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. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 grants are being provided to all affected households, while separate damage compensation is allocated based on established criteria. Households are categorized as fully damaged or partially damaged, and disbursements are being made accordingly. 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 raised concerns about reported gaps in the payment of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 compensation to people affected by the cyclone or flooding. He asked the Prime Minister whether clear criteria had been established to ensure that every affected household receives the compensation due to them. Oral Question: Cyclone Ditcha Relief and Compensation (Q.1368/2025) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister provided a detailed update on relief measures following Cyclone “Ditcha”, stating that 2,487,114 persons were affected and tabling district-wise annexes on impacts and grant payments. She said one-time housing grants of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 had largely been disbursed, while compensation for fully and partially damaged houses was still at an early stage, with remaining funds requested and appeals under review. She also reported that 207,312 affected schoolchildren were eligible for a Rs. 25,000 grant for books, stationery and clothing, funded through Disaster Management allocations and the President’s Fund, with most payments completed but no fixed date set for full completion. 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 asked the Prime Minister for detailed information on relief payments following Cyclone “Ditcha” in late 2025, including the island-wide number affected, the status of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 emergency grants, compensation for damaged houses, eligibility for all households, and timelines for completing payments. He also sought data on affected schoolchildren, the per-child grant amount, payment channels, how many had been paid by 15 February 2025, whether all eligible children would receive assistance, and when those payments would be completed. Oral Question: Cyclone Ditcha Relief and Compensation (Q.1368/2025) Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Government has begun programmes to improve professionalism and qualifications in the public service, including MoUs and training opportunities with India and Singapore for serving officers. She also said high-performing A/L students will be funded to study critical fields at leading international universities, with the expectation that they return to serve the country. Oral Question: Government Printing Department Vacancies and Qualifications Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister explained that the Government Printer appointment was made under the applicable Service Minute, which allows selection either from qualified senior Printing Service officers or from a Special Grade Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer. He said the current senior departmental officer is far short of the required progression period for substantive appointment and could only be appointed in an acting capacity with Public Service Commission concurrence. Accordingly, the Government appointed a qualified and experienced SLAS Special Grade officer to the post. Oral Question: Government Printing Department Vacancies and Qualifications Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Over the past year and a half, the Prime Minister said the Government had begun orderly, merit-based recruitment processes to address the issue under discussion. She presented these recruitment measures as the relevant policy response within her education-related ministerial responsibilities. Oral Question: Government Printing Department Vacancies and Qualifications Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised concern about vacancies and qualification gaps across the public service, citing the Government Press, Health sector, and Auditor-General’s Department. He asked whether this indicated systemic erosion and called for urgent modernization, seeking a clear response from the Prime Minister. Oral Question: Government Printing Department Vacancies and Qualifications Read →
- 4 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Under the Sri Lanka Printing Service Minute, no currently qualified departmental officer is available to serve as Government Printer, so a senior Special Grade Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer has been appointed on contract from 2 January 2025 with Cabinet approval to ensure continuity. The Prime Minister stated that security and confidential printing functions have not been reduced, and that quality, confidentiality and procedural integrity remain priorities. She added that a separate independent audit is not considered necessary beyond Auditor-General oversight, and that steps are being taken to make a full-time appointment. Oral Question: Government Printing Department Vacancies and Qualifications Read →
- 4 March 2026 Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna JJB AI summary Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna asked the Prime Minister to outline the Government’s measures for purchasing paddy during the 2025/2026 Maha season, with the stated aims of protecting farmers and avoiding consumer inconvenience. He requested details on guaranteed prices by paddy variety, purchasing mechanisms, allocated funds, the number of purchasing centres by district operated by the Paddy Marketing Board and other state intermediaries, and any new policy reforms to address problems experienced in the previous season. Oral Question: Paddy Purchasing and Guaranteed Prices (Q.1347/2025) Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government is reallocating Civil Defence Department personnel to roles in the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Police to better use a workforce of 30,025 while protecting employment security, pay, pensions and benefits. He stated that 5,000 personnel are being released to Wildlife Conservation, with 4,500 already seconded, and Cabinet has approved seconding 10,000 to the Police, of whom about 4,000 have so far been deployed. He rejected claims of inadequate food and lodging, saying barrack accommodation and monthly allowances of Rs. 25,200, or Rs. 28,200 for Senior Assistant Controllers, have been approved and any delayed payments will be addressed by the IGP. He also noted salary increases from Rs. 27,680 to Rs. 41,985 in 2025, plus a further Rs. 3,500 this year, to align CDD personnel with other public servants. Adjournment Motion: Civil Defence Personnel Secondment Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Foreign Exchange Act regulation reflected improved external-sector stability after recent foreign exchange shortages, arguing that public confidence and financial discipline had prevented attempted artificial shortages from escalating. He rejected claims that the President had described Sri Lanka as a “failed state,” saying the criticism was directed at past administrations’ failure to develop infrastructure after Independence. He also briefed Parliament on measures taken amid Middle East tensions, including consular notices, a hotline, an operations centre, mobilization of missions, assistance to two injured Sri Lankans, and contingency discussions with the IOM while prioritizing de-escalation and the safety of Sri Lankans abroad. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera argued that Sri Lanka has made significant post-Independence development gains despite conflict, and criticized the LTTE and JVP for obstructing national progress, while also responding to concerns over fuel queues by attributing them to external tensions and public reaction rather than supply failure. He raised allegations regarding a coal procurement tender, naming Trident Chemphar Limited and its local agent Panaurora (Pvt.) Ltd., and claimed substandard coal supplies had caused major losses linked to the Norochcholai power plant. He urged the Minister in charge of Police to direct the CID to investigate the local agent and associated individuals, citing media reports as the basis for the allegations. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Nanda Bandara JJB AI summary The Hon. Nanda Bandara supported the regulation under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, stating that raising the reinvestment cap for foreign exchange earners from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000 would help Sri Lankan businesses expand internationally and support remittances and growth. He criticized the Opposition’s approach and contrasted the Government’s response to the recent “Ditva” cyclone in Kegalle with disaster resettlement under the previous Yahapalana administration. He also highlighted Government allocations for district-level production economy initiatives, including Rs. 1 billion for Kegalle to support self-employment and SMEs through grants, concessional loans, and interest subsidies. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister presented regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act to extend existing foreign exchange liberalizations for six months and introduce further relaxations for Business and Personal Foreign Currency Accounts. He said BFCA investment usage limits would rise from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000 and PFCA limits from USD 20,000 to USD 25,000, with Central Bank monitoring, in order to mobilize part of the USD 3.2 billion held in such accounts for productive investment. He argued that external sector conditions had stabilized by 2025, citing reserves support from tourism earnings, record remittances, a positive current account balance, managed imports including vehicles and fuel, and improved secondary-market pricing of restructured bonds. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe said the Government had strengthened foreign reserves through remittances, tourism and restrained foreign travel expenditure, contrasting President Anura Dissanayake’s reported travel costs with those of previous administrations. He argued that the Opposition, particularly the former 2015-2019 government, lacked credibility in offering economic advice, citing lower growth and increased international sovereign bond borrowing during that period. He also accused the Opposition and some media of attempting to create public unrest around fuel queues and other protests, while stating that the Government was addressing genuine issues without unnecessary agitation. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe supported the extension of Regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017, noting the Central Bank’s role in regulating foreign exchange. He said the six-month extension increases limits for payments through Foreign Currency Accounts from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000 and personal capital transactions through PFCA from USD 20,000 to USD 25,000. He framed the changes as part of a gradual expansion of the economy and increased opportunities for those earning foreign exchange. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development JJB AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti supported the regulations easing limits on transactions through Foreign Currency Accounts and Personal Foreign Currency Accounts, stating that the increases in capital transaction caps reflect improved foreign exchange confidence and broader economic and political stability. He linked the policy to rising exports, tourism, remittances, investor interest, transparent PPP processes, and controlled vehicle import-related outflows, while arguing that public confidence had prevented panic during recent fuel queues. He said the Government would manage international risks, avoid abusing its parliamentary majority, and use the liberalisation to encourage reinvestment, strengthen markets, and sustain stability. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne - Deputy Minister of Mass Media JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne defended the President’s remarks and the Government’s cyclone relief response, citing payment and reconstruction figures, before supporting regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act to further relax capital outflow limits. She said the measures reflect stronger reserves and economic expansion under the IMF-supported programme, with increased revenues from vehicle imports and customs helping fund welfare, disaster relief, wages, health, education and transport. She also highlighted external risks from the Middle East conflict and said Rs. 47.6 billion has been allocated to expand and rehabilitate fuel storage capacity, including tanks, pipelines and new storage facilities. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →
- 3 March 2026 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran argued that Sri Lanka needs stronger investment promotion, export development, tourism promotion, and diplomatic engagement to generate and retain foreign exchange. He raised concerns that high interest rates would not support growth, and questioned how the Government would assist families dependent on remittances if overseas workers are affected by the Gulf conflict. He also asked what contingency plans exist if fuel supplies are disrupted, warning that agriculture, fisheries, and the wider economy could face conditions similar to the 2022-2023 crisis. Debate: Regulation under Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 Read →