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 July 2025 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Thanura Dissanayake stated that the Government supports shifting the economy toward wider production and regional participation, arguing that youth employment and entrepreneurship require planned support for new products and markets. He said past production and trade had been concentrated among a limited group, leaving some provinces with weak GDP contributions, and called for expansion across all regions including the North, East, and Central highlands. He noted that a national entrepreneurship development policy is lacking and said the Government is preparing an integrated strategic framework this year, while also referring to trade diplomacy such as reduced US tariffs and UK tariff preferences as ways to expand opportunities. Private Members' Motion No. 4: Making Every Youth Gainfully Employed Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake moved a motion proposing that every citizen reaching 18 should have a right to gainful employment or financial assistance to become self-employed, arguing that youth unemployment and frustration require a shift from welfare dependency to entrepreneurship and work-oriented policies. He called for seed capital of about Rs. 500,000 per youth, Central Bank funding windows for youth, women and MSMEs, tax relief for young e-commerce earners, and reforms to credit, university access, skills training and overseas employment standards. He also urged a focus on AI, innovation, renewable energy and trained migration, citing Sri Lanka’s fiscal constraints, post-bankruptcy recovery, and past episodes of youth unrest as context for the proposal. Private Members' Motion No. 4: Making Every Youth Gainfully Employed Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan stated that the livestock sector’s contribution to GDP has declined and identified feed scarcity, particularly grazing access for indigenous cattle in the dry zone, as a key constraint. He said 20,000 acres in Mullaitivu had been agreed in principle with the Forest Department for grazing, with similar steps planned in Vavuniya and Mannar, and proposed wet-zone grazing and dry-zone feed crop cultivation for commercial dairy. He also noted inadequate staffing at 337 veterinary stations and said Service Minutes were being prepared to strengthen veterinary cadres, while emphasizing the need to raise domestic milk production from about 40% to reduce imports and improve nutrition. Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri moved a motion calling on the Government to prepare a programme to increase the livestock sector’s contribution to national production. He argued that developing dairy and poultry could reduce imports, save foreign exchange, improve child and maternal nutrition, and create rural employment and SME opportunities. He urged the Government to present concrete short-, medium-, and long-term plans with locations, targets, and timelines, while prosecuting corruption separately rather than relying on political recriminations. Private Members' Motion No. 3: Livestock Sector Enhancement Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara urged the Government to handle “Saubhagya” banks and similar institutions cautiously to avoid panic withdrawals and protect depositors, while strengthening supervision to curb predatory lending and pyramid-type schemes. He supported expanding producer co-operatives, particularly for kurakkan and vegetables in Anuradhapura and the North Central Province, to stabilize prices and improve marketing for farmers. He also requested reforms to co-operative staffing scales, petty cash limits, training institutions, pension payments, governance conflicts, and auditing support, proposing Anuradhapura as a pilot district for comprehensive co-operative strengthening. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Dr. Anil Jayantha said co-operative rural banks are not licensed “banks” under the Banking Act unless they conduct banking business with Central Bank authorization, and warned that excessive involvement in finance without safeguards has created risks. He stated that the Government has Cabinet approval for a committee to examine how to broaden co-operative activity, including finance, while strengthening regulation through provincial authorities and the Department of Co-operative Development. He also rejected claims about the scale of co-operative funds, referred to ongoing work on US tariff negotiations, and said the Government’s aim is to expand co-operatives within a stable fiscal and monetary framework. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined the Government’s plan to strengthen regulation and monitoring of co-operative rural banks and thrift and credit co-operative societies, citing serious financial irregularities in entities operating under the co-operative label. He said organisations taking deposits and lending as banks must obtain Central Bank licensing, and announced stricter auditing, reporting, recruitment controls, branch regulation, and legal amendments where needed. He referred to large reported shortfalls in several district co-operatives and deposits collected by so-called “Saubhagya” entities, stating that authorities are tracing funds and will act against unlicensed or politically established financial operations while supporting genuine co-operative banking. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that co-operatives are an exclusively devolved Provincial Council subject under the Thirteenth Amendment, so central government supervision would be inappropriate. He noted that entities calling themselves “banks” are legally co-operative societies under the Co-operative Societies Law, No. 5 of 1972, and cannot function as banks, though they can support microfinance and member lending. He supported improving and expanding co-operatives through greater provincial powers, funding for incentives and development, and called for long-overdue Provincial Council elections. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Supported Rohana Bandara’s proposal to strengthen the rural bank and co-operative system, citing their role in rural credit, women’s livelihoods, and small entrepreneurship, while calling for a clear regulatory framework to prevent mismanagement and deposit theft. Requested that rural banks be included in the Central Bank reimbursement mechanism for the senior citizens’ fixed deposit interest top-up, warning that deposits are shifting to commercial banks. Also raised concerns over reduced margins for co-operative fuel outlets, political interference in North Western Province co-operatives, and the impact of 18% VAT on co-operative sales divisions, urging exemptions or relief. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the Private Members’ Motion to establish stronger supervision of the co-operative rural banking system, citing the collapse of 24 rural banks in Avissawella with nearly 100,000 depositors and about Rs. 920 million in deposits. He alleged that former boards illegally placed funds in a private financial institution instead of a State bank as required under Section 40(1) of the Western Province Co-operative Societies Statute, leaving depositors unable to access savings. He called for investigations, legal action against those responsible, new regulatory measures, and management reforms to restore stability and confidence in the system. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri seconded Rohana Bandara’s motion and linked it to the Government’s policy statement, “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,” noting its emphasis on public, private and cooperative participation. He said cooperative banking falls under provincial authority, but argued that existing laws are inadequate when attempting to regulate, centralize oversight, and prevent irregularities. He called for stronger legal and regulatory arrangements to properly govern cooperative banks. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara moved a motion urging proper government supervision of cooperative rural banks, citing recent collapses and hardship to depositors. He argued that the original role of People’s Bank in supporting and supervising rural banks has lapsed, with oversight now fragmented under Provincial Councils, while many banks have shifted away from lending to villagers toward depositing funds in larger financial institutions. He called for effective supervision to address misuse of government funds, mismanagement and political interference, while also studying successful models such as the Saubhagya Cooperative Bank and replicating good practices where appropriate. Private Members' Motion No. 1: Co-operative Rural Banks Supervision Read →
- 11 July 2025 An Hon. Member AI summary An Hon. Member demanded that money taken from the President’s Fund be returned and called for those responsible to leave office. Points of Order - Broadcasting and Warrant Matter Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that the US trade measure was part of a general global policy based on a common formula tied to trade gaps, not a bilateral tariff decision targeting Sri Lanka. He said Sri Lanka was among the earliest countries to engage in talks and, among 25 countries sent courtesy letters, received the largest reduction, from 44 per cent to 30 per cent. He stated that the matter would continue to be handled diplomatically in the national interest, rather than through association-level positions or separate side discussions. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB AI summary Harshana Rajakaruna called for attention to an unspecified matter in the context of Sri Lanka’s fragile economic situation. He framed the issue as requiring parliamentary consideration due to current economic vulnerability. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB AI summary Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna warned that if competitor countries secure lower tariffs, Sri Lanka could face wider economic consequences. He framed the concern as a national competitiveness issue rather than an attempt to assign blame. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake referred to a British High Commission news alert on new UK trade measures allowing Sri Lankan apparel and other goods tariff-free access under liberalized rules of origin. He said he would table material on how other countries had secured relief from US tariffs, noting that some had offered significant concessions such as aircraft purchases. He urged a national, serious approach to trade negotiations, acknowledged the work of the Minister, officials, and industry organizations, and called for any debate on the matter to provide equal opportunity to both sides. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister responded to Opposition remarks on US tariff measures, saying the issue reflects a broader global US trade posture rather than a bilateral matter that can be solved through informal political interventions. He stated that Sri Lanka’s reduction from 44 per cent to 30 per cent was achieved through state-to-state trade diplomacy and was the best outcome among 25 notified countries. He also clarified that India had not received a formal tariff reduction notice, and that the cited 26 per cent figure referred only to an earlier general calculation, not an applied reduction. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined Sri Lanka’s negotiations with the United States following the imposition of a 44% tariff on Sri Lankan exports on 2 April, noting that a committee was appointed and officials held discussions in the US on a possible bilateral trade agreement and the trade imbalance. He stated that, after negotiations, the US notified Sri Lanka that a reduced 30% tariff would apply from 1 August if no agreement is reached, describing this as the largest reduction among countries receiving similar letters. He said the Government will continue diplomatic negotiations to further reduce the tariff and improve trade relations. US Tariff Duties - Member's Attention Matter and Discussion Read →
- 11 July 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government on long-standing issues in the Government Translators’ Service. He cited constitutional and policy commitments to official languages and multilingual communication, and argued that failures to recruit, promote, train, and resolve salary anomalies have weakened the service. He questioned why a proper Service Minute has not been prepared despite circular requirements, asked whether the Ministry accepts responsibility for nearly two decades of delay, and sought remedies including recognition of past salary structures and justice for officers who had to seek Supreme Court relief for promotions. Points of Order and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Read →