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- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti argued that state procurement and support should be directed to state institutions and local producers to reduce costs for school supplies and revive domestic industries. He cited exercise books, shoes and matches as examples of policies and taxes disadvantaging local manufacturers against imports or unregulated alternatives, and said Treasury savings could be redirected to benefit students and keep children in school. He also urged the Leader of the Opposition to continue his school bus donation programme after the election period, stating that sustained implementation would show it was not merely a political campaign. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunatilleka said that, during his tenure as Minister of Mass Media under the Good Governance Government, he introduced a Cabinet paper to replace discretionary disposal of waste paper at the Government Printer and State Printing Corporation with a transparent tender process. He stated that the system generated significant revenue and enabled the payment of staff bonuses. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary The Minister said the Supplementary Estimate provides a Rs. 6,000 grant for school supplies to children from low-income families, using Aswesuma as the immediate delivery mechanism to avoid delays before the January school term, while the Education Ministry identifies other eligible children through schools. He emphasized that the programme should not be politicized and said coverage could be expanded, including through voluntary donations from better-off families. He linked the measure to improving revenue performance and outlined plans to reduce exercise book prices by reviving domestic paper production through waste-paper collection, the Government Printing Department, and the National Paper Company. He also said VAT relief on essential school supplies should be pursued as fiscal conditions improve, and criticized past election-period recruitment to state-owned enterprises. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara welcomed the Supplementary Estimate providing a Rs. 6,000 grant for school-related expenses but argued that limiting eligibility to Aswesuma beneficiaries would exclude many needy children due to administrative errors and omissions, and urged that it be extended to all schoolchildren. He highlighted serious education staffing shortages in the North Central Province, including vacancies for teachers, principals, education administrators and teacher instructors, and called for the appointment of qualified graduates and absorption of Graduate Development Officers into the teacher service. He also warned against political interference in education administration and criticized attacks on opposition figures, urging the Government to focus on delivering promised reforms and justice to the public. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen welcomed the Rs. 6,000 stationery grant for children from low-income families but urged the new Parliament to focus on substantive governance rather than internal controversies, warning that public expectations are high. He requested disclosure to Parliament of the list of COVID-19 Janazas forcibly cremated and their next of kin, criticized errors in the Aswasuma beneficiary selection process, and called for revised lists using Samurdhi and local officials. He also urged action on delayed Al-Alim examinations, recruitment of religious teachers and trained principals, and the establishment of a Tamil-medium school in Kolonnawa where land donors are available. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary Chandana Sooriyaarachchi supported the Supplementary Estimate to allocate Rs. 6,500 million for providing Rs. 6,000 per child for schoolbooks and supplies, presenting it as an initial step toward reducing parental burdens and ultimately increasing education spending to 6% of GDP. He criticized past governments’ handling of public service pensions, promotions, recruitment, and labour rights, arguing that the current government would address workers’ concerns without betraying public servants’ trust. He said the government had already engaged School Development Officer unions and intended to prioritize filling teacher shortages by absorbing qualified personnel before addressing unemployed graduates more broadly. He also noted that socio-economic disparities had left about 20% of children without fair access to quality education and said the government was beginning corrective measures despite fiscal constraints. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha supported the Supplementary Estimate providing Rs. 6,000 for school supplies to children from poor families, arguing it would help school retention amid declining Grade 1 enrolment and significant dropout rates, particularly in Grades 9 and 10. He cited poverty, nutrition problems, resource gaps, and weak exam outcomes as interconnected challenges affecting education, and called for expanded school meal programmes, curriculum modernization, reduced reliance on rote assessment, and improved pay and service conditions for education-sector staff. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that the proposed Rs. 6,000 school supplies grant for only 1 million of 4.1 million children would create visible inequality in classrooms and called for assistance to be provided universally, including to children of public and private sector workers. He criticized the Government for not fulfilling earlier pledges on education funding and VAT removal on educational supplies, and questioned the use of Aswasuma as the basis for selecting beneficiaries. He also asked the President to clarify positions taken during his visit to India, including on ETCA, Adani-related projects, the oil pipeline, land bridge, Kaveri Basin leases, and other India-linked initiatives, in light of past opposition to them. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Dhanushka Ranganath JJB AI summary Hon. Dhanushka Ranganath supported the Supplementary Estimate providing Rs. 6,000 for school supplies to children from low-income rural and plantation families, arguing that the economic crisis had seriously affected education, especially in estate communities. He highlighted deficiencies in plantation-sector education, including lack of identity documents, teachers and facilities, and called for further progressive measures if the grant proves insufficient. He also rejected Opposition criticisms about the Government’s economic management and social welfare policy, saying the Opposition should act responsibly and support the schoolchildren’s grant. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Welcoming the proposed Rs. 6,000 grant for children from low-income families to buy educational materials, Chanaka Madugoda argued that the debate should also recognize past education-related welfare measures such as school meals, uniforms and the “Suraksha” insurance scheme. He urged the Government to revise the criteria for identifying low-income households so that children are not excluded solely because a parent is a public servant, and to assess actual family circumstances, including the number of school-going children. He further said current education costs, including tuition for Advanced Level students, far exceed Rs. 6,000 and called for higher support in line with the Government’s previous commitments on education funding. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake alleged a major fraud at an institution previously under his purview, stating that a cheque for Rs. 21.8 million had been issued instead of Rs. 464,248, and tabled related documents. He urged the Government to use revenue from proposed vehicle imports and customs duties to fund promised salary and pension adjustments for public servants, teachers, administrators, and pre-2016 retirees, while maintaining exchange-rate stability. He also asked the Government to clarify the status of pending vehicle permits for public officers and raised concerns about arrears in police allowances, unpaid bonuses in some institutions, and unmet public expectations following tax and VAT changes. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe supported the Supplementary Estimate to provide Rs. 6,000 for 2025 school supplies to eligible students, arguing it addresses hardship faced by families and should be viewed as an initial empowerment measure rather than a vote-oriented handout. He criticised previous poverty alleviation and beneficiary identification programmes, including Janasaviya, Samurdhi and Aswesuma, as ineffective in eradicating poverty. He also rejected Opposition concerns raised over International Sovereign Bond restructuring, stating the Government expects the economy to strengthen by 2028. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam raised concerns over unresolved pension adjustments for teachers who retired between 2016 and 2019, citing Public Administration Circulars 3/2016 and 35/2019 and urging payment of arrears affecting about 118,000 pensioners. He called for targeted Budget programmes for persons with disabilities and female-headed households in the North and East, and requested intervention to address delays and alleged bribery in vehicle ownership transfers and number plate issuance at the Motor Traffic Department. He also sought urgent funding for elephant fences in the Vanni District amid rising human–elephant conflict, and timely payment of fertilizer support to protect agricultural yields. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB AI summary The Minister supported the Supplementary Estimate presented by the Prime Minister as Minister of Education, stating that it provides Rs. 6,500 million for Rs. 6,000 grants to eligible students for stationery and school supplies in 2025. He argued that the measure offers relief during economic recovery, prioritizes education, and will be implemented through coordination between the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. He urged the Opposition to support the proposal and criticized attempts to divert the debate from its subject. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera argued that the proposed Rs. 6,000 school supplies allowance should not be limited to children in Aswesuma beneficiary families because the Aswesuma selection process is flawed and discretionary, and proposed instead that it be granted universally to all schoolchildren. He also questioned the lack of detailed disclosure on the President’s visit to India, particularly regarding physical, digital, and energy connectivity proposals, and sought clarification on the proposed multi-product energy pipeline, its financing, conditions, and the role of the UAE. He further stated that the Government appeared to be continuing the previous administration’s policy direction and, in response to a personal matter raised by the Minister of Justice, clarified his professional status as Counsel under Act No. 26 of 2023 while tabling related campaign material. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 102, Programme 01 (School Supplies Grant) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva welcomed the President’s call for parliamentary support and emphasized that, under Article 148 of the Constitution, Parliament has full control over public finance. He thanked the Leader of the Opposition and Members for supporting his nomination to the Committee on Public Finance, noting that the Committee will consider necessary legal changes. He pledged cross-party cooperation to support national development under a new political culture. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Read →
- 18 December 2024 The President AI summary The President announced an agreed phased extension of the loan moratorium for SMEs, citing Rs. 1,385 billion in non-performing loans across 752,896 borrowers as of 30 September 2024, with 99% below Rs. 25 million, and said the approach seeks to balance borrower relief with protection of depositors and banking stability. The moratorium is extended to 31 March 2025, with restructuring timelines set according to loan size: up to 15 December 2025 for loans below Rs. 25 million, 15 September 2025 for Rs. 25–50 million, and 15 June 2025 for loans above Rs. 50 million, subject to borrowers indicating consent by 31 March 2025. He also outlined forthcoming Budget relief measures and related legislative needs, including the Rs. 3,000 pensioner allowance, fertilizer subsidy payments up to Rs. 25,000, fuel support for fishers, and a Rs. 6,000 school supplies allowance for children in Aswesuma beneficiary households, with an additional process to address beneficiary selection concerns. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka - President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Digital Economy AI summary Anura Kumara Dissanayaka defended the Government’s debt restructuring position and rejected claims that renewed debt payments in 2028 would lead to another bankruptcy, stating a target of USD 15.1 billion in foreign reserves by that year. He outlined revisions negotiated during the IMF third review, including PAYE tax relief, VAT exemptions for domestically produced fresh milk products, reducing the proposed services export tax from 30% to 15%, and raising withholding tax to 10% with safeguards for low-income retirees. He also announced a phased reopening of vehicle imports from December 2024 to February 2025, saying the policy was coordinated with the Central Bank to manage dollar outflows while supporting economic activity. Procedural Matters and Points of Order Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera JJB AI summary Hon. Dewananda Suraweera raised concerns about alleged irregularities at “Maga Neguma,” including repeated contract extensions for 65 officers appointed to wind up the institution and an alleged alteration of a cheque from Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 21 million. He further alleged that private companies were being used to profit through bonds amounting to about Rs. 12 billion, and asked whether an investigation would be conducted. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake explained that Maga Neguma is technically and legally closed, with most employees having retired under a VRS or been compulsorily retired by the previous Government. He said 63 staff were retained to handle pending cases, assets, contractor payments, equipment, and possible transfer matters involving the Road Development Authority. He noted that arbitration costs are about Rs. 3 million per month and said any review would require examining court orders and resolving the matters lawfully after discussions. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →