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 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha — Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha supported amendments to the National Audit Act, stating that they are intended to strengthen public financial accountability, fiscal discipline, and the independence of audit following concerns over misuse of public funds and commitments under the IMF governance process. He explained that the Bill replaces the ineffective surcharge process under the Audit Service Commission with a Surcharge Review Committee chaired by a retired senior judge, enabling reviewed recovery action through Chief Accounting Officers or the Cabinet Secretary where necessary. He also noted provisions to increase penalties for withholding audit information and to operationalize a fund for audit capacity by allocating up to 15 per cent of audit fees. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper welcomed allocations for pregnant mothers as an investment in national development, highlighting particular hardships faced by women in the North, East and upcountry. He urged that, alongside maternal welfare funding, resources be allocated to deliver justice for wartime atrocities, citing mass graves such as Chemmani and Kurukalmadam and the Justice Minister’s remarks. He proposed strengthening Sri Lanka’s maternal support schemes by drawing on examples from India, Bangladesh, Rwanda and Chile, and called for the next Budget to fully fund comprehensive support for pregnant mothers, including measures that make motherhood more compatible with education and careers. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana JJB AI summary Economic improvements were said to be yielding benefits to the public, with an expectation that further benefits would be delivered by 2026. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana supported the Supplementary Estimate and amendments to the National Audit Act, citing improved fiscal stability, higher revenues, increased remittances, tourism, exports, and foreign direct investment. He focused on the Supplementary Estimate for maternal nutrition, stating that funds previously allocated for subsidized New Year nutrition packs would be redirected to undernourished pregnant mothers. He said about 160,200 beneficiaries would receive Rs. 45,000 over ten months, with an additional one-time Rs. 5,000 nutrition pack in December alongside the existing Rs. 4,500 allowance for pregnant and lactating mothers. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged that profits and commercialization in state enterprises should benefit the public, opposing a proposed 8.7% electricity tariff increase and higher CEB distribution costs. He called for public-private partnerships, labour reforms, faster decision-making by Customs, the BOI and Port City authorities, and procurement reforms, citing delays in Health sector tenders. He argued that export growth and effective implementation of the National Audit (Amendment) Act, alongside better use of the 2025 capital expenditure allocation, are needed to reduce debt and strengthen the economy. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake warned that inadequate reserves ahead of macro-linked bond repayments could trigger capital outflows, rupee depreciation, and cost-push inflation, noting the fiscal impact of exchange-rate and interest-rate movements. He welcomed reports of closing 33 state entities but urged a clear plan for improving public-sector productivity without merely retrenching workers. He also highlighted that five major state-owned enterprises account for most state indebtedness and called for discussion on reforms to manage these fiscal risks. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake supported strengthening the National Audit framework, noting its long legislative history and arguing that Sri Lanka should undertake such reforms on its own rather than due to IMF pressure. He said the amendments should enhance the Auditor-General’s powers while ensuring fairness, judicial recourse, and a balanced approach to surcharge penalties so that public officials are not deterred from performing their duties. He also called for better remuneration for key public-sector oversight institutions, including the Auditor-General’s Department, CIABOC and the Treasury, and urged the Central Bank to explain how foreign reserves will rise from US$6.1 billion to the targeted US$7.2 billion before the IMF programme ends. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe JJB AI summary Several laws have recently been passed to dignify politics, and the debate concerns the National Audit (Amendment) Bill and Supplementary Estimates for the Ministries of Urban Development, Housing and Construction, and Women and Child Affairs. The Supplementary Estimate for Urban Development, Housing and Construction seeks Rs. 13.3 billion in domestic financing to settle contractor dues and complete the Kandy North–Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project, intended to address drinking water needs for up to 700,000 families. The Supplementary Estimate for Women and Child Affairs provides Rs. 1.5 billion to grant a one-off Rs. 5,000 nutrition pack to 162,200 undernourished pregnant and lactating mothers during the December season, following the earlier suspension of the programme during the local election period. It also enables increased provision for nutrition packs through virement, raising the allocation from Rs. 7.5 billion to Rs. 9 billion without a new net allocation. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara supported amendments to the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, citing the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029 and the IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment 2023 as grounds for strengthening audit enforcement and information-sharing with law enforcement. He outlined proposals to reform surcharge procedures, including replacing sole reliance on “negligence,” creating an independent five-member Surcharge Review Committee, and allowing the Auditor-General to initiate complaints where fraud, corruption or misuse is suspected. He argued that these changes would reduce political influence over surcharge decisions, address weaknesses in current arrangements for ministries and departments, and improve public financial management and service delivery. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj defended the dignity and role of women MPs, rejecting sexist, ethnic, physical, and family-based attacks and stating that the 20 women Members represent the interests of women across the country. Referring to the Supplementary Estimates for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, she said Rs. 1,500 million is proposed to provide Rs. 5,000 nutrition packs to undernourished pregnant and lactating mothers over a 10-month period. She cited concerns over malnutrition, low birth weight, stunting, and wasting, and said around 160,200 beneficiaries would be identified from about 280,000 pregnant mothers, using funds saved after an earlier Aswesuma-related food concession was halted during the local election period. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri stated that his earlier remarks did not name any individual and should be applied equally to all members. He called for relevant matters to be referred to the Auditor General to investigate concealed practices involving funds flowing into political parties, and urged that appropriate laws be used or enacted to stop such practices. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri spoke on the Bill and two Supplementary Estimates, emphasizing the need to adhere to established parliamentary procedure and customs. Referring to the National Audit Bill, he alleged that public funds paid as allowances to certain office-holders are redirected through bank accounts to party funds, despite claims that salaries and allowances are not personally taken. He requested that the Auditor-General examine such fund flows and called for legal provisions to prevent the concealment or diversion of public monies to political party coffers. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB AI summary Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath supported the Supplementary Estimate connected to the National Audit (Amendment) Bill, stating that Rs. 13,285.6 million should be shifted from foreign to domestic financing to settle dues and resume the Kandy North–Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project. He said the halted project had left roads damaged and communities without drinking water, and that Rs. 3 billion in 2025 would help provide water to around 100,000 people in several affected areas. He also criticized the Opposition’s conduct in Parliament and defended the Government’s economic and welfare record, citing salary increases, welfare payments, reduced fuel and electricity prices, resumed projects, and planned poverty-eradication initiatives. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala expressed support for strengthening the national audit framework, arguing that audit is essential for fiscal discipline across ministries and departments and should have adequate powers, including legal authority to act on findings. He said the Opposition supports empowering audit in the context of the National Audit (Amendment) Bill. He also welcomed the supplementary estimate for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, particularly additional maternal nutrition support such as the extra Rs. 5,000 festive-period allowance. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Anton Jayakody — Deputy Minister of Environment AI summary Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody supported the second reading of amendments to the National Audit Act, arguing that they would strengthen fiscal discipline, protect officials acting properly, and enable action against corrupt public officers. He criticized past political interference in excise revenue collection and said the 2018 Act had weakened the audit function by not adopting proposed safeguards. He also defended supplementary estimates to restart the Kandy North–Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project, noting its halt after 89 per cent completion and allocations to provide safe drinking water to about 700,000 people, as well as funding for nutrition packs for malnourished pregnant mothers. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Chanaka Madugoda said the Opposition supports the original National Audit Act and its amendments, including the proposed Independent Surcharge Review Committee, while urging the Government to protect officials from political reprisals for performing audit duties. He requested that the A.K. Seneviratne report on the release of high-risk Customs containers be tabled in Parliament, and asked whether containers linked to the Middeniya ice incident were among the 323 red-channel containers allegedly released without physical examination. He also called for Budget funding to begin the second phase of the Magalla Water Supply Scheme to address water shortages in Galle, and asked the Government to examine inconsistencies in appointments related to the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service and Sinhala-special degree holders. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Aravinda Senarath supported amendments to the National Audit Act and said they are needed to strengthen oversight by the Auditor-General, Audit Department and Audit Service Commission over fraud, corruption and misuse of public funds. He linked the reforms to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and international reform expectations, arguing that past governments bear responsibility and that the current Government is acting on its mandate through new laws, including the removal of former Presidents’ privileges. He said the supplementary estimates for the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs and Urban Development, Construction and Housing are intended to redirect funds toward restarting stalled projects and delivering public benefits, while also pledging further legal action on waste, corruption and narcotics. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana — Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana supported the National Audit (Amendment) Bill, stating that it addresses weaknesses in the 2018 Act by strengthening the Auditor-General’s powers, enabling disciplinary and investigative action, creating an independent Surcharge Review Committee, and allowing COPE and COPA intervention in surcharge recovery. He also explained a supplementary estimate for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, saying Rs. 1.5 billion previously allocated for festive relief would be repurposed, with existing funds, to provide Rs. 9 billion in nutrition vouchers for pregnant mothers. He said the programme would provide Rs. 4,500 per month for 10 months, plus an additional Rs. 5,000 in December, in response to reported levels of anaemia, low birth weight and low BMI among mothers. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Fasmin Sharif JJB AI summary Hon. Fasmin Sharif supported the National Audit (Amendment) Bill, arguing that stronger audit mechanisms are needed to protect public funds, identify fraud or misuse, and strengthen parliamentary scrutiny through reports to Parliament and COPE. He also referred to supplementary estimates and said audit reforms would help prevent a recurrence of past financial mismanagement and improve accountability among public officials. He raised additional issues including the National Milad celebration, the Kurukkalmadam mass grave inquiry, revival of a halted Kandy District water project, alleged racist online content targeting Muslim MPs, and Government positions on the Mahar mosque land issue and recognition of Palestine. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →
- 11 September 2025 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake supported the amendments to the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, and the related supplementary estimates, arguing that they aim to strengthen public sector audit governance, accountability, fiscal discipline, and the surcharge process. He placed the Bill in the context of Parliament’s constitutional control over public finance under Article 148, the role of the Auditor-General, and IMF-identified weaknesses following the 2023 programme. He also criticised past misuse of public funds and said the Government was seeking to correct public financial management through stronger audit and oversight mechanisms. National Audit (Amendment) Bill Second Reading and Supplementary Estimates Debate Read →