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- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake said the Government’s mandate is to replace superficial and traditional governance with a new political culture developed through public engagement and consensus-building. He argued that, despite Opposition pressure, the administration has already achieved a political shift and must now pursue a planned economic transformation. He said the economic programme should align with global conditions while strengthening the domestic economy, protecting entrepreneurs, maintaining international relations, and ensuring a smooth transition that delivers benefits to the public. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Arkam Ilyas JJB AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas supported regulations under the Port City Commission Act, arguing that the Colombo Port City and related legal changes should be used under strong government oversight to attract investment, revive construction, improve ease of doing business, and create jobs. He linked the need for such economic measures to youth unemployment, low wages, migration and brain drain, warning that reliance on remittances is unsustainable. He also noted risks including environmental impacts, unequal benefits, tax concessions, money laundering, and effects on local businesses, and called for safeguards to protect sovereignty and national security. He additionally rejected blame on the Government for red raw rice shortages in the South, attributing them to climatic changes and irrigation deficiencies. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara criticized the Government’s first 100 days, arguing that it had failed to deliver promised VAT reductions on essentials, medicines, fertilizer and school supplies, or to reduce fuel taxes and food prices. He contrasted this with measures taken during the first 100 days of the Good Governance administration, including salary increases, price reductions and independent commissions, and alleged that current parliamentary practices were weakening democratic participation. He questioned delays in fertilizer subsidy payments, reductions in senior citizens’ effective deposit interest, and targeted school assistance, while urging the Government to implement its “Clean Sri Lanka” and anti-corruption commitments, saying the Opposition would support genuine anti-corruption action. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Sunil Biyanwila JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Biyanwila argued that the National People’s Power cannot be expected to resolve decades of economic and political problems within 100 days, but has already changed political culture by rejecting corruption and patronage. He said the Government is addressing development needs fairly, prioritising agriculture and tourism, and responding to the coconut shortage by supporting fertilizer availability and cultivators after past neglect reduced yields. He invited the Opposition to join the Government’s “people’s agenda” to rebuild the economy and advance national development. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara criticised the Government for failing to fulfil promises to remove VAT from food, health and education items, and accused the JVP/NPP of inconsistency and shared responsibility in past governments and policy positions, including on FTAs and ETCA. He called for protecting university freedoms after the reported cancellation of a Peradeniya student programme critical of the IMF, and warned against political interference in the Attorney-General’s Department through discussions on “special cases.” He also objected to a reported circular restricting Ministers’ and officials’ engagement with foreign envoys, arguing it would hinder local and international cooperation initiatives. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. P. Ruwan Senarath - Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister criticized Opposition Members for raising unrelated issues and for what he described as contradictory positions on matters such as casino regulation, debt, rice shortages, and past criminal investigations. He cited the Committee on Public Finance recommendation to establish a casino regulatory authority and said the Government would regulate casinos, address tax evasion, and strengthen monitoring. He also stated that investigations into killings, including Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder, and the Easter attacks would proceed methodically, while alleging previous administrations failed to account for major allocations to the Paddy Marketing Board and other policy failures. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala JJB AI summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala rejected claims that all decorative bus fittings were being removed, stating that only unlawful fittings linked to road accidents would be targeted. Citing about 12,100 road deaths over four years, he said the initiative would now proceed as a three-month educational and awareness programme with the cooperation of bus and three-wheeler drivers, schoolchildren, the public, the IGP and bus associations to improve road safety. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 Hon. Nimal Palihena JJB AI summary Hon. Nimal Palihena argued that Sri Lanka’s investment inflows, tax revenue, remittances and foreign exchange management have not delivered the outcomes expected under laws approved since 2005, including those now linked to IMF-related reforms. He said regulations under Acts such as the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, Foreign Exchange Act, Payments and Settlement Systems Act, Ports and Airports Development Levy Act and Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act must be implemented effectively to attract investment, formalize remittances and rebuild reserves. He also called for stronger regulation and taxation of internationally linked activities such as casinos, stating that passing laws alone is insufficient without supervision, revenue collection and corrective amendments. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB AI summary Roshan Akmeemana said the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative seeks to mobilize citizens, particularly youth, for a collective economic and social effort beyond government action alone. He called for national unity and intergenerational sacrifice to support shared development and a common national purpose. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana JJB AI summary Hon. Roshan Akmeemana rejected Opposition criticism of the Government’s first 100 days, contrasting it with the Central Bank bond scam under the former Yahapalana administration and its alleged financial losses. He clarified that enforcement action on auxiliary fittings in buses and three-wheelers is based on an existing 2024 Motor Traffic circular, not a new Government measure, and said Police have been instructed to allow a grace period before filing cases. He argued that Sri Lanka needs a long-term transformative development strategy, drawing lessons from other countries without copying them, and said the Government would pursue a path between unplanned liberalization and blanket protectionism, including stronger planning for agriculture and domestic industry. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Import/Export Control Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and Other Acts (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Hiruni Wijesinghe supported the regulations and orders under debate, arguing that they reflect a more people-centred legal approach and can advance investment, public welfare and consumer protection. She endorsed measures under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act to vest management of common property in the Commission, saying this would help attract investment, support construction, create jobs and increase foreign exchange inflows. She also supported new import control regulations bringing items such as whole red lentils, cosmetics, soaps, plastic bottles, lamps and toys under SLS certification, enabling testing, rejection and re-export of substandard goods to protect health and consumer rights. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB AI summary Regulations, rules and orders approved by the previous Cabinet were presented, with emphasis on improving implementation and ensuring quality control over imports and exports, citing past incidents involving ethanol, unsafe food imports, Thriposha contamination and unsuitable rice that the new Government re-exported. He said the Government would introduce proper systems for the casino sector and defended its economic and agricultural policies by criticizing the Yahapalana period, sovereign bond borrowing, and the 2021 chemical fertilizer ban, while noting the increase of the fertilizer subsidy to Rs. 25,000. He stated that the Government’s priorities include addressing food security, farmer support, schoolchildren’s welfare, land title issues, roads and water supply, and pledged to correct misuse of public funds and deliver services over its term. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim stated that debt rose by 42 per cent during his government’s tenure, from Rs. 9,953 billion to Rs. 14,210 billion by 2019, but argued that 90 per cent of the increase was used to repay existing debt rather than for wasteful spending. He said his side took responsibility for correcting prior financial mismanagement and accused others, including the JVP, of contributing to the country’s debt burden and associated dealings. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim responded to claims about International Sovereign Bonds by citing debt figures across successive governments. He argued that Sri Lanka’s debt rose sharply under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, increasing from Rs. 1,996 billion in 2004 to Rs. 9,953 billion in 2014, including an 83% rise between 2009 and 2014, before his side came to power in 2015. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe challenged Hon. Kabir Hashim’s criticism of International Sovereign Bonds, stating that many of the bonds described as “odious” were issued during Hashim’s period in office and asking whether he was aware of how they were being taken. He also referred to the Government’s programme for the upcoming rice season, including the role of cooperatives and planned changes, and questioned whether the Opposition had acknowledged those measures. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim criticized the Government for not using rice import tax revenue to support fertilizer provision or compensate farmers for crop losses at Rs. 40,000. He questioned the JVP-led Government’s approach to debt restructuring, saying it had previously opposed “odious debt” and promised audits similar to Ecuador’s 2008 debt review but had not acted on this in office. He also argued that domestic debt restructuring unfairly burdened workers through impacts on the EPF and ETF, and said the Government had failed to deliver the “system change” it pledged. Debate: Orders and Regulations (continued) Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the proposed regulation concerning the Colombo Port City Commission, stating that it is needed to improve the quality of the 68 ongoing developments and should be adopted. He said the Government would continue bringing necessary regulations to strengthen the National People’s Power’s economic policy, in response to the economic policy failures for which the electorate had mandated change. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister responded that the Government should not be blamed immediately, noting that a committee discussion had taken place and that Hon. Harsha de Silva had highlighted long-standing requests from public officials for a Bill to establish a regulatory body for casinos. He said conditional approval was granted because casinos currently exist without a proper authority or law to regulate them, and stated that the new Government would intervene while not accepting responsibility for prior administrative delays. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim noted that Harsha de Silva continues as Chair of the Public Finance Committee and reiterated the position that a regulatory authority should be established before any licence is accepted. He questioned why the Government had still not appointed such an authority despite three months having passed. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Read →
- 8 January 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned the Government on delays to the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, noting that it had undergone extensive study and was considered advantageous to Sri Lanka. He asked why the agreement was being held up despite being simpler than the proposed ETCA, and sought the Government’s position on both trade agreements. Debate: Orders and Regulations under Foreign Exchange Act, Payment Systems Act, and Casino Business Regulation Read →