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- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Ashoka Gunasena JJB AI summary Hon. Ashoka Gunasena supported the regulations and amendment bills before Parliament, linking them to the Government’s policy of “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life.” He argued that past Samurdhi policies had failed to reduce poverty and had been politicized, and said the amendment would bring Samurdhi community banks and societies under national audit to address alleged misuse of poor people’s deposits. He also connected welfare reform, rubber sector measures, and sports policy to broader decentralized and community-centred national development. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised allegations of corruption and disciplinary issues involving the newly appointed Government Agent/District Secretary M. Piratheepan, tabling several letters and documents from past years and calling for action consistent with the Government’s anti-corruption commitments. He also referred to alleged misconduct in the Northern Province health sector, including cases involving doctors and a questioned building contract, and asked why action such as interdiction had not been taken. He proposed wider use of fingerprint attendance systems and cameras across public services, including Parliament, to enforce attendance discipline and equal standards for all public officials. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara responded to concerns about the Embilipitiya Leadership Training Centre, stating that the Ministry is reviewing it, seeking transfer of its 35-acre land from the National Housing Development Authority, and has allocated funds to develop it into a multi-purpose, adventure-based training facility. He rejected claims of inaction and said the centre is already generating revenue under dedicated officials. He then turned to the Sports Act regulations, framing them within the Government’s broader commitment to sport. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Ismail Muththu Mohamed AI summary Hon. Ismail Muththu Mohamed addressed the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, related registration amendments, and Sports Act regulations, focusing on implementation issues in welfare schemes including Aswesuma. He argued that the QR code-based beneficiary selection system has produced anomalies and called for selections to be made through Divisional Secretaries with Samurdhi officer support, while increasing and timely paying benefits through Samurdhi banks. He also requested the reinstatement of earlier social support payments for marriage, funerals, childbirth, hospital stays and housing, and urged action on Samurdhi officer shortages, promotions, and pending recruitments. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe supported the regulations under the Sports Act and amendments to the Rubber Control and Samurdhi Acts as part of the Government’s programme to update outdated laws and implement structural reforms. He argued that sports bodies had been politically controlled, that past decisions harmed the rubber industry in areas such as Kegalle, and that successive poverty-alleviation schemes from Janasaviya to Aswesuma had failed to lift families out of poverty. He stated that the Government was reducing public expenditure and pledged that the National People’s Power Government would eliminate poverty within four to five years. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera argued that poverty alleviation schemes from food stamps and Samurdhi to Aswesuma have remained largely cash-transfer based and have not provided a scientific, time-bound pathway for beneficiaries to exit poverty. He said the Government should stop using welfare as a political tool and present a concrete programme including seed capital, microenterprise and self-employment support, knowledge assistance, and clear graduation timelines. He also linked persistent poverty to wider social problems, including crime, and urged the Government to implement a sincere plan to uplift poor households. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka highlighted the decline of Sri Lanka’s rubber sector, citing reduced cultivated extent, falling exports, leaf disease, labour shortages, low wages, estate subdivision, and rising production costs, and urged government action to reduce costs, stabilize prices, and improve export earnings. He also raised concerns in the Galle tea industry, including inadequate green leaf supply, delayed and costly fertilizer distribution, weak replanting, and the continuing impact of the previous chemical fertilizer ban, proposing private-sector fertilizer distribution and a subsistence allowance for smallholders during replanting. He further noted a price decline and rising input and labour costs in the cinnamon sector in Galle District, while referring to earlier institutional measures taken to support the industry. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka supported the instruments under debate, including State audit of Samurdhi/Community Banks, empowering Mediation Board mediators as Peace Justices, and regulations requiring sports bodies to meet qualification, reporting, and activity standards. He said the Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill would mainly replace the “Rubber Controller” with a “Director-General” to reduce legal obstacles, particularly in court processes. He also recalled Sri Lanka’s long history in rubber cultivation, research, and trade, including the Rubber–Rice Pact with China, and urged that this legacy be used to revitalize the rubber sector. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam, during debate on the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, raised the case of 14 Samurdhi Development Officers from Paruthithurai/Maruthankerny who he said were denied Grade I promotions after passing a 2006 interview because their results were allegedly not received by the Ministry. He argued that, despite wartime disruptions, administrative lapses caused the officers to lose six years of seniority and benefits before being promoted only in 2012. He urged the Minister to grant them backdated Grade I promotions effective from 2006 and tabled their details. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. Fasmin Sharif JJB AI summary Hon. Fasmin Sharif supported the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill and related sports regulations, stating that increased funding and revised governance rules, including term limits for sports body office-bearers, would revive village sports, improve public health, reduce drug use among youth, and restore merit-based sporting selection free of political interference. He said irregular Samurdhi recruitments under a 2017 programme had created employment insecurity and should be addressed within proper legal and welfare frameworks. He also asked the Government to prevent an alleged attempt by the Kamburupitiya Urban Council Chairman to transfer valuable council land to a private party. Responding to claims about Muslim nurses and cultural attire, he denied that there was a government policy of discrimination, said isolated issues would be taken up with the President and relevant Minister, and affirmed that the Government would address Muslim community concerns and oppose racism. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena SJB AI summary Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena raised administrative issues in Moneragala District where four Grama Niladhari divisions have not been assigned to any judicial division, causing difficulties for land vesting, police cases, and Samurdhi recoveries. He requested that Inginiyagala be gazetted under Ampara, and Mulle-gama, Galgamuwa, and Nelliyadda under the Bibile judicial division. He also supported auditing of the Samurdhi/Community Banking network, citing large deposits and past irregularities, and urged amendments to ensure eligible vulnerable persons receive benefits and that the institutions have adequate powers to serve the public. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna said the Labour Minister and officials had discussed increasing plantation workers’ wages in line with the President’s Budget commitment, targeting Rs. 1,700. He noted that discussions with plantation companies were ongoing, with some citing constraints and others indicating possible increases, and that a collective agreement was needed. He called for support in finding a mechanism or new model that raises wages while sustaining plantation businesses and employment. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. Dinesh Hemantha JJB AI summary Hon. Dinesh Hemantha supported the Sports Law regulations, arguing that they are intended to depoliticize sports bodies by barring elected representatives and ministers from holding or contesting key positions in sports associations and by limiting presidents and secretaries to eight years in office. He said the Government is creating systems to identify and nurture young athletes earlier through schools, district-level pooling, advisory structures, and pathways toward events such as the 2028 Olympics. He also criticized practices where officials benefit from overseas travel while athletes lack support, and said the regulations would prioritize athlete welfare and proper allocation of facilities. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Hon. Chanaka Madugoda called on the Government to regularize the services of employees whose terms had only been extended for six months, noting that COPE had recommended placing them permanently in a suitable project. He urged the Health Minister to amend a circular that suspended health sector employees’ leave entitlements for local and overseas travel under the Establishments Code, saying it affected 66,255 employees. He also criticized the closure of the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, arguing that the institution should have been strengthened through better administration rather than shut down. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Welcoming the audit provisions for Samurdhi Community-Based Bank and Union accounts, Chanaka Madugoda called for modernising Samurdhi banks, addressing staffing shortages, and working closely with Samurdhi Development Officers. He argued that the Aswesuma selection process has excluded some genuinely needy households and proposed allowing Divisional Secretaries to recommend and decide on overlooked cases under clear guidelines. He also urged mechanisms to ensure community access to school playgrounds, provide financial assistance for poor students selected for overseas sports tours, and address employment uncertainty affecting former contract staff recruited by the Land Reforms Commission between 2020 and 2023. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister defended lawful action against illegal entry while outlining the Ministry’s household empowerment programme targeting two million low-income families over five years, supported by central government, World Bank and ADB funding. He said the Samurdhi amendment is needed because Rs. 250 billion in 1,097 Samurdhi banks and related community organizations have lacked adequate audit, discipline and accountability, enabling misuse and corruption. The amendment would insert Section 28A to apply the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, to Samurdhi Community-Based Bank accounts, and he linked it to the government’s broader anti-corruption and economic stabilization efforts. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Rohitha Abeygunawardhana supported regulating and safeguarding the Rs. 250 billion in Samurdhi beneficiaries’ savings under the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, but argued that Samurdhi or Aswesuma payments are insufficient amid high living costs. He presented a household cost estimate to question whether the Government has reduced essential expenses and criticised suggestions that money printing has no inflationary impact. He urged the Government not to cut welfare benefits before the “economic war” is won, called for new recruitment to sustain the Samurdhi administration as staff retire, and proposed using beneficiaries’ savings for genuine empowerment programmes that help families become self-reliant. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Chandana Sooriyaarachchi alleged that certain trade unions and independent leaders were attempting to undermine the public service for political purposes, while the Government was strengthening it, protecting state enterprises, and paying due allowances and advances. He urged public servants not to be misled and stated that the amendment under discussion would ensure proper auditing of Samurdhi banks. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, stating that it would bring 1,097 Samurdhi Community-Based Banks and 335 unions under government audit to strengthen transparency, accountability and state oversight. He cited audit findings that these funds had remained outside annual financial statements and Auditor General review, and alleged past misuse of Samurdhi and Divi Neguma funds for political and unauthorized purposes. He also referred to broader NPP government measures on public financial management and public service reforms, including salary increases, disaster loan increases and a proposed national salary structure. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →
- 20 August 2025 The Hon. Sugath Thilakaratne - Deputy Minister of Sports JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne defended the Ministry’s support for athletes, stating that nutrition allowances and air tickets for approved overseas tours are being provided across sports. He said new regulations under the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 will impose term limits on federation office-bearers to improve governance, reduce entrenched administration, and prioritize athlete development. He outlined plans for Olympic-focused squads for 2028 and 2032, foreign coaching and technical support in selected sports, expanded school sports funding, coach recruitment, athlete insurance, and development of sports tourism and the sports economy. Debate: Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, Sports Law Regulations, and Judicature Act Rules Read →