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- 4 March 2026 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim questioned provisions in the Bill that would subject community-based organizations, including funeral aid societies and voluntary groups, to uniform regulation as lending entities and expose them to CRIB reporting. He argued that such treatment could undermine not-for-profit, women-centered community loan programmes and called for amendments, asking whether the issue was accepted. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Minister supported the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill as a replacement for the Microfinance Act, No. 6 of 2016, emphasizing customer protection, licensing, and supervision of money lending and microfinance businesses. He traced the sector’s role in serving low-income borrowers excluded from formal banking, including Sri Lanka’s cooperative, Janasaviya and Samurdhi-based models, while noting that commercialization and weakened social collateral had led to exploitative practices. He cited unregulated operators, high interest rates, unfair recoveries, distress among women borrowers, suicides, and depositor losses as reasons for stronger regulation, while clarifying that cooperatives, Samurdhi institutions, pawn brokers and other bodies already regulated under specific laws are excluded from the Bill’s scope. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition criticized the Government’s proposed microfinance-related measures, arguing that they would disadvantage community-based lending groups, women-led credit programmes, and poor and informal-sector borrowers while favouring banks, finance companies, and licence-holders. He said regulation should target loan sharks, online illegal lenders, and large institutions that commercialized microfinance and contributed to debt distress, rather than grassroots organizations such as community credit groups and funeral aid societies. He called for amendments to the Bill to protect women, women-headed households, rural self-employed people, estate and North-East communities, and other vulnerable borrowers. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB AI summary Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi supported the microfinance Bill, arguing that it is intended to regulate and guide the sector rather than oppress people, citing suicides linked to microfinance debt among women as evidence of the need for action. He said the Bill followed consultations with the Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, relevant institutions and community-based organizations, and would establish coordination between the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority and the Central Bank. He stated that community-based organizations would be assisted toward legal registration and appropriate regulation, while public financial-awareness programmes and initiatives such as “Praja Shakthi” would help vulnerable women and low-income groups avoid renewed debt traps. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim argued that the microfinance Bill is timely but inadequate, noting past attempts in 2016 and 2023 were halted after Supreme Court intervention and insufficient consultation. He said the Bill must protect the informal sector, which he described as the majority of the labour force, and proposed amendments to bring licensed banks and non-bank finance/leasing companies under explicit micro-lending conduct rules. He also called for lighter, tailored regulation for genuine community and voluntary organisations, alongside caps on charges, fair collection practices, and client-protection standards across all micro-lenders. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim said the Bill under debate is important and timely, but raised concern that the Government’s promised amendments had not been clearly circulated or made readily available to Members. He placed the Bill in the historical context of Sri Lanka’s microfinance development, citing early credit co-operatives, post-1977 UNP support, President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s “Jana Saviya” programme, and the 1990 Integrated Rural Development Programme as key milestones in expanding access to finance for low-income groups and voluntary organisations. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading (Continued) Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved the Second Reading of the Bill to establish the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority, regulate moneylending and microfinance, protect clients, and repeal the Microfinance Act, No. 6 of 2016. He said the existing framework was inadequate amid unregulated village, online, and app-based lending, and outlined the Bill’s provisions on licensing, supervision, investigations, penalties, and an independent fund for the Authority. He noted that the revised Bill followed earlier Cabinet approvals, Supreme Court proceedings, withdrawal of a previous version, and further committee review, with some outstanding matters to be addressed by regulations. He also stated that the Finance Ministry would link regulation with debt-relief and livelihood programmes, including Rs. 95.6 billion in concessional and interest-subsidised schemes for 2026 through the Praja Shakthi programme and Community Development Councils. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha moved the Second Reading of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill. The intervention was brief and procedural, with no substantive argument or policy detail recorded beyond the reference to the Bill. Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake sought a Government statement under Standing Order 27(2) on repeated deviations from the inflation target under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, citing Central Bank reports showing inflation below the 3 per cent lower bound for five reporting cycles. He asked the Finance Minister to explain why inflation remains below target despite monetary easing, whether this reflects weak demand, and whether inflation forecasts, modelling assumptions, the 5 per cent target, and the current policy rate should be reconsidered. He also raised concerns about the Central Bank’s independence, data quality and outdated CPI weights, the division of responsibility between the Governing Board and Monetary Policy Board, and the exclusion of the Treasury Secretary from monetary policy decisions. He further questioned the legal basis for a debt standstill without parliamentary approval and asked who declared the country bankrupt if Parliament did not. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Central Bank Inflation Target Deviation Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Vijitha Herath JJB AI summary Vijitha Herath stated that Sri Lanka has crude oil stocks sufficient until August, so any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is not expected to cause an immediate major impact. He said the Government is prepared with contingency plans in case global production or transport is affected, while continuing to monitor the situation. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Middle East Crisis and Strait of Hormuz Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa challenged the Minister’s assessment that a closure of the Strait of Hormuz would not seriously affect Sri Lanka, citing reduced shipping traffic, rising oil prices, and Sri Lanka’s dependence on Middle Eastern crude and related supply chains. He argued that impacts could extend to LNG, tanker insurance costs, transport routes, tourism, remittances, and tea exports, given Sri Lankan workers in the region and trade exposure. He urged the Government to provide clearer answers and plan on a pessimistic scenario rather than underestimating the risks. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Middle East Crisis and Strait of Hormuz Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage — Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports AI summary The Minister replied to Question 1476/2025 on youth and sports projects in Trincomalee District, listing completed and ongoing programmes including youth festivals, drama workshops, leadership camps, job-orientation courses, Youth Day activities, and overseas exposure opportunities. He stated that sports allocations include national funding with Rs. 200 million for the McHeyzer Stadium indoor complex, Rs. 50 million for outdoor works, and planned funding for school sports grounds, noting that the 400-metre track has been completed and remaining works are to be finished this year. He also said 2026 plans include expanded sports competitions in Trincomalee and other Northern and Eastern districts, with further details tabled in annexes. Oral Question: Projects in Trincomalee District (Q.1476/2025) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna — Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education AI summary In response to Question 1468/2025, the Deputy Minister stated that a 2025 special project to develop sports schools selected five provinces and six schools, funded by Rs. 200 million from the Department of Sports Development out of a Rs. 500 million allocation. He said the Southern Province was not permanently excluded, but the 2025 phase was limited to the selected schools under budgetary constraints. He reported that Rs. 150 million had been released to District Secretariats by August 2025, with 44.823% financial progress and 62.1% physical progress, while the remaining Rs. 50 million would not be used that year due to practical constraints including cyclone damage. Oral Question: Special Sports Schools Development (Q.1468/2025) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Asked whether sufficient funds will be allocated in the next year to develop cascade tanks in the Vanni, citing their benefits. Oral Question: Irrigation Tanks and Cascade Systems in Vavuniya (Q.1406/2025) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka SJB AI summary Hon. Suranga Rathnayaka questioned the Deputy Minister on the adequacy of Paddy Marketing Board purchases, noting they represented only 2.11 per cent of total production. He also raised concerns about delayed fertilizer subsidies and sought clarification on compensation for partial crop damage caused by the “8960” cyclone, asking whether payments would be made and whether subsidies would be delivered on time next season. Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the 2026 education reform allocations aim to address resource gaps in secondary schools, including laboratories, IT connectivity, equipment, devices, and smart classrooms. She said facilities had been assessed and would be provided in phases, with all secondary schools targeted to receive at least one smart classroom and adequate connectivity by year-end through negotiations with internet service providers. She also noted that identified schools would receive special support and that provinces would receive funds in addition to Line Ministry allocations. Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya replied to Question 1269/2025, stating that 356 partially constructed and abandoned buildings exist in government schools, with larger inventories identifying 468 projects under various categories. She attributed the delays to the closure of the “Nearest School – Best School” Project Management Unit in 2020, shortage of technical staff, COVID-19 disruptions, the economic crisis, contractor unwillingness to continue at old prices, and insufficient donor or private funding. She said the Government reviewed these projects in 2025 and 2026, allocated funds to complete viable buildings subject to contractual renegotiation, and would abandon unusable structures while instructing principals not to use unsafe buildings and to ensure student safety where limited use continues. Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara sought clarification on compensation related to the “8960” cyclone, noting that payments are now being made. Oral Questions: Paddy Marketing Board and Fertilizer Subsidies Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Initial relief payments of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 have been provided to affected households, with about 98% in the Colombo District having received the Rs. 25,000 payment, though Kolonnawa-specific figures were not yet available. Further housing compensation will be assessed under existing criteria distinguishing total and partial damage, rather than being paid as a flat amount. Oral Question: Cyclone Ditcha Relief and Compensation (Q.1368/2025) Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. S. M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S. M. Marikkar said the compensation arrangements for recent flood damage were inconsistent with the President’s earlier statement that Rs. 10 billion would be provided immediately. Referring to the 2016 floods in the Kolonnawa DS Division, he argued that all inundated houses should be compensated rather than limiting assistance to about 3,000 houses out of roughly 30,000 affected. He requested a review of the guidelines, including the narrow definition of “fully damaged” as requiring a house to have collapsed. Oral Question: Cyclone Ditcha Relief and Compensation (Q.1368/2025) Read →