Topic
Public Finance
5,915 speeches · 726 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. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 283 |
| 2 | Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P. JJB | 229 |
| 3 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 171 |
| 4 | Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 167 |
| 5 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 153 |
| 6 | Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 147 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, M.P. SJB | 140 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 135 |
| 9 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 115 |
| 10 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 92 |
Speeches
5,915 on this topic- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Budget allocates funds for islandwide development, including roads, hospitals, schools and housing in the North and East, with a special housing project for 2,500 families affected by the war. He addressed pension issues, stating that a pending court case concerns teachers’ pension rights linked to the 1997 B.C. Perera Pay Commission and that the 2025 and 2026 Budget measures, including a new Pay Commission, aim to resolve pension and salary anomalies. He rejected opposition claims of politicization in community programmes and defended the VAT threshold reduction as a compliance measure targeting evasion within the value chain. He also said the Government is regularizing pension rights for public servants recruited since 2016, arguing that the previous contributory pension clauses were never operationalized. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala responded to opposition criticisms of the President’s Vote, stating that the 2025 and 2026 allocations are substantially lower than under the previous administration and are directed mainly to the Clean Sri Lanka programme, research and salaries. He said the Presidential Secretariat had reduced staff, advisers, vehicles, travel, buildings and other recurrent costs while maintaining efficiency, and cited significant savings compared with 2024. He also highlighted the decentralisation of the President’s Fund to Divisional Secretariats, increased medical and educational assistance, and 52 Clean Sri Lanka projects, asserting that funds under the President’s Head are not used for personal purposes. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to honour pre-election commitments to resolve long-standing pension anomalies affecting retired teachers and principals, noting related court proceedings and union involvement. He argued that revenue and primary balance outcomes exceeding IMF targets had created fiscal space that should be redirected to poverty reduction, MSME revival, start-ups, and support for farmers, fishers, workers, the self-employed, and women. He also called for an investigation into alleged harassment of the Chairperson of the Aratchchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha and warned that macro-linked bonds in the debt restructuring could increase future debt service as growth improves. He further alleged politicization of the “Community Power” programme and related local structures, questioning whether this was consistent with the Government’s promised system change. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that the Government had failed to implement election pledges, including permanent appointments for teacher instructors, changes to the IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis, graduate employment commitments, and justice for the Easter Sunday attacks. He called for urgent action on distressed MSMEs, citing high closures, non-performing loans, parate executions, inadequate restructuring mechanisms, weak use of ADB credit support, and the impact of lowering the VAT registration threshold. He also urged a coherent national pension programme, restoration of promised senior citizens’ savings benefits, settlement of pension anomalies and arrears for retirees, and resolution of unresolved salary and pension issues affecting retired teachers and principals. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister said the Special Expenditure Units reflect the Government’s approach to governance, institutional stability and leadership, rather than only budgetary allocations. She argued that the Government is united by a shared political purpose and party discipline, while responding to Opposition criticism as inconsistent and lacking a coherent policy line. She rejected claims that the Government had adopted neoliberal policies, citing state intervention such as measures to increase plantation workers’ wages within a disciplined fiscal framework. She said the 2026 Budget and related expenditure decisions demonstrate policy continuity, collective leadership and the protection of institutional independence. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara urged the Government to resolve the legal basis for holding Provincial Council elections, arguing that delays have left provinces administered by Governors and officials without elected representatives. He questioned the proposed Rs. 12 billion Presidential expenditure for 2026, called for moderation in presidential security arrangements, and criticised past rhetoric on such costs. He sought greater transparency in the Digital Economy, Digital ID, GovPay/HelaPay and India-Sri Lanka digital cooperation initiatives, including tabling agreements, procurement details and technical frameworks in Parliament with trilingual public communication. He also raised concerns about Parliament staff allowances and pay restructuring, Opposition speaking time, equitable overseas delegation representation, and the autonomy of parliamentary administration. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara moved the traditional Rs. 10 reduction under the Committee Stage for specified Heads of the Appropriation Bill 2026, while welcoming increased relief for Malaiyaha people and supporting related allocations. He argued that profitable plantation companies should contribute more towards workers and called for a uniform policy covering all companies and small estates rather than ad-hoc benefits. He also urged the Government to appoint a Special Parliamentary Committee on Provincial Councils and electoral reform, noting ITAK’s abstention over unresolved Tamil political concerns and referencing a gazetted Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bill. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary Parate execution is supervised by the Central Bank, and although its suspension was extended several times, that suspension has now expired. The Minister stated that expiry does not mean banks will immediately seize assets, and affected parties should raise specific issues with the relevant bank, the Central Bank, or the appropriate authority. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Asked whether the Government would provide relief from the application of parate law, noting its impact on small millers and sectors such as hotels. The question was directed in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Finance. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne acknowledged concerns about paddy released to millers through Government Agents, noting current shortages of both stocks and cash and alleging fraud by some parties. He said the law should be applied equally amid investigations into irregular releases, while highlighting that small millers faced tougher and costlier access to credit compared with large millers. He stated that steps are being taken to address this imbalance and prevent market cornering by larger millers. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns that small and medium rice millers, particularly in areas such as Polonnaruwa, have been unable to access bank credit after defaults linked to the Easter attacks, COVID-19, and the economic crisis, leading to CRIB listings and asset auctions under the parate law from 30 June 2025. He argued that lack of timely pre-harvest credit to these millers, while larger millers received facilities, is a key factor in rising rice prices. He asked whether the Ministry will ensure banks provide credit to small and medium millers before the Maha harvest, in line with the President’s stated commitment. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary The Hon. Namal Karunaratne provided details of Cabinet-approved concessional loan schemes for small and medium-scale rice millers across recent paddy seasons, including objectives to secure fair prices for farmers, provide low-interest financing, and strengthen the rice milling sector. He outlined eligibility criteria such as business registration, a 25 MT maximum daily milling capacity, a Rs. 50 million loan ceiling, a 180-day repayment period, and the requirement to purchase paddy at or above the Government-announced minimum price. He stated that banks would monitor stock-based lending and collateral, the Treasury would pay interest subsidies after certification, and the Department of Agrarian Development would monitor compliance during procurement, while further financial details and lists of mill owners would be provided once received. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake noted that although officers are well educated, technology adoption remains low, citing underuse of previously procured GPS equipment and continued manual record-keeping for minimal freight movement on a rail network originally designed for freight. He urged officers and professionals to support modernization and embrace change. The sitting then proceeded to a question on details of a concessional loan scheme for small and medium-scale rice mill owners, including its Cabinet approval date, objectives, loan criteria, beneficiaries, amounts, and monitoring method. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister answered a question on Sri Lanka Railways land, stating that the Department owns 5,739.85 hectares, with a district-wise schedule to be placed in the Library. He said about 520 acres, or around 10 per cent, is currently leased for up to five years, generating Rs. 882.56 million from 2020 to 30 June 2025. He added that a detailed plan is being prepared to identify unauthorized occupations, with action to be taken under State Lands recovery laws and through Fiscal’s Orders where necessary, while future leases will follow ministry circulars, valuation assessments and railway land disposal procedures. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri sought permission to raise a further question relating to Question No. 562/2025 on lands belonging to Sri Lanka Railways. The question asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to provide details on the total extent of railway land, lands leased to private parties, lease income from 2020 onward, encroachments by unauthorized settlers, planned eviction measures, and steps to make productive use of railway lands under departmental control. Oral Question: Q.562/2025 - Lands Belonging to Sri Lanka Railways: Lease Read →
- 15 November 2025 Procurement Officer - Mr. M.G.P.K. Dharmasena AI summary Mr. M.G.P.K. Dharmasena is identified as the Procurement Officer associated with the Engineering Services Department. No substantive speech content, policy argument, proposal, or question is provided to summarize. Opening: Parliament Procedures, Staff Lists, and Administrative Information Read →
- 15 November 2025 Audio Recording Supervisor - Mr. S.D.S.K. Tilakasiri AI summary Mr. S.D.S.K. Tilakasiri identified himself as the Audio Recording Supervisor from the Finance and Supplies Department. No substantive policy argument, proposal, question, or demand was made in the speech. Opening: Parliament Procedures, Staff Lists, and Administrative Information Read →
- 14 November 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan stated that the Tamil Progressive Alliance supports ensuring all plantation workers, including those in state entities, regional plantation companies and smallholder tea growers, receive the President’s promised Rs. 1,750 wage. He said the Government is responsible for the wage structure and confirmed that he, Palani Digambaram and V.S. Radhakrishnan would vote in favour of the Second Reading. Debate Conclusion and Division: Disposals Bill 2026 – Second Reading Read →
- 14 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister defended the Government’s second Budget as part of a people-centred, fiscally disciplined programme aimed at stabilization, investment-led growth, and social transformation, rather than a set of discretionary annual allocations. He rejected Opposition criticisms on legislative output, capital expenditure, and the Parliamentary Budget Office, citing forthcoming Bills on state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships, microfinance regulation, anti-money laundering and related reforms. He said Budget spending should be assessed against the Government’s strategic objectives, including sustaining stability and moving toward medium-term growth above 7 per cent. Debate Conclusion and Division: Disposals Bill 2026 – Second Reading Read →
- 14 November 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman criticised the Government’s anticipated 2026 tax policies, arguing that repeated taxation would worsen poverty, widen social inequality, and deepen class divisions. He warned that public protests could follow and stated that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya would join and lead such public action. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Read →