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- 12 September 2025 The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB AI summary Measures regarding rural banks are constrained because responsibility falls under the Provincial List, limiting direct intervention by the Central Government or the National Co-operative Commissioner. The Government has begun amending the Co-operative Societies Law to provide a legal basis for coordination with rural banks and provincial authorities, with the intention of completing the amendment before the end of the year. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Asked what measures the Government has taken to implement the National People’s Power policy commitment to provide financial facilities to small-scale entrepreneurs and investors through co-operative societies and rural banks. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that Co-operative Rural Banks fall under Provincial Council responsibility under the 13th Amendment, with provincial co-operative authorities handling audits, inspections, investigations, corrective action, and supervision. He noted that a national regulatory committee was established by Cabinet in 2013 to guide provinces, and a 2025 Cabinet-appointed committee will recommend reforms to the co-operative network, including CRBs. He acknowledged audit delays and inadequacies had delayed fraud detection and contributed to financial misconduct in some cases, and said provinces have been instructed to update annual audits and strengthen supervision. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development to clarify the respective roles of the Central and Provincial Departments of Co-operative Development in relation to Co-operative Rural Banks, including responsibility for audits. She requested annual figures from 2015 onward for CRBs audited by each level of department and asked whether the Minister was aware of alleged large-scale financial frauds by CRB boards linked to improper auditing. She also sought details of measures to ensure proper annual audits and prevent such frauds. Oral Question: Co-operative Development Functions (Q.4/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister, Hon. T.B. Sarath set out the objectives of the Condominium Management Authority, including regulation and maintenance of common facilities, oversight of management corporations, protection of purchasers, removal of unauthorized constructions, insurance, utility coordination, and redevelopment or completion of stalled condominium projects. He provided a written financial breakdown of Treasury provisions and self-generated funds used for Authority functions, noting self-generated expenditure of Rs. 607.82 million from 2022 to 31 July 2025 and broader cumulative figures supplied in the response. He said proposed strengthening measures include recruiting essential staff, reactivating stalled projects, introducing legislation to address title issues in tsunami resettlement condominium properties, improving utility infrastructure, supporting a national housing policy, rehabilitating deteriorated coastal high-rises, and securing funds for urgent maintenance. Oral Question: Condominium Management Authority Objectives (Q.3/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Hon. Rathna Gamage said the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation had inherited liabilities of about Rs. 1,600–1,700 million, including dues to suppliers and unpaid EPF/ETF, but was now being stabilized and had recorded small profits in July and by 31 August 2025. He stated that the Government had sought two years of Treasury support to make the Corporation sustainably profitable by 2028 and rejected reports that it would be closed. He also announced plans to introduce a pension scheme for the fishing community on International Fisheries Day, 21 November. Oral Question: Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Fish Purchases (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Hon. Rathna Gamage said CFC purchases remain about 1% of the national fish harvest and acknowledged this as inadequate, noting a five-year plan to raise the share to around 4% by 2029. He said the Ministry is reviewing previous cold-room lease agreements with the Attorney-General’s Department and seeking private investment to expand cold storage at fishery harbours. He also stated that a mother-vessel support system has been launched to reduce fuel costs and improve collection efficiency. Oral Question: Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Fish Purchases (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage provided figures on Ceylon Fisheries Corporation purchases from 2016 to July 2025, totalling 42,256 metric tons, noting that 2015 records were unavailable and that CFC purchases amounted to about 1 per cent of the national fish harvest annually. He acknowledged that CFC’s market intervention is insufficient and outlined measures including new retail outlets, cooperation with Sathosa, wholesale centres, expanded and rehabilitated cold storage, and increased supply to public institutions. He also said a “mother vessel” model is being introduced to reduce fuel costs and improve logistics for multi-day fishing boats. Oral Question: Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Fish Purchases (Q.2/2025) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised a point of order on the Committee on Public Finance report regarding CIABOC’s budget estimate, stating that the Committee had agreed to recommend amendments to the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, to exclude CIABOC and the National Audit Office from its scope in order to protect their budgetary independence. He argued that this would prevent future governments from influencing those institutions through the Ministry of Finance. He also noted that the CIABOC Chair’s salary, previously linked to the President of the Court of Appeal, had not been adjusted after the latter’s salary increase, and said the Committee recommends aligning it with the revised Court of Appeal President’s salary from 2025/2026 onward. Point of Order: CIABOC Report (Hon. Harsha de Silva) Read →
- 12 September 2025 Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem presented, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, the Committee’s report on the 2026 Budget Estimate of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The report included the Finance Minister’s observations under Section 31(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, and was ordered to lie upon the Table. Committee Report: Public Finance Committee on Budget Estimate of CIABOC Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary On behalf of the relevant Ministers, approval was sought for two supplementary allocations for the 2025 financial year. The first was Rs. 13.2856 billion in capital expenditure under the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing for the completion of the Kandy North Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project, and the second was Rs. 1.5 billion in recurrent expenditure under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs for nutritious food packages for expectant mothers. Both motions noted Cabinet approval and were agreed to by Parliament. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that the Government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had restored and ensured Parliament’s financial control over the past year, which he said the public would value. The remarks preceded the Bill being read a Second time and referred to a Committee of the whole Parliament, where Clauses 1 to 5 were agreed to. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti — Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti stated that achieving full fiscal discipline requires more than the measure under discussion, referring also to the Penal Code and the Constitution. He said the Government was strengthening provisions that, in his view, had previously been weakened. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti — Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary The Minister argued that earlier governments weakened the audit legislation during its passage in 2018, despite changes in officeholders, and said the present amendments are intended to strengthen it. He recalled his 2018 Hansard position that the law needed effective enforcement powers, citing Kenya’s 2015 Audit Act, and stated that the Bill now empowers the Auditor General to complain directly to the Police, including in relation to Ministries and Departments. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti — Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary The Minister argued that the Government is restoring fiscal discipline through amendments that reverse changes made in 2018, including raising fines for offences from Rs. 5,000 back to Rs. 100,000 and expanding the Auditor General’s scope to cover revenues as well as Consolidated Fund expenditure. He said the Bill strengthens the surcharge process by creating a Surcharge Review Committee and extending surcharge coverage to Ministries, Departments, and other entities, rather than only local authorities and universities. He maintained that these reforms are intended to prevent public financial misconduct and rejected allegations concerning his party’s internal salary contributions. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti — Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti supported the National Audit (Amendment) Bill, arguing that it restores powers and fiscal discipline that he said were weakened when the original National Audit Act was passed in 2018. He said the JVP had proposed amendments at that time, only some of which were accepted, and rejected claims that the current amendments were driven by the IMF, stating that similar reforms had been advocated before the IMF Governance Diagnostic. He also linked the Bill to wider anti-corruption efforts and defended Parliament’s decision to remove former Presidents from official residences on grounds of public expenditure misuse. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman raised concerns over the January 2025 release of 309 Customs containers, citing a President-appointed committee report that said red- and yellow-labeled containers were released without scanning or physical inspection and that congestion had been artificially created. He questioned a Police statement that two containers suspected of containing methamphetamine were not among the 309, arguing that Customs had not yet identified the contents despite earlier complaints to the CID and Bribery Commission. He called for immediate investigations into who imported the containers, what they contained, and for the findings to be tabled in Parliament, while also questioning the appointment of a Customs official named in the report as Director General. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu JJB AI summary Hon. Kanthasamy Prabu spoke in support of the Audit Amendment and Supplementary Estimates, particularly additional allocations for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to restore and expand nutrition, child care, livelihood and anti-domestic violence programmes. He cited the impact of the economic crisis on pregnant mothers, children, migrant women workers, orphans, school dropouts, child labour and drug addiction, and proposed inter-ministerial and 2026 Budget measures including clinics, vocational training and improved transport. He also referred to funding for the Urban Regeneration Programme and “Water for All,” especially in districts such as Anuradhapura, and commented on the passage of the Former Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill and the voting behaviour of Opposition Members. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka JJB AI summary The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka supported amendments to the National Audit Act, arguing that they strengthen procedures to address control weaknesses, corruption risks, misappropriation, and losses to the State. He said the amendments empower the Auditor General to initiate legal action, refer matters to law enforcement or regulators, and strengthen surcharge recovery through the Surcharge Review Committee, Chief Accounting Officers, the Cabinet Secretary, and possible reporting to COPE or COPA. He rejected concerns that the measures would discourage officials, stating that honest officials need not fear them, and urged all Members, including the Opposition, to support the amendments. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary (Dr.) Anil Jayantha outlined proposed reforms to strengthen audit independence, identifying administrative independence and financial independence as key elements. He noted that some administrative functions would remain with the Audit Service Commission, surcharge decisions would be handled by a new Review Committee, and audit budgetary needs would remain accountable to Parliament through the Treasury to improve efficiency and public finance accountability. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →