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- 19 August 2025 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake responded to criticism linking him to port sector issues, stating that the Government is rebuilding institutions affected by corruption and mismanagement rather than producing immediate results. He cited a reported 66 per cent increase in Sri Lanka Ports Authority profits in the first half of 2025, from Rs. 14,691 million to Rs. 24,418 million, and urged Members to acknowledge progress and not undermine port workers and professionals. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha clarified the distinction between Central Bank currency issuance and monetary financing of the Treasury through purchases of Treasury securities. He stated that the latter had not occurred and that the Treasury surplus reflected normal Treasury cash operations, including revenue, refinancing of existing debt, and maintaining a cash buffer, rather than “money printing.” Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned the Government’s debt management, citing public debt of about USD 106 billion by 31 March and asking why debt had risen despite claims that repayment was manageable. He called for a clear policy on loss-making State-owned enterprises, public sector recruitment, FDI outcomes, tourism revenue, port development including Kankesanthurai, and measures to strengthen debt servicing capacity before 2027. He also asked the Government to report specific results from presidential foreign visits and clarify claims about money printing, Treasury balances, and their inflationary implications. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne argued that gambling, including shipboard, onshore and online operations, already exists in Sri Lanka and that the Bill seeks to regulate rather than introduce it. She outlined the historical and policy background, citing earlier laws, failed attempts since 2010–2013, and the 2022 Committee on Public Finance recommendation for a dedicated authority modelled on international practice such as Singapore. She said weak regulation had led to lost tax revenue, money remittances, and risks of money laundering, and highlighted clauses on supervision, revenue collection, responsible gambling, AML/CFT enforcement, online gambling regulation and licence suspension. She urged Members to support the legislation as a mechanism to control an existing unregulated market and collect due revenue. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha clarified that the Bill’s reference to “shipboard” casinos does not imply selective or automatic licensing, but brings such activities within a regulated framework. He stated that licences would be granted only after assessing factors such as economic, social and tourism impacts, and rejected claims that the Bill permits indiscriminate approvals. He also said the Government intends to address shadow share markets operating outside regulated exchanges, emphasizing that the objective is legal regulation rather than permitting unlawful or harmful activities. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam criticised the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill for permitting gambling on ships and in Colombo Port City, arguing that foreign-flag vessels could obtain permits to operate in Sri Lankan waters and create national security and geopolitical risks. He questioned the Government’s revenue rationale, citing non-collection of the USD 100 casino entry levy from 2015 to 2023, and warned of social consequences if Sri Lanka becomes a regional gambling hub. He also addressed the recent hartal in the North and East following the death of a youth in Mullaitivu, calling for a transparent legal process and reiterating requests to release military-occupied schools, public buildings, and civilian lands where they obstruct civilian life. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe criticized former governments and economic advisers for failing to implement proposals contained in the 2016 Budget, arguing that many pledged reforms remained undelivered. He listed areas such as industrial policy, tax administration technology, debt management, SOE reform, digital identity, anti-dumping legislation, land banking, tourism branding, SME finance, labour law changes, and commercial dispute resolution as examples of past failures. He said the present government is now implementing several of these measures, including GovPay, public debt management reforms, anti-dumping provisions, women’s employment-related labour reforms, SOE KPIs, and forthcoming initiatives on industrial policy, land banking, tourism branding, and MICE development. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the economy is strengthening, citing domestic and international data and assessments by institutions including the IMF. He criticized what he described as repeated false alarms and unfounded claims about the economy being raised before the House. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim argued that while gambling regulation is necessary, the proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill is flawed and risks politicization, monopoly formation, weak revenue collection, and inadequate control of online gambling and money laundering. He proposed greater independence for the regulator, reduced ministerial control over appointments and rule-making, inclusion of tourism representation, bringing lotteries under the Authority, and stronger enforcement, taxation and penalty powers. He also questioned whether proposed borrowing for the Central Expressway from China Exim Bank and the Treasury complied with the State Debt Management Act, and asked for clarification on its impact on external public debt and debt servicing. He further raised concern that foreign reserves had declined in 2025 despite IMF inflows, tourism, exports and remittances, citing lower-than-expected multilateral disbursements. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake raised questions to the Deputy Minister on the distinction between money printing and asset-backed monetary expansion. He also queried the implications for Central Bank independence if it is placed on or linked to the Gambling Regulatory Authority, and called for joint action to address related anomalies. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Monetary financing of fiscal deficits was distinguished from routine Central Bank monetary operations such as open market operations and reserve management, with the clarification that recent changes in reserve and broad money do not amount to Government money printing for expenditure. The statement affirmed adherence to financial discipline under the State Finance Management Act and the State Debt Management Act. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Deputy Minister’s claim that there is no government money printing, arguing that money creation occurs daily and asking whether it is asset-backed or implies monetary contraction. He also raised concerns about the Central Bank Governor or representative serving on bodies such as the Gambling Regulatory Authority and engaging in government-related negotiations or promotion, saying this may undermine the Central Bank’s independence established by Parliament. He urged that such anomalies be corrected constructively. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister moved the Second Reading of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, stating that it would create a single regulator for gambling, betting and casinos, replace existing fragmented laws, introduce licensing and standards, address illegal activity including money laundering and terror financing, and support Sri Lanka’s efforts to exit the FATF grey list by March 2026. He said the Authority would also address social harms, protect children, regulate emerging forms such as online gambling, and exclude the National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board. He also presented regulations under the State Debt Management Act, explaining that they would strengthen oversight of guarantees, on-lending, lender agreements and financial leasing by state entities through the Debt Management Office and related coordination mechanisms, with the aim of improving transparency and reducing public debt to 95 per cent of GDP by 2032. In addition, he introduced a direction under the Foreign Exchange Act concerning capital account outflows, noting that temporary controls introduced in 2020 were maintained through 2024 as part of economic stabilization. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister replied to a question on limited competitive recruitment to Class III of the Government Management Service Officer Service, outlining the 2019 and 2024 examination dates, gazette references, pass marks, base dates, vacancies, and recruitment cut-offs. He stated that 1,386 officers were recruited in three phases from the 2019 examination, including appointments for Railway Department vacancies, and that 969 applicants qualified at interview had been recruited from the 2024 process. He further said the limited recruitment quota under the Service Minute has been fully utilized, and that future recruitment will proceed through the open stream in line with Cabinet approval and service regulations. Oral Question: Government Management Service Recruitment (Q.9/1091/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister provided police data on 126 complaints against the company, mainly at the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Division, where 95 complaints are under investigation with witness and director statements being recorded. He said arrests cannot currently be made because company members have obtained an interim order in Court of Appeal Writ Application No. 751/24, valid until 10 November 2025, though the Police Legal Division is seeking to have it vacated. He added that four cases have been filed, while the remaining complaints have been reported to court, settled, or referred for civil action. Oral Question: Park Properties Fraud Investigation (Q.7/1081/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary The question sought an update from the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs on the progress of investigations into alleged financial frauds involving Park Properties (Pvt.) Limited. It requested information on the current status of the inquiry and any action being taken by the relevant authorities. Oral Question: Park Properties Fraud Investigation (Q.7/1081/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Of the 24 tanks handed over, refurbishment work is ongoing on four, with two nearing completion, and new pipelines are required. The Minister stated that the Government is engaging countries and companies for investment and plans to call public tenders after the four tanks are opened to secure further investment. Oral Question: Petroleum Corporations and Companies (Q.5/623/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Kins Nelson asked how the State will generate revenue from the 24 Trincomalee oil tanks leased to the CPC for refurbishment on a 50-year basis once refurbishment is completed. He also sought clarification on whether discussions are underway with foreign companies regarding the project. Oral Question: Petroleum Corporations and Companies (Q.5/623/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that the project is understood to be a 50:50 joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board and an Indian state enterprise. He noted that agreements have been signed and land preparation is proceeding in two phases, beginning with a 50 MW solar plant followed by a 70 MW plant. Oral Question: Petroleum Corporations and Companies (Q.5/623/2025) Read →
- 19 August 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody stated that four companies are engaged in the relevant petroleum sector activity: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Lanka Indian Oil Company, RM Parks (Pvt) Ltd, and Sinopec Energy Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. He confirmed the accuracy of the referenced statement and said legal advice is being sought on possible steps to revise the related agreements. Oral Question: Petroleum Corporations and Companies (Q.5/623/2025) Read →