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- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the committee examining the release mechanism during congestion had met 14 times and that its details and report would be tabled in Parliament. He said a separate committee was appointed in response to public allegations, its report had been given to the Secretary to the Treasury, and details of the relevant containers would be provided. He also noted that a Criminal Investigation Department inquiry and an internal audit were ongoing. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Customs - Release of Containers without Inspection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Responding on behalf of the Finance Minister, the Minister said Sri Lanka Customs established a Steering Committee on 23 July 2024 to manage congestion by identifying low-risk containers selected for examination that could be released using alternative criteria. He stated that the Committee met 14 times up to 18 January 2025 and approved the release of 2,527 import containers after reviewing documentation, duty payments, risk alerts, scanning, valuation, and other specified conditions. He added that Customs does not release containers without risk-assessment procedures, and that post-clearance audits and CID inquiries into the released containers are under way. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Customs - Release of Containers without Inspection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Minister of Finance whether Sri Lanka Customs had appointed a senior-officer committee to address port congestion caused by delays in releasing imported containers. He requested details of the committee members, the number of containers released without inspection, the criteria used for such releases, and whether the Government accepts the risks involved. He also sought information on any measures to address those risks, or reasons if such information could not be provided. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Customs - Release of Containers without Inspection (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the Prime Minister on alleged corruption and irregularities under the current administration, comparing issues involving salt, sugar, container releases and tenders to past scams. He asked whether the Prime Minister recognizes such a political culture and whether decisions will be taken impartially, without favouring allies or cronies. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the Government’s lack of new investigations, arrests or legal action since taking office on issues it had highlighted during the election campaign, including the sugar tax matter, bond scam, white onion transactions, sugar, and aflatoxin-contaminated coconut oil. He alleged irregularities in Sathosa’s handling of white onions, the release of contaminated coconut oil, and a recent 50 MW wind power tender approved by Cabinet despite earlier rejection by evaluation bodies. He also asked for an explanation of salt imports and resale arrangements that reportedly increased retail prices from about Rs. 100 to Rs. 350 per kilogram, including who profited from the transaction. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Based on Ministry of Finance information, the reduction of the special commodity levy on sugar from Rs. 50 per kg to 25 cents per kg in October 2020 was made by Gazette on the then President’s instruction, approved by the Finance Minister, and later approved by Parliament under the Special Commodity Levy Act. The Ministry had not provided names or addresses of individuals or institutions, while the Committee on Public Finance, Auditor-General, Committee on Public Accounts, IGP and CID had taken steps relating to reports and investigations into the sugar duty reduction. The CID requested a forensic audit in January 2025, but the Auditor-General stated in March 2025 that an expanded audit could not proceed without access to required information and evidence. Information on the bond scam, white onion fraud and coconut oil import fraud had been requested from relevant institutions and would be provided later. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri asked the Prime Minister for details on several alleged major frauds involving public funds, including the Central Bank bond scam, sugar tax scam, white onion fraud and coconut oil import fraud. He requested the estimated losses, identities of persons and institutions involved, the status of investigations, details of those questioned or arrested, any planned future action, measures to pursue legal accountability, and steps to recover losses from those responsible. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary In response to questions from Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, the Prime Minister stated that 86 persons were arrested over bribery allegations in 2024, while by 30 June 2025, 34 persons had been arrested over bribery allegations and 29 over corruption allegations. She said the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, had expanded CIABOC’s investigative and prosecutorial powers, including over new offences, related Penal Code and public property offences, and money laundering, while the Government does not interfere with CIABOC’s independent work. She outlined prevention measures including public education, Internal Affairs Units, awareness programmes for local authority members, and implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029, approved by Cabinet on 24 March 2025. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara JJB AI summary Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara asked the Prime Minister for details on the Government’s “Praja Shakthi” Programme, presented as an integrated, multi-pronged poverty eradication initiative. He sought information on its objectives, implementation framework, differences from earlier poverty alleviation schemes, reasons those schemes failed, and targets for 2030 and beyond. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Wijesiri Basnayake presented, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, the Committee’s report on three documents referred to it: the 2023 Performance Reports of the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs, and the 2022 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers: Tabling of Annual and Performance Reports Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Presented the Sectoral Oversight Committee report on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management covering the 2023 Annual Report of the National Institute of Cooperative Development and the 2020–2023 Performance Reports of the National Intellectual Property Office. He stated that the National Intellectual Property Office had not adequately advanced its expected work and requested a special programme, while proposing a national policy framework to protect intellectual property. Papers: Tabling of Annual and Performance Reports Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister supported Regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, stating that they are needed to protect domestic industries such as tiles, sanitaryware, leather products and footwear from unfairly priced imports. He said the mechanism would allow producers to lodge complaints and enable verification of import prices through Sri Lanka Customs, helping ensure fair competition. He also noted that the Government is working on a National Tariff Policy with the Trade and Finance Ministries to provide a stable five-year framework for duties and investment planning. Linking the Regulations to broader economic policy, he cited export, tourism and stock market indicators and urged Parliament to approve the measures to support domestic producers. Debate: Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Regulations Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Moved approval of regulations under the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, No. 2 of 2018, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2429/32, to operationalize investigations and procedures for anti-dumping, countervailing duties, and price undertakings following Cabinet approval. He said the measures are intended to protect domestic producers from dumped or subsidized imports while requiring assessment by the Department of Commerce, an Inter-Ministerial Committee, and the Treasury of industry harm, consumer interests, and wider market impacts. He noted the duties would be temporary safeguards to allow affected industries to adjust and compete, with complaints handled through the Department of Commerce in line with WTO-related fair trade principles. Debate: Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Regulations Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe made a brief reference to “Siddhalepa marketing.” No substantive argument, proposal, question, or policy position was presented in the provided excerpt. Debate: Resolution to Remove Inspector-General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence provided responses to parts of the Opposition Leader’s Standing Order 27(2) question concerning General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, noting that issues outside the Defence Ministry’s remit had been referred to the Ministry of Education. He stated that the Government had spent Rs. 12,462 million to establish KDU, excluding annual recurrent expenditure, and that the MBBS programme fee was Rs. 17.5 million in the current year, up from Rs. 15 million the previous year. Ministerial Statement: Medical Faculty Suspension at Kotelawala Defence University Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary The Minister said domestic red onion production has fallen from about 58,000 MT in 2019 to around 29,000–30,000 MT in 2024, with 35,000–40,000 MT estimated for 2025, despite fertilizer and seed subsidies. He identified the main issue as the lack of a state mechanism to purchase, store, and release produce according to market demand, noting that the CWE formerly performed this role before its assets were sold. He said the Government is preparing, with relevant ministries and Treasury agreement, a programme to buy part of farmers’ onion output, provide storage, and support price management amid market volatility. Ministerial Statements: Trade and Commerce Issues in Jaffna District Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan raised concerns about farmers in multiple producing villages across Jaffna and the Northern Province engaged in subsidiary food production, including small onions and other crops. He said the absence of import duties during harvest periods over the past two years had caused severe losses, particularly for small onion producers and new farmers, and asked what relief the Government would provide amid wider impacts from fisheries issues, agriculture problems, and floods. Ministerial Statements: Trade and Commerce Issues in Jaffna District Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti outlined the payment position of Lanka Sugar Company at Pelwatta and Sevanagala, stating that most advances, transport allowances and salaries had been settled, with remaining final payment arrears now being addressed, including an immediate 40 per cent settlement. He said identified revenues from sugar and ethanol sales, along with a Rs. 1 billion allocation from the President as Minister of Finance, would support future cane advances, fertilizer supply, expanded cultivation, ethanol quality improvements and a wholesale sugar distribution network across all districts. He argued that the company had moved past a financial risk period while maintaining fair farmer prices and protecting the sugar industry, and said cane purchasing would continue with an expected increase in harvest and a collective pricing mechanism across production entities. Ministerial Statement: Lanka Sugar Company - Pelwatte and Sevanagala Sugarcane Farmers Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister addressed delayed payments to Pelwatte and Sevanagala sugarcane outgrower farmers under Lanka Sugar Company, outlining inherited liabilities of Rs. 6.272 billion and current production, sales, and revenue figures for sugar and ethanol in early 2025. He stated that a two-month payment delay was acknowledged, with Rs. 871.86 million paid between 2 June and 1 August against Rs. 1.541 billion due by 31 August, leaving Rs. 669.61 million outstanding. He tabled detailed farmer payment lists, saying they were intended to clarify eligibility and identify persons in protests who were not relevant farmers or who owed money to the company. Ministerial Statement: Lanka Sugar Company - Pelwatte and Sevanagala Sugarcane Farmers Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan raised concerns about intensified smuggling along the coastal belt, including narcotics, pharmaceuticals, injections, chemicals, and agricultural inputs, noting that seized quantities may be less than actual inflows. He said enforcement is weakened by procedural and custody issues after seizures under the Customs Ordinance, with goods sometimes handed to Police or Excise instead of Sri Lanka Customs. He asked whether a dedicated Sri Lanka Customs office would be established in the Puttalam District to regularize and streamline seizure handling. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Read →