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 June 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that Sri Lanka’s economic strategy should focus on export-led growth, faster investment facilitation, and practical revenue reforms to reduce debt and raise incomes. He proposed improving valuation and taxation of long-term land leases to foreigners, saying this could raise significantly more revenue than the proposed stamp duty increase without burdening Sri Lankans. He also called for fairer treatment between public and private sector workers, including EPF returns, and suggested raising migrant worker wage benchmarks to increase remittances by about USD 1 billion annually. He urged the Government to cut red tape, speed up land allocation and approvals, and use investment incentives such as tax holidays and qualifying payments to generate future revenue. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam supported timely legal updates, welcomed the National Minimum Wage amendment, and urged that wage increases be incorporated into basic salary to affect pensions and entitlements. He requested that imported Siddha medicines, especially from India, be classified as medicines rather than cosmetics under import regulations to reduce duties and improve access in the North and East. He also called for a legal regulatory framework for private educational institutions, including tuition centres, and asked that the Vavuniya Nursing Training School be placed under the supervision of Vavuniya District General Hospital with proper funding and resources. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Orders and Regulations as necessary updates to outdated laws, including changes under the Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act to revise long-standing thresholds and provide additional revenue to Provincial Councils. He said easing restrictions on electric bicycles and cautiously resuming vehicle imports would support economic activity without causing a foreign exchange crisis, and argued that investor interest and business confidence indicate economic stabilization. He also rejected Opposition claims about local authority gains, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to action against corruption, and said legal reforms are needed to align old legislation with current economic plans. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha urged the Government to retain the Simplified VAT mechanism for exporters, arguing that its removal would harm cash flow in apparel, coconut, rubber, tea and other export sectors already facing post-COVID and supply pressures. He requested tax relief and incentives for pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone, citing progress toward domestic production and exports. He also criticized the Government’s lack of local development and questioned its local council alliances, specifically calling for action on complaints and reports relating to the Kurunegala Municipal Council Deputy Mayor. He further asked the Minister of Power and Energy about delays in the Siyambalanduwa 100 MW solar project and the next Kerawalapitiya power project stage, saying stalled decision-making was holding back national progress. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister said investor confidence had improved since the 2022 protests, citing Sri Lanka’s hosting of cross-border listing and actuarial conferences with foreign participation. He attributed progress to anti-corruption efforts, digitization, administrative efficiency, reduced political interference in public institutions, and faster implementation. He also referred to strengthened social protection, higher elders’ allowances, additional support for schoolchildren, and assistance to farmers and fishing communities, stating that delivery would continue to be strengthened. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Order under the Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act updates provisions unchanged since 2006, raising ad valorem stamp duty on immovable property from Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 per Rs. 1,000, with proceeds transferred to Provincial Councils and collection to be improved through digitization. He outlined several import-control Gazette notifications permitting, under specified conditions, phased imports of used cold-weather clothing, selected motor vehicle spare parts, regulated casino gaming equipment, and electric motorcycles. He also referred to the recently tabled Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill as part of wider regulation of casinos and online gambling, and cited first-quarter GDP growth and improved confidence as evidence of economic recovery. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning stated that identified gaps in the programme are being addressed to help beneficiaries integrate into economic activity. He said implementation work has begun and discussions are ongoing to further strengthen the programme. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the continued use of the 2022 Aswesuma eligibility criteria, noting that both his side and the current President had previously opposed them, and called for a scientific, data-driven revalidation of targeting and poverty lines. He argued that poverty alleviation should go beyond cash transfers to include investment, savings, production, exports and consumption. He also urged the Government to strengthen trade facilitation by appointing a dedicated trade representative or agency staffed by capable public officers to retain and expand investments. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to questions from the Leader of the Opposition on the welfare benefits programme under the Welfare Benefits Act, stating that payments had continued up to April for about 94% of selected households and giving aggregate disbursement figures for 2023, 2024 and January–June 2025. He said eligibility criteria were those gazetted on 20 October 2022, the methodology had been piloted and would be improved, and more detailed information was expected by end-July 2025, with government using reputable data to strengthen social welfare and support economic empowerment of vulnerable groups. He also addressed concerns about a foam mattress exporter, saying agreements prohibit Sri Lanka being used to bypass anti-dumping rules, and that the issue arose because the investor now sought access to markets it had earlier agreed not to export to. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns that the Aswesuma welfare programme has excluded genuine beneficiaries and may provide insufficient support given current food prices and poor farmgate returns for small cultivators. He asked the Government to state the programme’s objectives, beneficiary numbers and expenditure by category and year, selection criteria, whether the targeting method is scientific, and whether all 8 million applications have been categorized. He also urged the Government to use World Bank and other poverty data to revise the scheme or present alternatives. Additionally, he requested urgent action to retain a Singaporean foam mattress export investor reportedly constrained by an export quota cap, warning of possible loss of investment and jobs. Question under Standing Order 27(2): Aswesuma Welfare Programme (Leader of Opposition) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary The Government stated that it does not intend to discourage or harm the events and arts sector despite previous rate increases. Following meetings between event organizers, artistes, the President, and the Minister, a decision was made to reduce the rates by 50 per cent, and a Cabinet paper is being prepared to implement it. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Chithral Fernando sought clarification on the amount referred to for the previous year, asking whether it was approximately Rs. 47 million. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Ananda Wijepala stated that the amount in question is Rs. 109 million. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a question on charging fees for police services requested for business purposes, citing the Police Ordinance, IGP Circulars issued in February and March 2025, and a Cabinet decision as the legal and policy basis. He said requests are formally assessed, must be justified, require approval by the IGP or Ministry Secretary, and are handled case by case without a fixed numerical cap. He provided revenue figures showing Rs. 50.26 million collected in 2024 and Rs. 114.32 million up to 31 May 2025 from police officers’ services, vehicle hire, police animals, and siren system installations. He added that applications are assessed for illegality, anti-social nature, and the applicant’s background, with intelligence reports obtained before recommendations are made. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Chithral Fernando asked the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs whether Sri Lanka Police personnel, vehicles and other resources may be provided on a paid basis for private or commercial activities, and requested the relevant legal authority, procedures, limits and fee methodology. He also sought the revenue earned from such services in 2024 and in 2025 to date, separately. The question further asked what criteria are applied to requesting parties and whether security analysis reports are obtained to assess threat levels. Oral Question: Police Officers, Vehicles and Resources Availability (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson raised concerns over the removal of fuel storage tanks near the Kaduruwela railway station in Polonnaruwa, formerly used when fuel was transported by train. He stated that above-ground and underground tanks with substantial diesel and petrol capacity had been removed under a contract reportedly worth about Rs. 2.5 million, and questioned whether the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation was aware of the underground tanks. He tabled documents and photographs and requested a full investigation into the matter, citing potential loss to the Government. Oral Question: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation - New Refinery in Trincomalee (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Kins Nelson asked the Minister to clarify Sapugaskanda Refinery’s current output, noting that production is reportedly about 30,000 barrels per day despite a 50,000-barrel nameplate capacity, leaving around 70% of national demand to be met by imports. He specifically requested the daily product slate percentages for diesel, petrol, kerosene, aviation fuel, and furnace oil. Oral Question: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation - New Refinery in Trincomalee (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said he had examined the previously raised BOQ-related issue and discussed it with Minister Nalinda Jayatissa and his Ministry Secretary, noting that a site visit had also taken place. He stated that the proposed expressway crossing or related work was not in current plans due to its high cost and past deviations in Southern Expressway planning, but said it could be reconsidered if the Industry Ministry, the relevant Members and Ministers resolved litigation and funding issues through the BOI and line ministries. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera said around 230 acres had been acquired under Section 38 for the Pelpola Investment Zone and argued that the Minister had been misinformed about litigation, stating the pending case concerned valuation of rubber cultivation rather than ownership. He said the land was suitable for an investment zone, with water, power funding and partial site preparation already in place, and requested priority action to provide nearby expressway access for Kalutara, Morontuduwa, Wadduwa and Bulathsinhala. He noted that engineers had identified a feasible access point near Bandaragama or Gelanigama after an earlier location was rejected, and said this would also support the developing 100-acre Galpatha zone. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →
- 20 June 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the proposal in question is not currently included in the Government’s plans, noting that it is estimated to cost over Rs. 1 billion. He indicated that, given this cost, it is not being pursued at present. Oral Question: Southern Expressway Interchanges (Q.Unspecified/2024) Read →