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- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary The Minister answered a question on investigations into a power system incident, stating that two committees were appointed by the Ministry of Energy and the then CEB, and listing their membership. He said the Ministry Committee recommended measures including reviewing spinning reserve and under-frequency load-shedding criteria, using plants as synchronous condensers, implementing storage and blackout restoration arrangements, improving Lakvijaya restart procedures, promoting battery-backed rooftop solar, tariff incentives, BESS procurement, and renewable energy forecasting desks. He added that neither report identified specific officials as directly responsible, both reports were placed in the Library, and the CEB had been instructed to implement the Ministry Committee’s recommendations through a four-member committee. Oral Question Q.5 (642/2025): Committees Investigated into Nationwide Power Failure on 09.02.2025 Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Kins Nelson SJB AI summary Hon. Kins Nelson asked the Minister of Energy for details on the nationwide power failure of 09.02.2025, including whether the Minister was aware of it and how many committees were appointed by the Ministry and the Ceylon Electricity Board to investigate it. He requested the membership of each committee, their findings, the officials identified as directly responsible, and the actions to be taken based on the reports. Oral Question Q.5 (642/2025): Committees Investigated into Nationwide Power Failure on 09.02.2025 Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary Anura Karunathilaka stated that ex-gratia payments for voluntary retirees are planned in two phases, with the Treasury expected to provide 50 per cent following a Cabinet paper already submitted. He said approval is expected the following week, enabling payment of the first 50 per cent by the 15th of the month, with the remaining 50 per cent to follow shortly thereafter. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara alleged that losses from a coal procurement fraud should be recovered from those responsible and linked this to concerns over the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board. He questioned the Government about reported suspicious employee deaths, delayed voluntary retirement payments to workers who relied on union assurances, and asked whether and when those payments would be made, including whether bank support would be required. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary Anura Karunathilaka stated that the measure in question is not intended to be financed through bank borrowing or by passing costs on to the public. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara questioned whether the Government intends to borrow funds to cover the relevant expenditure or shortfall. The intervention sought clarification on the financing method rather than making a broader policy argument. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka stated that losses from substandard coal would not be transferred to electricity consumers. He said part of the loss would be recovered from the responsible party through the prescribed procedures, in line with the President’s position. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara linked CEB borrowing and possible tariff increases to cost-recovery failures and the coal procurement issues affecting the Norochcholai power plant. He argued that reduced coal generation had forced greater use of costly liquid fuels and asked whether losses from coal-quality problems would be passed on to consumers through a proposed 20 per cent tariff increase or financed through bank borrowing. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy JJB AI summary In response to a question on Ceylon Electricity Board borrowings, the Minister stated that the CEB had obtained loans from the Bank of Ceylon, National Savings Bank, and People’s Bank, with an outstanding balance of Rs. 11.67 billion as of 28 February 2026 for loans held as of 31 December 2024. He said detailed schedules were tabled in the Library and noted that tariffs are generally structured on a cost-reflective basis, with efforts to reduce generation and operating costs in order to minimize future bank borrowing. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara asked the Minister of Energy whether the Ceylon Electricity Board had obtained loans from State banks as of 2024, and requested the names of the banks and the outstanding loan amounts. He also sought details of the measures being taken by the Ministry to reduce the CEB’s reliance on bank borrowing, or an explanation if the information could not be provided. Oral Question Q.4 (568/2025): Loans Obtained from State Banks by CEB Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe outlined ongoing and planned tourism promotion activities, noting that over Rs. 6 billion was spent on trade fair promotion in the previous year. He said a Rs. 5 billion global promotion programme is before the Treasury and awaiting Cabinet approval, while a Rs. 1 billion short-term campaign targeting off-season markets in China, India, Australia, and Spain has already been approved. Further promotional activities are expected to begin within about a month, subject to standard government procedures. Oral Question Q.3 (467/2025): Tourist Arrivals from 2010 - Details Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe stated that talks have begun on tax remittance mechanisms and further discussions are underway on information sharing. He said the matter must be handled responsibly but will not be allowed to continue indefinitely, and that necessary measures are being developed. Oral Question Q.3 (467/2025): Tourist Arrivals from 2010 - Details Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe said regulation of online accommodation platforms must be handled carefully because many small guesthouses depend on them for bookings and could be harmed if platforms delist properties in response to taxation measures. He stated that discussions have begun with the platforms to bring them into a tax payment framework, which would support oversight, and that SLTDA is implementing registration to bring informal accommodation providers into compliance. Oral Question Q.3 (467/2025): Tourist Arrivals from 2010 - Details Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the Government on the lack of answers to his earlier queries regarding online accommodation and payment platforms, including Airbnb and Booking.com. He asked for an update on a payment platform reportedly being developed in Brisbane from March 2025 and due within two years, and raised concerns that offshore settlement of tourism-related transactions is reducing revenue captured in Sri Lanka. He urged the Government to explain how it will prevent such leakages and ensure these financial flows are brought within the domestic system. Oral Question Q.3 (467/2025): Tourist Arrivals from 2010 - Details Read →
- 5 May 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Central Bank has separate investigative units for banking and non-bank financial activities, but microfinance providers currently operate under varied registration statuses or outside existing legal frameworks. He said the newly established Microfinance Regulatory Authority will bring all non-bank microfinance activities under oversight, enabling supervision and intervention. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about unregistered entities, including purported plantation schemes, collecting public deposits by promising high interest without Central Bank approval. Referring to the reported theft of USD 2.5 million from the Central Bank and unsatisfactory responses before the Committee on Public Finance, he asked who would be responsible for future safeguards and what measures the Finance Ministry would propose. He specifically sought clarification on internal audit, IT audit and risk assessment mechanisms within the Central Bank, and on government systems to identify and act against unregistered deposit-taking entities to protect the public. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Read →
- 5 May 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the matters raised by the Member would be examined to determine any further action. He said the Rs. 950 million mobilization and subsequent permissions were undertaken within the legal and regulatory framework then in force, including in the context of requests to revive the entity after a licence cancellation notice. He added that further fund-raising was not permitted after licence cancellation and that, during liquidation, employee and depositor payments were made according to preferential payment orders. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised concerns about the collapse of The Finance Company, alleging that despite assets exceeding liabilities when the Central Bank intervened in 2008, subsequent actions led to insolvency and losses for depositors. He questioned the mobilization of nearly Rs. 950 million in new deposits before the licence cancellation in 2019, alleged possible misuse of company funds and assets, and argued that insurance payouts did not amount to full repayment of depositors’ money. He requested the Government to intervene beyond the existing liquidation process, appoint a commission or new committee, and provide relief and justice to affected depositors. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Read →
- 5 May 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha answered on behalf of the Minister of Finance, stating that a Cabinet Memorandum on The Finance Company PLC submitted by Hon. Ajith Nivard Cabraal was later withdrawn and therefore no Cabinet decision on restructuring was taken. He said the Central Bank had provided opportunities from 2019 to identify an investor, but after those efforts failed the licence was cancelled in May 2020 and liquidation proceedings were filed in the Colombo Commercial High Court in February 2021. He detailed payments under the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance Scheme, noting that Rs. 12.96 billion had been paid to 36,479 depositors up to 21 May 2024, with compensation limited by law to Rs. 1.1 million per eligible depositor, or Rs. 1.2 million where applicable under later provisions. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the Minister of Finance on the handling of “The Finance Company” liquidation and compensation to depositors. He asked for details on Cabinet approval and investor calls for the proposed restructuring, queried the consistency of that process with the Central Bank’s Commercial High Court liquidation filing on 15 February 2021, and sought information on payments under the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme. He also asked whether the deposit insurance fund could cover all dues, why not if insufficient, and what action would be taken regarding claims that the Central Bank allowed the company to earn over Rs. 950 million through the Special Standing Deposit Facility before cancelling its licence. Oral Question Q.2 (361/2024): The Finance Company - Liquidation and Compensation to Depositors Read →