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- 25 February 2025 Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to provide details on SriLankan Airlines, including the number of aircraft currently owned, present flight destinations, and the current number of employees. He also requested information on the measures planned to further strengthen the national airline, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided. Oral Question: SriLankan Airlines (Q.3/2024) Read →
- 25 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, covering the fiscal, financial and economic assumptions underlying estimated revenue and expenditure, and said a further report on allocations and policy compliance would be presented before the Committee Stage. He outlined the report’s analysis of the legislative framework, macroeconomic projections, revenue strategy, expenditure increases and debt sustainability, noting growth of 3 to 5 per cent, inflation returning to 5 per cent, and risks from trade, geopolitics and climate factors. He said revenue projections depend heavily on indirect taxes and vehicle imports to meet IMF EFF targets, while expenditure is expected to rise due mainly to resumed foreign-funded capital projects after debt restructuring. Papers Presented Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Minister supported Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s proposal on persons with disabilities, noting its significance in the context of disability representation in Parliament. He said the Government is updating the 2003 disability policy in line with current needs, a social model of disability, and United Nations conventions. He emphasized the need for accurate data, citing discrepancies in previous figures, and stated that the 2025 Budget allocates an additional Rs. 100 million to establish a data system for persons with disabilities. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma responded to a point raised by Hon. Rasamanickam, stating that the Government’s policy is to avoid discretionary tax holidays based on personal or institutional connections. He said a new mechanism for granting concessions would be presented to Parliament, with eligibility based on investment scale, employment creation, and environmental and district-level benefits, including in relation to the Eravur Investment Zone. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Welcoming the increase in the disability allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000, the MP argued that it could be raised further if tax exemptions for large corporations and multinationals were reduced and revenue was better collected. He questioned why major concessions continued despite the Government’s mandate, contrasting them with taxes borne by ordinary citizens and the cost of social welfare schemes such as Aswesuma. He also called for Parliament and proposed disability legislation to address accessibility comprehensively, and urged inclusion of people disabled by the war in the North and East, citing gaps in allowance coverage in Batticaloa. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage stated that the Budget Speech provides for an increase in the monthly allowance for persons with disabilities from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva JJB AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva moved an Adjournment Motion calling for a rights-based welfare and empowerment programme for persons with disabilities, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He proposed drafting new national legislation, collecting classification and data needed for evidence-based policy, and developing plans to use the economic capacities of the disabled community for social development. He also noted that, as a visually impaired Member, he was presenting and reading an Adjournment Motion in Braille for the first time in the House. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe JJB AI summary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe defended the 2025 Budget as aligned with the NPP Government’s “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” programme, arguing it responds to the economic collapse inherited in 2022 and citing bond restructuring, credit rating upgrades, tourism growth, and resumed Japanese projects as signs of restored confidence. He said the Budget prioritizes production, SMEs, fair distribution, essential services, and selective regulation, while rejecting past practices of borrowing, asset sales, tax concessions, and election-oriented handouts. He highlighted major allocations for social protection, health, education, agriculture modernization, public service digitization, and support for vulnerable groups, linking these to poverty and vulnerability data from the 2023 UNDP survey. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe JJB AI summary Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe rejected the Opposition’s claim that Ministers are arrogant, stating that many Government Members had left their professions and businesses to serve the country. He said the Government, with 159 Members, was committed to rebuilding the economy and presented the Budget as the first step in that effort. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe defended the Budget as an “economic democracy” programme intended to broaden economic participation across regions and social groups while remaining within the IMF framework and preparing for debt servicing from 2028. He rejected claims that the North was neglected, citing allocations for bridges, roads, tourism infrastructure and Rs. 100 million for the Jaffna Library. He said the Budget combines market mechanisms with regulation, state intervention and public-sector participation, targets 5 per cent growth, and includes public-sector salary and increment increases without imposing new taxes on the general public. He attributed current fiscal constraints to past debt-funded projects and said the Government would focus on tax collection from evaders while rebuilding the economy. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Upali Samarasingha - Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Upali Samarasingha argued that the Government’s inaugural Budget is reform-oriented and sets clear five-year targets, unlike past Budgets that he said mainly extended existing allocations. He highlighted allocations for public transport, education, health, universities, prisons, probationary care, persons with disabilities and drug rehabilitation, saying these aim to improve services, welfare and reintegration. He also stated that the Government intends to reduce the Budget gap without imposing a heavy tax burden or selling national assets, while criticizing the low Opposition attendance during the Budget Debate. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna said the Budget’s allocations for the North and East, including for the Jaffna Library, local roads, resettlement, Vattuvagal bridge, health and industrial development, were disproportionately small compared with total capital expenditure and amounted to token assistance. He argued that lasting progress requires addressing Sinhala-Tamil communication gaps, ending communal politics, protecting all religious sites, and repealing the PTA to encourage diaspora investment. He also called for meaningful development such as revival of the KKS cement factory and implementation of commitments affecting the North, including issues linked to the 13th Amendment. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Biyanwila JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Biyanwila defended the Government’s inaugural Budget, arguing that it has stabilized the economy and disproved Opposition claims about instability and threats to religion or tradition. He highlighted Budget measures to strengthen agriculture, including improving coconut yields, expanding maize cultivation, reducing imports of crops such as potatoes and onions by around 2027, developing dairy production, and increasing cooperative-sector capacity for produce marketing and paddy purchasing. He also stated that forthcoming public servant salary increases and continued Government delivery would undermine Opposition criticism, while reaffirming a commitment to hold those responsible for past crimes accountable. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Thushari Jayasingha supported the Budget as a programme for economic, social and political transformation, highlighting the increase to public sector basic salaries as a measure that could improve access to bank loans and reduce reliance on high-interest private lending and microfinance, particularly among women. She cited allocations for women and children, including increased preschool breakfast payments, Rs. 5,000 million for Thriposha, and Rs. 250 million for an early childhood development centre for autism and related disorders. She also called for need-based development and improved public transport, raising concerns about encroachment on railway lands in Nawalapitiya, and welcomed the proposal for a unifying Sri Lankan Day. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary Gamagedara Dissanayake defended the Government’s inaugural Budget as a people-centric programme focused on roads, agriculture, rural livelihoods, poverty reduction, digitalization, SMEs, health, education, and targeted support for plantation communities, kidney patients, persons with disabilities, and children in care. He rejected Opposition criticism of public sector salary measures, stating that proposed teacher salary revisions exceed requested parity levels and include an 8 per cent rise in annual increments across the public service. He also challenged Opposition claims on democracy by referring to past incidents of political violence, and said the Government would implement the Budget under its “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” agenda. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi argued that the 2025 Budget largely continues the existing IMF-aligned economic programme and does not fully reflect the “system change” mandate received by the Government after the 2022 crisis. He rejected the view that Sri Lanka’s problems stem from a “76-year curse,” citing post-independence gains in education, health, irrigation, hydropower, exports and industrialization, and instead attributed the 2022 crisis mainly to policy failures from around 2004 and the immediate decisions of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He said earlier reform efforts on the public service, CEB, CPC, revenue administration and State-owned enterprises were blocked, and urged the Government, with its two-thirds majority, to present a clear economic and development model through the Budget. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ajantha Gammeddage JJB AI summary Ajantha Gammeddage defended the Government’s Budget as a new policy direction focused on economic stability, reform, and reducing state waste, rejecting Opposition claims that it continues previous policies. He cited the President’s earlier statement on the fragility of the economy and argued that the Budget prioritizes rural and low-income communities rather than political allies. He highlighted allocations of Rs. 604 billion for health and Rs. 619 billion for education, saying these address shortages in rural hospitals and schools and support a healthier, better-educated population. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen said the Government has a moral responsibility to deliver on its election promises to the diverse communities that supported it. He requested that the Rs. 10 million allocated for each MP’s area be implemented with the input of all 225 MPs, and urged stronger programmes for farmers despite increased Budget allocations to education, agriculture and health. He thanked the Government for allocating Rs. 1,000 million for the Vattuvakal Bridge in Mullaitivu and called for rehabilitation of the Mannar–Puttalam road, including repair of three damaged bridges, to improve North-South connectivity and reduce travel distance. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha JJB AI summary Manoj Rajapaksha defended the 2025 Budget, arguing that it was prepared in the context of a collapsed economy and state and was based on making citizens active participants, stakeholders, and beneficiaries in economic recovery. He rejected Opposition criticism as lacking substantive alternatives and said the Budget combines short-term and long-term measures within the Government’s broader economic plan. He highlighted allocations for priority areas, including about Rs. 483 billion for transport bottlenecks and funding for education, stating these address pressing public needs, especially in remote areas. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage JJB AI summary Dr. Upali Pannilage stated that the Government has increased several social protection payments, including Aswasuma benefits, disability allowances, and, from April, the kidney patients’ allowance. He said social protection is a core Government policy and described the Budget as strengthening public services and initiating structural transformation. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →