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 February 2026 The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister sought approval for regulations under the Special Commodity Levy Act, a Customs Ordinance resolution, and Motor Traffic Act orders, explaining changes to levies on imported mandarins to comply with the Pakistan–Sri Lanka trade agreement, maintain protections for potatoes and onions, provide cyclone-related food relief, extend levies on 62 commodity categories, and reduce the levy on donated dates during Ramadan. He cited 2025 economic indicators including export, tourism, remittance, FDI and current account figures, and said the Government’s tax policy was aimed at reform and efficiency rather than general tax reduction. He also stated that revenue agencies had exceeded targets and rejected claims of inadequate “Dittha” cyclone relief funding, saying payments and a supplementary allocation were in place subject to verification. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka addressed two Orders under the Motor Traffic Act, supporting measures on temporary driving permits and licence validity while proposing that permits for foreign licence holders be issued at tourist hubs such as Galle with guidance on local road rules. He raised implementation concerns over mandatory seat belts in buses, delayed issuance of vehicle number plates despite previous assurances, and proposed drug and alcohol testing of bus drivers, arguing that penalties should apply to offending drivers rather than bus owners and should be applied consistently to SLTB. He also highlighted wider public transport and road safety problems, including train delays, unsafe level crossings, elephant-train collisions, railway losses, ageing SLTB buses, staffing burdens, and high fatal accident rates involving motorcycles, three-wheelers and buses, calling for urgent practical action. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa challenged the Government’s handling of the National Commission on Women, arguing that it had been placed under the relevant Ministry despite its intended independence and citing the resignation of its Chairperson over staffing, administrative control, and lack of access to senior officials. He tabled Gazette and Appropriation Act documents, questioned delays in funding and operationalizing the Commission, and argued that the proposed Rs. 50 million allocation for 2026 was insufficient compared with the requested Rs. 150 million. He also complained that Opposition questions on education, university administration, acting principal appointments, teacher recruitment, and archaeology were being disallowed, stating that this restricted parliamentary scrutiny. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena argued that Sri Lanka must overcome long-standing “arrears” in human and physical development caused by racism and poor governance, and said the Government would not allow renewed communal divisions. Responding in the context of regulations under the Special Commodity Levy Act, the Customs Ordinance, and the Motor Traffic Act, he said the Government had delivered political reforms within its first year, including reducing executive and ministerial privileges and abolishing MPs’ pensions, while allowing independent anti-corruption institutions to function. He cited improvements in the Corruption Perceptions Index and record or high figures for the 2025 current account surplus, remittances, exports, FDI, tourism receipts, and state revenue collections as evidence of economic stabilization under the NPP Government. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj supported the Special Commodity Levy regulations, Customs resolution, and Motor Traffic regulations, arguing that the NPP Government had restored economic stability, increased exports, and enabled measures such as vehicle imports after the earlier crisis. He cited export growth, service export earnings, and sectoral improvements as evidence of progress toward a production economy. He also highlighted the abolition of parliamentary pensions, wage increases for estate workers, and programmes for workers’ welfare, while rejecting Opposition criticism. He said the Government was promoting ethnic, religious, and linguistic harmony through support for major religious and cultural observances, and framed its agenda around building a “prosperous country” and improving citizens’ lives. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage — Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports AI summary The Minister supported the regulations under the Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance, and Motor Traffic Act, linking them to economic recovery, tourism facilitation, and national development. He cited increased tourist arrivals, government revenue, remittances, reserves and low inflation as evidence of stability, and said measures such as allowing tourists to drive on foreign licences would further support tourism. He also referred to Sri Lanka’s hosting of the India–Pakistan cricket series as evidence of international confidence and emphasized sport and parliamentary reforms, including abolition of MPs’ pensions, as part of broader social and political development. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan supported the Motor Traffic (Expressway) and Motor Traffic (Drug) Regulations as necessary reforms to address road safety, including mandatory seat belts on expressways and formal procedures for detecting drug-impaired driving through saliva testing and lab confirmation. He noted changes from prior law, including wider seat-belt obligations, owner and driver responsibility, and higher drunk-driving fines. He raised concerns about the cost and feasibility of retrofitting older buses, possible inaccuracies or misuse of saliva tests, and potential police harassment. He proposed subsidies or a welfare fund for operators, support for replacing old buses, legal clarity on prescribed medicines, and mandatory police body cameras during testing. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne - Deputy Minister of Mass Media JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister responded to criticism over delays at the Women’s Commission, stating that operational and technical issues had been corrected and rejecting claims that the Government was suppressing the Commission. She then supported approval of four Gazettes related to the economy, foreign relations and tourism, citing recent IMF remarks, international engagements, growth, inflation, reserves, debt servicing, tourism, remittances, FDI, exports and the current account as evidence of economic stabilization. She also said the Government had managed the economic impact of the “Ditwah” cyclone without revising the Budget and had negotiated to reduce the impact of US tariffs. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance Resolution, and Motor Traffic Act Orders (Continuation) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama JJB AI summary Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama argued that the proposed Special Commodity Levy of Rs. 50 on big onions and Rs. 80 on potatoes should be maintained to protect local farmers whose production costs are far higher than competitors in India, Pakistan and China due to climate, disease, seed costs and lower subsidies. He said the levies should serve as a temporary measure until para-tariffs are phased out by 2030, while revenue and budget allocations are used for agricultural modernization, cold storage, warehousing, local seed production and farmer organization. He proposed using technology, cooperatives and producer groups to reduce unit costs and make Sri Lankan onion and potato farmers competitive within two to three years. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act and Related Orders (Main Business) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama JJB AI summary Prof. L.M. Abeywickrama stated that the discussion was being held under the Special Commodity Levy Act in relation to agricultural products, specifically potatoes and big onions. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act and Related Orders (Main Business) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House AI summary Minister Bimal Rathnayake moved approval of several Orders and resolutions under the Special Commodity Levy Act, Customs Ordinance and Motor Traffic Act, noting that finance-related matters would be addressed by the State Minister of Finance and transport matters by him. He said two transport-related Gazettes extend time for driving licence renewals affected by Cyclone Ditcha and set a Rs. 45,000 fee for renewing Sri Lankan driving authorisations for foreign nationals, including through a new facility at Bandaranaike International Airport. He outlined forthcoming regulation of three-wheelers, taxis, school vans and office vans, new drug-testing powers for drivers and conductors, strengthened seatbelt enforcement on expressways, progress on open bank-card payments for bus fares with card-scheme commissions to be waived, and steps to clear the driving licence backlog and restore one-day service. He also referred to action to address corruption at the Department of Motor Traffic and urged MPs to follow Standing Orders and use proper language during debate. Debate: Special Commodity Levy Act and Related Orders (Main Business) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa – Leader of the Opposition AI summary Sajith Premadasa disputed the Minister’s response on the National Commission on Women, stating that the Commission had in fact been gazetted and that budgetary provision could have been made through a Supplementary Estimate after its establishment. He questioned the Government’s prior statements to CEDAW that operationalization was complete and argued that the appointment of the Ministry Secretary as Executive Director should have been handled by the Commission and its Chair, raising concerns about the Commission’s independence. Procedural: Ministry Statement and Standing Order Clarification Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj – Minister of Women, Children and Social Empowerment AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said the former Chairperson of the National Commission on Women had submitted her resignation to the President, as required, and the Ministry was not aware of the reasons or required to be formally notified. She explained that the Commission was established after the 2026 Budget proposals had been submitted, so Rs. 50 million was later allocated and further funds are being sought through a Supplementary Estimate. She stated that an Executive Director assumed duties on 7 January 2026, temporary office space and ministry support are being provided only until permanent premises and staff are secured, and these arrangements do not affect the Commission’s statutory independence. Procedural: Ministry Statement and Standing Order Clarification Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa raised a procedural concern under Standing Orders 92(2)(a) and 27(2) regarding the National Commission for Women. He argued that, as an independent commission, it should receive budget allocations under Special Expenditure Units like other independent commissions, rather than being gazetted under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. He requested that this be corrected, stating that placing it under a ministry undermines its independence. Procedural: Ministry Statement and Standing Order Clarification Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake requested an urgent Government statement on the integrity, composition and usability of Sri Lanka’s Gross Official Reserves, including usable reserves after encumbrances, swaps and pledged funds, income earned from reserves, and detailed holdings of gold, currencies, SDRs, IMF positions and swaps. He also asked for information on Central Bank margins and profits from foreign exchange transactions with the Government, audit oversight by the Auditor General, and the rationale for a recent circular under the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017. He questioned whether foreign exchange and tax leakage through foreign credit cards and payment gateways has been quantified, cited a possible loss of about USD 3 billion, and asked why stricter binding action is not taken against non-compliant businesses using foreign gateways while domestic institutions are regulated. Procedural: Question Under Standing Order 27(2) - Gross Official Reserves Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB AI summary Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage raised a supplementary question regarding over 200 complaints against the Gampaha Sanasa enterprise and further complaints involving the private GDC entity, alleging fraud exceeding Rs. 1,000 million. He noted the involvement of several agencies, including the UDA and the Department of Cooperatives, in relation to a 676-shop complex and asked what steps the Ministry would take to expedite FCID investigations. Oral Question: Gampaha Sanasa Development Bank Complaints (1751/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar JJB AI summary The member responded to a matter raised outside the main question concerning disaster-related damage to fishers’ boats, nets, and livelihoods. He said the relevant documents should be provided so authorities can assess whether funding can be allocated immediately or future action taken, and indicated readiness to pursue further measures if required. Oral Question: Fishery Buildings and Shore Seine Fishing in Pottuvil (1750/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised a supplementary question regarding fishers affected by the November 2025 disaster, citing a shore seine fisher from Jalaldeen Square who reported losses of boats and fishing gear valued at about Rs. 3.56 million. He asked whether the Government would provide prompt compensation to enable the fisher, and around 30 dependent families, to resume fishing, and tabled supporting documents. Oral Question: Fishery Buildings and Shore Seine Fishing in Pottuvil (1750/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala raised a supplementary question regarding resettlement after the “Ditsa” cyclone, noting that over 300 high-risk houses remain near Seepoth and Berannawa. He asked whether part of the underutilized lands at Nagastenna could be allocated, subject to proper technical clearance, to relocate some of the affected families. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Read →
- 18 February 2026 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary B. Ariyawansha questioned the Minister on housing for plantation Tamil families, citing over 2,000 families in temporary huts and more than 30,000 families in Ratnapura living in old, overcrowded line rooms. He referred to the Government’s policy promise of 10 perches per family and asked how houses would be built rapidly, including under Indian-assisted programmes. He specifically raised the delayed “Aluth Kaella” site in Suriya Kanda, noting landslide risks, and sought a concrete plan for swift solutions. Oral Question: Hazards Faced by Plantation Workers: Preventive Measures (1466/2025) Read →