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- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara JJB AI summary Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara supported the Government’s second Budget, “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,” citing Fitch Ratings’ reference to fiscal consolidation and noting claims of a Treasury surplus. He defended wage increases for estate workers and urged the Opposition to examine the Budget constructively rather than criticize it. He also highlighted Budget support for the livestock sector, stating that Sri Lanka imports 60 per cent of its milk needs and outlining a target to raise annual milk production by 1,200 million litres and meet 75 per cent of domestic demand by 2030. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Government had strengthened the economy since taking office, citing 4.8 per cent growth, efforts to reduce public debt, restored vehicle imports, stable reserves of about USD 6 billion, and renewed stalled State projects. He highlighted digital economy initiatives including GovPay, digital payment of traffic fines, the National Cyber Security Centre, upgrades to the Lanka Government Cloud, online access to official certificates and Presidential Fund benefits, and creation of a GovTech company. He said the 2026 Budget supports economic stabilization and development toward 2030 goals, with proposals such as Starlink services, a planned 5G spectrum auction, and vouchers for students in difficult areas to access online education, and sought parliamentary approval for its implementation. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 Hon. E.M. Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. E.M. Basnayake expressed support for the President’s Budget Speech, describing it as reflecting economic revival, improved livelihoods, and renewed hope achieved within the Government’s first year. He contrasted this with what he characterized as the legacy of 70 years of previous governance and criticized members who did not accept that interpretation. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. E.M. Basnayaka JJB AI summary Hon. E.M. Basnayaka supported the Budget as a comprehensive programme benefiting all communities and sectors, arguing that the Government had restored political stability, strengthened the economy, and upheld the rule of law since taking office. He rejected Opposition criticism of the Budget and disputed a social media claim about road carpeting in the Knuckles World Heritage area, inviting verification on the ground. He also condemned opposition to wage and welfare measures for Malaiyaha Tamil estate workers, stating that the Government would pursue housing, land, and livelihood improvements to move them out of line rooms. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe, using Government time, responded to remarks by Ravi Karunanayake regarding foreign reserves. He rejected the claim that reserves had fallen to USD 4.2 billion, stating that official reserves were about USD 6.3 billion and cautioning against relying solely on a newspaper report. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that the Budget largely continues fiscal and open-economy policies begun under UNP-led governments, and welcomed continuity with fiscal discipline while urging the Government to acknowledge earlier stabilization measures. He questioned the presentation of a surplus despite planned borrowing, saying the liquidity buffer has an opportunity cost and should instead be used to lower interest rates and finance high-return development projects. He warned that rupee depreciation increases the debt burden, noted that several ministry allocations decline in real terms under IMF-related spending limits, and called for stronger investment, revenue growth, and pro-growth capital expenditure. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister supported the 2026 Budget as a continuation of the Government’s stabilization and welfare-oriented programme, citing 2025 gains in growth, inflation control, interest rates, reserves, remittances, fiscal discipline, and revenue administration. She outlined 2026 priorities including inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, domestic production, rural poverty reduction, and digitalization. She highlighted measures such as attendance-linked top-ups for estate workers, public service and pension increases, women’s empowerment funding, concessional loans for overseas Sri Lankans, a Wages and Pensions Commission, health-sector strengthening, higher Mahapola scholarships, and Rs. 4,290 million for 2,000 plantation-sector houses under Indian-assisted housing efforts. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Dr. Radhakrishnan welcomed the Budget’s proposed Rs. 200 wage increase for plantation workers and urged the Government to ensure it is paid without restrictive attendance conditions, including to workers employed for fewer than 25 days. He appreciated allocations such as Rs. 500 million for easing traffic in Hatton, the improvement in economic growth, and anti-corruption efforts, while stressing that social justice and welfare must reach all communities equally. He also called on the Government, given its parliamentary majority, to address Tamil political grievances by holding Provincial Council elections as an initial step toward devolution and a broader solution for the North and East. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Hon. Oshani Umanga supported the 2026 Budget, arguing that the Government’s first year had demonstrated fiscal discipline through deficit reduction, curbs on unnecessary borrowing, and preparations for orderly external debt repayment by 2028. She said allocations prioritize health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, transport, estate workers, housing, and women’s empowerment, including a proposed Rs. 200 daily allowance for estate workers, Rs. 440 million for women’s empowerment, and 230 completed houses in Kalutara District. She criticized Opposition objections to the estate worker allowance and urged support for the Budget, presenting it as targeted toward vulnerable communities and national development. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe defended the 2026 Budget as the National People’s Power Government’s second Budget after the 2024 presidential election, arguing that it should be assessed as a strategic plan rather than only by its figures. He said the Budget is built around six objectives: fair distribution of benefits, export diversification, debt sustainability, productive economic development, poverty eradication, and digitalization. He criticized the previous administration and the Opposition for debt-driven governance, alleged responsibility for the 2022 bankruptcy, and failing to understand or support the Government’s economic roadmap. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka challenged the Government’s claim that the Budget contains no new taxes, arguing that widened VAT coverage and lower registration thresholds would increase the burden on consumers and small businesses despite promises to shift toward direct taxation. He criticised the removal of vehicle permit benefits for professionals and public officers, saying MPs had not received such permits since 2020 and urging priority for doctors in any vehicle imports. He also alleged that a tender for 1,700 cabs appeared tailored to one supplier through restrictive specifications, while urgent health procurement had been delayed. He further questioned the real value of proposed salary increases under inflation and called for the long-delayed Household Income and Expenditure Survey to be conducted urgently. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Budget gives particular consideration to vulnerable groups. He framed this as a key feature of the Budget’s policy focus. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka urged the Government to ensure high execution of capital expenditure in the forthcoming Budget, arguing that public expectations depend on implementation and citing earlier Budgets under Mahinda Rajapaksa as having achieved over 95 percent capital expenditure execution. He criticized the previous year’s low spending, alleging that allocations for essential drugs, hospital repairs, telecommunications towers, and other promises were largely not fulfilled. He also demanded an apology from the Sports Minister and the expunging of a remark from Hansard, stating it was insulting to visually impaired persons and to Parliament. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Dinindu Saman Hennayake - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Dinindu Saman Hennayake marked the anniversary of Rohana Wijeweera’s death and linked the NPP Government’s political programme to rule of law, social justice, and economic stability. He defended the 2026 Budget, citing improved reserves, exchange-rate stability, foreign investment, remittances, tourism arrivals, and upgraded credit ratings as evidence of recovery after the economic crisis. He emphasized Budget support for hill-country estate workers, including a proposed Rs. 200 Government contribution and Rs. 200 planter contribution in addition to the Rs. 1,350 daily wage, and rejected Opposition criticism of that measure. He also noted planned cost-sharing subsidies for Montessori teachers and for private-sector employment of persons with disabilities, and called for continued support for estate communities. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister supported the Second Reading of the 2026 Budget, arguing that the Government had moved the country out of a “lost decade” through fiscal stabilization, improved revenue collection, legal reforms and attention to inherited liabilities such as incomplete infrastructure contracts. He highlighted allocations for persons with disabilities under Aswesuma and for accessibility improvements in public institutions, as well as spending on education, Mahapola and bursaries, professorial units, medical facilities, the Ratnapura railway line and Rs. 21 billion for research and development. He also responded to criticisms on Hindu affairs by citing initiatives including the National Thaipongal festival in Jaffna, gazetting the Sabarimala Ayyappan pilgrimage, kovil and religious education funding, and the allocation for a National “Sri Lankan Day” festival. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha criticised the Government’s second Budget, arguing that previous allocations had been poorly utilized, citing the Thambuttegama Economic Hub as an example, and saying the Budget relied on statistics without execution or substantive reform. He questioned the fiscal outlook, Fitch’s CCC+ rating, claims on FDI, and revenue increases linked to vehicle import relaxation, while warning that lowering the VAT registration threshold to Rs. 30 million would burden SMEs and consumers. He demanded restoration of vehicle permits for specialists, academics and executive-grade officers, and challenged the Government’s investment record, particularly its failure to attract new investment to the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage defended the Citizens’ Budget as a stabilization-focused Budget prepared under heavy debt-servicing obligations, noting Rs. 4,495 billion allocated for debt service and increased capital expenditure compared with 2024. He rejected Opposition claims that the Budget imposed new taxes, stating that no additional people-borne taxes were introduced and that the 18 percent VAT remained unchanged since January 2024. He highlighted improvements in exchange-rate stability, lower Treasury bill yields, export growth, remittances, tourism earnings, and reserves, and said relief for vulnerable groups such as estate workers reflected deliberate policy choices. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Lalith Kumara JJB AI summary Chaminda Lalith Kumara defended the 2026 Budget, stating that it builds on the practical implementation of the 2025 Budget and includes village-level supervision to prevent waste and involve the public in development projects. He rejected Opposition criticism as baseless, urged members to read the Citizens’ Budget materials, and highlighted allocations and programmes for agriculture, value chains, youth engagement, tourism, drug eradication, and public security. He cited ongoing work in Gampaha and Meerigama to mobilize officials and community representatives, and dismissed allegations against him and his party relating to narcotics as politically motivated smears. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara criticized the Budget’s public sector salary measures, arguing that the actual increase for lower-level public servants is minimal and that promised measures, including implementation of the remaining Subodinee Salary Commission recommendations for teachers, have not been delivered. He said allocations for principals’ and difficult-area allowances, housing loans, and distress loans are inadequate, and requested that executive-grade officers who already received vehicle permits under previous governments be allowed to use them. He also claimed the Budget offers no meaningful relief to farmers, fishers, the private sector, entrepreneurs, or public servants, and challenged the Government to hold Provincial Council Elections without first amending the law. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →
- 13 November 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara criticised the Government’s Budget, arguing that it lacked meaningful allocations for key sectors and that the JVP–NPP had now adopted economic, foreign, and education policies it had historically opposed, including engagement with the IMF. He alleged that taxes, VAT, utility charges, and fuel prices remained burdensome despite prior promises to reduce them, while public spending was low and poverty had increased. He also challenged the President’s statement that public servants recruited after 2016 would not receive pensions, citing Public Administration Circular No. 21/2017 and appointment letters stating such posts were pensionable. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Read →