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- 9 June 2026 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary Wasantha Samarasinghe said the co-operative banking sector, including rural, SANASA and other co-operative banks, has faced serious audit, reporting and pawning-related irregularities, with some reports overdue for several years and pledged items missing. He explained that People’s Bank discontinued the pawning licence due to these issues, but said the Government is taking steps to strengthen the sector through amendments to the Co-operative Societies Law, regulation under a Banking Regulatory Authority, and restoration of pawning facilities under proper oversight. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB AI summary Hon. Waruna Liyanage raised concerns that co-operative rural banks must deposit Rs. 10,000 with Divisional Secretariats to obtain pawning licences, diverting member funds from societies intended for welfare purposes. Citing about 250,000 affected members in Ratnapura and 2.5 million nationwide, he asked that the system be regularized or the fee collection stopped, and proposed restoring a People’s Bank facility to allow co-operative rural banks to conduct pawning without this licensing burden. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan provided district-wise data showing 10,310 estate families affected by Cyclone “Ditwah,” with 431 estate houses or line rooms completely damaged and 2,152 partially damaged. He stated that the Cabinet decided on 06.04.2026 to extend equal compensation to line-room residents without land or house ownership, including Rs. 5 million and 10 perches of Government land for completely destroyed houses, and Rs. 0.5–2.5 million for partial damage as assessed through the relevant authorities. He added that houses deemed beyond repair by the Disaster Management Committee would also qualify for full reconstruction support, with current plans to rebuild 431 houses and repair 2,152, subject to updated data. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna stated that the Government has allocated Rs. 5,000 million to his Ministry to cover the State’s Rs. 200 contribution to the announced wage increase from January 2026. He said concerns raised by Opposition groups about legality and complaints to CIABOC and the Ministry of Finance were addressed through a Cabinet decision, Finance Ministry concurrence, and precedents for State support to private-sector wages. He affirmed that five months’ payments had already been made and that the agreed wage would continue to be paid. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary Provided details on estate workers’ wage increases since 1998, noting that the daily wage rose to Rs. 1,350 in 2024 and to an effective Rs. 1,750 in 2026 with Rs. 200 each from Government and companies. He also gave current workforce figures for regional plantation companies and state plantation bodies, the monthly number of workers entitled to the 2026 Budget increase, and payments made in the first four months, totalling Rs. 2,883.34 million. He stated that the Government attendance incentive is limited to registered manual workers contributing to EPF/ETF under Cabinet decisions and MOUs, excluding many temporary workers who are not yet registered. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Requested that, if an international human rights organization’s report is inaccurate, Parliament be informed at the next opportunity. Also asked what percentage and amount of Government-allocated additional wage support is received by private companies, and requested that information if available. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary The Minister answered Question No. 6 on privatized plantation estates, stating that 398 estates are leased to Regional Plantation Companies, with additional estates under government-owned plantation companies and direct management by SLSPC and JEDB. He said the leases run for 53 years from June 1992 to June 2045, and tabled annexes on estate details, employee numbers, and RPC profit/loss data. He further stated that RPCs are private companies audited by private audit firms under company law, that state audit does not apply, and that there is no legal requirement to table their financial statements in Parliament. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva corrected the figure for residential constructions to 87 and asked that it be checked. He proposed converting the 2018 National Policy on Involuntary Resettlement into law, noting that current application varies by funding source and is often enforced only under ADB or World Bank projects. He argued that legislation would better protect resettled communities by addressing schooling, employment access, housing conditions, and multi-ethnic coexistence. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa JJB AI summary The issue concerns long-standing flooding and underutilized paddy lands in the Ampara area, particularly the lower basin of the Gal Oya near Kittangi bridge and related tanks and anicuts. The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa said that a feasibility study and sustainable scientific plan were proposed at the Ampara District Coordinating Committee meeting attended by the President, who indicated that funds would be allocated. He argued that proper implementation would enable wider paddy cultivation, control floods, and reduce recurrent government expenditure. Oral Questions 1-10 Read →
- 9 June 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva stated that Order 74/2025, concerning deductions for bad debts owed to the Government by telecommunication operators, was not approved. He said further justification and a clear mechanism were requested, noting that while the concept was not opposed, no procedure currently exists to deduct such uncollected debts from operators. Messages from President and Petitions Read →
- 9 June 2026 Principal Contents AI summary The sitting included presidential messages, announcements on certifications, Supreme Court determinations and committee reports, and oral and written answers to questions. Members raised private notice questions on monetary and fiscal policy, economic stability, and the outcomes of the IMF Extended Fund Facility, while ministers made statements on tourism earnings and alleged fraudulent foreign exchange transfers through imports. Parliament also considered orders under stamp duty, ports and airports levy, excise, and VAT laws, and debated a resolution under the Public Security Ordinance. Opening: Parliament session commencement Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake briefly requested that attention be given to a third matter concerning the Central Bank. He asked that the issue be looked into, without providing further details in the excerpt. Ministerial Statement: Cybersecurity Incidents and Response Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake thanked the Deputy Minister for the response but questioned the adequacy of Sri Lanka’s legal framework for addressing cybercrime and cyberattacks, asking what general laws could apply in the absence of specific legislation. He raised concerns about the Auditor-General’s capacity to audit digital fraud and cyber incidents, citing a gap between manual auditing practices and modern digital risks. He urged the Ministry to engage with the UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in July 2026 and requested a briefing on reported cyberattacks, including alleged losses linked to the Ministry of Finance, banks, and international payment/document-related incidents. Ministerial Statement: Cybersecurity Incidents and Response Read →
- 22 May 2026 Hon. Eranga Weeraratne - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary Hon. Eranga Weeraratne outlined Sri Lanka CERT data showing a rise in reported cybersecurity incidents, including financial scams, phishing, ransomware, data breaches and other attacks, while noting that the absence of a mandatory reporting law means the figures may not reflect the full scale of incidents. He highlighted major public-sector incidents, including the 2023 ICTA ransomware attack, the 2025 Department of Pensions cyberattack and an ongoing Ministry of Finance/ERD-related investigation involving suspected email compromise. He said current safeguards include the Government Information and Cybersecurity Policy, CERT advisory and response services, national monitoring, threat intelligence, vulnerability assessments, backup requirements and other technical guidelines, while the proposed Cybersecurity Law remains under drafting. Ministerial Statement: Cybersecurity Incidents and Response Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Clarifying earlier remarks, Dr. Anil Jayantha said he had referred to speculation amplifying externally driven exchange-rate movements under a managed float, not to “artificial” movements. He stated that there is no decision to ban vehicle imports, though private vehicle orders may be postponed temporarily to manage foreign exchange. He said the Government would avoid broad import restrictions that could constrain growth, keep interventions data-driven, and continue discussions on investment facilitation to expand the economy and attract investment. Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam said he hoped the Minister’s assurance on exchange-rate stabilization would materialize, but urged more targeted economic measures given the link between fuel imports, subsidies and currency pressures. He proposed retargeting diesel relief toward essential sectors such as public transport instead of blanket subsidies, or temporarily restricting certain luxury imports, while noting revenue concerns from reduced vehicle imports and excess letters of credit. He also called for progress on a proposed Sri Lanka Development Fund requiring at least US$ 200 million initially, and for tourism strategies to attract visitors, particularly from India, amid regional tensions. Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Fuel prices for the next month are based on the previous month’s costs, with CPC dollar outflows expected to exceed US$ 500 million by end-May compared with the usual US$ 100–150 million. Dr. Anil Jayantha said recent fuel price increases of over 50 per cent are now affecting domestic prices, but noted that declines in crude and refined diesel prices and additional supply from reserve releases may ease pressures. He stated that any future price adjustments will depend on market movements and that no further immediate change has been decided. Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha said the rupee’s depreciation was driven primarily by external geopolitical pressures, higher oil prices and a stronger US dollar, rather than domestic macroeconomic or fiscal policy. He outlined impacts on fuel imports, inflation, trade, tourism and consumption, and said the Government and Central Bank were responding through measured, data-based actions within the flexible inflation-targeting framework. He detailed an additional Rs. 100 billion relief package for fuel, Aswesuma beneficiaries, electricity users, agriculture, fisheries and other affected sectors. He also referred to BOI and Port City investment plans and said the IMF’s fifth and sixth reviews, worth about US$ 700 million, were expected to be considered on 27 May following stronger-than-expected programme performance. Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam raised a Standing Order 27(2) question to the Finance Minister on the rupee’s depreciation, rising volatility, inflation, fuel and electricity price increases, and the resulting impact on low- and middle-income households. He asked what measures the Government would take, including possible expansion of Aswesuma, transport subsidies, temporary VAT relief, management of rupee volatility, steps to attract FDI in 2026, and whether an assessment of cost-of-living impacts under the IMF programme would be tabled in Parliament. He also sought clarification on whether fuel retailers were being required to absorb losses due to implied subsidies on diesel and petrol, and whether any compensation would be funded through the Budget or another mechanism. Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation Read →
- 22 May 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa argued that although requesting time to respond is procedurally permissible, delaying answers on CESS and PAL issues would worsen an already serious situation for domestic industries. He urged immediate solutions for industries affected by the removal of CESS and PAL and reiterated a call for the IMF to release US$ 700 million without conditions. Standing Order 27(2) Questions: CESS Phase-out and Currency Depreciation Read →