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. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake said Sri Lanka Railways is in a serious state due to chronic underfunding, past waste and fraud, and a shortage of locomotives, with only 44 available against an estimated need of 70–75 for reliable operations. He also identified shortages of technical officers and engineers, partly linked to policies encouraging public servants to migrate, as a major cause of service deterioration. He stated that proposals have been submitted to Cabinet to recruit essential staff and said the Government is seeking to halt the decline in the railway service. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary The Hon. Hesha Withanage questioned delays in fertilizer subsidies while cultivation is underway and asked why the minister’s advocacy for farmers is not more evident. He also raised concern that privatization or private actors may again gain influence over rice pricing, asking whether policy is moving in that direction. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Hesha Withanage sought clarification on whether the assurance was that the relevant assets or operations would not be handed to foreign firms, but could instead be given to local private companies. He asked for a specific guarantee on that distinction. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Hesha Withanage asked whether, in light of recurring losses and previous Government proposals linked to the IMF programme, the Government intends to privatize any of the farms in question. He sought an assurance to the country that none of those farms would be privatized. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB AI summary For 2023, a loss of Rs. 3,091,574 was recorded in the relevant annex, as stated in the context of Agriculture and Livestock matters. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 18 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Asked for clarification on whether the entity in Hambantota, located in the former Agriculture Minister’s district, made a profit or loss in 2023. The question sought a specific financial outcome for the previous year. Oral Questions (Questions 1–10) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti argued that the current Government is stabilizing the economy and advancing IMF-linked debt restructuring despite what he described as debt-restructuring conditions created under the previous administration. He said higher growth and a stronger rupee could reduce the percentage of ISB debt relief under the agreed formula, but maintained that the alternative of renewed default and deeper bankruptcy would be worse for the country. He provided indicative nominal GDP figures for 2025 and 2026 and tabled the IMF Staff Mission press release of 23 November 2024, citing it as evidence that the new Government’s commitment had reduced uncertainty. He also pointed to stock market gains, tourism recovery, stable interest rates, and improved governance as signs of economic stabilization. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Nimal Palihena JJB AI summary Hon. Nimal Palihena argued that Sri Lanka’s debt crisis and repeated reliance on IMF programmes resulted from past economic policies, trade deficits, external borrowing, and governance failures, culminating in the April 2022 default that left the IMF as the main available option. He said the Government has proceeded within existing agreements while restoring confidence, citing Japan’s reactivation of 11 suspended projects and India’s USD 20 million aid write-off after the September 2024 Presidential election. He stated that the Government would continue its mandate to strengthen the productive economy, attract investment, manage future debt obligations, and, if necessary, issue sovereign bonds on more favourable terms. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva questioned reports that an MoU or agreement had been signed, emphasizing that under Article 148 of the Constitution Parliament has full control over public finance. He argued that no binding financial agreement can be entered into on behalf of the country without parliamentary process, and requested that the relevant document be tabled for scrutiny. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma AI summary Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma clarified the Government’s position on the MoU signed on 19 September, stating that it set out the agreed pathway with international stakeholders and creditors. He said the new Government had to decide whether to depart from agreements already entered into by the previous Government or proceed with them under comparable treatment, and chose to continue in order to support stability, growth, and relief from public hardship. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva questioned the Leader of the House during an Adjournment Motion debate about the status of the International Sovereign Bond agreement. He noted that the bond exchange was scheduled for 20 December and that a notice had been issued that day after a 12 December deadline, and requested that the signed document be tabled if the agreement had already been signed. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Harshana Suriyapperuma AI summary Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that the Government inherited already signed agreements, MoUs, and final arrangements from the previous administration and therefore had limited scope to restart the process. He argued that the Government is proceeding cautiously to manage these commitments without harming the public, including by adhering to principles such as comparable treatment. He accused some Opposition Members of misleading Parliament and the country by implying the current Government freely chose or originated those agreements. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Dr. Harsha de Silva raised a point of order in response to references to him, clarifying that his tweet on the ISB deal was conditional and intended to question whether the Government would abandon its promised alternative debt sustainability analysis. He urged the Government to present and implement its alternatives on debt restructuring and industrial policy if it has them, rather than changing course after assuming office. He also rejected the characterization of his party as neoliberal, referred to its social market economy approach and past advocacy on the EPF, and proposed that any MLB or clawback benefit be extended to the EPF within the existing DSA framework. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra defended proceeding with the international debt restructuring agreements, arguing that the Government inherited a default situation from previous economic policies and had limited practical alternatives. She said renegotiating the already reached agreements could delay the exit from bankruptcy, increase interest costs by about USD 1.7 billion or more, send negative market signals, and further harm access to financing. She criticized opposition positions as inconsistent and stated that the Government’s priority is to end bankruptcy and use any debt relief to support economic growth and relief for affected people. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary D.V. Chanaka said the Opposition would hold the Government to the promises in its “A Prosperous Country and a Beautiful Life” manifesto rather than allow them to be forgotten. He credited the previous administration and officials, including Basil Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Shehan Semasinghe, the Central Bank Governor and Treasury officials, for initiating and implementing the IMF programme. He argued that politicians who previously opposed the IMF and criticized measures such as electricity tariffs and fuel pricing are now following the same path, and cited past claims that electricity tariffs could have been reduced further. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi argued that Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and 2022 debt default resulted from past mismanagement, corruption, unproductive borrowing, weak revenue administration, and failure to build a sound economic base. She stated that the National People’s Power Government would not abandon its manifesto, “A Prosperous Country and a Beautiful Life,” and would pursue its own stabilization and recovery programme rather than continue a previous administration’s plan. She defended responsible borrowing, said the Government would follow a realistic “middle path” including in relation to the IMF, and invited the Opposition to support national recovery while assuring that people would receive a fair share of economic gains over the next five years. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake supported continuing the debt restructuring and IMF-backed programme, arguing that the 2022 sovereign default was unconstitutional because Parliament, under Article 148, had authority over debt management. He outlined the sequence of IMF engagement and domestic, bilateral, multilateral, and commercial debt restructuring, including the December 2024 Macro-linked Bonds agreement, and said failure to conclude the process would have risked renewed instability. He urged the Government to use the agreement to restart growth by lowering interest rates, expanding credit, managing vehicle imports cautiously, increasing exports and FDI, and easing high income tax burdens, including raising the PAYE threshold. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake argued that Sri Lanka’s debt crisis resulted from years of borrowing to cover deficits and repay old debt, and said those responsible for the 2022 bankruptcy declaration and economic mismanagement should be held accountable. He stated that, although the IMF programme was inherited from the previous Government, it is now impractical to abandon it, and the Government is pursuing macroeconomic stabilization through exchange rate stability, lower interest rates, increased reserves, and debt restructuring. He cited creditor acceptance, currency stabilization, improved reserves, lower inflation, stock market gains, and expanded subsidies for fertilizer, welfare, fishermen, and exporters as evidence of progress under the current policy direction. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the sovereign debt restructuring process, arguing that it has helped restore financial stability, lower interest rates, and preserve social welfare measures such as increased Aswesuma payments. He highlighted longstanding poverty, housing, land, health, education, wage and employment issues affecting the hill-country estate community, noting that many still live in old line rooms without proper addresses. He said the Government, through measures such as the Hatton Declaration and anti-corruption efforts, would address land and welfare issues, and requested assistance from India and Tamil Nadu in resolving estate community problems. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa asked the Acting Finance Minister to table the Staff-level Agreement in Parliament. He also requested details of the currency swaps, interest payments, and other external debt obligations due in the following year. Adjournment Debate: International Sovereign Bond Restructuring and IMF Agreement Read →