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- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Minister Upali Pannilage defended the NPP Government’s inaugural Budget as aligned with its “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” mandate and based on increasing production, broad public participation in production, and equitable distribution of growth. He highlighted allocations for agriculture, irrigation, fertilizer support, coconut expansion in the North, tourism development, and provincial and district development to reduce regional disparities. He also emphasized expanded investment in education, higher education scholarships, public health including medicine procurement and removal of VAT on medicine-related inputs, and over Rs. 700 billion for social welfare and protection. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath defended the National People’s Power Government’s first Budget, arguing that it sets a production-oriented economic direction after decades of policy failure and is aligned with the Government’s “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” mandate. He highlighted proposals on export expansion, investment facilitation, MSME revival, reduced public expenditure, salary increases for public servants and Pirivena teachers, support for pensioners, farmers and plantation communities, and a Rs. 619 billion allocation for education-related programmes. He criticized the Opposition for offering little constructive critique and accused previous UNP, SLFP and coalition governments of fostering underworld activity, while stating that the Government would control such activity through legal means. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Sudath Balagalla JJB AI summary Hon. Sudath Balagalla argued that the government had ended parliamentary privileges and elitist practices, citing the removal of vehicle permits and MPs’ pensions, changes to cafeteria pricing, and the redirection of Presidential Fund benefits to ordinary people. He contrasted this with past abuses, commissions, and political victimisation, including an incident involving his family in 2009, and stated that the government would work to rebuild the country. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan argued that the Government should acknowledge policy shifts such as support for the open economy and projects in Trincomalee and Hambantota without selectively blaming past governments. He scrutinized the Budget allocation for hill country plantation communities, stating that much of the cited Rs. 7,522 million comes from prior Indian Government commitments, with only about Rs. 3,422 million from Sri Lankan funds, and asked for clarification on promised technical training allocations. He urged hill country Government MPs to focus on forward-looking action rather than blaming past representatives, and highlighted earlier efforts by the Tamil Progressive Alliance to secure Indian-funded housing and create new Pradeshiya Sabhas in Nuwara Eliya. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi supported the 2025 Budget as the first foundational step in a longer development programme, arguing that it responds to structural causes of the 2022 crisis and looks forward rather than dwelling on past failures. He contrasted it with the 1977 Budget and said both periods involved strong mandates for change, but criticized previous governments for contributing to corruption, failed policy, and the growth of underworld elements. He dismissed Opposition claims that the Budget omits key items, saying later stages of the programme would address them, and also criticized MPs focusing on lost insurance benefits and perks rather than policy. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Nishantha Perera JJB AI summary The speech defended the NPP Government’s inaugural Budget by arguing that it inherited a damaged economy, high debt, weakened public services, and corruption from previous administrations. It cited past borrowing, alleged tax and procurement scandals, and relief to politically connected businesses as reasons for the crisis, while presenting Budget 2025 as a recovery plan focused on production, village-level investment, Clean Sri Lanka, human development, and digitization. The Member highlighted claims of reduced expenditure by the President, Prime Minister and Ministers, and outlined allocations for small tea growers, nurseries, replanting, mechanization, solar projects, and support to the gem industry. He also linked current underworld crime concerns to criminals allegedly nurtured by former regimes. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka criticised the Government’s inaugural Budget as a reversal of the JVP-NPP’s pre-election positions, arguing that it now accepts the IMF path, private participation, foreign universities, land use for investors, and digital identity despite earlier opposition. He questioned the adequacy of allocations for religious education and highlighted what he said were unfulfilled promises on VAT reductions, public servant benefits, teachers’ salaries, agricultural inputs, school supplies, and Agrahara insurance. He also challenged the structure of the proposed public sector salary increases and said the Budget gives more detail on expenditure than on revenue and debt management. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister defended the Government’s inaugural Budget as grounded in the National People’s Power manifesto and intended to recover from the economic collapse, debt default, low revenue, depleted reserves, corruption and institutional failures inherited from previous administrations. He rejected Opposition claims that the Budget follows “Ranil’s” or neoliberal policies, arguing that critics fear its implementation and lack a substantive alternative. He highlighted the Budget’s commitment to “democratizing the economy” by ensuring fair competition, equal opportunity and preventing excessive concentration of market power, contrasting this with past conflicts of interest and misuse of ministerial authority for private business gain. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha urged the Government to allocate funds to eliminate plantation “line rooms” rather than merely rebrand estate housing programmes, saying this was necessary to improve living conditions and dignity in the upcountry. He questioned the Budget’s approach to SriLankan Airlines, asking the Government to clarify whether it would retain or privatize the airline and to provide adequate funding if it remains state-run. He also called for corrective action for under-employed and unemployed graduates, including suitable placements and recruitment commitments, and raised concerns that salary changes for doctors, nurses and allied health staff could reduce take-home pay despite pension-related adjustments. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha argued that the 2025 Budget largely continues the economic programme associated with Ranil Wickremesinghe rather than presenting a distinct policy shift under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He reviewed post-independence economic policy, citing both achievements in agriculture, free trade zones and apparel, and missed opportunities from nationalization, weak export diversification, opposition to private higher education and trade agreements, and past political instability. He questioned whether the Budget advances meaningful devolution for the North and East beyond the Thirteenth Amendment and called for substantial allocations to eliminate plantation line rooms and provide proper housing for the Malayagam community. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka defended the NPP Government’s first Budget as a foundation for social and economic transformation, arguing that increased capital expenditure, regional development funding, and planned reductions in recurrent spending are intended to expand production and services while maintaining fiscal discipline. He highlighted social protection allocations, public sector salary increases, tax relief for professionals, and clarified that revised pay and allowance calculations would increase rather than reduce benefits, inviting unions to discuss the figures with the Treasury. He rejected claims that the Budget was externally dictated, stating it provides fair relief within the IMF programme, and emphasized major education allocations aimed at improving school access, quality, and human capital development. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning corrected the record on the Budget deficit, stating that it is Rs. 2,200 billion rather than the Rs. 2,900 billion cited by another Member. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake called for an end to delays in container clearance, arguing that this is necessary to attract investment. He said the Budget covers many areas but has yet to produce tangible impact, and noted that migrant workers have not received meaningful support. He urged the Government to work with the private sector on a rapid, actionable economic plan focused on future growth. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that investment and tourism in underdeveloped regions are being constrained by administrative delays and approval bottlenecks. He cautioned that abolishing SVAT should be accompanied by timely VAT refunds, otherwise delayed Inland Revenue refunds would deter investors. He also called for faster BOI and Port City approvals and urged officials to enable initiatives such as night visits to Sigiriya to increase tourism revenue, citing the President’s own concerns about lengthy approvals across multiple institutions. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake welcomed measures on taxation, digitalization, public-private partnerships, SME loan settlement, port development, credit guarantees and SOE reforms, but questioned why no allocation was made for tourism. He queried the adequacy and location in the Budget of the Rs. 5 billion support for paddy purchasing, arguing it was small relative to the Maha harvest’s value. He also asked which sectors would receive priority capital to achieve export and FDI targets, and raised concerns that high domestic interest rates would undermine investment competitiveness compared with other countries. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake argued that governance should be directed through state institutions rather than party offices, called for restoring public trust, and referred to his proposal to abolish MPs’ pensions as part of that effort. He questioned the feasibility of achieving the Budget’s revenue and primary surplus targets, and urged a policy shift on vehicle imports, citing high taxes, low LC openings, and reported difficulties with Japanese banks accepting Sri Lankan LCs. He also criticized continued Treasury support for SriLankan Airlines, noting large recent debt-service allocations and outstanding liabilities, and proposed a public-private partnership or privatized management model while retaining strategic oversight if necessary. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake supported the broad direction of President Anura Dissanayake’s inaugural Budget, linking it to past UNP-led economic reforms and the 2023–2024 stabilization under Ranil Wickremesinghe. He endorsed continuing the IMF-backed recovery path while arguing that Sri Lanka should not accept every IMF condition without tailoring policies through local expertise and maintaining fiscal discipline. He called for prioritizing capital investment, primary surpluses, cost-benefit evaluation of projects, economic diversification, trade facilitation, and digitization, warning that recurrent expenditure and rising debt must be managed carefully. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Sixth Allotted Day Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB AI summary The Prime Minister tabled a response outlining Government initiatives to advance Sri Lanka’s digital economy, emphasizing digitized public services, automated administrative processes, transparency, and cashless transactions. The response identified priority projects including the Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity linked to the E-NIC and other official systems, online access to civil registration certificates through overseas missions, online applications to the President’s Fund, and the expansion of GovPay and LankaQR-based payments. It stated that these measures are intended to reduce bureaucracy, improve service delivery and accountability, expand financial inclusion, and support more efficient implementation of Government policy. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake stated that the port clearance crisis had been used to advance reforms, including moving Port and Customs operations toward 24/7 service and integrating ASYCUDA requirements. He said banks involved in trade finance and some port-related institutions also needed to adjust to support continuous operations, noting that many containers are cleared in the evening and night. He added that, with the President’s intervention, progress had been made and any emerging issues would be addressed promptly. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →
- 24 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked whether the Government has established the legal and operational framework to enable 24-hour cargo clearance at Colombo Port, beyond Sri Lanka Customs’ existing round-the-clock presence. He noted that administrative functions still operate only during office hours and holidays, unlike competing ports such as Singapore, Port Klang and Dubai, and urged adoption of a continuous 24/7 clearance model in line with references made by the President. Ministerial Statement: Prime Minister Response on Colombo Port and Digital Economy Read →