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- 25 September 2025 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged the Government to engage the United Kingdom on trade agreements and pursue new export markets through free trade arrangements, citing a 6.6% decline in apparel exports as a concern requiring quick action. He also questioned delays in tabling the Board of Investment’s 2023/2024 accounts and called for the BOI to operate more efficiently, with a more private-sector-oriented approach to facilitating exports. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that the import control regulations are only a temporary response and called for coherent policies on vehicle imports, cross-border LCs, public transport, renewable energy, tourism transport, and export facilitation. He said declining public transport capacity is increasing reliance on private vehicles and fuel imports, and urged renewed attention to projects such as LRT and to renewable energy as a state policy. He supported a shift away from government-run businesses toward facilitation and public-private participation, citing telecom and sugar as examples, while raising concerns over productivity, wage policy consistency, and selective participation by foreign banks. He also warned that rising external debt repayments from 2028 require stronger export earnings, faster container clearance and approvals, and specific support for sectors such as apparel and tourism. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara supported the amendment to the Imports and Exports (Control) Act regulations extending the relevant date from 30 June 2025 to 30 September 2025, while framing it within the Government’s wider stabilization programme. He cited improved economic indicators, including GDP growth and foreign reserves, and said the Government had restored international confidence while advancing agriculture, industry, tourism, and anti-poverty initiatives. He also criticized past administrations over alleged links to corruption, narcotics, and underworld activity, and said the current Government was acting through the rule of law to address those issues. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal defended the Government’s economic management, citing increased revenue, export earnings, Customs income, port profits, reserves, foreign direct investment, and tourism earnings in 2025. He criticised previous administrations for neglecting export sectors, particularly coconut estates in Puttalam, and said the Government is expanding coconut cultivation and fertilisation across over 500,000 acres. He highlighted Kalpitiya’s tourism potential and said measures are being taken to improve safety, transport, and investor interest, while also supporting anti-drug operations in Puttalam in line with the President’s policy. He further referred to Government programmes on poverty reduction, education, public servant pay increases, and allowances for students and senior citizens. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. Gayan Janaka JJB AI summary Hon. Gayan Janaka defended the Government’s first year in office, citing economic stabilization, improved revenue, higher exports, tourism arrivals, remittances, foreign investment, reserves, lower interest rates, and a stable exchange rate. He linked these outcomes to what he described as a new political culture, restoration of the rule of law, action against organized crime and narcotics, and the President’s international engagement, including at the UN General Assembly. Responding to Opposition concerns about debt repayments in 2028, he said the Government had begun the process of rebuilding the economy to meet those obligations. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan outlined the sequence of import-control measures on motor vehicles introduced during the foreign exchange crisis and later relaxed through Gazette No. 2421/04 of January 2025, including limits on individual imports, registration deadlines, penalties, and re-export requirements for violations. He explained the March 2025 amendments requiring stronger authentication of vehicle import documents through banks, online verification, and Customs scrutiny. He noted that Bureau Veritas has been designated to issue inspection certificates for vehicle imports from all countries, presenting the regulations as a move to improve document integrity, reduce clearance delays, and support digitized trade procedures. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena responded to concerns on fiscal stabilization by citing growth in tourism arrivals and earnings, remittances, exports, foreign direct investment, state revenue, and profits of selected state-owned enterprises. He argued that these indicators, along with stable currency management despite vehicle import-related demand, show progress toward strengthening the external sector and reducing the revenue-expenditure gap. He said the Government is working toward fiscal anchors for 2028 and beyond, including a 2.3 percent primary surplus, lower debt-to-GDP over time, and controlled gross financing needs, while also emphasizing asset declarations and recent narcotics seizures as part of governance and enforcement efforts. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that the removal of the Simplified VAT (SVAT) mechanism is not merely an IMF requirement but is based on concerns that it is an unsound system causing revenue leakage and enabling fraud and corruption. He said, following Inland Revenue Department analysis, SVAT would be removed from the 1st of the following month and replaced with risk-based VAT refund processing. He stated that exporters should receive refunds within an average of 45 days, with low-risk claimants eligible within 20 days if they submit income tax returns, as part of efforts to improve revenue administration integrity. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s decision to abolish the SVAT scheme from 1 October, arguing that it would create cash-flow difficulties, delays and higher costs for exporters, particularly MSMEs, and urged reconsideration or deferral until Inland Revenue digitalization is complete. He also raised concerns about future external debt servicing from 2028, the scope of Aswesuma as a poverty-relief programme, and the need for broader measures covering investment, production, savings and exports. He further criticized the Speaker’s handling of the Opposition’s attempt to move a No-Confidence Motion against a Deputy Minister, citing parliamentary reports, the Attorney-General’s position and Westminster and Indian precedents to argue there is no legal impediment to proceeding. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB AI summary Cabinet-approved tourism vehicle import concessions for 750 cars and 250 buses were extended by three months to 30 September 2025 due to technical delays in clearing vehicles, and the relevant Gazette was presented to Parliament for approval. The Minister said the Government has removed vehicle import restrictions in stages while maintaining economic stabilization as its first-year priority, citing controlled inflation, growth above earlier expectations, and increased private-sector credit. He urged reliance on official data and said investor confidence, legal reforms, and policy stability are necessary for continued growth under the Government’s development programme. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister moved approval of regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2449/60 of 15 August 2025 and presented on 12 September 2025, with Cabinet approval notified. He explained that the regulations relate to the earlier suspension of vehicle imports during the foreign exchange crisis following the economic collapse and said they are being brought forward as conditions normalize. Debate: Imports and Exports (Control) Act - Regulations for Vehicle Imports Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary M.L.A.M. Hizbullah thanked the Minister for his clarification and acknowledged that development projects may take time to generate revenue. He requested phased funding support for employee salaries during 2026–2028, proposing that 20 to 40 per cent of salary costs be covered during that period. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Statement on Na Uyana Tragedy Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question by outlining how local authorities are funded through own-source revenues, Finance Commission allocations, and Treasury salary-support frameworks, noting large disparities between high-revenue councils and financially weak Pradeshiya Sabhas. He said the Ministry has reviewed the budgets of all 341 local authorities, arranged low-interest concessional loans for revenue-generating projects, earmarked Rs. 3,475 million in performance-based funding over two years, and begun capacity-development programmes for officers. He rejected a broad claim about IMF-driven impacts as incomplete, stating the proposal concerned reducing government expenditure, and noted that North and East development funding had been channelled through earlier programmes while acknowledging concerns over irregular recruitments and expanded numbers of local representatives. He added that the Government is intervening to address operational difficulties, including procuring machinery such as backhoes and motor graders to strengthen revenue generation. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Statement on Na Uyana Tragedy Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah raised a Private Notice Question on the requirement, linked to IMF conditions, for local authorities to meet increasing shares of employee salaries from their own revenues up to 100 per cent by 2028. He said many Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, particularly in the North and East and in areas affected by war or disasters, cannot meet even the initial 20 per cent while maintaining services such as waste removal, sanitation, drainage and street lighting. He requested time-bound relief and interest-free credit facilities to help local bodies establish revenue-generating activities such as markets or fuel stations, warning that salary pressures could disrupt essential services and discourage officials from serving in those areas. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Statement on Na Uyana Tragedy Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated through the Tea Board and the Ministry for a QR-based fertilizer support scheme for tea smallholders, to be launched at Walipanne. Registered growers are being verified through a dedicated app and factory leaf-supplier lists, with disbursement from October 1 through multiple suppliers using QR codes. The scheme will provide a Rs. 4,000 subsidy per 50-kg fertilizer bag and will allocate support based on leaf supply volumes rather than acreage, with further field-level briefings to follow. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said any nurseries not reflected in Tea Board or TSHDA records would be investigated, including whether they were supported through other projects or in previous years. He stated that if state funds had been politically misdirected and projects had failed, the matter would be inquired into and findings provided. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Asked whether the Government has clear programmes to support the dollar-earning industry by upgrading hatchery technology to improve quality post-larvae, reducing farmers’ production costs, and resolving practical bottlenecks faced by exporters. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar - Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Accepted parts of the question while rejecting one sub-part, stating that shrimp re-exports are allowed only under strict SOP-based controls and that 1,187 metric tons were re-exported in 2024. He said NAQDA is promoting domestic shrimp farming through disease-control measures, expansion of SPF P. monodon hatchery capacity, encouragement of larger “Sri Lankan Jumbo Shrimp” for niche export markets, and planned removal of sand and silt bars in key lagoon and canal systems. He added that lands in the North and East are being identified for environmentally friendly shrimp farms to increase export volumes and support processing centres. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB AI summary Loans are governed by established regulations and were described as outside the scope of the main question. The Minister said the figure of 513 affected employees was incorrect and attributed the issue to unauthorised salary increments, noting that Circular 01/2025 regularises salaries in three phases so that by 1 January 2026 no employee will be negatively affected. He added that disparities affecting 77 identified employees will be resolved, while any interim relief must await the court’s determination because the matter is pending before it. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned why the matter involving 513 staff had reached court and urged the authorities to meet the trade unions and resolve it without further litigation. He also raised concern that the Employees’ Trust Fund had halted housing loans of up to Rs. 2 million against members’ balances, saying plantation workers depended on this facility for housing repairs, and asked why the new Chairman and Board had stopped it islandwide. Oral Answers to Questions Read →