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 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Acting Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development JJB AI summary The Acting Minister said the ETF salary issue stems from irregular salary increases granted in 2006, 2013 and 2015 contrary to circulars, which created disparities. He stated that Management Services Circular 01/2025 requires verification of salary conversions since 2006 and that the ETF Board has regularised salaries accordingly, with the increase paid from May 2025. He said there has been no salary cut, only the removal of unauthorised increments or allowances, and noted that the matter is before court in CA/WRIT/709/2025 following union protests. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the Minister on why the matter had gone to the Court of Appeal and why employees had protested if there was no issue regarding ETF Board salary decisions. He argued that the Ministry of Finance representatives and the Board should be accountable for denying Budget-funded salary increases to about 523 employees, despite a recommendation from the Commissioner General of Labour. He tabled documents from the Labour Commissioner General and the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in support of his claim. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar said he would correct and resubmit a question later, then raised a second supplementary regarding NRR procurement. He asked why lower bidders were not awarded contracts due to the Central Bank’s lack of dollars, while higher-premium suppliers were paid on arrival or within short periods, and sought comment on instances where even USD 5 million was unavailable but paid months later. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked what the current typical insurance premium is. No further context or substantive policy argument is provided in the excerpt. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that he did not have the exact figures available, but noted that there had been periods when premiums were in the range of USD 30 to 35. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked a supplementary question about emergency fuel purchases, noting that the prior response covered 2022–2024 and suggesting the relevant period may include 2021. He requested details on the premium paid above the world market price per barrel for emergency purchases made around 2021–2022. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary In response to a parliamentary question on fuel imports, the Minister of Energy provided annual import quantities for crude oil and petroleum products for 2022, 2023 and 2024, including petrol, diesel, Jet A-1, fuel oil, naphtha and aviation gasoline. He stated that emergency purchases were not made, and related sub-questions on that basis were not applicable. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar asked the Minister of Energy to provide annual details for 2022 to 2024 on crude oil and refined oil imports by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. He sought confirmation on whether prescribed procurement procedures were followed, reasons for any deviations, the quantities bought through emergency purchases, and the financial difference between emergency and normal procurement purchases. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage stated that the Samurdhi programme, established in 1995 and later reorganized under the 2013 Act, was addressed in accordance with the current legal framework. He said the Government recently amended the law to bring all Samurdhi Bank activities under the audit and supervision of the Auditor General, and added that any move to place them under Central Bank supervision would be considered through further legislative amendments if required. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned why Samurdhi lending rates remain at 12–14 per cent when commercial banks lend to agriculture at 6–8 per cent, arguing this is unfair to borrowers and asking what steps can reduce the rates. He also urged that Samurdhi banks be brought under Central Bank oversight in the context of IMF engagement and the upcoming tranche, noting that the 2013 Act cited in the response may be an obstacle. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Loan interest rates were stated to vary by category, generally ranging from 12 to 14 per cent, with some reaching 17 per cent. Examples cited included cultivation loans at 12 per cent, consumer loans at 13 per cent, and Sushakthi loans at 10 per cent. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked for the current lending interest rates. The intervention appears to be a brief request for information, likely directed to the relevant minister or authority, without further argument or policy proposal. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage stated that loans are issued based on applications and noted that there are 20 available loan schemes. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought a response on the financial performance of an institution with Rs. 196 billion in assets and Rs. 11 billion profit in 2024, noting that the net return was about 4.5 per cent. He questioned why returns on deployed capital appeared low when lending rates were reportedly 12–14 per cent and deposit rates 4–8 per cent, and asked for the relevant Minister’s view. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Minister Upali Pannilage provided data on Samurdhi Community-Based Banks and Bank Societies as of 30 June 2025, stating that 1,097 banks held assets of Rs. 316.65 billion and 335 bank societies held assets of Rs. 196.27 billion. He said they are not supervised by the Central Bank because the Samurdhi Act, No. 1 of 2013 excludes the application of the Banking Act and Finance Business Act, with oversight handled through a management board within the Department of Samurdhi Development. He reported recent annual figures for 2023 and 2024, noted that no consolidated balance sheets had been prepared because each bank is treated separately, and said a consolidated balance sheet is planned from 2025 onward. He also outlined membership/shareholding arrangements and deposit interest rates, and tabled the detailed answer for the Library. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment for detailed information on the assets, number, governance, and financial performance of Samurdhi Banks and Samurdhi General Societies. He sought clarification on whether Samurdhi Banks are regulated by the Central Bank, reasons for any exclusion, details of the board chairmanship and shareholders, and ten-year data on profits or losses, balance sheets, deposit interest rates, and lending rates. Oral Answers to Questions Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act relating to vehicle imports. He noted that vehicle imports, suspended during the 2019-2022 crisis, have generally reopened, ending a previous tourism-sector tax concession, while the new regulations permit limited imports across 13 vehicle categories. He said the Committee was satisfied with SLTDA processes and observed that, since individual tax breaks are not possible under the IMF programme, better collection of the 1% Tourism Development Levy could fund targeted relief for the tourism sector. Papers Presented Read →
- 25 September 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister presented Supplementary Estimate No. 03 of 2025 and moved that it be referred to the Committee on Public Finance. The motion was put to the House and agreed to. Papers Presented Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara expressed concern that he had waited a long time to raise his adjournment question and said the delay was unfair. He asked the Prime Minister for detailed information on single-member and two-member commissions established by the current Government, including their names, membership, members’ prior positions, salaries and allowances, locations, monthly expenditure, and the share of such costs relative to national revenue. Adjournment Questions and Adjournment Read →
- 24 September 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara called for improved salaries, housing, and working conditions for judicial officers, noting that District Court judges earn about Rs. 450,000. He opposed political influence over appointments, promotions, and transfers in the judiciary, and accused the government of interfering with judicial independence. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →