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- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan argued that powers removed from Provincial Councils after the 13th Amendment, including in cooperatives, education, health, agriculture and irrigation, should be restored and further devolution pursued. He called for Provincial Council elections to be held without delay and said the Eastern Province’s 2025 capital allocation, though increased, was inadequate for its needs. He requested action to fill staff vacancies in the Eastern Provincial Council and Local Authorities, provide waste-collection vehicles, fire engines and heavy machinery, and broaden Local Authority powers. He also referred to the Mahinda Deshapriya Delimitation Commission recommendation to reduce Local Authority members from 8,356 to 4,714 by a future election. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy stated that a draft report containing recommendations on labour-related issues, based on discussions with relevant institutions, is not yet finalized but will be tabled later. He said the Ministry and Department of Labour could act on its findings, particularly to address irregularities in the Employees’ Provident Fund and to regularize wage-related practices. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy argued that the Department of Labour and related bodies are underutilizing their capacity, stating that less than 40 percent of possible work is being achieved despite the availability of institutions such as the National Productivity Secretariat and Labour Welfare Fund. He questioned recent administrative changes that separated or reassigned labour, productivity, and foreign employment functions, arguing that Labour and Foreign Employment should remain together to better address sectoral issues. He also noted that a draft report prepared during his chairmanship of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Foreign Employment and Labour had not been tabled because Parliament was dissolved, and said he hoped to present it later. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hector Appuhamy said that during the debate on the Votes for Public Administration, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Labour, he intended to present proposals despite reduced speaking time. He criticized the Government for assigning Grama Niladharis to count monkeys and macaques, arguing that they should instead be given more substantial responsibilities. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal supported the Votes of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, stating that its Rs. 496.5 billion allocation should be used efficiently through GN, Divisional Secretariat and Pradeshiya Sabha structures to improve service delivery. He raised concerns about past lapses in fund distribution, local authority boundary delimitation in Puttalam, the needs of fisheries and salt producers in Kalpitiya and Puttalam, and requested assistance for affected communities. He also called for urgent action to fill Tamil and Sinhala Government Translator vacancies, noted planned recruitment of 30,000 public sector employees, and said the Government is arranging the delayed Local Government Elections. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera highlighted inadequate facilities and workspace in Divisional Secretariat offices, attributing inefficiencies partly to large recruitments without corresponding duties or infrastructure. He questioned the actual impact of proposed public sector salary increases and urged the Government to address long-standing salary anomalies affecting Management Service Officers, noting prior assurances that these would be resolved through the Budget. He also called for urgent delimitation of Divisional Secretariat boundaries in parts of Kegalle District to reduce travel burdens on residents, and urged the Government to implement the proposed Rs. 1,700 wage for plantation workers through the Wages Board or another mechanism. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan sought clarity on whether the proposed plantation wage is a basic daily wage or aggregated earnings, calling for an unconditional Rs. 1,700 per day without requirements such as 25 days’ work. He said support would depend on effective implementation and recalled earlier demands for higher wages that were not delivered. He also raised salary anomalies and promotion issues affecting Management Assistants, local authority clerical officers, and graduates, proposing a return to competitive examination-based promotions and the application of MN3 rather than MN2 salary scales. He urged the Government to protect the interests of public servants and the plantation community, noting their electoral support, and said he would address plantation sector matters further during the relevant ministry debate. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Government is finalizing the Rs. 1,700 plantation wage agreement through the Wages Board, following earlier non-compliance by some companies. He said the proposed structure is Rs. 1,350 as the daily wage with a Rs. 350 kilo-rate top-up, and that most companies have agreed despite continued resistance from some. He added that companies have been asked to provide 25 days of work so workers can earn a monthly equivalent of Rs. 33,750. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan opposed the proposed transfer of the Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton and requested funds to construct or adapt facilities in Norwood, arguing that the service point must remain accessible to the large Norwood/Maskeliya population. He also called for improved facilities and staffing at Talawakelle DS, relocation of Valapane DS to Ragala, and stronger integration of Malaiyaha estate communities into public administration without reliance on estate management approvals. He urged action to regularize documentation and release EPF/ETF entitlements for workers in state-run and leased estates, citing missing records, unpaid benefits, and lack of compensation. He further questioned whether the Government had secured plantation company agreement to implement the promised Rs. 1,700 daily wage. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Shanta Pathma Kumara Subasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Shanta Pathma Kumara Subasingha defended the Government against allegations of political victimization, citing past treatment of officials under previous administrations, and argued that current recruitment of public servants and teachers would be conducted transparently through competitive examinations. He highlighted Budget allocations for 30,000 public sector recruitments, including teachers, and referred to teacher vacancies in Sabaragamuwa and planned recruitment of NIE diploma holders and education graduates. He also outlined allocations under the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, including school and preschool nutrition programmes, preschool teacher allowances, completion of “Nearest School is the Best School,” and public sector salary increases, while stating that economic indicators were improving under the Government. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa argued that the Government was using IMF obligations to depart from its election promises, including through policies such as the 15 per cent tax on IT services. He urged the establishment of a depoliticized National Policy Commission under the Presidential Secretariat to ensure continuity in national policy, noting that a previous Cabinet Paper on the matter had stalled. He also raised concerns about politicization in the public service, difficulty attracting professionals to ministries, graduate employment promises, estate worker wages, doctors’ additional duty payment calculations, and issues in the Public Management Assistants’ Service. He called on the Government to consult stakeholders before changing established arrangements or making key administrative and fiscal decisions. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana NDF AI summary Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana welcomed the decision to hold local government elections but questioned the lack of a polling date, noting that nominations are set for March 17-20 and that the law requires polling within 35 to 55 days after nominations close. He urged the Government to clarify the date promptly to address public doubts arising from previous postponements. He also said public servants would judge promised salary increases by their April payslips, and warned that administrative issues, including the announced wildlife census, could have political consequences. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister outlined labour force figures and sectoral employment patterns while focusing on proposed wage increases in the public, private, plantation and pension sectors. He said the Government would amend the Minimum Wages Act to consolidate allowances and raise the private sector basic minimum wage to Rs. 30,000 by January next year, while plantation wage arrangements were being negotiated around a daily minimum and kilo-rate options. He detailed increases to public sector salaries, including for clerical/support grades, drivers, development officers, police, nurses and doctors, and stated that overtime and daily-rate calculations would increase rather than reduce payments. He said the Budget allocates about Rs. 325 billion over three years for public sector salary increases and about Rs. 40 billion for pension enhancements, and rejected claims that health-sector allowances or rates had been cut. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised concerns on public service promotions, recruitment, allowances, and alleged administrative victimization, calling for restoration of merit-based promotion examinations, implementation of the MN 3 salary category, and the holding of the advertised 2020 open competition for Management Service Officers. He urged action on Grama Niladhari demands, including allowances, staffing support, and a transparent Service Minute with fair promotion arrangements. He also requested a clear statement on promised graduate recruitments, cited unemployed graduates and teacher appointment delays, and tabled a related petition. He further called for accountability over delays to local government elections and urged that State or religious-cultural programmes not be used in ways that affect a level electoral playing field. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary Public servants who contested in elections faced hardships such as long-distance travel and, in some cases, resignation from their posts. The Minister stated that the Government is working to provide relief to those affected and will outline a broader 2025 work programme at a later stage. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister outlined measures to strengthen the public service, including salary and pension increases, recruitment to SLAS and other services, and the raising of age limits for delayed examinations. He said the Budget provides for recruiting 30,000 young persons, filling Grama Niladhari and technical officer vacancies, increasing GN allowances, revising the GN Service Minute, and expanding digitization initiatives such as e-GN and divisional secretariat pilots. He also stated that outdated public administration rules are being reviewed and simplified, and that funds are being provided to enable the Election Commission to conduct postponed local government elections independently. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala urged the Government to focus on delivering promised change rather than engaging in personal attacks. He raised public service salary anomaly issues, including proposals from the Joint Trade Union Alliance of Management Service Officers to amend the 2025 Budget at Committee Stage and grant the 1111/3 salary scale in line with Public Service Commission recommendations. He also tabled documents on resolving long-standing salary issues affecting graduate appointees in substitute or temporary service, and the documents were placed in the Library. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala called for major reforms in public administration institutions, from Grama Niladhari offices to District Secretariats, to improve efficiency and service delivery. He urged the Government to hold local authority elections and then proceed promptly to Provincial Council elections, arguing that unelected administrators cannot meet public expectations. He disputed claims about unprecedented public sector salary increases, citing the 2015-2020 period, and said current pay rises are insufficient against rising living costs and pensioner hardship. He said the Opposition would support constructive reforms, including restructuring the enlarged public sector, while criticizing hostile responses to Members raising public issues. Appropriation Bill 2025 — Twelfth Allotted Day — Committee Stage Read →
- 4 March 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip AI summary The Minister stated that the 2025 Budget does not reduce doctors’ allowances, responding to announced strike action by the Government Medical Officers’ Association and related criticism from Opposition figures. He said the Government is increasing doctors’ basic salaries in phased stages from April 2025 to January 2027, with examples across grades ranging from preliminary grade doctors to consultants, and is also raising extra duty and holiday allowance rates. He argued that doctors are receiving significant salary, increment, allowance, and PAYE tax relief benefits without the need for trade union action, and said some professionals had been misinformed about the full figures. Ministerial Statement: Salary increases for doctors (Budget 2025) Read →
- 4 March 2025 Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage – Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports AI summary Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage stated that the original sports facility project begun in 2016 was halted because earth filling led to waterlogging and flooding, making construction of the indoor stadium and drainage impracticable. He said the project was then shifted to the Emil Nagar/Naruvilikulam playground in the Nanattan DS Division, Mannar, where work began in 2017. He added that the approved swimming pool is under construction and that funds have been allocated in 2025 for an indoor sports hall and a 400-metre track. Ministerial Statements and Points of Order Read →