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 June 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Asked why long-standing stormwater drainage proposals for Batticaloa, including 2014 feasibility and master plan studies for Kallady and Irudayapuram intended for World Bank funding, had not proceeded despite recurrent flooding. He noted that about 140,000 people within Batticaloa Municipal Council limits are affected and warned of renewed inundation during the September–October rains, urging attention to funding and implementation. Oral Question: Batticaloa Municipal Council Drainage Systems (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 19 June 2025 The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB AI summary At present, Batticaloa Municipal Council has no proper wastewater management system, so no renovation is applicable. The Deputy Minister stated that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has identified the need for such a system and that a feasibility study was undertaken by M/s Ion Exchange (India) Limited under NWSDB supervision, but the final report has not been submitted due to lack of funding. He said further planning can proceed once a suitable funding source is identified, and the rest of the question was not applicable. Oral Question: Batticaloa Municipal Council Drainage Systems (Q.1/2025) Read →
- 19 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on stamp duty and import/export control regulations, noting that the report was ordered to lie upon the Table. He highlighted issues requiring further examination, including stamp duty on long-term leases, the need to align casino machine imports with forthcoming casino legislation and maintain a separate registry, and possible revenue losses from applying a 15% depreciation allowance to nearly new imported vehicles classified as used. He said a random sample indicated a potential Rs. 257 million revenue loss and that the Committee had requested further study by the Ministry of Finance. Papers Presented Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran urged the Government to address unemployment among Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medical graduates, noting that increased university intakes and limited public appointments have created a growing backlog. He proposed creating about 7,043 new cadre positions, including Medical Officers and Community Medical Officers, based on district population needs, and called for expedited appointments for current and upcoming graduates. He also recommended adjusting university intake to match available training resources and job opportunities, protecting traditional apprenticeship-based knowledge, and developing indigenous medicine through tourism and export links. Debate: Orders under Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act No. 49 of 2024 Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Under Standing Order 19(2)(a), Sajith Premadasa requested an urgent debate, with the support of more than twenty Members, on the implications of the Israel–Iran war for Sri Lanka. He highlighted concerns over the safety of 10,000–20,000 Sri Lankan workers in Israel, risks to tea exports to Iran, possible disruption to oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz, and wider economic impacts on growth, industry, services, agriculture, and the public. He asked that Standing Orders be suspended to hold the debate immediately or the next day, and called for a formal Government position and plan rather than separate ministerial statements. Procedural: Urgent Debate Motion on Israel–Iran War (Standing Order 19) Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister said past approvals for tea factories were often granted without proper feasibility studies, harming nearby operations, and stated that the new Government will require such studies before approving new factories. He identified inadequate green leaf supply as a central problem and outlined a strategic plan to raise finished tea production from 262 million kilograms last year to 400 million kilograms by 2030. He said the Ministry plans to replant marginal tea lands, revive closed factories, and transparently allocate some to suitable investors through partnerships involving underutilized lands and public assets. He also said he would meet factory owners within a week to discuss their issues and possible Ministry relief. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister rejected media reports claiming that hundreds of tea factories had closed under the NPP Government, stating that the remarks had been misreported and later corrected by officials. He said 213 factories had closed since 1986, including six in 2025, and attributed closures to longstanding issues such as management deficiencies and inadequate leaf supply rather than recent government action. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the new complex has 93 stalls, but serious irregularities have arisen in their leasing, including 32 stalls being used by persons other than the original lessees. He said the Ministry will conduct a formal investigation into how such use was permitted, how money was collected, and whether unrecorded payments occurred, and will take action against those responsible. He also noted that 31 stalls remain unallocated and said past institutional failures and possible irregularities during local authority formations will be examined, with legal action to follow if warranted. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB AI summary Ruwanthilaka Jayakody raised a supplementary question about alleged irregularities in the construction and allocation of shops in the Minuwangoda market complex. He said promised shop allocations to former occupants had not been honoured, many shops were closed or occupied by persons other than contracted lessees, and the complex suffered from mismanagement and sanitation problems. He asked which officials allowed these alleged illegal activities to continue and whether legal action would be taken against them. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister answered a question on the New Shopping Complex in Minuwangoda, stating that it has 93 stalls and tabled a detailed schedule as Annex 01. He said not all stalls are operated by the original lessees, with some being run by other persons, and tabled a further schedule as Annex 02. He added that the Minuwangoda Urban Council is verifying the legality of such occupants and taking appropriate legal action. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary The Minister said the Ministry aims to implement integrated timetables for SLTB and private buses, citing the Southern Province model and planned implementation in the Puttalam Corridor, while addressing passenger inconvenience at hubs such as Pettah and Jaffna. He stated that rebuilding the weakened SLTB is necessary for effective integration and to avoid private monopolies. He also announced plans to study a Budget proposal to subsidize loss-making rural SLTB routes by expanding the “Gami Saraniya” scheme, and asked Members to identify needed routes through District Coordinating Committees. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake raised a supplementary question on delays in inter-provincial, provincial, and rural bus services where integrated timetables are absent. Citing Route 17 between Panadura and Kandy as an example, he asked what steps the Ministry of Transport would take to reduce excessive travel times and slow operations that inconvenience passengers. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Sujeewa Dissanayake asked the Minister of Transport what action is being taken to address alleged irregularities and excessive charges in the issuing of route permits by Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities. He noted that high costs imposed on bus owners for permits when introducing or replacing buses have reduced the number of new buses entering service. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary The Minister stated that route permit holders who sold unroadworthy buses during the vehicle import suspension were unable to replace them until imports resumed, and many surrendered permits to the National Transport Commission during that period. He said written instructions had been issued, and reissued where necessary, to Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities to waive log sheet fees for periods when permit books and labels were held by authorities or buses were not in operation. He accepted that charging such fees for non-operational periods was unfair and said authorities are being reminded to grant the relevant exemptions. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake asked the Minister of Transport whether bus owners who had surrendered National Transport Commission route permits during the import suspension, after selling unserviceable buses, were later charged outstanding “cart sheet” fees by Provincial Passenger Transport Authorities for the non-operational period when deploying new buses. He argued that such charges are unfair because operators could not purchase replacement buses while imports were suspended, and requested the Government’s proposed solution or reasons if no relief is to be provided. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that Laggala Hospital would be developed according to the Ministry of Health’s 2022 circular, with facilities provided for its current category and progress toward BH Type A status subject to resources, following an assessment visit. He said cadre regularization had been completed for 642 Field Mosquito Control Assistants/Health Work Assistants, with pending cases delayed by documentation issues and wider decisions on similarly recruited staff across institutions. He assured that the remaining eligible staff, including those with GCE O/L qualifications and the broader group of about 980, would be regularized shortly. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service would be improved in phases through short-, medium- and long-term measures. He outlined plans to recruit more Emergency Medical Technicians, use the Rs. 5,000 million budget allocation for procurement and infrastructure, raise public awareness of the 1990 number, maintain ambulances, and continue the “Adopt an Ambulance” programme. He also said the fleet would be expanded by up to 150 ambulances with support from India and the Asian Development Bank, while command centre capacity, training, degree pathways, and advanced life support systems would be developed. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB AI summary Hon. Danushka Ranganath asked the Minister of Energy for details on land acquisition for the Kukuleganga Power Station project, including when acquisition began and the extent acquired. He also sought information on the station’s access road, noting that route 437 buses use it as a public transport road and that part of the road belonging to the power station is allegedly unsafe due to poor maintenance. He asked whether the Government would maintain the relevant section properly or, if not, vest it in the Road Development Authority. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake clarified that Sri Lanka Railways has not leased rail assets, but provides locomotives and wagons as needed on a market-rate service-hire basis. He stated that income from such services between 2015 and 2022 amounted to Rs. 273,409,766, citing annual figures, and advised that broader related policy proposals be discussed with the Minister of Industries. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →
- 18 June 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hector Appuhamy questioned the valuation and payment arrangements for leases and a limestone quarry linked to a locally operating foreign investor, noting concerns over profits being repatriated in dollars. He requested a structured discussion with the cement plant and quarry stakeholders to develop a proper programme, offering support at both district and national levels. Oral Questions: Questions 1–2 (School Projects, Ministers' Answers and Supplementaries) and Q.633/2025 (stood down), Q.636/2025 (Limestone Transport), Q.715/2025 (Kukuleganga Access Road), Q.724/2025 (Suwaseya Ambulance Service), Q.792/2025 (Bus Route Permits), Minuwangoda Shopping Complex, Tea Factories, and Social Media Provisions Read →