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 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised concerns under Standing Order 27(2) about the impact of reduced deposit interest rates and taxation on ordinary senior citizens who depend on interest income for basic needs such as healthcare and nutrition. He asked the Government to clarify the current withholding tax rate on deposit interest, whether the Budget proposes an increase, whether all senior citizens’ deposits are subject to the tax or threshold exemptions apply, and what mechanism exists for seniors to reclaim withheld tax, noting practical difficulties faced by many elderly depositors. Oral Question by Private Notice: Withholding Tax on Senior Citizens' Deposits and Valaichchenai Paper Factory Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister tabled an answer stating that the President’s Fund office was located in the Lake House building until 31 December 2024 and has since been relocated to the Standard Chartered Bank Building. She reported that the previous monthly cost at Lake House was Rs. 1,507,227.19, including rent, electricity and water, and that no additional monthly expenditure is incurred at the new premises because it uses unused space in a building already rented by the Presidential Secretariat since 2006. Oral Questions 2-5: Second Round (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary The Minister tabled an answer on water supply coverage in several areas, stating that Nediyamadu has about 90 per cent piped water coverage while Unnichchai has about 50 per cent, with high-elevation areas and low pressure limiting further connections in several villages. He said the NWSDB has begun pipeline extension measures and proposed package treatment plants, with works for Unnichchai expected to take about one year subject to external conditions, while no new Community Water Supply projects have begun due to resource constraints. Oral Questions 2-5: Second Round (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Government is pursuing digital economy initiatives to improve public service delivery, reduce administrative inefficiency, and increase transparency through streamlined processes, automated verification, and real-time data use. He cited immediate projects including the Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity, online issuance of civil certificates for overseas Sri Lankans, and an online President’s Fund application portal. He also outlined cashless payment measures, including the GovPay rollout, promotion of LankaQR for SMEs, efforts to reduce merchant discount rates, and plans for a national digital payments card for domestic transport and related transactions. Oral Questions 2-5: Second Round (Multiple Questions) Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government AI summary The Minister stated that Circular No. 445 already provides the governing framework for the matter, but acknowledged that past problems may have occurred during implementation. He undertook to examine the issue and take necessary steps to strengthen future State provision. Oral Question 1: Government Institutions - Security Companies (Q.1/4/2024) Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi raised concerns that despite the large number of State institutions, only a small proportion use State security service providers, while private security contracts have reportedly involved irregularities. He asked whether the Government would strengthen and expand the two State security entities, including by using retired military and Civil Security personnel, so they could provide security for more State institutions and reduce fraud and corruption in contracting. Oral Question 1: Government Institutions - Security Companies (Q.1/4/2024) Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.-H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government AI summary The Minister provided a written response listing, under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2412/08 of 25 November 2024, 24 ministries, 87 departments and 376 statutory boards. He stated that detailed institutional information had been compiled in Attachments 01–21, with some delays due to institutional changes since 2015, and identified Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd., LRDC Services (Pvt) Ltd. and the Civil Security Department as providers of government security services. He further noted that Public Finance Circular No. 445 of 12 August 2010 governs procurement of security services by public institutions and that the relevant attachments were placed in the Library on two CDs. Oral Question 1: Government Institutions - Security Companies (Q.1/4/2024) Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister said the issue should be addressed constructively within the Committee, noting agreement with Hon. Harsha de Silva’s approach and clarifying that the Deputy Minister had not opposed cigarette tax reform. He tabled an IPS policy paper on raising tobacco taxes, highlighting its estimate that a unified cigarette excise could have generated an additional LKR 23.6 billion in 2021. He stated that the cigarette tax structure showed signs of manipulation and urged the Committee to consider recommendations benefiting revenue and public health. Public Finance Committee Report and Procedural Exchanges Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma clarified that the relevant approval was not granted simply to facilitate passage of the Budget. He said the Committee had considered data, regional comparisons, and historical context before reaching a consensus that the current effective tax share was reasonable, and that approval was given only after sufficient satisfaction of the Committee. Public Finance Committee Report and Procedural Exchanges Read →
- 20 March 2025 The Hon. Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Harsha de Silva tabled several Committee on Public Finance reports relating to excise duties, special commodity levies, a tax treaty protocol with India, and the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill. He clarified that the Committee initially withheld approval for a proposed cigarette tax change pending further analysis but later approved it due to the need to proceed with the Appropriation Bill. He argued that Sri Lanka’s cigarette taxation method is flawed compared with WHO and UNDP best practice of taxing about 75 per cent of the retail price, noting that government revenue growth has lagged industry profits and that current adjustments create brand-level discrepancies. He proposed that Parliament make a fresh decision on cigarette taxation, with the Committee on Public Finance participating constructively. Public Finance Committee Report and Procedural Exchanges Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister explained that the retirement age for public officers was raised to 65 in 2022 but later reduced to 60 through the Interim Budget and Public Administration Circular 19/2022, with exceptions such as medical officers subject to a court order. He argued that retaining or selectively extending retirement to 65 would delay recruitment and promotions, reduce opportunities for youth, increase salary and pension costs, and risk unequal treatment across sectors. He proposed instead to conduct a proper human resource and cadre review and make timely recruitments, stating that Sri Lanka’s current youth workforce makes a general extension of the retirement age unnecessary. Adjournment Debate: Public Administration Circular No. 19/2022 Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera said the earlier extension of the public sector retirement age to 65 was a temporary response to the economic crisis and recruitment constraints, not a general policy to limit youth employment. He argued that any further extension should be justified only by proven shortages in the public service and assessed against efficiency, productivity, training opportunities for youth, and fiscal costs. He stressed that raising the retirement age could delay the entry of young, skilled workers into the public sector and should not obstruct youth employment. Adjournment Debate: Public Administration Circular No. 19/2022 Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper argued that Public Administration Circular No. 19/2022, which reduced the retirement age of public officers to 60, has created shortages in critical senior executive services, including the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, the Attorney-General’s Department, specialist medical services, and technical sectors such as Railways. He contrasted this with the earlier Circular No. 02/2022 and Gazette Extraordinary No. 2263/5, which had extended retirement to 65 due to recruitment constraints, and said the reversal was counterproductive. He proposed re-employing prematurely retired experienced officers, particularly in the Foreign Service, with their prior seniority and suspension of pension payments during contract service, rather than making external diplomatic appointments. Adjournment Debate: Public Administration Circular No. 19/2022 Read →
- 19 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to amend Head 301, Programme 01 by increasing the capital provision by Rs. 100,000,000 under Budget Proposal No. 53, setting recurrent expenditure at Rs. 88,000,000 and capital expenditure at Rs. 126,100,000. The amended allocations were approved and ordered to stand part of the Schedule. Allocations for Head 302, the Co-operative Employees Commission, were also approved, with Rs. 26,000,000 for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 900,000 for capital expenditure. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Members agreed to insert the listed recurrent and capital expenditure allocations into the Schedule, including amended capital expenditure of Rs. 497 million and multiple allocations under Head 116. The Committee also approved expenditure heads for the Department of Commerce, Registrar of Companies, Measurement Units, Standards and Services, National Intellectual Property Office, Food Commissioner, and Co-operative Development, with each ordered to stand part of the Schedule. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a question on VAT and other taxes affecting domestic products, stating that the Government is considering these issues. He said the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment would be strengthened through supplier and government-to-government commercial agreements, including with India, Vietnam, and Thailand, to ensure continuous supply and forward procurement. He added that the Ministry aims to re-enter wholesale trade and oversee wholesale markets such as Peliyagoda and Polonnaruwa to provide goods at affordable prices. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara requested clarification from the Minister regarding the financial burden on co-operatives. He stated that co-operatives are facing a severe crisis due to paying 18 percent VAT in addition to payments to the relevant Department, and asked for the matter to be addressed. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the institution responsible for supplying goods to Sathosa had previously been closed and is now being restarted. He announced plans to establish three wholesale trading centres in Colombo, Matara and Kurunegala within the year. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister stated that prices of 40 essential items sold through Sathosa have been reduced by 20 per cent compared with the previous six months, and that a related document was tabled. He said the Government intends to continue reducing prices to provide relief, while noting that procurement has been constrained because the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment had been inactive and its lorry fleet had previously been sold as scrap. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →
- 19 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined measures to strengthen the co-operative sector, including reinforcing the Co-operative Insurance Company and clarifying that director appointments remain the responsibility of individual co-operatives based on shareholding. He said the Ministry, through the Registrar of Companies, aims to expand capital market participation by encouraging more sizeable companies to list on the stock exchange. He also announced legal reforms to enable Geographical Indications and plans to accede to the Madrid Protocol within the year to secure international protection for Sri Lankan products, arts, music, and inventions, while continuing efforts to strengthen Sathosa and the CWE. Committee of Supply: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 116 and Related Heads (Trade, Commerce, Food Security) Read →