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- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti said the Government was mediating with banks to provide relief for distressed borrowers, while rejecting blanket loan write-offs because they involve depositors’ funds. He argued that economic conditions, governance, and accountability had improved after the change in political power, citing increased profits in airports and ports, higher FDI, tourism earnings, remittances, Customs revenue, and a reduced budget deficit. Referring to the Construction Industry Development Act and vehicle import and EV-related reforms, he said regulations would be brought before Parliament and that construction and industry policy should align with economic recovery and new technologies. He also said law enforcement and scrutiny of past corruption, including construction-related projects, should apply equally to politicians and officials. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Namal Rajapaksa asked the Minister to intervene on behalf of SMEs, stating that despite sovereign debt restructuring and deferred payments, they continue to face serious difficulties in sustaining their businesses. He linked the concern to strengthened recovery laws and requested ministerial attention to the issue. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Arguing during debate on Finance Ministry orders and vehicle taxation, J.C. Alawathuwala said recent Customs revenue increases are largely driven by high vehicle and consumption taxes after years of import restrictions, making vehicles unaffordable for most Sri Lankans. He criticized taxes on essentials, higher electricity tariffs, forthcoming VAT on digital services, and increased stamp duty, citing UN data on food insecurity, poverty and malnutrition to argue that indirect taxation is burdening low-income households. He urged the Government to correct vehicle import and EV regulatory issues through consultation rather than re-exporting imported vehicles, and also called for clarity on allegedly unchecked container releases and equal enforcement of court orders and anti-corruption investigations involving ministers. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB AI summary Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage supported the Orders on the Luxury Tax on motor vehicles and under the Construction Industry Development Act, arguing that improved economic management has stabilized the Treasury and enabled the resumption of vehicle imports. He said the construction sector had been distorted by political interference, commissions, proxy contractors, and cartel-like tender practices, including contracts routed through community-based organizations. He welcomed CIDA’s reduction of contractor registration and renewal fees to encourage wider participation, genuine contractors, and competition, and called for legal and administrative measures to regularize tenders and prevent collusion and corruption. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka alleged irregularities in a coal tender process, citing Cabinet Paper No. 78/2025-P, which he said reduced the tender period from six weeks to five, followed by a further reduction by the NPC to three weeks. He claimed the mandatory chair’s signature was not obtained because the chair had resigned and refused to sign, and alleged the process was manipulated to favour a connected bidder, comparing it to earlier fertilizer procurement issues. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka criticised the Government’s vehicle import tax policy, arguing that the reopening of imports was offset by a new 60 per cent luxury tax and that vehicle taxation had increased beyond previous levels. He disputed Government claims of economic revival, citing lower GDP growth, negative agricultural growth, rupee depreciation, money printing, and questioned statements about a Rs. 1 trillion Central Bank reserve. He also alleged insufficient action on corruption complaints and raised specific concerns over coal procurement, claiming tender timelines were shortened in breach of fair international bidding standards and that the process appeared structured to benefit a preferred supplier. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB AI summary The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka addressed the Customs Ordinance Resolution, welcoming the reopening of vehicle imports but criticizing high vehicle taxation and arguing that promised relief for public servants and middle-income earners had not materialized. He questioned the government’s claim of improved cash reserves, saying revenue growth relied mainly on indirect taxes that burden low-income households, and asked why promised relief measures, including a Rs. 5,000 goods pack for poor families, were not implemented after the election. He also raised concerns about farmers’ difficulties in selling paddy, debt burdens, price-setting decisions, and the government’s handling of negotiations with large millers, urging the government to honour its commitments. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody addressed regulations on construction and vehicle imports, arguing that both sectors reflect economic direction and require transparent, needs-based policy. He cited COPE concerns over alleged misuse of the electric vehicle permit scheme for overseas workers, including permits granted despite inadequate overseas employment, questionable remittance patterns, and lack of proper delegation or review. He also argued that improved Customs revenue reflects stricter enforcement and reduced corruption, not only higher taxes. On construction, he called for infrastructure projects to be linked to production, exports, and rural development, stating that the Government is restarting projects with greater value for money and reduced corruption. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj stated that the Government would implement the laws presented for the welfare and benefit of the people. He concluded by affirming the Government’s commitment to carrying out its public duties. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj supported the proposed Customs Ordinance measures on vehicle imports and regulations under the Construction Industry Development Act, arguing they are part of restoring economic stability and reviving sectors affected by the previous import ban and construction downturn. He said the legal updates would align taxation for new-technology electric vehicles with earlier treatment of hybrids and provide some relief to the middle class. He also referred to the Chemmani issue, stating that the Government had promised fair investigation and accountability, and urged Northern and Eastern leaders to prioritize economic development over communal rhetoric. Debate: Customs Ordinance, Excise Regulation, Finance Act Order, and Construction Industry Development Act (Continued) Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Mujibur Rahman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahman argued that the rise in Customs revenue reflected steep import tax increases rather than economic growth, with high vehicle and essential-goods duties being passed on to consumers and reducing purchasing power. He cited sharp increases in prices of common cars, vans, motorcycles, rice, salt, and wheat flour, and said poverty had risen as a result. He questioned the Government’s handling of vehicle import controls, including BYD releases, used vehicles stuck at Hambantota, demurrage costs, and a Gazette validating Bureau Veritas certificates retrospectively, and called for equal conditional release arrangements for small importers. He alleged selective facilitation in import and tender decisions and warned that higher Customs revenue ultimately comes from the public. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Dharmapriya Dissanayake discussed the resumption of vehicle imports from 1 February 2025 after a nearly five-year suspension, including battery-powered, petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles. He said difficulties with vehicles falling under “other” classifications led to Gazette No. 2434/04 of 28 April 2025 establishing a new taxation framework. He rejected Opposition concerns that imports would damage reserves or destabilize the economy, and urged support for the Government’s regulations and development measures. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary The Minister presented Gazette Extraordinary No. 2430/15 under the Construction Industry Development Act, updating criteria and fees for registering adjudicators and contractors, including reducing adjudicator renewal fees and revising contractor grading thresholds to reflect higher project costs. He outlined expanded registration criteria covering renewable electrical installations, financial and technical capacity, safety, quality systems, training, CSR and institutional memberships, alongside revised fees last adjusted in 2018. He also stated that the Government is preparing amendments to the CIDA Act, a National Construction Policy Green Paper by end-October, and procurement guideline reforms to support recovery and governance in the construction sector. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the issue concerning electric vehicles raised by Hon. Mujibur Rahman had already been referred to him by the President one to two months earlier. He said meetings were held with importers, Customs, and the Ministry of Finance, relevant documents were examined, and the matter was not publicized due to possible market price sensitivities. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera said the BYD vehicle taxation dispute showed the need to update Customs and tax regulations for electric and hybrid vehicles to ensure consistency, legal certainty, and reduced corruption risks. He cited past under-invoicing cases involving Land Rover imports and urged broader legal and regulatory reforms to prevent revenue losses and unequal treatment. He called for the next Budget to prioritize a national EV charging network with the CEB, LECO and private sector, supported by renewable energy and smart-grid development to encourage EV adoption, attract power-sector investment, and strengthen grid stability. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake stated that money printing had previously been carried out unlawfully and asserted that Ranil Wickremesinghe, while serving as Finance Minister, also proceeded with it. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Funds linked to regulatory violations would be handled only within the applicable legal and Gazette framework, including re-export where required, and any court decisions would be followed. Addressing allegations of “money printing,” he distinguished reserve money from broad money and said reserve money had risen by only Rs. 137 billion by June 2025 after sterilization of liquidity from Central Bank dollar purchases and limited government drawings. He argued that the cited Rs. 1.227 trillion increase referred to broad money, driven partly by improved private-sector credit demand, and said the Government was avoiding monetary financing while funding the 2025 deficit through market borrowing within a Rs. 4,000 billion borrowing limit. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised concern that funds have left Sri Lanka. He appeared to flag the matter for parliamentary attention, implying a need for scrutiny of the circumstances and possible implications. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha – Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development AI summary Moved for Parliament to approve the resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance relating to import duties, as presented on 5 August 2025. He noted that the relevant order was published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2434/02 of 28 April 2025 and had Cabinet approval. Debate: Customs Ordinance Resolution and Related Regulations Read →
- 21 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the Government’s plan to increase exports from USD 16 billion to USD 36 billion by 2030 in the context of bankruptcy recovery, global instability, and new US tariff measures. He requested a detailed export roadmap with sectoral targets, measures for market diversification and operationalizing FTAs, responses to tariff impacts, and steps to improve value addition, infrastructure, ease of doing business, SME export finance, and investor incentives. He also asked for projections on investment mobilization and whether export-led growth can build sufficient reserves ahead of debt repayments from April 2028, including current and monthly reserve figures for 2025. Oral Questions under Standing Order 27(2) Read →