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- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake sought clarification on his earlier supplementary question regarding bank interest-rate spreads, asking why deposits earn about 3 per cent while loans are charged at 14–15 per cent. He argued that no bank should have a 10 percentage point spread and indicated that the previous answer had not addressed this point. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that National Savings Bank policy is to promote savings while providing better returns to depositors and public-oriented lending. He noted that NSB offers a large volume of low-interest housing loans and other incentive programmes, and said lending rates are expected to decline further from the recent high-interest period to ease borrowers’ burdens while maintaining the bank’s public service role. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the interest rate spread at the National Savings Bank, noting that it pays around 3 per cent and 8 per cent on savings deposits while charging 14 to 19 per cent on loans. He asked why a State savings institution with a specific mandate to serve depositors maintains such a large margin between deposit and lending rates. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning responded to a question on the National Savings Bank, providing details on its establishment, current board, branch network, staffing, paid-up capital, and compliance with Basel capital adequacy requirements. He reported the bank’s profits, return on investment, administration cost ratio, non-performing loan ratio, lending margin, and balance sheet totals over recent years, including provisional 2024 figures. He also stated that no loans exceeding Rs. 1 billion had been written off, so related follow-up questions did not arise. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for detailed information on the National Savings Bank, including its incorporation date, current leadership, branch and employee numbers, paid-up capital, and compliance with Basel capital adequacy requirements. He also requested financial performance data covering profits, return on investment, administrative costs, lending margins, and balance sheet values, as well as details on any loans over Rs. 1 billion written off, the entities involved, and the legal procedures followed. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Vellaveli tank and pump house under the Mandur Scheme are intended to supply the entire Divisional Secretariat area, with related distribution extensions under planning, including a 2.5 km extension to Tharmapuram–Kirankulam under CEDE 2025. On the issue of hydrated lime, he said he would make a special statement that day and that the supplementary question would be addressed in it. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam questioned delays in providing drinking water, arguing that interim pipeline interconnections are needed before the dry season rather than waiting for new tanks and capacity upgrades. He asked how many kilometres of pipeline are currently available and can be laid immediately, citing reports that pipes previously sent from Ambanthottai to Batticaloa were returned. He also raised concerns over imported hydrated lime used for water purification, asking whether reported chromium levels above permissible limits were accurate, whether the stock had been distributed, why testing was done privately, and whether drinking water was currently safe. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Called for clarification on whether large-scale solar power projects, including in Hambantota, have been halted and, if so, for what reasons. He argued that delays to solar projects weaken efforts to reduce electricity tariffs and could contribute to future supply shortages. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary The Minister acknowledged shortcomings, mismanagement and politicization in the energy sector and said reforms are being studied with attention to energy security, public interest and industrial productivity. He stated that the Government will not disrupt existing services arbitrarily but will pursue gradual reforms, including addressing overstaffing caused by past political recruitments while managing current staff responsibly. He said that within about six months the reform process is expected to resolve many issues, prioritize least-cost energy and control cost drivers, including salaries. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 7 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary The Minister of Energy provided data on Ceylon Electricity Board staffing, stating that the CEB has 22,135 permanent employees, 150 casual employees, 95 contract employees, 26 NVQ-qualified trainees, and 56 workers deployed through Sri Lanka Energies. He reported that salary, allowance and bonus payments are recorded annually, and that tasks such as line installation, pit digging and disconnections have been outsourced, with contractor payments rising from Rs. 1,643 million in 2015 to Rs. 4,370 million in 2024. He stated that there are no excess employees against the approved cadre and justified outsourcing as more economical for labour-intensive, urgent or short-term work, particularly where using technical staff would exceed the Public Utilities Commission-approved disconnection charge. Oral Answers to Questions and Second Round Questions Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, the Deputy Minister stated that land acquisition for the proposed Millaniya Investment Promotion Zone has been halted due to pending litigation, and further decisions will await the court outcome. He provided details on Millawa Industrial Park, including 11 acres of government land, Rs. 97 million in public expenditure, 13 operational domestic industries, Rs. 604 million in private investment, Rs. 67.48 million monthly revenue, and 383 jobs. He also outlined progress at Raigam Industrial Park, noting 24 acres under the Land Reforms Commission, Rs. 876.701 million in expenditure, partial road works, access-road preparations, and Rs. 385 million already paid, while adding that further Treasury expenditure details on the Millaniya zone will be provided once obtained. Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera asked the Minister of Finance for updates on three Kalutara District industrial and investment projects: the Bandaragama–Millaniya Investment Promotion Zone, the Horana–Millawa Investment Promotion Zone, and the Raigampura Green Industrial Zone at Bandaragama–Galpatha. He sought details of expenditure to date, including a reported Rs. 360 million spent by the BOI on access to the Southern Expressway at Pelpola, and asked whether the Government would proceed with them as national-level economic development projects. He highlighted their importance for employment and industrial development in Kalutara District. Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister provided figures on recruitment at the institution, stating that 310 employees were recruited from 2022 to 2024 and that the workforce has risen from 545 at the 2011 government takeover to 1,319 currently. He said a proposed cadre has been submitted for approval, and while shortages or excess cannot be formally determined before approval, there appears to be an excess, with December 2024 salary and overtime costs totaling about Rs. 132 million. He outlined measures to improve operations and revenue, including increasing factory capacity, upgrading ethanol quality, addressing wastewater management, using tourist bungalows for accommodation, diversifying into jaggery and treacle, and reducing brown sugar prices to increase consumption. Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri asked the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development for details on recruitment to the Sevanagala Sugar Factory between 1 January 2022 and the 21 September 2024 Presidential Election. He requested figures on excess employees, the resulting additional monthly expenditure, and the Government’s planned measures for developing the factory. Adjournment and Questions at Adjournment Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government had set a support price for paddy and was procuring through SATHOSA and the Paddy Marketing Board to prevent a price drop during harvesting, while also examining storage-related issues. He rejected claims that the NPP Government had newly increased MPs’ medical insurance and addressed allegations relating to the Lasantha Wickrematunge case, Eppawala Phosphate Company, imported lime for water purification, and the CEB WindForce wind farm tender, stating that legal or procedural processes were being followed. On the main business, he said the geographical indications regulations under the Intellectual Property Act were needed to meet WTO/TRIPS obligations and protect Sri Lankan producers by enabling registration and better market value for local products. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. R.G. Wijerathna JJB AI summary Hon. R.G. Wijerathna supported the regulations under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, to register geographical indications, arguing that they would protect producers and exporters, improve product quality, raise prices for standardized goods, and support a production-based economy. He said the proposed registration of agricultural products, foodstuffs, handicrafts, and other products could help revive rural industries, strengthen livelihoods, and reduce rural poverty if accompanied by infrastructure, funding, and removal of legal barriers. He also cited an alleged misuse of Pradeshiya Sabha land at Rikillagaskada as an example of local-level obstruction and said corrective legal steps had begun under the present Government. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna responded to earlier remarks on coconut prices, arguing that profitability conditions have changed since earlier periods of very low land lease costs. He stated that the Government is seeking to restore Sri Lanka’s international reputation after a period marked by heavy borrowing and extrajudicial killings, and defended the use of locally produced cashews at the Independence ceremony. He concluded by quoting the Dhammapada on the value of learning and wisdom. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna - Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Minister supported regulations under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, to register geographical indications, noting their role in preventing misuse, protecting reputation, and increasing economic value. He argued that Sri Lanka had delayed too long in implementing such regulations and cited historical examples of the global value of Sri Lankan gems, cinnamon, and spices. He proposed extending geographical indication protection beyond Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon to products such as Anamaduwa cashew, regional rice, betel, flowers, chilies, Kalpitiya fruits, pottery, brassware, cane products, and white coconut oil, saying recognition and standardization could create international markets for producer communities. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan urged government support for the palmyrah-based cottage industry in the North and Vanni, including export facilitation for food and craft products and reconsideration of restrictions affecting the use of mature palmyrah trees. He called for stronger action to control monkeys and elephants that damage farmers’ livelihoods, questioned the practicality of a proposed monkey census, and suggested export or other population-control measures. He also proposed importing foreign fruit seeds for domestic cultivation and export, demanded enforcement of controlled prices across all retailers rather than only SATHOSA, and said allegations circulating about him on Facebook should be reported to the Police or authorities for legal action. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara JJB AI summary Hon. Padmasiri Bandara supported the regulations under the Intellectual Property Act for registering geographical indications, arguing that they would make an existing law operational and help protect and promote Sri Lankan products domestically and internationally. He rejected Opposition criticisms and said past governments had damaged Sri Lanka’s reputation, while the current government would not neglect pending legal issues relating to past killings. Referring to Polonnaruwa, he said rice brands, farming communities, national parks, reservoirs and heritage sites should be developed into nationally and internationally recognized assets without dispossessing existing businesses. He also linked intellectual property to retaining and attracting Sri Lankan expertise, stating that legal frameworks would be used to strengthen the country’s development and global image. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →