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- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman UNP AI summary Hon. Jeevan Thondaman raised concerns over implementation of the announced Rs. 1,750 daily basic wage for estate workers, urging the Government to issue circulars or Gazette the wage, prevent increases to task norms, protect Sunday and holiday pay, and appoint a Labour Ministry monitoring committee. He also called for regulation of the expanding outgrower system to ensure consistent rates and EPF/ETF benefits, citing disparities across estate areas. Referring to recent storm and flood relief, he questioned whether all affected families in Nuwara Eliya had received the promised payments and asked for clarification on gaps in distribution. He further urged the Government and plantation companies to identify alternative land for displaced and unsafe estate families so donor- or government-funded housing could proceed with secure land rights. Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Proposed that Motor Traffic regulations be enforced equally against government and non-government actors, alleging politically connected offenders evade action while Police officers are penalized. Raised concerns over the Government’s disaster relief response, saying commitments on housing compensation, resettlement, and support for affected MSMEs and industries remain unclear and delayed. Also questioned issues in education curriculum content, NMRA appointments and medicine regulation, alleged medicine smuggling, and long passport delays faced by Sri Lankans in Italy, urging ministerial action on these matters. Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi supported regulations aimed at improving road safety, citing 13,714 deaths from fatal accidents between 2020 and June 2025 and attributing many crashes to driver negligence and substance use. He said road accidents impose major economic costs, including health, infrastructure and GDP losses, and called for legal reforms, enforcement and responsible driving. He also responded to criticism over “Ditva” disaster relief in Nuwara Eliya, detailing completed and ongoing payments for affected residents, schoolchildren, cultivations, industries, roads, transport services, schools and housing reconstruction. Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena supported the Motor Traffic Act regulations on road safety, noting that overall reported accidents declined from 25,299 in 2024 to 22,153 in 2025, but fatal accidents rose from 2,403 to 2,583, with pedestrians and motorcyclists the most affected groups. He also highlighted fatalities and collisions involving trains, including vehicle-train and elephant-train incidents, and said the Ministry is taking mitigation measures. He outlined 2025 road safety investments of Rs. 140.084 million and 2026 allocations including Rs. 750 million for road safety and traffic management and Rs. 540 million for traffic light systems, covering school, hospital, township and hazardous locations, barriers, signs, fencing, illumination and related safety infrastructure. Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri supported the regulations, emphasizing the need to address driving under the influence of drugs amid high accident rates and large narcotics seizures in 2025. He linked road safety to rural road deterioration and detailed road and bridge development projects in Polonnaruwa, including reduced contract costs for several bridges and over Rs. 1.768 billion spent in 2025. He also cited 2025 economic and tourism achievements, including tourist arrivals, remittances, government revenue, Customs revenue and exports, and noted the launch of 76 rural road projects in January 2026 with a Rs. 5 billion allocation. Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka supported the proposed regulations under the Motor Traffic Act, including mandatory rear-seat belts on expressways, stronger drunk-driving measures, and school transport safety rules, citing fatal road accidents as a major public safety concern. He urged clearer and more consistent enforcement, referring to confusion over past policing measures and the “Clean Sri Lanka” transport-related campaign. He also called for Government action on disputes between app-based and independent hire vehicles in tourist areas, unresolved vehicle number-plate issuance despite earlier assurances, timely implementation of Budget transport allocations, and restoration of rural bus services disrupted after recent storms. Motor Traffic Act Regulations Debate Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha rejected claims of a contradiction in prior answers and said the matter was unrelated to the EPF. He clarified that the 5 per cent inflation figure is a flexible three-year target, not a fixed rate, and said it can be reviewed at the next scheduled review if global conditions warrant. He also stated that the Government is operating within the inflation framework and disputed debt figures presented by others, arguing that foreign currency debt has remained broadly stable and that the presentation was misleading. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake questioned the government on how it intends to strengthen the rupee, attract dollar inflows, and meet its stated targets. He also noted an inconsistency between the response given to him and the response provided to the Leader of the Opposition on the same matter. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned alleged inconsistencies in the Government’s economic responses, particularly on GDP per capita, exchange-rate movements, and the rise in public debt from Rs. 27.9 trillion to Rs. 31 trillion. He asked whether the Minister accepted the Central Bank’s position given the rupee’s depreciation, and challenged the policy of targeting 5 per cent inflation by asking whether salaries would be increased accordingly. He also referred to apparent contradictions between answers given in Parliament and the President’s remarks at the Finance Ministry Advisory Council on converting the EPF into a pension, urging clearer and consistent explanations on economic policy. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the review process for the inflation target for the next three years will commence soon, referring to the response given to Question No. 7. He noted that parts of the lengthy answer had been omitted orally and tabled the full answer in Parliament. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question by explaining that the 5 per cent inflation target was chosen to suit Sri Lanka’s status as a small open developing economy exposed to external shocks, supply disruptions and exchange rate volatility. He stated that historical inflation trends and quantitative analysis support a target around 5 per cent, while a lower target such as 2 per cent could require tight monetary conditions, reduce investment, slow recovery and increase unemployment. He added that, under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 and the Flexible Inflation Targeting framework, monetary policy is guided by domestic price stability and wider macroeconomic conditions, with the exchange rate largely market-determined. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the Government is targeting sustained economic growth, noting recent quarter-on-quarter growth above 8 per cent and an increase in GDP per capita from about USD 3,000 to around USD 4,500. He said poverty and inequality remain concerns, citing a Gini coefficient above 0.45, and highlighted the Rs. 25 billion Prajashakthi Programme in 2026 for village development and empowerment. He clarified that the Rs. 500 billion supplementary allocation for cyclone “Ditta” is separate from the Rs. 1,480 billion foreign-funded capital expenditure programme, which he said has not been stopped, diverted, or reduced. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary The Leader of the Opposition questioned how positive macroeconomic indicators translate into benefits for individuals, households, entrepreneurs and firms. He raised concerns that cyclone “Ditta” assistance was being funded by repurposing existing project allocations rather than through additional resources, and urged the Government to seek new partner funding. He also asked for clarification on measures to provide micro-level relief to stressed MSMEs facing litigation from banks and finance companies. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary The Minister provided expenditure and progress updates for 2025, stating that Rs. 1,315 billion had been allocated, with about 70 per cent disbursed so far and over 90 per cent expected after year-end revisions. He reported that Rs. 215,650 million had been provided for 54 proposals, with detailed financial progress, current account figures, and foreign-loan-funded project progress tabled in annexes, and said further percentage aggregates could be submitted. He also stated that FDI inflows reached USD 827 million by end-September 2025 and that a 2026 investment attraction programme under the BOI and relevant agencies would target multiple sectors. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question raised on 24 October 2025 regarding the 2025 Budget and capital expenditure. He stated that there are 54 Budget expenditure proposals for 2025, with allocations and progress reported through annexes, and that monitoring responsibility rests with relevant Chief Accounting Officers across ministries and other public bodies. He reported that, as of December, expenditure stood at Rs. 956 billion, with around Rs. 10 billion more expected through external-project adjustments. Standing Order 27(2) Questions and Ministerial Statements Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Deputy Minister stated that 4,216 liquor licences are currently issued. He said licence approvals follow the distance requirements from registered schools and places of religious worship set out in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/39, Excise Notification 02/2024, and that the recent CA (Writ) 36/2025 judgment confirms this position. He further stated that no licences have been issued in violation of the Excise Notifications, though separate information is not maintained on the internal transparency of issuing application forms. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Nanda Bandara JJB AI summary Hon. Nanda Bandara raised concerns that public servants, particularly in the education sector, may have multiple children in higher education at the same time and face hardship due to inadequate hostel facilities. He asked whether the relevant regulations could be amended to give priority for hostel accommodation to the children of public servants. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody said street lighting responsibilities are shared among local authorities, the CEB, Lanka Electricity Company and the RDA, and asked for specific details to clarify the issue raised. On solar panel sets provided to kovils and other religious sites, he said some were procured under Indian credit lines before the current Government and about 200 of 5,000 imported sets remain unusable because of grid capacity constraints. He stated that the panels could be connected after grid capacity is improved or relocated to areas with available capacity, and requested detailed information to examine individual cases. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy raised concerns about the high cost of installing street lights through the Ceylon Electricity Board and proposed that trained electricians attached to local authorities be allowed to install them to reduce costs and expand coverage. He noted that promised CEB training for local authority officers, discussed at the Jaffna District Development Committee, had not yet occurred. He also asked the Minister to clarify the status of connections for 40,000 solar panels provided by India for temples, including in Jaffna District. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Read →
- 8 January 2026 The Hon. Kumara Jayakody JJB AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that the transmission network has a significant capacity deficit and that upgrades are being planned with financial support sought from international donors and banks. He said the Government expects to restore adequate capacity by 2028 or 2029, with priority attention to the Northern and Eastern areas. Oral Questions to Ministers (Q.1664/2025 through Q.1719/2025) Read →