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. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development JJB AI summary The Minister requested that an Order under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, previously referred to his Ministry’s Consultative Committee, also be referred to the Committee on Public Finance because it contains fees in its Second Schedule. He cited the Committee on Parliamentary Business decision of 9 May 2024 as the procedural basis, and the motion was agreed to. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake queried a supplementary allocation linked to USAID and the Department of Import and Export Control, asking whether it represented an actual cash disbursement by 31 December 2024 or merely an allocation. He requested clarification from the Prime Minister on how any resulting deficit would be addressed following the 24 January 2025 US Executive Order halting USAID funding. He also asked for an assessment of the impact of the suspension of USAID support on Sri Lanka and globally. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said heavy rains in the North and East had damaged paddy crops and that the Government had directed pledge loans to small millers, cooperatives and major millers to enable immediate purchases, including wetter paddy with moisture levels up to about 27 per cent. He identified the absence of proper crop insurance as a systemic problem and stated that the Government would compensate verified crop losses despite past misuse of crop insurance funds. He said he would convene cooperative insurance officials the following week to finalize a crop insurance mechanism to protect farmers against cultivation losses. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK AI summary Sivagnanam Shritharan welcomed the Minister’s measures on the rice issue but reported severe flood damage to paddy cultivation, including around 60 percent of fields in Kilinochchi and losses across Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa. He said wet and damaged paddy could not be stored and that farmers had suffered losses both during flowering and harvesting stages. He urged the Government to provide urgent support and a lifeline for affected farmers ahead of the coming short season. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to issues raised in the debate on import and levy regulations, stating that any coconut imports should be limited to raw material for export industries due to reduced local harvests, while protecting jobs and foreign exchange. He said investigations were ongoing into bar permit allocations and defended the Government’s cost-cutting measures on ministerial vehicles, fuel and phone facilities. On rice, he rejected claims that one million metric tons of paddy were being hidden, citing national storage capacities and production figures, and said misinformation would be investigated. He also outlined recent rice import volumes, restrictions on using rice for animal feed, and broader food security pressures involving wheat, coconuts, potatoes and onions. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma - Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister said the gazettes before Parliament arose from previous policy decisions and reflected longstanding failures in agriculture, storage, data management, import planning, and administration. He argued that rice imports and food standards issues exposed past neglect, while stressing that new standards must be matched with port, customs, and implementation capacity to avoid disruption to businesses and consumers. On strategic development tax concessions, he said delays and pre-election agreements under the previous Government had affected investor confidence, while the present Government was facilitating existing investments and ensuring environmental safeguards, including an EIA for effluent discharge. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns about a severe coconut shortage, citing whitefly damage, reduced fertilizer use, land fragmentation, and inadequate action by sector institutions despite export growth and high potential in value-added products such as coconut milk, oil, coir and cocopeat. He urged the Government to permit carefully controlled imports of coconuts and husks for processing only, in consultation with the National Plant Quarantine Service, and to allow qualified processors to import directly rather than routing consignments through parastatal bodies. He also called for support for cultivation inputs, irrigation and value addition, warning that failure to meet industrial demand could undermine rural employment and foreign exchange earnings. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana supported regulations under import and export control laws, arguing they are necessary to manage essential goods and safeguard food security. He criticized the previous administration for policies and actions he said contributed to rice, fertilizer, and coconut supply problems, including the organic-only fertilizer policy, substandard fertilizer imports, and land-use decisions. He stated that the Government would ensure accurate statistics, protect both farmers and consumers in pricing and supply decisions, and take measures to guarantee food security. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Gayan Janaka JJB AI summary Hon. Gayan Janaka attributed Sri Lanka’s economic and agricultural difficulties to past corrupt administrations and noted that, despite over eight million people being involved in farming, agriculture contributed only 7.98 per cent to GDP in 2023. He said the Government is increasing the fertilizer subsidy to Rs. 25,000 with a Rs. 20 billion allocation, restoring Paddy Marketing Board storage and procurement with Rs. 5,000 million, and restarting production using Eppawala phosphate. He stated that these measures are intended to strengthen agriculture, improve food security, and restore Sri Lanka’s position as a major agricultural producer. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir requested that restrictions on imported items be implemented in a way that does not unfairly affect lawful traders. He urged the authorities to take appropriate measures to protect legitimate business activity while applying import controls. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir, speaking during the debate on regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, said flood-related releases from Senanayake Samudraya had damaged more than 25 percent of paddy cultivation in Ampara District, which supplies a significant share of national rice, and warned this could increase the need for rice imports. He requested coordinated planning by the Government Agent and Irrigation Engineers to maintain protective bunds and manage reservoir levels proactively, along with relief for affected farmers. He also called for a fair inquiry into the transfer of senior nursing officer Umar Ali from Nintavur Base Hospital, and urged that any restrictions on imported vehicle beautification items be implemented without unfairly harming legitimate traders. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan spoke on regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act, urging the Government to address continuing high prices and act on pledges to eliminate corruption and improve governance. He requested tax-free or reduced-cost import arrangements for dates during Ramadan through the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, citing increased duties and a shortfall after Saudi donations. He also called for the resumption of halted sports and education infrastructure projects in the Vanni, resolution of access issues on the Marichchukaddi road, and amendments to prevent Samurdhi Development Officers from engaging in political activity during elections. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya – Prime Minister AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya responded to Hon. D.V. Chanaka’s claim regarding the use of Shravasti for her security detail, stating that the number of personnel had been systematically reduced since the Government took office. She said around 50 personnel remained and had already been ordered to vacate by the end of the week, rejecting the suggestion that government expenditure had been increased or facts distorted. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs AI summary Minister Ananda Wijepala responded to claims by Hon. D.V. Chanaka regarding a Presidential Secretary’s circular issued on the 21st, stating that ministerial perks had not been increased but reduced. He said ministerial vehicles, fuel allocations, staff numbers, driver overtime, and advisers had all been curtailed, with advisers limited to two compared to over 50 under the former administration. He clarified that the only increase was to equalize State Ministers’ drivers’ overtime with Ministers’ drivers at 180 hours, and accused the previous speaker of misleading the House. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported the Government’s moves on Free Trade Agreements and argued that Sri Lanka must secure reciprocal market access while addressing non-tariff barriers to expand exports beyond its small domestic market. He raised concern over severe delays in cargo clearance at the Port, including containers being held up, vessels turning away, and lorries idled, and called for Port, Customs and related agencies to operate 24/7, implement ASYCUDA and a single-window system, and adopt pre-clearance with post-clearance audits. He said reducing demurrage and easing business costs are essential to export competitiveness and debt recovery. He also supported incentives under the Strategic Development Projects Act, including for the Eravur Project, arguing that investment decisions should consider job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and wider economic returns. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal argued that Sri Lanka has failed for decades to harness its natural resources and export potential, citing raw ilmenite exports, salt production, tourism, and traditional exports such as tea, rubber and apparel. He said the NPP Government intends to build an export-led economy, protect public assets, reduce fraud and strengthen good governance. He also addressed the current rice shortage, noting recent imports and damage from heavy rains, and said the Government would procure paddy through the Paddy Marketing Board, rehabilitate storage facilities under “Clean Sri Lanka,” and prevent future shortages. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka questioned a new circular on ministerial facilities, comparing it with previous provisions and alleging that vehicle allocations, phone entitlements, overtime limits, and fuel allowances for Ministers and State Ministers had increased despite pledges to reduce perks. He stated that 49 officeholders would now have 414 vehicles compared with 426 for 58 officeholders previously, and tabled both circulars signed by the Presidential Secretary while asking why State Ministers require three vehicles. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam opposed proceeding with the Jay Jay Mills textile factory project at Punnakuda beach without assurances on effluent treatment, sea discharge, and water availability, arguing the site has tourism value and local water supply is already constrained. He requested a proper government assessment of rice stocks, imports, flood damage, and paddy harvests, warning of possible shortages and inadequate compensation to farmers in Batticaloa after repeated flooding. He also alleged ongoing encroachment and clearing of Forest Conservation Department lands and elephant corridor areas in Batticaloa, naming local incidents and asking the Government to halt the clearing and arrest those responsible rather than only investigate. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne said the Government is addressing complications inherited from previous administrations while beginning to implement its policies. She cited cost-cutting and administrative measures at the Prime Minister’s Office, including reducing the monthly fuel bill, removing a private medical facility, and returning bulletproof vehicles and ambulances. She criticized Opposition members for not acknowledging these steps and concluded by arguing that the Government would continue its programme despite criticism. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →
- 23 January 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne JJB AI summary Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne addressed the import and export regulations on rice, arguing that recent import decisions exposed serious weaknesses in national agricultural data rather than only a short-term supply issue. She attributed recurring rice and paddy sector problems to long-term policy failures affecting farmers, land rights, climate resilience and storage capacity. She cited current government measures including Rs. 50 billion for paddy purchasing, rehabilitation of 209 paddy stores, support for small and medium rice mills, and a halt to filling paddy lands. She also highlighted proposals for a National Agricultural Development Council and a real-time national agriculture data system to support data-driven agricultural policy. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Read →