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- 6 March 2025 Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about health-sector workforce retention amid migration and vacancies, urging the Government to restore or revise reduced allowances for doctors and nurses, update approved cadres, and address issues affecting postgraduate trainees, peripheral postings, and transport permits. He called for recruitment of unemployed allied health and Ayurveda graduates, regularization of dengue control assistants, overtime for minor hospital staff, resolution of Public Health Midwife vacancies and allowances, and implementation of the Cabinet decision to extend nurses’ compulsory retirement age to 63. He also asked the Government to review provisions of the Ayurveda Amendment Act No. 19 of 2023 and address shortages and costs in indigenous medicine. He concluded by proposing that health and education be constitutionally recognized as fundamental rights and said the Opposition would support such reform. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa said the Government had increased basic salaries across health sector categories, including raising preliminary grade doctors’ basic salary from Rs. 54,290 to Rs. 94,000, and that discussions with unions had helped avert planned strikes while maintaining services with revised extra duty, overtime and public holiday rates. He outlined allocations and modernization plans for the Department of Posts, including Rs. 23.9 billion in funding, new and upgraded post offices, vehicle fleet renewal, and development of selected post offices and the Postal Museum as tourist attractions. He also detailed Mass Media Ministry initiatives, including Rs. 5.52 billion in allocations, Presidential Media Awards, a proposed chartered institute for journalists, a National Media Policy by June, journalist scholarships, Government Press modernization, expedited TV digitalization, and reforms to depoliticize State media. He added that the Sri Lanka Foundation would be redirected from venue-related activities to its original policy support role. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa outlined the Government’s health policy framework under “A Sustainable Life – A Healthy Nation,” linking it to Universal Health Coverage and SDG 3, and stated that the 2025 Budget provides Rs. 604 billion for the overall health sector, including provincial services. He identified five priorities: strengthening primary healthcare, upgrading hospitals, ensuring uninterrupted quality medicines, addressing health workforce issues, and developing health tourism. He emphasized the burden of non-communicable diseases and population ageing, and announced plans to upgrade 1,031 primary facilities, allocate Rs. 12.1 billion for primary healthcare development, pursue a new US$100 million World Bank project for 1,000 primary care centres, and seek donor land for community-level facilities. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana highlighted the continuous nature of work by doctors, nurses and health officials and argued that the effective health allocation had fallen to 1.8 percent after adjustments, despite a stated 3 percent policy commitment. He placed data on non-communicable disease mortality and patient facilities in the Library, asked the Minister to investigate footage of National Hospital patients being moved along the main road, and welcomed the removal of VAT on packaging for local pharmaceutical production. He also raised concern that about 200 of 550 medicines were in short supply due to tender and letter-of-credit delays, citing labetalol, salbutamol respiratory solution, human albumin and coagulation factors, and called for attention to health education. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana moved the customary token cut during the Committee Stage debate on the 2025 Appropriation Bill and acknowledged allocations for health digitization, primary care, epidemic preparedness, mental health, nutrition for pregnant mothers, medicines, and the Suwaseriya ambulance service. He urged increased medicine funding and highlighted staffing pressures, long working hours, limited extra duty payments, and the need to motivate doctors, nurses and allied health professionals amid brain drain concerns. He requested that about Rs. 6 billion be provided, even in phases, for health sector extra duty payments, citing past salary and allowance arrangements and contrasting the amount with other large public expenditures. Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Health and Mass Media Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that a tile factory abandoned during the LTTE conflict and unsuccessfully targeted for revival since 2015 is now being restarted under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. He said Rs. 15 million was allocated in 2024 and, following accelerated implementation under a new Chairman, production would commence on 7 March with an initial capacity of 5,800 tiles per day and about 150 jobs. He added that the project aims to supply affordable tiles and bricks to the Northern community and that further capital needs have been identified to sustain operations. Private Notice Question: Reopening of Tile Factory in Oddusuddan Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Eighteen projects were identified, of which six have been halted, including the Kerawalapitiya power evacuation cable, Terrestrial Television Digitization Project, Central Expressway Section 3, LRT, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Wastewater Treatment Plant, and BIA Development Project. The tabled answer outlined current measures for each, including alternative financing, Cabinet-level review, domestic funding, reassessment of Colombo transport options, constraints from public protests, and restarting procurement for BIA after the OCC agreement and resumption of debt servicing. Oral Questions (Q.1-4) Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha) SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, on behalf of Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for details on Japanese-assisted projects proposed since 2015. He sought the total number of such projects, the number and names of those currently halted, and the measures planned to resume them, or reasons if the information cannot be provided. Oral Questions (Q.1-4) Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary As Minister of Labour, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha tabled a written answer stating that 22,450 institutions are required to pay EPF contributions, with outstanding dues of Rs. 34.99 billion as of 28 February 2025. He said the detailed list of institutions and the EPF recovery process were placed in the Library, and outlined recovery measures including inspections, notices, instalment plans, and Magistrates’ Court action for persistent non-compliance. Oral Questions (Q.1-4) Read →
- 6 March 2025 Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. Rohana Bandara) SJB AI summary Asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for monthly figures from 1 January 2024 to date on SriLankan Airlines flight delays and cancellations. He also requested the additional costs incurred due to those disruptions and the measures proposed to address them, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided. Oral Questions (Q.1-4) Read →
- 5 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to an amendment to Head 151, Programme 02, increasing the capital allocation by Rs. 200 million to Rs. 5,198 million for implementation of Budget Proposal No. 47, while approving recurrent expenditure of Rs. 1,627 million. The Committee also approved allocations for the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under Head 290, Programme 01: Rs. 4,191 million for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 187 million for capital expenditure. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB AI summary An amendment was moved at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2025, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, relating to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources. It proposed replacing the relevant line in the Bill to set the Ministry’s capital allocation at Rs. 5,427,000,000. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report Read →
- 5 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to an amendment moved by Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage to increase the recurrent provision under Head 331, Programme 02, by Rs. 500 million, raising it to Rs. 21.036 billion, with capital expenditure set at Rs. 1.101 billion. The amended recurrent and capital allocations were approved and ordered to stand part of the Schedule, followed by the listing of the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources allocations of Rs. 6.213 billion recurrent and Rs. 5.227 billion capital. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report Read →
- 5 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to an amendment to Head 124, Programme 02, increasing the capital provision by Rs. 600 million under Budget Proposals Nos. 32 and 51, setting development activities allocations at Rs. 1,571.3 million recurrent and Rs. 4,893.7 million capital. The Committee then approved the relevant recurrent and capital allocations for the Department of Social Services under Head 216 and the Department of Samurdhi Development under Head 331, including operational and development activity provisions. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report Read →
- 5 March 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to insert increased allocations into the Schedule, approving Rs. 24.99 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 6.16 billion for capital expenditure. It also approved allocations under Head 124, Programme 01, including Rs. 270 million for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 24 million for capital expenditure, with further figures noted for Programme 02 development activities. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Upali Pannilage moved a Committee Stage amendment to the Appropriation Bill, 2025, for the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. The amendment proposed replacing the relevant budget lines with allocations of Rs. 24.99 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 6.16 billion for capital expenditure. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage: Final Amendments and Progress Report Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Concluding the debate on his Ministry, the Minister said the Aswasuma data system would be updated within a year in line with the Government’s policy statement and would be used to determine benefits this year. He stated that the Samurdhi Development Department had been re-strengthened, with higher office allowances for officers and managers, proper duties and allowances for graduates in Samurdhi Banks, and promotion schemes introduced across several grades. He also noted a Cabinet decision to allow eligible long-serving Samurdhi officers to retire, and said the elderly allowance had been increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 while expanding beneficiaries from about 857,000 to 1,020,000. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy criticised the Government’s handling of the Aswasuma welfare scheme, arguing that unclear selection criteria were placing local officials in difficulty and risked politicising assistance ahead of elections. He called for a fairer system that targets genuinely needy households and for programmes that help people move out of poverty rather than relying only on cash transfers. On fisheries, he said the Budget lacked a comprehensive programme for the sector despite its importance to food supply, livelihoods and foreign exchange. He urged equal enforcement of bans on harmful fishing methods, action against Indian bottom trawlers, protection for seasonal fishers migrating between regions, timely relief payments, fuel and tax support, completion of harbour works including Muttuvaram, and measures to reduce the cost and improve the quality of fishing gear and export handling facilities. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa defended the Budget’s use of existing lawful data systems and said a fuller scientific database on vulnerable groups had not been developed by previous governments. He outlined the Ministry’s 2025–2029 community empowerment programme targeting two million families, with circulars issued and officers briefed to prepare family development plans. Citing data on elderly persons, persons with disabilities, informal workers, drug addiction, mental health issues and families of prisoners, he argued that welfare spending such as Aswasuma must shift from dependency relief to economic and social empowerment through locally based livelihoods, youth employment and coordinated field work by ministry and Samurdhi officers. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Read →
- 5 March 2025 The Hon. Stephni Fernando JJB AI summary Hon. Stephni Fernando argued for shifting fisheries policy from extraction to conservation and sustainable, higher-value production, citing the Maldives as an example and noting damage from banned nets, plastics, and poor awareness among fishing communities. She said the Government would educate fisherfolk, enforce the 1979 prohibition on foreign poaching through new amendments, support domestic canned fish production through 21 factories, and implement coral reef and marine protection measures including the Clean Sri Lanka initiative. She also disputed an Opposition claim about salt prices, stating that a 50 kg bag costs about Rs. 4,500, and linked fisheries development to national economic growth. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Read →