He also referred to forthcoming PPP and joint venture frameworks as part of broader investment and job creation policy. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad supported the Port City project as a key economic initiative but urged the Government and Commission to ensure recent amendments translate into accelerated foreign direct investment and removal of bottlenecks. He called for investigation of inconsistent land pricing to investors, lower event-space rental costs, and coordinated legal and environmental measures for special event zones. He also raised the need to strengthen financial and digital infrastructure, tabled concerns over SLT-Mobitel procurement and governance, and requested updates on power-sector measures, including battery storage, to prevent future outages affecting investment and economic activity. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that the Colombo Port City Economic Commission should be used more proactively to attract investment, with targeted tax and non-tax incentives rather than waiting on IMF programme constraints. He said Port City must develop a clear value proposition as an offshore financial, services, and manufacturing hub, leveraging access to India through the Indo–Sri Lanka FTA and offering regulatory certainty, market access, and efficiency. He criticized over-regulation, approval delays, and recent Colombo Stock Exchange technical issues as damaging investor confidence, and urged reforms to attract US$3–4 billion in investment while addressing outward labour migration. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah spoke during debate on the Colombo Port City Commission (Amendment) Bill, but focused his remarks on the recent “Dithva” cyclone. He expressed condolences to those affected, thanked foreign governments and peoples for their assistance, and acknowledged the President’s announced relief measures and the role of public officials in delivering aid quickly. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill as part of the Government’s strategy to attract foreign direct investment, strengthen the Port City as a competitive special economic zone, and improve Sri Lanka’s ease of doing business. He argued that 2025 demonstrated economic stability through higher revenue collections, remittances, tourism, exports, stock market performance, growth, ratings improvements, and low inflation. He said the amendments would rationalize tax incentives and exemptions, strengthen regulation and compliance for strategic businesses, and create a framework for offshore banking, while noting that BOI projects, PPPs, and joint ventures would also remain important channels for investment. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva addressed regulations waiving VAT, Cess, PAL and Customs Duty on donated imports for cyclone recovery, but argued that relief should also cover privately imported replacement machinery and inputs for affected businesses, subject to verification mechanisms. He called for clarity on a proposed donors’ conference, said the announced “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund does not formally exist, and urged establishment of the Disaster Fund under the Disaster Management Act with audited oversight. He highlighted severe MSME losses and debt pressures following the cyclone, and argued that recovery should not depend mainly on donations but should include spending prioritization and greater private investment in infrastructure through PPPs and concessions. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi supported the Second Reading of the Bill to amend the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, arguing that the Government has restored economic stability through improved revenue collection, exports, tourism earnings, remittances, FDI, debt restructuring and credit ratings. He said the amendments would integrate Port City into the national growth strategy by replacing broad tax holidays with calibrated incentives for categories of strategic businesses based on investment and employment thresholds. He also emphasized Central Bank supervision of offshore banking, stronger legal governance, and recent regulations aimed at preventing irregularities and corruption. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Aboobucker Athambawa supported the Colombo Port City Commission (Amendment) Bill, arguing that Port City should be developed as a national economic asset and globally competitive special economic zone. He said the Bill’s tax and legal framework, including tiered treatment for investors, is intended to attract local and foreign investment, generate dollar inflows, and strengthen ICT and commercial activity. He also linked the project to broader government claims of improving economic stability, reduced debt levels, growth, and a less corrupt investment climate, and urged the opposition to cooperate with the Government’s development agenda. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Ajith Agalakada JJB AI summary The Hon. Ajith Agalakada supported amendments to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, arguing that Sri Lanka needs new foreign exchange-generating avenues ahead of resumed external debt repayments from 2028. He said the amendments are based on expert review and would rationalize tax concessions, limit employment income tax exemptions, and strengthen regulation of Businesses of Strategic Importance through investment- and employment-based categories rather than blanket tax holidays. He emphasized that attracting investment depends not only on incentives but also on stability, infrastructure, human capital, rule of law and transparency, and cited recent improvements in exports, remittances, tourism receipts, FDI and macroeconomic indicators. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon supported the Bill to amend the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, stating that it would bring Port City economic activity under stronger regulatory oversight and support its role as a business and development hub. He said the amendments would clarify tax treatment, strengthen performance monitoring, ensure Commission oversight of activities, and introduce banking supervision aligned with Basel II and Basel III standards, including capital, liquidity, leverage, and countercyclical buffer requirements. He also outlined proposed prudential measures involving the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank, including licensing action, approved audits, limits on foreign currency transactions, and anti-money laundering controls to enhance financial stability and investor confidence. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 Hon. Kandasaami Prabhu JJB AI summary Hon. Kandasaami Prabhu stated that government institutions are acting independently against waste and fraud, and that Batticaloa District’s 2025 allocations were fully utilized despite disaster-related delays to some projects. He supported the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill, highlighting proposed tax holidays for investors and arguing that public-private investment would accelerate development. He also cited rising tourism, improved tax compliance, and the “Praja Shakthi” programme as contributors to economic recovery and rural development, while rejecting opposition criticism and calling for shortcomings to be corrected constructively. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Nimal Palihena JJB AI summary Nimal Palihena supported the amendments to Act No. 11 of 2021, arguing that reform of the Port City framework is needed to realize its objective of attracting foreign direct investment after the initial US$ 1.4 billion land reclamation investment. He highlighted changes including a three-year transition for already-registered companies on employee personal income tax, standard tax treatment for new employees, reduced upfront application charges, and Central Bank oversight of offshore banking and related entities. He said the zone would target sectors such as IT, finance, professional services and tourism, operate in approved foreign currencies, and was expected to generate stronger investment inflows in 2026 amid improved economic conditions. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan supported the 2025 Amendments to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act as a shift from an insulated special zone toward stronger integration with national financial, tax, and foreign exchange laws. He highlighted Central Bank oversight of offshore banking, reduced tax holidays, mandatory tax filing, and Ministry of Finance technical review of incentives as safeguards against shadow banking and revenue loss. He cautioned that reduced incentives could affect investor confidence, but argued that non-tax facilitation, policy stability, local economic linkages, and transparent regulation are more important for positioning Port City as a credible global financial and business centre. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →
- 7 January 2026 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe argued that Sri Lanka is maintaining fiscal discipline under the IMF programme and that debt sustainability, reserves and repayment capacity are improving through exports, FDI, remittances and tourism. He said the Port City Amendment strengthens regulation and aligns incentives with global standards, including Central Bank-regulated offshore banking, removal of tax-free status for employees, mandatory IRD tax filing and revised fee structures to ease investor entry. He noted that concessions for 24 previously approved companies were retained after negotiation, while four projects worth about US$ 1.2 billion are expected to begin in 2026 and a broader pipeline of Port City investments totals about US$ 3.9 billion. He urged the Opposition not to create fear about the economy, citing projected growth, falling interest costs as a share of revenue, and stronger export performance. Debate: Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill Read →