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- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad argued that debate on the President’s and Prime Minister’s expenditure heads should distinguish necessary institutional and functional spending from personal luxury, while scrutinizing whether the Government is delivering on campaign pledges such as increased education funding and anti-corruption action. He questioned progress on recovering alleged stolen assets, returning Arjuna Mahendran, and strengthening CIABOC, proposing greater resources, coordination with the Attorney-General and CID, divisional-level offices, and regular reviews. He tabled a citizen proposals report on Budget 2025, called for digitizing parliamentary processes, strengthening independent commissions and the Election Commission, and sought clarification on reported procurement and port container release issues. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe rejected Opposition claims of Government pressure on the Election Commission and asked that any evidence be tabled in Parliament. During the Committee Stage debate on the President’s Head, he argued that public funds had long been spent on excessive Presidential residences despite widespread housing need, and said the Government would retain only the Colombo and Kandy residences for state purposes while reallocating the others for public use. He also cited the former Agriculture Ministry building lease as an example of misuse of public funds and said the Government was taking steps to reduce costs, restore stability after bankruptcy, and implement its Budget commitments. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned the Government on its mandate to introduce a new Constitution and abolish the Executive Presidency, asking for clear timelines and criticizing the lack of clarity in statements by Government leaders. He argued that the remuneration of 159 NPP MPs imposes a substantial public cost and urged them to forgo or redirect those funds if they are serious about saving public money. He alleged Government pressure on independent institutions, including the National Police Commission, Bribery Commission, Constitutional Council process, Election Commission and Human Rights Commission, and raised concerns about proposed changes to the PTA, noting a gap between earlier promises of repeal and current moves toward amendment or replacement. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera criticised the Budget for lacking a clear national vision and practical measures to uplift rural communities beyond limited cash relief. He argued that despite references to welfare and progressiveness, the Budget did not revive public hopes, support youth aspirations, or provide a direct plan for nearly three million struggling small and medium entrepreneurs. He said expenditure cuts alone were insufficient without capital formation and wealth creation, and called for open discussion on addressing the deficit and debt. He also objected to the reported 15 per cent tax on digital foreign earnings, including platform-based income, saying it undermined young earners who bring dollars into the country. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said the Committee Stage debate on the 2025 Appropriation Bill covers key Special Expenditure Heads and marks the beginning of implementing the Government’s policy programme, including a participatory constitutional reform process. She argued that the Government’s proposed “new political culture” requires reducing the financial burden of political offices on citizens, managing public funds prudently, and treating official privileges as tied to office rather than personal entitlement. Citing past expenditure on presidential foreign travel, she said necessary official travel had previously been abused and used the figures to justify stricter oversight of perquisites and expenditure. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Moved a traditional cut-motion to reduce by Rs. 10 the recurrent and capital allocations under specified Heads being debated at the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025. He objected that the reply to the Second Reading debate was delivered by the Leader of the House rather than the Minister of Finance or a Deputy, calling it a departure from parliamentary tradition. He urged the Government to withdraw remaining Aragalaya-related cases and associated restrictions against protesters, and raised concerns that some Opposition party leaders’ access to the Parliamentary Business Committee had been curtailed despite claims of an inclusive Legislature. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa sought the Speaker’s permission to briefly raise a question concerning the 15 per cent SVAT. The intervention appears to introduce a query on that tax matter, but no further details or demands are included in the provided excerpt. Oral Question under Standing Order 27(2): Rule of Law and Inclusive Justice System Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna stated that the Provincial Public Service Commission membership had increased from eight, including the Chairman, to ten, while noting that the law sets only a minimum of three members and no maximum. He said expenditure control was important and further reductions could be considered, but argued that larger savings had already been made elsewhere in the overall budgetary context. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the Speaker on the expansion of the Uva Provincial Public Service Commission from 6 to 10 members. He argued that this would increase costs despite prior commitments to reduce expenditure, and asked why such a large membership was needed for Uva. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna – Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government AI summary In response to Question 389/2025, the Minister stated that the Uva Province Public Service Commission currently has 10 members, compared with 8 previously including the Chairman. He said details on members’ names, previous institutions, positions, social responsibilities, and allowances were provided in annexes, and indicated that part (b) was not applicable. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna – Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government AI summary The Minister answered Question 291/2024 on the “Majma Nagar” Cemetery in Batticaloa, stating that the 10-acre State land is under the Koralaipattu West (Oddamavadi) Pradeshiya Sabha, with a request submitted to vest it formally in the Sabha and acquisition steps to follow. He said no Central Government funds were allocated for its development, while maintenance was met from Pradeshiya Sabha funds and private donations supported burials, construction materials, a multipurpose building, fencing, electricity, and machinery use. He also noted that 3,634 bodies were buried there between 5 March 2021 and 5 March 2022. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi JJB AI summary Additional budgetary provisions have been allocated to strengthen staffing and address vacancies in the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Necessary follow-up measures will be taken to implement these staffing improvements. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha highlighted the scale and cost of human-elephant conflict, citing 3,519 elephant deaths and 1,198 human deaths over ten years, with substantial public expenditure on related compensation and departmental costs. He noted that deaths declined in 2024 compared to 2023 and attributed this partly to improved management by the Department, including civil defence support and better fence management. He urged the Minister to address staffing shortages urgently, strengthen cadre and performance monitoring, and asked whether measures would be taken to increase staffing and ensure their effectiveness. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi – Minister of Environment AI summary The Minister answered Question 188/2024 on human-elephant conflict, providing expenditure figures for electric fence construction and maintenance from 2015 to 2024 and data on elephant deaths, human deaths and property damage, noting increases in cumulative casualties and damage in 2020-2024 compared with 2015-2019. He stated that no separate item was applicable under part (a)(iii) and tabled a document setting out ongoing mitigation measures, including expansion and maintenance of electric fencing, deployment of Civil Security personnel, night patrols, elephant crackers, compensation payments and GPS-collar research. He also outlined further measures such as habitat enrichment, protection of elephant corridors, community awareness programmes, removal or capture of identified problem elephants, and trials using drones, ultrasonic devices, bee sounds, smoke deterrents and fence upgrades. Oral Questions: Power Generation (Q.153/2024), Human-Elephant Conflict (Q.188/2024), Majma Nagar Cemetery (Q.291/2024), Public Service Commission Uva Province (Q.389/2025) Read →
- 27 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva presented the Committee on Public Finance report on the 2025 Appropriation Bill under Standing Order No. 121(5)(11), noting that it assesses whether budget allocations align with Government policy priorities such as education. He said the Committee had prepared the 50-page report without dedicated technical support and stressed that, unlike COPE and COPA, it requires a technical team rather than only a consultant to conduct effective scrutiny of Bills, regulations, and budget estimates. He also recorded the Committee’s thanks to the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka and named researchers who assisted with the report. Papers: Ministerial Notifications and Reports (Excise Ordinance, Foundation and Corporate Reports, Public Finance Committee Report) Read →
- 27 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister presented two excise-related instruments issued by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development: a notification on liquor excise duty under the Excise Ordinance and an order on excise duty under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act. She moved that these be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, which the House agreed to, and also tabled the List of Proposed Alterations in the Legends of Draft Estimates 2025. Papers: Ministerial Notifications and Reports (Excise Ordinance, Foundation and Corporate Reports, Public Finance Committee Report) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake defended the National People’s Power Government’s first Budget, arguing that its first 100 days should be assessed on political discipline, social stability, and fiscal management as well as on the Budget text. He said problems such as passport queues, shortages of rice, coconuts and salt, the port container backlog, the Grade 5 scholarship paper leak, high prices, and organized crime stemmed from past mismanagement, and outlined steps taken or planned to address them. He emphasized ethical governance, citing prompt responses to controversies over qualifications and statements, and rejected claims that allocations such as the Rs. 100 million Thambuththegama Railway Station feasibility study were personal projects. He also highlighted improved parliamentary performance, including timely answers to oral and Standing Order 27(2) questions, and said the Government was maintaining elections and parliamentary discipline without misuse of state resources. Second Reading: Disposal of Waste (Prohibition) Bill 2025 Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar criticised the 2025 Budget, arguing that the Government had broken election promises on borrowing, debt repayment, taxation, public sector salary increases, senior citizens’ deposits, and relief on food, health and education costs. He questioned the credibility of projected revenue and borrowing figures, warned that welfare and capital expenditure could be cut if targets are not met, and said the Budget continued policies associated with the previous administration, including asset sales, SOE listing and private use of state land. He also raised concerns over taxes on book inputs under the UNESCO Florence Agreement and alleged reduced allocations for women and child affairs. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Prof. Anil Jayantha said the Government is working through a task force to meet financial derisking obligations, including exiting the FATF Grey List by mid-2026, and plans to introduce the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act and amend the Marketing Board Act. He defended the Budget’s Rs. 749 billion social protection allocation, including Aswesuma, as a targeted response to poverty affecting over half the population and as part of a broader effort to stabilize the economy. He outlined allocations for vulnerable children, drug rehabilitation, reintegration of former prisoners, support for persons with disabilities, and Rs. 37 billion for housing, while stating that the Budget does not impose new special taxes or increase VAT and instead focuses on reliefs and improved revenue collection. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →
- 25 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha defended the 2025 Appropriation Bill as a fiscally disciplined Budget that authorizes Rs. 7,190 billion in expenditure, with Rs. 4,990 billion in revenue and grants, a Rs. 2,200 billion deficit, and total borrowing authority of Rs. 4,000 billion, down from Rs. 7,350 billion in 2024. He said the deficit would be financed through non-monetary borrowing rather than new taxes or inflationary money creation, while also covering debt amortization and Treasury bill and bond redemption costs. Responding to Opposition claims that it was an “IMF Budget” or “Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Budget,” he argued that it differs from past budgets by limiting discretionary contingency allocations under the Public Finance Management Act and redirecting funds to development, relief, and infrastructure. He stated that the Government’s economic approach combines fiscal discipline with state intervention, productivity growth, export orientation, global supply chain integration, fair distribution, and broader participation in economic benefits. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 (Continuation Day 7) Read →