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- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB AI summary Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage supported the Orders on the Luxury Tax on motor vehicles and under the Construction Industry Development Act, arguing that improved economic management has stabilized the Treasury and enabled the resumption of vehicle imports. He said the construction sector had been distorted by political interference, commissions, proxy contractors, and cartel-like tender practices, including contracts routed through community-based organizations. He welcomed CIDA’s reduction of contractor registration and renewal fees to encourage wider participation, genuine contractors, and competition, and called for legal and administrative measures to regularize tenders and prevent collusion and corruption. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara JJB AI summary Hon. Padmasiri Bandara defended the Government’s handling of paddy purchasing in Polonnaruwa, stating that district collection centres had opened, only dry paddy was being bought, and more than 26,000 metric tonnes had already been purchased in the Yala season. Speaking during debate on Orders under the Finance Act and the Construction Industry Development Act, he argued that the construction sector was being revived through housing, public building and road projects, with fairer access to contracts and reduced CIDA registration renewal fees. He said past political interference, contract capture and misuse of community-based organisations were being ended, and maintained that taxes and the Rs. 10,200 million Budget allocation for Polonnaruwa were being directed to public development and rural livelihoods. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody addressed regulations on construction and vehicle imports, arguing that both sectors reflect economic direction and require transparent, needs-based policy. He cited COPE concerns over alleged misuse of the electric vehicle permit scheme for overseas workers, including permits granted despite inadequate overseas employment, questionable remittance patterns, and lack of proper delegation or review. He also argued that improved Customs revenue reflects stricter enforcement and reduced corruption, not only higher taxes. On construction, he called for infrastructure projects to be linked to production, exports, and rural development, stating that the Government is restarting projects with greater value for money and reduced corruption. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj supported the proposed Customs Ordinance measures on vehicle imports and regulations under the Construction Industry Development Act, arguing they are part of restoring economic stability and reviving sectors affected by the previous import ban and construction downturn. He said the legal updates would align taxation for new-technology electric vehicles with earlier treatment of hybrids and provide some relief to the middle class. He also referred to the Chemmani issue, stating that the Government had promised fair investigation and accountability, and urged Northern and Eastern leaders to prioritize economic development over communal rhetoric. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary The Minister presented Gazette Extraordinary No. 2430/15 under the Construction Industry Development Act, updating criteria and fees for registering adjudicators and contractors, including reducing adjudicator renewal fees and revising contractor grading thresholds to reflect higher project costs. He outlined expanded registration criteria covering renewable electrical installations, financial and technical capacity, safety, quality systems, training, CSR and institutional memberships, alongside revised fees last adjusted in 2018. He also stated that the Government is preparing amendments to the CIDA Act, a National Construction Policy Green Paper by end-October, and procurement guideline reforms to support recovery and governance in the construction sector. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan, raising a matter under Standing Order 27(2), asked the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation whether the Government plans to start a direct passenger ferry service between Mannar and Rameswaram. He sought details on impact assessments, timelines, required port and customs infrastructure, passenger safety, immigration and bilateral operational arrangements with India, and the expected benefits for Northern Province residents and Sri Lanka–India relations. Oral Questions under Standing Order 27(2) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation AI summary Congestion in Kurunegala cannot be addressed by road widening alone, even with a six-lane urban road, and requires broader urban planning measures. The Minister said the Government could consider integrated proposals if the UDA, in coordination with the transport authorities, updates the Kurunegala urban plan to reflect current conditions. Oral Question: Flyovers and Road Tunnels (Q.955/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake asked whether the Ministry would implement measures to reduce severe peak-time congestion on the A10 Kandy–Puttalam road through Kurunegala, particularly near Yanthampalawa junction and key institutions. He noted that the town section remains two lanes while other sections are wider, and referred to a stalled proposal to widen the road to six lanes with proper traffic management. Oral Question: Flyovers and Road Tunnels (Q.955/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation AI summary The Minister stated that the expressway to Rambukkana is expected to be completed and opened around December 2026, and that funds have been allocated for the following year to double-track the Polgahawela–Kurunegala railway. He also referred to plans for 25 town bypasses, including Warakapola, noted existing circular road benefits in Kurunegala, and said further bypass proposals could be considered subject to feasibility assessments. Oral Question: Flyovers and Road Tunnels (Q.955/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake noted that the A6 Ambepussa–Trincomalee road through Kurunegala crosses the railway at several points and that heavy lorry traffic from the North is worsening congestion in the town. He asked whether the Ministry could provide alternative routes, including diversion via the expressway with access near Dambokka, to reduce heavy-vehicle traffic through the Kurunegala town centre. Oral Question: Flyovers and Road Tunnels (Q.955/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation AI summary The Minister provided figures on flyovers and road tunnels, stating that 12 highway flyovers, 16 railway flyovers and 20 road tunnels have been constructed at estimated costs of Rs. 21.1 billion, Rs. 23.9 billion and Rs. 8.2 billion respectively. He said five pedestrian flyovers, but no vehicular flyovers, have been built in the Kurunegala District, and listed their locations near schools. He clarified that a 2008 foundation-stone ceremony for a proposed flyover was organized by the then political authority, not the RDA or Ministry, and said the project is now in the 2023–2030 Action Plan with planning, estimates and land acquisition under way. He also noted planned commencement in 2026 of a flyover near the Kurunegala railway crossing at Munaththettugala, resolution of funding issues for the Getambe flyover, and near-completion of the Kohuwala flyover. Oral Question: Flyovers and Road Tunnels (Q.955/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that private testing companies had made substantial investments to establish islandwide stations, reducing the need for major government capital expenditure, while acknowledging weaknesses in monitoring. He said that when the current agreement expires at the end of 2026, future concessions could be structured with greater transparency, and noted that the expansion of electric vehicles would proportionately reduce the scope of such testing services. Oral Question: Vehicle Emission Testing Programme (Q.868/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation AI summary The Minister said vehicle emissions are a major contributor to declining air quality in Colombo and other urban areas, particularly due to weaknesses in public transport, and argued that emissions testing remains necessary despite operational shortcomings. He noted that the relevant Trust funds are also used for roadside emissions checks, air quality monitoring, tree planting, and traffic-signal countdown systems. He acknowledged weaknesses in contracts and supervision that allowed improper issuance of certificates, and stated that a stronger and more transparent system is planned after the current agreement expires on 31 December 2026. Oral Question: Vehicle Emission Testing Programme (Q.868/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation AI summary The Minister explained that the Vehicle Emission Testing Programme was introduced following a Supreme Court fundamental rights ruling on vehicular air pollution and was expanded islandwide by 2013. He provided 2024 revenue figures by vehicle category, identified the two companies collecting fees, and stated that 7.5 per cent of test fees goes to the Vehicular Emission Test Trust Fund while 17.5 per cent is collected as VAT, amounting to Rs. 852.2 million in 2024. He said the Trust Fund was established to coordinate air-quality measures without relying on the Treasury, and noted related roadside testing, monitoring, tree-planting, and traffic-signal projects, while acknowledging contract-management shortcomings and indicating plans for a more transparent framework after the current concession ends in December 2026. Oral Question: Vehicle Emission Testing Programme (Q.868/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that a proposal to reduce consumer electricity tariffs while increasing rooftop solar purchase prices contains conflicting objectives. He explained that rooftop solar feed-in tariffs differ from low-consumption retail tariffs, noting that most customers use under 90 units monthly and pay about Rs. 18.50 per unit, while many existing rooftop contracts at around Rs. 37 per unit must be honored for 20 years. He added that solar and thermal generation costs are not directly comparable because solar is daytime-only unless storage is added, which increases overall cost. Oral Question: Strengthening Power Supply Stability (Q.735/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary The Minister stated that measures are being implemented to maintain grid stability amid increased rooftop solar and other renewable generation. Short-term actions include updating inverter settings, promoting on-site consumption, using hydro and thermal plants as synchronous condensers, curtailing renewable output during low-demand periods, introducing time-based tariffs for battery storage, and strengthening operational procedures for Lakvijaya and Colombo supply restoration. Long-term plans include pumped storage development, large-scale battery storage, a Renewable Energy Control Unit, transmission stability devices, flexible inertia-providing plants, smart meter upgrades, and distribution control centres for real-time renewable monitoring and control. Oral Question: Strengthening Power Supply Stability (Q.735/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana asked the Minister of Energy whether the Government was aware of the islandwide power outage on 9 February 2025. He requested details of the short-term and long-term measures taken after the outage to strengthen the stability of Sri Lanka’s power supply network, and, if no such action had been taken or awareness existed, the reasons for that. Oral Question: Strengthening Power Supply Stability (Q.735/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said railway improvements are being pursued under the Budget framework, acknowledging weak service beyond Chilaw on the Puttalam line. He stated that unprotected locations in the district would be secured, flood risks addressed, and several Puttalam District stations modernized, with further service improvements expected as more locomotives become available. He added that major upgrades depend on strengthening railway management and the Ratmalana Workshops first. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Asked for the Government’s structured plan for railway service improvements, specifically noting poor services beyond Negombo in the Puttalam District. He proposed upgrading services from Chilaw outward for both freight and passenger use, and requested consideration of a Negombo–Colombo city service, potentially with partner support, to reduce congestion even if it affects expressway usage. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary The Minister acknowledged major inefficiencies in the railway system while noting the dedication of many staff. He said the Government has taken a Cabinet policy decision to fill technical vacancies, though implementation was delayed by some departmental heads, and is now working with the new General Manager, State Minister, volunteer engineers, and trade unions. He stated that reforms would be systematic and projected about a 50 percent improvement in rail services within a year. Oral Question: Technical Officer Vacancies in Sri Lanka Railways (Q.676/2025) Read →