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- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Dharmapriya Dissanayake raised a supplementary question about disparities in local authority revenues that have led some councils to remove street lamps because they cannot pay electricity bills. He asked whether, under the new reforms, measures would be introduced to address the problem and prevent communities from having to work or travel in darkness. Oral Question 1477/2025: Use of Street Lighting Lamps by Local Authorities Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Responsibility for street lamp installation and maintenance lies with local authorities, while the CEB and Ministry only provide electricity connections. Kumara Jayakody noted concerns about unnecessary installations, neglected areas, favoritism, and unpaid electricity bills, including by high-revenue authorities such as the Colombo Municipal Council. He said the Government is considering a comprehensive approach for responsible installation, maintenance, and financing, with efforts to resolve outstanding issues by next year. Oral Question 1477/2025: Use of Street Lighting Lamps by Local Authorities Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake stated that the installation of new street lamps has been halted amid concerns that some local authority officials had previously installed lamps irregularly for associates, causing unnecessary installations and increased electricity use. He asked whether the Ministry would introduce proper regulation to ensure future street lamp installations are supervised by local authorities and based on actual need. Oral Question 1477/2025: Use of Street Lighting Lamps by Local Authorities Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Ceylon Electricity Board issues monthly bills for street lighting, but local authorities have not paid them. He said the CEB has instructed that separate accounts be opened for street lamps under each local authority, with charges applied under a Public Utilities Commission-approved tariff. He emphasized that electricity supply costs must be recovered from the relevant consumers, while noting that the Government is discussing a suitable solution. Oral Question 1477/2025: Use of Street Lighting Lamps by Local Authorities Read →
- 12 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake raised Question No. 1477/2025 regarding charges levied on local authorities for the use of street lighting lamps. He sought clarification on the basis for such charges and the impact on local government bodies responsible for providing street lighting services. Oral Question 1477/2025: Use of Street Lighting Lamps by Local Authorities Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath supported reviewing the concerns in the Adjournment Motion while stressing that tourism should be protected and the law applied equally to foreigners and Sri Lankans. He presented data showing that only about 1.17 to 1.29 per cent of tourists from August to October 2025 obtained temporary licences, generating Rs. 13.27 million in State revenue. He clarified that licences issued at Bandaranaike International Airport cover only light vehicles, not three-wheelers or heavy vehicles, while the Automobile Association of Ceylon issues certain permits under relevant road traffic conventions and ordinances. He said there was no evidence of a surge of accidents caused by these licences, but agreed that the issues raised should be examined and acted on if necessary. Adjournment: Termination of Driving Licences for Foreign Tourists (Three-wheelers) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake moved an Adjournment Motion raising concerns over the issuance of driving permits to foreign tourists, particularly for three-wheelers and heavy vehicles, citing increased monthly permit numbers, traffic violations, accidents, and loss of work for local tourism drivers. He referred to Section 132B of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act, No. 8 of 2009, and questioned the new airport-based permit system and the unapproved Gazette notification. He proposed stopping licences for foreign tourists to drive three-wheelers and heavy vehicles, or alternatively reverting to the former Werahera process and increasing the fee to Rs. 15,000 to limit demand and generate revenue. Adjournment: Termination of Driving Licences for Foreign Tourists (Three-wheelers) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe said the 2025 Budget allocations had not met expectations in the Eastern Province and noted that promised Indian-assisted development projects there had not commenced nearly a year later. He tabled expenditure data up to 30 September 2025 showing substantial underutilisation of allocations across several ministries and special expenditure heads, with spending rates ranging from 39 to 67 per cent in the examples cited. He urged Parliament and the Government to examine why allocated funds remained unspent despite public needs being raised by representatives. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody – Minister of Energy AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody outlined the 2026 Budget figures, including total expenditure of Rs. 7,102 billion, expected revenue of Rs. 5,355 billion, a deficit of Rs. 1,757 billion, and a proposed borrowing limit of Rs. 3,740 billion. He argued that the Budget advances the Government’s policy roadmap through six strategic goals covering inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, productive-sector support, poverty eradication, and digitalization. He highlighted energy transmission projects, investor facilitation through National Single Windows, MSME and domestic production support, reform of Aswesuma dependency, expanded e-procurement and cashless payments, and development of digital infrastructure including communications towers and data centres. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna acknowledged the reference to his name and welcomed the proposal to build 2,445 houses, noting that it had been discussed at Committee level. He urged the Fisheries Minister and the District Coordinating Committee Chairman to ensure proper implementation, stating that he had pursued the matter for about a year. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake defended the 2026 Budget, rejecting Opposition criticism on under-spending of 2025 allocations and stating that execution was expected to reach 85–90 percent by year-end. He outlined the Budget’s revenue, expenditure and deficit figures, highlighted major allocations to education, health, transport, national security and the public service, and argued that fiscal management and import controls had helped preserve reserves and stability. He said the Budget would strengthen the public service through salary increases, pension changes, recruitment and vehicle allocations for official duties, including for divisional administrations and wildlife response to human–elephant conflict. He also stated that the Government did not intend to revive past practices around duty-free vehicle permits for MPs. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology JJB AI summary Minister Chrishantha Abeysena defended the Government’s second Budget, arguing that it had restored fiscal and political stability, rebuilt reserves and cash balances, broadened the tax base, and prioritized macroeconomic discipline before expanding relief. He highlighted allocations for research commercialization, Vidatha resource centres, ICT, industrial zones, and village-level economic development, while stating that public service recruitment would proceed in a phased, needs-based manner. He said public sector salaries had been increased and would rise further through allocations extending to 2027, and rejected claims that vehicle allocations were for luxury use by MPs, stating they were for official duties and service delivery needs. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake outlined ongoing measures to improve SLTB services, including the repair and redeployment of 173 buses and funding for 600 more, with related work expected to be completed by May next year. He said buses for the metropolitan-area Metro Bus Company are expected by June, necessary officers would be recruited by April, and a bank-based bus ticket payment system is targeted for launch by the end of the month. He also acknowledged continuing operational and management problems, noting that both setbacks and improvements are expected in the coming months. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Transport Board - Purchasing Spare Parts (Q.1428/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Hon. Thilina Samarakoon asked for clarification on the implementation mechanism and timeline for deploying transport improvements proposed in the 2026 Budget, including the purchase of 600 new buses and addition of 307 engines. He specifically requested how and when buses would be allocated to depots and existing buses redirected to rural services, noting ongoing serious problems in rural transport. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Transport Board - Purchasing Spare Parts (Q.1428/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to explain the Sri Lanka Transport Board’s methodology for purchasing bus spare parts and managing spare-part stocks. He sought clarification on whether the current procurement system has acknowledged flaws, what those flaws are, whether a more reliable system can be introduced, how long the existing stock management method has been used, and whether a computerized stock management system will be developed. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Transport Board - Purchasing Spare Parts (Q.1428/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody said decisions on water releases fall under the Irrigation Department or agencies such as Mahaweli and must be made with their agreement, taking environmental and related factors into account. He stated that the specified hours were likely set on that basis and undertook to discuss the matter with the Tourism Ministry and relevant agencies to make adjustments if necessary. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Manjula Suraweera Arachchi asked how the Government would address the impact of the Broadlands hydropower project on water rafting along the Kelani River, a key tourism activity. He said river closures from late afternoon to the following morning delay rafting operations and inconvenience foreign visitors, and requested a solution that balances hydropower generation with tourism needs. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Manjula Suraweera Arachchi asked the Minister of Energy for details on the Broadlands Hydropower Plant, including when construction began, whether it has been completed, and, if not, the reasons for any delay. He also requested a detailed account of compensation related to the project: the number of affected persons, payments already made with individual amounts, outstanding beneficiaries and sums due, and the expected date for completing all compensation payments. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Raised concerns that some industrial estate plots have been subleased for profit without starting industries, diverting them from their intended purpose. Requested prompt action to reclaim such plots and reallocate them to genuine entrepreneurs. Oral Question: Land Plots at Industrial Park in Poonthottam (Q.1315/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa provided details on the Poonthottam Industrial Park in Vavuniya, stating that it has 65 plots on 10 acres, of which 50 have been allocated to 19 industrialists, 13 remain vacant, and two are reserved for Industrial Development Board activities. He said all but three allottees are currently operating industries, and that plots held by non-operational allottees can be cancelled and reallocated to new entrepreneurs, with such action underway. He also noted recent development work, including a Rs. 2.5 million transformer in 2020 and Rs. 2.5 million perimeter fencing in 2021, and said steps are being taken to bring the park close to full capacity. Oral Question: Land Plots at Industrial Park in Poonthottam (Q.1315/2025) Read →