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- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana argued that the 2025 Budget had not delivered key election promises, including major reductions in fuel prices, electricity bills, VAT on essential goods, and affordable vehicle imports. He questioned the vehicle tax structure, the feasibility of collateral-free youth business loans, and the failure to attract promised diaspora remittances, while criticizing the Government for focusing on issues such as Batalanda, President’s Fund disclosures, and the residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa instead of cost-of-living relief. He also raised concerns about revenue collection by Customs, Inland Revenue and Excise, alleging widespread illicit liquor sales that reduce Treasury income and endanger public health. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra argued during the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Vote that stronger public investment and a capable public service are essential for development. She criticized past politicization of recruitment and administration, saying the public service had been used for patronage while recent recruitment freezes also weakened capacity. She said the Budget seeks to protect and strengthen the public service through salary increases, depoliticization, and needs-based recruitment, while improving efficiency, standards, and service delivery. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that Opposition Members had not received formal letters regarding decentralized provisions and said they would submit proposals once notified. He asked that the Finance Ministry, Coordinating Committee, or District Secretary communicate the required procedure formally, noting that earlier proposals were requested even from Opposition MPs and routed through officials. He also called for decentralized funds to be distributed fairly to all Members of Parliament. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti argued that the current government had established political democracy and was enabling economic democracy by reducing fear, bribery, and interference in the rule of law. He alleged that past government factions obstructed investment and left state lands idle through competing attempts to control or exploit them, citing coastal land in Matara–Polhena–Madiha. He requested that the President, as Finance Minister, appoint an open and independent Presidential Commission to investigate alleged bribery involving past ministers and investors. He also contrasted current parliamentary and institutional openness with what he described as intimidation under previous Rajapaksa administrations. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government had sought to establish political and economic democracy, claiming that Ministers and Members do not interfere in economic management, politics, or the rule of law. Responding to an allegation by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara about licences in Matara, he denied any political influence in licence issuance under the current Government and contrasted it with alleged practices under previous Rajapaksa administrations. He challenged Members to name anyone on the Government side who had improperly obtained such a licence. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Minister clarified that the stock market reference should be to the Price-to-Earnings ratio, noting that Sri Lanka’s P/E of about 9.28 implies an earnings yield broadly aligned with domestic interest rates and should not be compared internationally without accounting for interest rate differences. He also stated that liquor taxation adjustments are not hidden measures, but part of inflation- and rate-linked revisions affecting categories such as alcohol and electronics to support fiscal consolidation during economic recovery. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged irregularities in the issuance and transfer of liquor licences, including a licence granted to an allegedly unregistered company, alterations of beneficiary names, and licences issued to politically connected individuals and companies. He tabled a list of licences and asked the Government to investigate cases where multiple licences were issued to the same entities, including an alleged beneficiary under 21 years of age, and to cancel licences issued contrary to law. He also argued that tax and licensing leakages in the liquor sector were depriving the Government of substantial revenue, and requested action by the relevant Ministers and authorities. He additionally referred to concerns raised by a Deputy Solicitor General about attending court due to security issues, linking it to wider concerns about the rule of law. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in plans to divest SriLankan Catering and ground handling, noting their annual revenue of about USD 100 million while public funds are allocated for airline debt servicing. He warned of a staffing crisis in ground handling and load control due to low salaries and urged pay increases to prevent operational collapse. He also questioned the Government’s position on liquor licences, citing court orders and official correspondence restricting new licences, while pointing to a subsequent Excise Department letter seeking objections for a new RB-4 licence in Ukuwela. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the NPP had established an Economic and Business Council that includes prominent corporate directors, naming Sarath Ganegoda and Rohan Gunathilaka among others. He questioned what objection or issue was being raised regarding their involvement. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara asked for equal speaking time and raised a concern regarding the privatization of SriLankan Airlines. He questioned whether a conflict of interest exists if the airline’s Chairman is linked to Hayleys, a group reportedly interested in acquiring SriLankan, and noted the Chairman’s connections with individuals in the Government. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara rejected allegations linking him to Perpetual Treasuries, said his COPE questionnaire responses denied receiving money, and challenged critics to pursue legal action if evidence exists. He alleged government misstatements over promised graduate employment, asked for clarity on recruitment, and proposed listing portions of EPF, ETF, Bank of Ceylon, and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation holdings to deepen the Colombo Stock Exchange. He also called for equitable allocation of decentralized funds to Opposition MPs and sought urgent action and updated information on grounded SriLankan Airlines aircraft, citing global aircraft parts and engine-related constraints. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Twenty-sixth Day) and Third Reading Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake raised concerns about the use of Standing Order 27(2), arguing that it is intended for questions of public importance after notice to the relevant Minister, not for extensive data requests during Budget debates. He said some recent questions required hours of preparation and disrupted ministerial work, and proposed that such detailed matters be handled through normal oral questions, Consultative Committees, or discussion at the Parliamentary Business Committee. He urged the Opposition to use the procedure according to its purpose and said past misuse should not be continued. Question by Private Notice: Power Generation Policy Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa tabled several questions previously raised by the Opposition under Standing Order 27(2), stating that the procedure followed was proper and consistent with past practice. He argued that the substantive issue was whether policy was protecting a “diesel mafia” or prioritizing renewable energy, particularly solar, and called for an answer on that matter. Question by Private Notice: Power Generation Policy Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa stated that his series of questions was submitted in accordance with Standing Orders and was intended to address renewable energy policy, not to support diesel power interests. He urged the Government to maintain consistency between its election commitments and post-election policy on renewable energy and solar power. Question by Private Notice: Power Generation Policy Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government on whether recent decisions affecting solar power align with its policy commitment to add 2,000 MW of solar capacity to the national grid. He requested detailed information on existing coal and diesel plants, generation and purchase costs by source, solar capacity targets and achievements, rooftop and ground-mounted solar tariffs, pending project approvals, and the impact of new network limits imposed by a March 2025 circular. He also asked whether tariff reductions or regulatory delays could discourage investment, whether the Government was favouring diesel IPPs, and when amendments or a new Electricity Act would be presented to Parliament. Question by Private Notice: Power Generation Policy Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned a statement by Hon. Wijitha Herath that Booking.com should leave Sri Lanka if it does not pay taxes, noting that about 40 per cent of tourists use the platform. He asked whether the matter had been discussed with the Ministry of Finance, given the absence of a legal framework to tax such platforms, and sought clarification on what was meant by “removing” Booking.com. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that supplementary questions should remain relevant to the main question on printing notes and minting coins. He added that the Government’s management of public funds had reduced reliance on domestic borrowing and contributed to lower bank interest rates. He advised that detailed information on Treasury Bill issuance should be sought through a separate question to the Treasury. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned the Deputy Minister on government borrowings as of 5 March 2025, citing Rs. 3,775 billion in Treasury Bills, Rs. 1,063 billion in Treasury Bonds, and USD 1,084 million from the World Bank, IMF, and ADB. He asked for an explanation of how the total borrowings, estimated at about Rs. 5,156 billion, had been utilized. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Read →
- 21 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to Question No. 127/2024 on currency note printing, stating that although the Central Bank awarded the 2024 annual printing order on 20 October 2024, no consignment has yet been received and no notes have been printed since the 2024 Presidential Election. He cited the Monetary Law Act, No. 16 of 2023, to explain the Central Bank’s exclusive authority to issue currency, replace unfit notes and coins, maintain working stocks, and approve printing or minting orders. He added that future production and issuance of notes and coins will be based on demand forecasts, with annual or semi-annual orders placed as required. Oral Question No. 127/2024: Currency Notes and Coins Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake clarified that he did not oppose taxes on tobacco and gaming. He stated that his objection was limited to the other two matters under Clause 3(2)(c)(a) and (b), and asked that this position not be misinterpreted. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Read →