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. Dewananda Suraweera JJB AI summary Dewananda Suraweera questioned why the winding up of the three Maga Neguma entities, decided in March 2023, had not been completed due to ongoing litigation and court-mediated proceedings. He asked why, despite the entities remaining neither closed nor sold, public funds continued to be spent, including an alleged Rs. 2.5 million per day in legal fees. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake answered a question regarding Maga Neguma, confirming that the company owns vehicles and current assets, and tabling annexures with details. He stated that the Cabinet decided on 20 March 2023 to wind up Maga Neguma and its three subsidiaries, and that legal proceedings, including Case No. HC (Civil) 32/2023/CO, are ongoing. He reported litigation expenses of Rs. 13,964,027.30 up to 22 July 2024 and arbitration payments of Rs. 3,015,000 as of 13 September 2024, with supporting annexures tabled. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa said COVID-19 urgency provisions were used to facilitate procurements from unregistered companies, including entities already issued orders. He referred to public concern over a company from which the Government spent Rs. 2.2 billion on antigen tests without NMRA registration, and stated that a full investigation would be conducted with all information tabled in Parliament. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem questioned reported irregularities in vaccine procurement and NMRA approvals, referring to the Health Minister’s earlier statement on the President’s Fund and the Speaker’s pledge to act against wrongdoing. He asked whether approvals had been granted exceptionally before orders were placed, while lower-priced suppliers were denied approval and favoured companies were selected, and demanded that the matter be investigated. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa JJB AI summary Concerns were raised that vaccines had been procured at prices higher than international market rates, with the matter linked to earlier issues in PCR and antigen test procurement. It was stated that the Government, in office for one month, would investigate the procurement process and inform Parliament of any fraud or corruption identified. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Rauff Hakeem criticized the former Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing practices he described as unscientific and contrary to WHO guidance, including the mandatory cremation policy for COVID-19 victims. He also raised concerns about vaccine procurement, suggesting that delays and procurement choices may have benefited certain companies, and asked the Minister of Health whether Sri Lanka could have obtained vaccines at lower prices through timely orders from established manufacturers. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma – Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning AI summary The Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning provided a written reply detailing FDI inflows from 2015 to the first half of 2024 and tabled the complete figures. He outlined measures to attract investment, including anti-corruption action, merit-based project selection, faster investor visas, digital facilitation, incentives under existing laws, investor aftercare, skills matching, and sectoral promotion. He also listed planned actions, including automation of approvals, implementation of 74 investment projects worth an estimated USD 608 million, establishment of new Export Processing Zones from 2025, upgrading zones to green standards, and prioritising sectors such as maritime tourism, green hydrogen, higher education, ICT and nanotechnology. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe responded to concerns about imported rice, stating that Customs conducts container-by-container checks at three points and compliant consignments can be cleared within about four hours. He said three of 75 containers from one private importer were found to contain weevils and were ordered to be re-exported, emphasizing that only rice fit for human consumption would be allowed into the market. He also referred to a Consumer Affairs Authority case involving 2,000 MT of unfit rice in Anuradhapura that had been repackaged for human consumption and was ordered to be diverted for animal feed. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe said the Government had restructured STC with a new Chairman and Board and opened tenders to import rice, including a 20,800 MT tender closing the next day and an initial 5,200 MT consignment expected on the 19th. He stated that Cabinet had approved importing 70,000 MT, while import restrictions were relaxed from the 6th to the 20th to allow private importers, with about 12,000 MT released from port by the previous day. He said local millers holding around 300,000 MT had released stocks slowly, but following discussions led by the President they had agreed to supply Sathosa about 300 MT per day and increase market releases to address the shortage. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake questioned the Government regarding the failure of the State Trading Corporation to import rice as expected. He noted that the rice had still not arrived and sought clarification on the delay. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake argued that, given the current shortage of rice before the harvest, priority should be given to consumers while also recognizing farmers’ difficulties. He urged the Trade Minister not to rely solely on state entities such as the STC for imports, citing past delays, and said experienced private importers should have been used earlier. He asked the Government to ensure imported rice reaches consumers at controlled prices, while noting that farmers still lack confidence in support schemes and often sell to moneylenders. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe – Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development AI summary The Minister stated that Cabinet approvals on 25 November and 2 December 2024 authorized rice imports by Lanka Sathosa, the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation and the private sector, with imports beginning after the market was opened on 4 December. He reported that by 17 December about 12,000 metric tonnes had been cleared, and that maximum retail prices had been gazetted at Rs. 210 per kg for kekulu, Rs. 220 for nadu and Rs. 230 for samba. He also cited Consumer Affairs Authority data showing about 300,000 metric tonnes of rice stocks in 416 mills across 20 districts by 5 November, and said imports were intended to address shortages, stabilize prices and support food security through Sathosa, co-operatives, supermarkets and limited private-sector participation. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development for details on rice imports approved at the current Government’s first Cabinet meeting. He sought the imported quantity, consumer sale price, data on public and private paddy and rice stocks, and an explanation of the benefit of importing rice despite providing fertilizer subsidies to paddy farmers. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne said the Government intends to purchase over 300,000 metric tons of paddy despite limited state drying, milling, and storage capacity. He noted that existing government warehouses can hold about 326,000 metric tons but many of the 353 facilities require repairs, and paddy must be dried to 14 per cent moisture. He said the Government will use private-sector dryers and support while also enabling small, medium, and large millers to purchase paddy, creating three purchasing channels. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara urged the Government to ensure fairness to both consumers and farmers in paddy purchasing, including action if a 50 kg bag exceeds Rs. 9,000. He asked how much paddy the Paddy Marketing Board plans to buy and whether funds will be available without delay from the Treasury. He also raised the practical issue of high moisture levels after machine harvesting, noting farmers lack facilities to dry paddy to 14 per cent, and requested a mechanism to address drying and prevent distress sales. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that previous government paddy procurement and rice sales involved significant subsidies and losses, citing purchases at Rs. 120 per 8 kg equivalent with additional costs and sales at Rs. 80 per kg, as well as earlier sales below purchase cost. He said the last Yala season saw no government procurement and existing stocks were sold, leaving the new government, at the start of the Maha season, without state stocks while small and medium millers also lacked reserves. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara raised concerns over rising rice prices and questioned the effectiveness of government imports in stabilizing the market. He argued that the Rs. 65 tax on imported rice keeps import prices aligned with domestic prices, while paddy prices have risen above Rs. 9,000 per 50 kg bag. He asked whether the Government would maintain prices when the next harvest enters the market to ensure farmers receive a fair price. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that matters concerning the Batticaloa District should be brought before the District Coordinating Committee chaired by Minister Arun Hemachandra, where the relevant Member is also present. He said the Government would examine whether relief could be provided, taking into account the prevailing financial situation. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam asked whether the Central Government would allocate funds to provincial authorities to operate ferry services free of charge until bridges are built. He said fees are currently charged only in Batticaloa, placing a burden on poor residents and raising safety concerns, particularly where flooding at places such as Kiran Bridge forces people to use boats. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake responded to a proposal for the Vattuvakkal Bridge, asking that it also be raised with the President and at the District Coordinating Committee. He said the matter could be considered at the next Budget, subject to the country’s fiscal constraints and Treasury allocation, while noting that such projects are not legally within his ministry’s purview. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →