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- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Rathna Gamage JJB AI summary Hon. Rathna Gamage stated that the 2026 Budget allocated funds to settle long-overdue employee benefit arrears, including EPF, ETF and gratuity, at several loss-making State institutions. He said Rs. 5,235 million has been allocated across seven entities, with Rs. 707 million already provided to the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and Rs. 82.9 million allocated to North Sea Ltd., and indicated that remaining arrears at the Fisheries Corporation would be settled within a month. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Deputy Minister about findings in the 2025 COPA Report regarding an excess cadre of about 200 employees and unpaid EPF/ETF dues. He requested clarification on whether the dues have since been paid and the total amount paid. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Ministry is taking action on institutional irregularities, including recent transfers at the Fisheries Harbours Authority following an alleged financial irregularity in Trincomalee. He stated that legal action has been initiated over corruption and fraud, and attributed past problems at the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation to politically motivated appointments and poorly planned outlets. He said the Government is reclaiming and reopening Corporation outlets after feasibility studies, citing Kotte/Rajagiriya, and reported a Rs. 59 million profit last year with a target of Rs. 190 million this year. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Nalin Hewage - Deputy Minister of Vocational Education JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage said the Government has increased allocations for education-related physical resource development from 1.8% of GDP in the 2024 Budget to 1.9% in its first Budget and 2.04% in its second. He stated that additional funds have been provided to schools for facilities, that school consolidation is ongoing, and that several schools will be designated as specialized schools this year with earmarked development funding. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Kins Nelson raised concerns that farmers had not yet received the promised fertilizer subsidy of Rs. 30,000 per hectare for the Yala season, despite water being released for paddy cultivation on 20 April. He said farmers had also paid through farmer organizations for two and a half bags of urea, which had not been delivered, and questioned the failure to provide the previously promised five bags per hectare. He urged the Deputy Minister to intervene immediately and asked whether the fertilizer already paid for would be supplied to farmers without further delay. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the RDA has filed a Police complaint against Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha over an allegation that Rs. 380 million had been paid twice to contractors, which the RDA rejected at a media briefing. He said audit queries on toll revenue discrepancies are not proof of wrongdoing and may relate to staffing shortages or compromised toll gates. He added that the RDA will provide full responses while taking steps to reduce leakages and strengthen the toll system. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Asked that the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development take up the matter, noting that the relevant data is available. He sought details on investigations into an alleged Rs. 380 million duplicate payment at the Road Development Authority and an audit query citing Rs. 4,614 million in unpaid expressway exit charges, including the current factual position and verification process for payments made through the Bank of Ceylon. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that factors including the economic crisis, fraud and corruption, delays, exchange rate fluctuations, design issues, and contractor delays had created additional fiscal burdens. He said these could be quantified separately and offered to compile and present such an analysis, possibly during the next Budget. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake stated that expressway and road contracts have been awarded only through open tender procedures. He attributed cost escalations to economic-crisis-related delays, exchange rate changes, and inadequate initial design or geotechnical investigations, citing over Rs. 60 billion in delay costs on the Central Expressway and unexpected rock removal costs on the Potuhera–Rambukkana section. He said steps are being taken to improve upfront design to prevent similar variations during construction. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought clarification from the Minister on the award and financing method for the Rambukkana–Galagedara road section, in the context of highway projects including the OCH, the MCC 39 km section, and the Potuhera–Galagedara 128 km section. He noted differing cost estimates, including an increase in the MCC estimate from Rs. 345 billion to Rs. 425 billion, and asked whether the section was tendered or undertaken through private sector participation, while observing that domestic arrangements could avoid foreign loan and exchange-rate cost escalation. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary S.M. Marikkar referred to the 2024 controversy over substandard medicines, noting reported deaths and loss of eyesight, and questioned why the complaints division had received no complaints. He argued that this indicated a lack of public awareness and requested that the division’s contact number be publicized. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 20 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Deputy Minister stated that medicine quality failures are determined by laboratory testing and that the NMRA has no recorded instances of deliberately creating such failures. He said that, among life-saving or high-cost cold-chain medicines in the past five years, only two batches of Tenecteplase Injection 40 mg were temporarily withheld pending NMRA regulatory decisions. He explained that hospital reports may trigger NMRA action, but withdrawals or suspensions are regulatory decisions, and tender awards by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation take account of NMRA-recommended withdrawals, with conditional awards possible in other cases. For January 2025 to February 2026, he cited totals for suspensions, rejections, batch and product withdrawals and related actions, and added that no NMRA-withdrawn medicines had been recorded as sold in the private market, with no such complaints recorded in 2024. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake - President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Digital Economy AI summary The President, responding as Minister of Finance, stated that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka continues as a body corporate under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, which replaced the Monetary Law Act from 15 September 2023. He said rights, obligations, regulations and decisions made by the former Monetary Board continue under the new Act, subject to Sections 133 and 134 and other relevant provisions. He further stated that pension rules and policies for Central Bank pensioners who retired before that date remain in force, including basic pension, inflation-linked monthly Cost of Living Allowance, and medical benefits. Written Answers to Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development whether the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s institutional continuity under the 2023 Central Bank Act includes assuming the rights, obligations, liabilities, and prior decisions of the former Monetary Board. He sought clarification on whether pension-related decisions and policies made before 15 September 2023, particularly periodic pension revisions for retirees, will continue to be implemented by the Governing Board, and what measures would be taken if they are not. Written Answers to Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary Minister K.D. Lal Kantha provided detailed data on Mahaweli Authority land distribution, stating that 304,290 acres have been alienated to 45,417 beneficiary families without clear title deeds, and that 10,995 acres remain unutilized for efficient economic activity. He said reallocations and action against irregular acquisitions are handled under relevant land laws with approvals from land-use, environmental, wildlife, forest, archaeology, industry and energy authorities, while a digital “e-SLIM Mahaweli” system is used to manage land records and issue permits and deeds. He also stated that long-term occupants may be granted ownership through legal mechanisms such as Land Kachcheri, and presented annual gross economic values from Mahaweli-related paddy, other crops, fisheries and hydropower, rising to Rs. 305,975 million in 2024. Written Answers to Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake outlined medium- and long-term tourism development initiatives, including a 2027-2029 plan comprising 49 projects valued at Rs. 2,752 million and proposals for an e-ticketing platform, Beira Lake development, and a 2026-2030 strategic action plan supported by a World Bank grant. He also placed before the House a detailed question on Mahaweli Authority land administration, seeking information on land alienation, title deeds, commercial transfers, irregular occupation, digitization and GIS mapping, possible legislative reforms, unutilized lands, and annual economic returns of the Mahaweli Project over the past decade. Written Answers to Questions Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe moved three amendments to a tax-related Bill concerning enforcement against non-compliance with notices issued by the Commissioner-General. He proposed extending the compliance period from 30 to 90 days with staggered penalties, targeting only fraudulent or willful tax evasion, and preventing action under section 185A(2) where the person had already been punished or fined under Chapter XVII within the previous three years. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister said the Inland Revenue amendments are intended to make taxation fairer, simpler and more efficient, while broadening compliance and reducing evasion. He highlighted measures including raising the individual annual tax-free threshold to Rs. 1.8 million, facilitating voluntary instalment payments, strengthening related-party disclosure, clarifying tax treatment for insurance and seafarer income, simplifying estimated tax statements, expanding online payments and improving data sharing among State agencies. He also defended VAT and SSCL calculations, outlined SME-related relief through thin capitalization and capital allowance changes, and stated that litigation would be used only as a last resort after administrative steps. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC NDF AI summary Hon. Faiszer Musthapha criticized the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill, arguing that proposed criminal sanctions for administrative tax lapses such as late filing, non-registration, or failure to appear before tax authorities are excessive and would disproportionately affect ordinary taxpayers. He referred to the Supreme Court’s determination on Clause 31, saying it showed the Government’s intent to give the Commissioner broad powers even where appeals were pending, and urged the Government to avoid treating inadvertent non-compliance as criminal conduct. He also objected to the reduction of the monthly VAT threshold from Rs. 5 million to Rs. 3 million, noting that VAT applies to turnover and, with SSCL, creates an effective burden of 20.5%, and requested that the threshold decision be reviewed. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Read →
- 19 May 2026 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said the Ministry is pursuing diplomatic channels after reports that Sri Lankan national Sameera Mahboobdeen was detained following Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla, with the Embassy in Tel Aviv seeking consular access to confirm her condition, welfare, and legal status. He stated that the Government supports the Inland Revenue amendments as necessary reforms. He also said the Government had inherited a fragile economy but, through fiscal discipline and management, was working to maintain energy security, avoid shortages, stabilize production, and respond to external shocks. Debate: Second Reading of Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill and Committee Stage Read →