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- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Thilina Samarakoon JJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to explain the Sri Lanka Transport Board’s methodology for purchasing bus spare parts and managing spare-part stocks. He sought clarification on whether the current procurement system has acknowledged flaws, what those flaws are, whether a more reliable system can be introduced, how long the existing stock management method has been used, and whether a computerized stock management system will be developed. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Transport Board - Purchasing Spare Parts (Q.1428/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that many Ceylon Electricity Board projects have operated without clear end dates, with large project monitoring units and associated vehicles and facilities continuing beyond expected completion. He said projects begun in 2013 should have been completed around 2020, and that the Government is carrying out a full review and 100 per cent check of CEB assets. He added that assets will be verified separately, assigned to the relevant institutions, and subjected to a full investigation. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Manjula Suraweera Arachchi asked the Minister about duty-relieved goods, machinery, equipment, and vehicles imported for the Broadlands project, noting that they had allegedly not been formally handed over to the Ceylon Electricity Board after completion of the power plant. He alleged misuse of public resources, including unused cab vehicles parked in various locations, and requested an inquiry and immediate procedure to return the assets to the Government. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody answered a question regarding a project begun in 2013, stating that its construction has been completed. He said 243 families were affected, with Rs. 379,355,250 already paid to 108 families for acquired houses and lands, while Rs. 8,987,300 remains payable to 135 families whose houses sustained minor damage. He added that the outstanding compensation is expected to be settled soon in coordination with the Yatiyantota and Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretaries, and tabled the relevant annexed schedules. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Manjula Suraweera Arachchi asked the Minister of Energy for details on the Broadlands Hydropower Plant, including when construction began, whether it has been completed, and, if not, the reasons for any delay. He also requested a detailed account of compensation related to the project: the number of affected persons, payments already made with individual amounts, outstanding beneficiaries and sums due, and the expected date for completing all compensation payments. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne refers to a pricing issue beginning at Rs. 120, indicating concern over the applicable rate or price level. The excerpt is too brief to identify the specific commodity, policy, or demand being raised. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Privilege Issues Read →
- 11 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government had intervened in potato and onion markets by imposing duties from 25 August, raising the duty from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50, and setting an onion purchase price of Rs. 130 per kilo through the private sector and Sathosa based on cost calculations. He said prices had fluctuated due to weather, but the Government was monitoring the situation and preparing long-term measures, including storage facilities, a purchasing programme funded by a Rs. 1,000 million Budget allocation, and pre-announced farm-gate prices based on production costs plus a margin. Procedural Matters: Points of Order and Ministerial Clarifications Read →
- 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. Roshan Akmeemana JJB AI summary Hon. Roshan Akmeemana defended the 2026 Budget, rejecting Opposition claims that it merely follows an IMF agenda and arguing that the Government has stabilized the economy, improved public finances, restored investor confidence, and achieved higher-than-expected growth. He highlighted Budget measures including concessional housing loans and a contributory pension scheme for migrant workers, as well as funding to raise plantation workers’ wages. He said the Government’s engagement with the IMF is focused on negotiating terms that protect welfare and citizens’ rights, contrasting this with the 2015 administration’s IMF-linked VAT increases, subsidy cuts, and privatization efforts. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad criticized the Budget for lacking measures to reduce essential prices, create jobs, improve the business climate, and attract sufficient investment to sustain the Government’s stated 7 per cent growth target. He argued that higher imports reflect increased consumption goods, especially food, rather than productive capital or intermediate imports, and said previous capital allocations were not effectively implemented in the field. He questioned whether the Government had funded forensic audits to identify corruption and urged it to grant financial independence to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He also criticized the Government’s past use of students and graduates in political mobilization while now advising them to study and avoid mass recruitment expectations. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Chandana Thennekoon JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Thennekoon supported the President’s second Budget, presenting it as aligned with six policy objectives including inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, rural poverty eradication, productive economic development, and digitalization. He highlighted allocations for irrigation, small tanks, rural roads, housing, education, and higher education, with particular emphasis on rural development in areas such as Kurunegala District. He also welcomed specific measures to address the human-elephant conflict, including funds for elephant fences, Wildlife Department vehicles and equipment, deployment of Civil Security Department officers, habitat improvements, and research into scientific solutions. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe disputed Nizam Kariapper’s account of the plantation workers’ wage increase, stating that the agreement followed several discussions involving two ministries, the President, estate owners and other stakeholders. He said estate owners agreed to a Rs. 200 wage increase, while the Government agreed to provide a further Rs. 200 daily attendance incentive. He noted that around 100,000 plantation workers would benefit and that Rs. 5,000 million had been allocated for the measure. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that VAT registration thresholds would raise costs for ordinary consumers, citing examples of small retailers and long-distance buses whose daily turnover could trigger 18 percent VAT and increase fares. He questioned whether the proposed tax approach was socially just and criticized the allocation of Rs. 5,000 million for plantation wage increases, arguing that profitable private estate companies should bear much of that cost. He concluded by criticizing the Budget Speech and the Government’s claims of economic stability. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper criticised the 2026 Budget as repeating earlier promises while failing to reduce recurrent expenditure, arguing that capital spending has been cut to meet fiscal targets and that ministry allocations obscure the recurrent-capital split. He said promised capital projects in the Eastern Province, including the Rs. 150 million Kalmunai-Sandankeni indoor stadium, had not progressed, and questioned whether the new Rs. 300 million allocation for a Nintavur auditorium would be spent. He also criticised low capital allocations for Ampara and Batticaloa and challenged the Government’s reduction of the VAT registration threshold from Rs. 60 million to Rs. 36 million annually, saying it would bring more small businesses into VAT without clear revenue justification. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj supported the Second Reading of the 2026 Budget, highlighting the Government’s decision to raise plantation workers’ daily wage to Rs. 1,750, including a Rs. 200 basic wage increase and a Rs. 200 Treasury-funded attendance allowance. He contrasted this with past wage struggles and previous increases under estate-sector political leadership, and challenged criticisms by Hon. Jeevan Thondaman regarding the wage measure. He also noted Budget allocations for estate-region infrastructure, including water supply, roads, transport, and tourism development, and thanked the President and Government on behalf of plantation workers. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha defended the Government’s second Budget, arguing it was designed to rebuild an economy and society weakened by the previous administration and to improve living standards. He said the Government had reduced corruption, waste and unnecessary expenditure while prioritizing programmes such as Clean Sri Lanka, anti-drug efforts, support for MSMEs, social protection, agriculture, industry, entrepreneurship, tourism and the digital economy. He cited improved reserves, ratings, remittances, the current account, the budget deficit and borrowing limits as evidence of economic stabilization, and rejected Opposition claims that the economy was collapsing. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 10 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Dr. Sathiyalingam supported the 2026 Budget’s stabilisation efforts under IMF-backed fiscal management but argued that sustainable development requires equal treatment of all communities and stronger capital investment. He questioned the continued high Defence allocation of Rs. 455 billion sixteen years after the war, while education, agriculture, women and children, and social empowerment receive comparatively low allocations. He urged the release of lands held by state agencies in post-war areas, rehabilitation of tanks, support for SMEs, and targeted investment, port development, and tourism promotion in the Northern Province, including use of Indian assistance for Kankesanthurai Port. He also called for the Clean Sri Lanka programme to address corruption, drugs, racism, and alleged ethnic and language-based discrimination by state departments. Adjourned Debate on Budget Bill – Second Reading 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. (Mrs.) Anushka Thilakarathne, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Anushka Thilakarathne defended the Government’s second Budget, rejecting Opposition claims that it lacks coherence or fails to meet promises, and said it is aligned with the NPP policy declaration, “A Prosperous Country — A Beautiful Life.” She cited the President’s six stated goals, including inclusive growth, export diversification, debt sustainability, rural poverty eradication, and digitization, and highlighted rural road development, education reforms, and anti-corruption claims as evidence of implementation. She also referred to the plantation community’s historical struggles and said the Government had increased plantation workers’ wages by Rs. 1,750, presenting this as part of its commitment to uplift estate workers. 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 →