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- 11 November 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised a question to the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development regarding the industrial park registered No. 1458 in Poonthottam, Vavuniya, noting that some plots appear derelict. He sought details on the total plots, allocations to entrepreneurs, unallocated land, whether allocated plots are being used for their intended purposes, and whether unused allocated plots can be reallocated. He also asked about the last development programme funded by the industrial park itself and whether the park is operating at maximum capacity, with reasons if it is not. Oral Question: Land Plots at Industrial Park in Poonthottam (Q.1315/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Jagath Manuwarna JJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Manuwarna defended the Government’s 2025 and 2026 Budgets, arguing that delays in implementing 2025 projects were partly due to the Budget being passed only in March and to shortages of technical and administrative staff at village level. He highlighted proposals to recruit about 75,000 public servants through proper procedures, improve digital access in government institutions, and regularize certain appointments to strengthen delivery of development funds. He also rejected media reports that he had evaded court due to a warrant, stating that he had appeared through proper legal procedure and that the warrant had been recalled. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir welcomed the Rs. 300 million Budget allocation to renovate a long-incomplete building in Nintavur, linking it to earlier efforts by late M.H.M. Ashraff and thanking officials and political leaders involved in securing the funding. He said the Opposition’s role is to raise public concerns, and questioned whether minority areas in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee had received promised development support, including Indian aid. He called for action on coastal erosion and the inactive fisheries jetty linked to Oluvil Port, compensation for affected landowners, improvements to the unsafe Kalmunai public market and municipal facilities, and the issuance of long-pending permits and better facilities for academics. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB AI summary The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran stated that over half of total expenditure is being absorbed by debt servicing, with Rs. 2,617 billion in interest and Rs. 4,495 billion in total debt service, limiting resources for development. He rejected claims that the Northern Province received no allocations, citing Budget provisions for Mannar Hospital, pipe-borne water in Jaffna and Kilinochchi, road widening and rehabilitation projects, and Rs. 1,285 million to NAQDA for sea turtle hatching in Mannar and Jaffna. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Susantha Dodawatta defended the Government’s second Budget, arguing that it reflects fiscal discipline and restored macroeconomic stability, citing improved revenue, reduced deficit figures, and growth in exports, remittances, tourism earnings and grants. He criticized the Opposition for lacking substantive analysis and urged policy-based debate. He highlighted Budget proposals for tourism development, including the Hamilton Canal–Negombo lagoon zone, Uva tourism clusters, upgrading state bungalows, tourism workforce training, and airport improvements, as well as measures to expand digital payments and explore data-centre revenue opportunities. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena — Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the 2026 Budget as a continuation of fiscal stabilization, citing projected revenue of Rs. 5,305 billion, expenditure at about 20.5% of GDP, a deficit of 5.1%, and progress on IMF-related primary surplus and debt reduction targets. He said meeting fiscal targets had helped secure debt restructuring benefits, including lower average interest rates for 2028–2035. Responding to Opposition criticism of rural road spending, he detailed implementation under the “Road to Revival” programme through the RDA and District Secretaries, stating that Rs. 2,039 million had already been spent under the RDA track and hundreds of roads were completed or ongoing. He also clarified that State vehicles provided for official use must be returned. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera responded to criticism that the Government had fostered social hatred, rejecting generalization from an alleged incident involving Hon. Ratna Sri Wijesinha and citing cultural recognition in the Southern region. He supported the 2026 Budget, highlighting allocations to resolve Techno Park land issues, address Galle’s water supply deficit, pursue 7 per cent growth through tariff reform, export diversification, production, poverty reduction and digitalization, and maintain debt sustainability under the IMF framework. He also noted social sector measures, including funding for autism-related child development and day care centres at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and in districts, with further allocations planned for expansion. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. P. Ruwan Senarath - Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary Deputy Minister P. Ruwan Senarath defended the Government’s second Budget, arguing that it is built on the first Budget’s measures taken after an economic collapse and is organized around six strategic goals. He criticized Opposition claims that the Budget lacks planning, citing reported economic growth, Treasury improvement, and unmet basic needs in Hambantota such as access to safe drinking water and sanitation under previous governments. He highlighted targets including sustained GDP growth above 7 per cent, fair regional distribution of benefits, export diversification, review of trade agreements, and new free trade agreements under the 2025–2029 National Export Development Plan, while inviting constructive criticism on the Budget’s content. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake warned the Government not to create continuous political crises or act vindictively, saying public anger could be reflected both on the streets and at elections. He argued that Uva and surrounding districts such as Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Monaragala have long suffered from inadequate roads, electricity and loss of farmland, unlike areas that produced national leaders and influential patrons. He also questioned whether leaders and Ministers from Anuradhapura, Kalutara and Badulla were adequately addressing local grievances, citing anger among onion farmers and urging Ministers to respond fairly to people’s concerns. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe argued that Sri Lanka’s development requires expanding production and industrial exports, particularly through trade zones and electronics manufacturing. He cited the 400-acre Millaniya trade zone project initiated under a public-private partnership during his tenure, questioned why it was absent from the President’s development plan, and raised concern over plans to re-release the land to Dhammika Perera. He said his export strategy was grant-funded and called for at least 5,000 acres to be developed for electronics manufacturing, noting past local industrial capacity such as transformer production in the 1980s. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary In response to a question on rural road development in the Matara District, an answer was tabled stating that 66 roads totaling 219.79 km were developed under contract packages M01, M02 and M03. It stated that all development work on these roads has been completed and that no roads were started and left unfinished. Oral Questions – Second Round: Kalawewa Railway Station and I-Road Project in Matara District (Q.1221/2025 and Q.1304/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe (on behalf of the Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama) JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development for details on rural road development in the Matara District under the Road Development Authority’s i-Road Project. The question sought the number and length of roads initiated, how many have been completed or halted midway, and what steps will be taken to complete roads where interrupted works have made transportation difficult. Oral Questions – Second Round: Kalawewa Railway Station and I-Road Project in Matara District (Q.1221/2025 and Q.1304/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake tabled a written answer stating that Kalawewa Railway Station is an old station used by many local and foreign tourists. He said seat reservation facilities could be provided there in due course through the Railway Department’s ongoing online ticketing and reservation system expansion, currently operating with Mobitel at 50 stations. He added that ATMs can be installed at the station if a bank requests space and obtains the required approvals, after which the Railway Department can facilitate it without disrupting operations. Oral Questions – Second Round: Kalawewa Railway Station and I-Road Project in Matara District (Q.1221/2025 and Q.1304/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka) SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development whether he was aware that Kalawewa Railway Station, an old station used by many local and foreign tourists visiting nearby religious and heritage sites, lacks train seat reservation facilities. He sought information on whether and when seat reservation facilities would be provided, and whether an ATM could also be installed at the station. Oral Questions – Second Round: Kalawewa Railway Station and I-Road Project in Matara District (Q.1221/2025 and Q.1304/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam emphasized the need for community consultation in developing fast train services. He welcomed the Budget proposal doubling temporary railway gatekeepers’ pay from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000, but noted their longstanding difficulties under the Police Department and asked whether the remaining gatekeepers and other temporary or volunteer railway workers could be brought under the Railways Ministry and regularized. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said level-crossing problems occur across several railway lines and are partly the result of informal access routes, especially in areas affected by the war. He argued that frequent crossings undermine efficient rail operations and faster services, and identified parallel access roads as the practical solution. He said local authorities should request the necessary land or wayleaves from the Railway Department, including for the Omanthai area, while noting the Department is not obliged to construct such roads. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns that, during post-war reconstruction of the Northern Line, traditional railway crossings in areas not yet resettled were closed, including a long-used pathway near Omanthai station. He asked whether the Ministry, with local authorities and the Railway Department, would consult the public to identify and provide necessary crossings within the year, and welcomed the proposal for parallel roads along the railway line to address residents’ access issues promptly. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary Certain crossings between Vavuniya and Puliyankulam are unauthorized and unsafe, and the Railway Department does not maintain or accept responsibility for them. Of 14 crossings in the section, 12 are unauthorized and are to be removed, while only two are police-controlled level crossings. Under the Mahawa–Omanthai railway rehabilitation project, trains are expected to run at 80–100 km/h, so unsafe crossings must be eliminated, with possible alternatives including parallel access roads subject to approvals and conditions, or footbridges in coordination with relevant authorities. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development whether the Vavuniya–Kilinochchi section of the Northern Railway Line has severely dilapidated and unsafe railway crossings, with particular concern about the Puliyankulam area in Vavuniya. He sought confirmation of the Ministry’s responsibility to ensure public safety at these crossings and requested details of proposed remedial measures, or reasons if the concerns are not accepted. Oral Question: Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Section of Northern Railway Line – Dilapidated Railway Crossings (Q.1085/2025) Read →
- 8 November 2025 The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports JJB AI summary The Minister stated that a maintenance plan has been prepared for the Kalutara District Sports Complex, with details placed in the Library as Annex 01. He said the estimated cost is Rs. 39.80 million, or Rs. 40,614,586.92 including VAT, and that no payments have yet been made. He added that future repairs will be handled by the maintenance contractor. Oral Question: Kalutara District Sports Complex - Maintenance Read →