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- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Energy security was described as the Government’s primary priority in drafting the relevant amendments. Kumara Jayakody said the process should avoid past errors caused by rushing, including printing mistakes, and invited any identified shortcomings to be submitted for consideration before completion. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Electricity Act Amendments (Q.293/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera questioned the adequacy of the stakeholder consultation process for proposed reforms to the 2024 electricity-related Act, noting concerns about its principles, economic and national security implications, and limits on consumer protection under the Public Utilities Commission. He asked the Minister whether sufficient time and a formal process would be provided for MPs, engineering and electricity-sector experts, and other stakeholders to submit views, given that invitations and public notice had so far been limited. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Electricity Act Amendments (Q.293/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera questioned the Government’s decision not to repeal the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, noting that the NPP’s 2024 energy policy had promised new electricity legislation with stakeholder consultation. He argued that the current Act lacks an adequate governance structure, including a holding company to oversee unbundled CEB entities, finances, policy, and subsidiaries such as LECO and LTL Holdings. He asked why the Government was proceeding with limited amendments rather than fulfilling its mandate to introduce a new Act based on expert input. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Electricity Act Amendments (Q.293/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy JJB AI summary The Minister of Energy stated that the Ministry is preparing amendments to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, rather than having already amended it. He outlined that a Cabinet-appointed expert committee reviewed the Act, submitted its report on 20 January 2025, and the proposed amendments were published for public comment, with the deadline extended to 14 February 2025. He added that views are also being obtained from institutions including the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and JICA, and that the Committee’s Terms of Reference have been placed in the Library. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Electricity Act Amendments (Q.293/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Asked whether the Government intends to repeal the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, or alternatively introduce amendments to it. He requested details of any proposed amendments and, if no repeal or amendments are planned, the reasons for that decision. Oral Question: Sri Lanka Electricity Act Amendments (Q.293/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised concern that port or logistics congestion is contributing to cost-push inflation and affecting both shipping and export activity. Citing the December 2024 trade balance, he questioned how the Government intends to address congestion when imports are increasing while exports are not keeping pace. Oral Question: Export Growth and Economic Competitiveness (Q.292/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Prime Minister to address the high cost of capital, noting a gap between low market lending rates of around 4 to 5 per cent and the 15 to 18 per cent rates faced by individuals and small and medium enterprises. He sought clarification on whether the Government could intervene or provide a buffer to bring borrowing rates down to more realistic levels, closer to deposit-rate benchmarks. Oral Question: Export Growth and Economic Competitiveness (Q.292/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked the Prime Minister whether increasing exports is necessary for Sri Lanka to emerge from its debt difficulties and sought details on how the Government will address obstacles faced by exporters. He raised issues including high bank interest rates, delays and costs in container clearance, bottlenecks in government approvals affecting ease of doing business, and the possibility of 24-hour and pre-clearance systems with post-audit safeguards. He also asked whether rapid economic digitization and cashless transactions could reduce red tape and support automatic implementation of government policies. Oral Question: Export Growth and Economic Competitiveness (Q.292/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar raised concern that coconut oil imports initiated under Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Government had continued under the current Government, stating that over four million kilograms had been imported in the past three months. He said he would submit supporting details and copies of relevant letters to the Prime Minister, while indicating he would not ask a further supplementary question. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary S.M. Marikkar raised concerns over alleged non-payment of VAT on large volumes of unrefined coconut oil imported in 2024, citing correspondence between a company, the Department of State Finance Policy, and the Inland Revenue Department. He stated that more than Rs. 5.8 billion may be recoverable from four companies and asked whether the Ministry of Finance would instruct the Inland Revenue Department to collect the outstanding taxes. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya responded to questions on coconut oil imports, stating that refined and unrefined coconut oil are subject to the Special Commodity Levy under Act No. 48 of 2007, at Rs. 150 and Rs. 125 per kilogram respectively, with no other import duties applied. She said no relevant Gazette dated 1 January 2024 could be identified without a Gazette number and requested that it be provided for a precise reply. She further explained that refining imported unrefined coconut oil is treated as manufacturing, making local sales subject to VAT and SSCL, with Customs collecting the SCL at import and Inland Revenue administering VAT and SSCL. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned the Prime Minister on the Government’s policy regarding the import of refined and unrefined coconut oil and the applicable tax regime. He asked whether the provisions of the Gazette dated 01 January 2024 apply to such imports, whether VAT and the Social Security Contribution Levy are payable when unrefined coconut oil is imported, refined, and sold locally, and what procedure the Government uses to collect those taxes. Oral Question: Coconut Oil Import Policy (Q.291/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB AI summary The Prime Minister attributed the coconut crisis to past fertilizer policy decisions, noting that coconut yields are affected by a 39–44 month biological lag. She said the Government is acting to ensure timely fertilizer availability, plans to support coconut cultivation through the upcoming Budget, and will separately manage short-term consumer supply concerns while longer-term production measures take effect. Oral Question: Coconut Production Decline (Q.290/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that certain grants did not fall within the approved sectors or the relevant legal framework, including the category for persons who had rendered service to the nation. She said the list tabled by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa indicated the grants were made at the President’s discretion outside proper procedure, and that further information would be gathered and disclosed to the public. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara asked under which category grants of up to Rs. 1 million from the President’s Fund had been provided to certain MPs, as shown in a list tabled by the Chief Government Whip. He further questioned whether the same mechanism would be used to open higher education opportunities. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister JJB AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the President’s Fund is legally intended to assist low-income households and alleged that it had previously been misused through favouritism, with investigations underway. She said the current Government would restrict disbursements to legally defined sectors and improve access and transparency by decentralizing and digitizing applications through Divisional Secretariats. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara said he was satisfied with the response but raised concerns that the President’s Fund, despite high public expectations, had disproportionately benefited privileged persons and political associates. He asked whether a disciplined process would be established to prevent future misuse and what action would be taken regarding past unethical or unlawful disbursements, referring to information and documents recently tabled in Parliament. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister, responding to Hon. T.K. Jayasundara, outlined the sectors supported by the President’s Fund under Act No. 7 of 1978, including poverty alleviation, education, religion, national service grants, and public welfare, with assistance such as medical aid, scholarships, and self-employment support. She provided annual beneficiary and expenditure figures for 2015–2024, noting the Fund’s main income sources are dividends and interest from the Development Lotteries Board. She stated that the Government plans to simplify access by enabling applications and payments through all 341 Divisional Secretariats, supported by officer training and a new online IT system for verification and approval. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. T.K. Jayasundara JJB AI summary Hon. T.K. Jayasundara asked the Prime Minister for details on the President’s Fund amid public criticism and parliamentary and media debate over its benefit disbursement. He sought information on the Fund’s sectors, funding sources, annual beneficiaries and expenditure since 2015, the current disbursement procedure, and whether access to applications and benefits would be simplified through Divisional Secretariats. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Laid before Parliament several Committee on Public Finance reports, including on the 2024 Pre-Election Budgetary Position Report, import and export control regulations, a Foreign Exchange Act order, the breach of the inflation target, and a Central Bank presentation under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act. He noted that inflation had fallen outside the agreed 5 percent target band, with January inflation below negative 4 percent, requiring a report to Parliament and discussion on monetary policy responses, exchange rate effects, vehicle import liberalization, and demand recovery. He stated that the Central Bank expects inflation to return to target by the third quarter of 2024 and requested the Speaker’s intervention to provide the Committee with its mandated Technical Secretariat support. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Read →