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 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah expressed condolences for those affected by the recent disaster and acknowledged Government relief efforts, but said assistance, payments, road clearing and basic services had not reached many affected areas due to local-level administrative lapses. He urged the Government to ensure funds and facilities reach communities, expand capacity for housing damage assessments, and provide a permanent building for Pottuvil Osmania Junior School after its collapse. He also welcomed Dubai investor Essa Abdulla Al Ghurair to Parliament and invited long-term investment in sectors including infrastructure, education, renewable energy, tourism and technology. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti clarified that the Rs. 200,000 assistance is not intended to fully revive affected businesses, but to help clean and prepare premises for reopening. He said further support, including insurance coverage and bank-backed revival packages, is being discussed with insurers and financial institutions through an inter-ministerial process. The proposed scheme is intended to apply to all affected industries. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem requested the Minister of Industries to reconsider the financial assistance provided to small businesses in districts including Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. He argued that the Rs. 200,000 allocation is insufficient and proposed increasing the initial bulk disbursement to help businesses restart operations. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti – Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary Minister Sunil Handunnetti outlined post-disaster support for affected enterprises, stating that nearly 29,649 businesses had been registered, over 10,000 verified, and Rs. 10.5 billion released to 9,628 enterprises in 17 districts, including Rs. 200,000 initial grants per verified enterprise. He said the Government, banks, the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry were coordinating loan moratoria, concessional lending at around 3 per cent, and an Rs. 80 billion enterprise credit programme, while requesting Members to help affected businesses complete registration. He also described expedited mining and material-supply procedures for reconstruction, and reported district-level response and relief figures for Matara and Batticaloa, including flood management, emergency camps, compensation and relief payments. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella raised concerns about disaster relief in the Kandy District following heavy rainfall, landslide warnings, fatalities, and widespread damage. She said the Rs. 25,000 initial grant announced by the President had been allocated to only 21,431 of 51,596 affected families in the district, with low payment rates in several Divisional Secretariat areas, and requested urgent action to expedite payments. She also highlighted the absence of state assistance to 321 displaced families sheltered at Panchawilatenna Sri Ransingharama Viharaya, requested repairs to the collapsed Gurukale-Godawatta road, and described the debris-clearing burden faced by the Gampola Municipal Council after flooding. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Vijitha Herath – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism AI summary The Minister said the Government declared a state of emergency under the Public Security Ordinance after the disaster worsened, mobilized the Tri-Forces and Police, and coordinated international assistance for rescue and relief, including support from India, Pakistan, UN agencies, financial institutions, civil society, and Sri Lankans overseas. He outlined mechanisms for receiving funds and in-kind donations, including authorized Finance Ministry accounts and a bonded warehouse system at the airport to route supplies through the Disaster Management Centre to local officials. He stated that tourism had remained resilient, with no tourist deaths and about 2.2 million arrivals year to date, and rejected claims of imminent economic collapse or LPG shortages, saying a new supplier had been contracted and the first vessel was expected early next month. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned whether the Rs. 250 billion Supplementary Estimate is sufficient for post-disaster infrastructure damage, noting that RDA national roads alone may require about Rs. 190 billion and that wider provincial, local, utility and water-sector losses remain unclear. He urged the Government to prepare a comprehensive national damage assessment, present it internationally, convene a donor conference, and seek additional assistance and debt deferment rather than relying on inadequate domestic allocations. He also criticised delays in flood relief and cleanup in Kolonnawa, stating that many affected families had not received the promised Rs. 25,000 payment and calling for urgent waste clearance, faster payments, and use of local officials and state resources to verify and assist affected households. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy addressed the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, noting severe flooding in the Northern Province, particularly in Mullaitivu, Mannar, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna, and outlined ongoing Government relief, monitoring, and data collection with the support of officials, security forces, religious leaders, and civil society. He identified blocked and unrepaired canals, bunds, and bridges as a major cause of flooding in Kilinochchi and Jaffna, and requested funding, including a proposed Rs. 200 million allocation for Kilinochchi, to clean and rehabilitate drainage channels. He urged cooperation with Government programmes such as Prajashakthi and called for a collective, non-partisan response to support affected people and reduce future losses. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. T.B. Sarath JJB AI summary T.B. Sarath responded to a reference made by Namal Rajapaksa concerning him and the Polonnaruwa District, clarifying the status of reported damage and compensation payments. He said reports covering tens of thousands of hectares had been received, Rs. 3,610 million had already been disbursed, and the remaining payments would be released as reports are finalized, with about Rs. 1.5 million allocated per hectare. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa urged the Government to expedite procedures for returning people in relief camps to their homes and to clearly state compensation and support measures for affected farmers, damaged houses, land purchase, house construction, schoolchildren, and rent. He specifically questioned whether proposed payments such as Rs. 100,000 per acre, Rs. 500,000 for land, Rs. 1,000,000 for a house, and Rs. 25,000 allowances would be implemented. He also requested the appointment of a Special Select Committee, prioritizing Members from disaster-affected districts, to investigate the causes of the severe devastation. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody attributed the recent floods and landslides to intensified rainfall linked to climate change, noting that infrastructure and slope-stability designs based on lower historic rainfall levels are no longer adequate for 400–600 mm short-duration events. He cited major landslide fatalities in past years and described severe flooding in river basins including Ma Oya, Deduru Oya and Malwathu Oya, while rejecting claims that Kotmale Reservoir spill gates were mismanaged and stating that decisions were made technically by engineers. He said around 95,000 families in Puttalam District were affected, outlined rescue and relief coordination involving district officials, Police, Navy, Army and helicopters, and thanked state agencies, public servants, businesses and citizens for their assistance. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Hon. Krishnan Kalaichelvi expressed condolences for those affected by Cyclone “Titli” and described severe damage across 22 districts, especially in hill-country areas such as Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Kotmale and Hanguranketha. She said many residents in vulnerable estate and hillside settlements remain in shelters or fear returning home due to damaged houses, roads and the risks created by unplanned construction. She welcomed the President’s commitment to relocate affected communities to safer areas and called for that plan to be implemented. She also praised the coordinated disaster response by government authorities, security forces, civil groups and citizens, and highlighted donations from estate workers, including one day’s wage, toward relief efforts. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Condemning the destruction caused by Cyclone “Titli,” Sajith Premadasa expressed condolences to victims and gratitude to state agencies, security forces, volunteers, and international partners involved in relief efforts. He called for major reforms to Sri Lanka’s disaster-management system, including amendments to the Disaster Management Act, a dedicated Cabinet ministry, stronger technical agencies, Doppler radar capacity, improved data systems, and a Rapid Deployment Force possibly drawing on unemployed graduates. While pledging Opposition support for the Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate and relief under Circular 08/2025, he demanded swift, transparent and non-politicized implementation, questioning the inclusion of a politically linked committee recommendation in the Badulla District relief application process. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 The Hon. Sunil Biyanwila JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Biyanwila supported the motion to suspend the sitting and commended the disaster response, particularly the Irrigation Department’s protection of tank systems and the coordination among political authorities, public officials, security forces, volunteers and communities. He said the Government maintained stable prices, delivered relief, restored electricity and water, reopened most schools, and allocated more funds to relocate people from high-risk areas. He also highlighted measures to resume cultivation in the Maha season, including clearing damaged farmlands, and said devolving spending authority to Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis helped ensure transparent, corruption-free relief operations that attracted domestic and international support. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi [10.01 a.m.] AI summary Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi moved an Adjournment Motion calling for swift, collective and evidence-based recovery measures after Cyclone “Michaung”, including disaster-resilient land use, safer settlements and economic activity that does not worsen natural hazards. He detailed the recovery situation in Nuwara Eliya District, noting substantial restoration of roads, hospitals, drinking water and electricity, while identifying remaining road, hospital and Walapane electricity issues. He commended public officers, security forces, volunteers, engineers, the CEB, the Water Board and NBRO, and highlighted NBRO inspections and reports on landslide risks affecting homes, roads and schools. Adjournment Debate: Current Situation of the Country After Disaster Caused by Cyclone Ditwah Read →
- 18 December 2025 Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera said tourism earnings remain low despite high domestic costs, noting that average room rates are still over 20 percent below pre-Easter 2019 levels and that some Colombo five-star rates may amount to a net loss for the country. He proposed using Tourism Development Levy revenues for stronger nation branding and global promotional campaigns to attract higher-spending tourists and better position Sri Lanka against competing destinations. Question by Private Notice: Credit Expansion and Ministerial Statement on Tourism Read →
- 18 December 2025 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a Question by Private Notice under Standing Order 27(2) on the expansion of private sector credit by licensed commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions from 2023 to 2025. Citing Central Bank figures for 2024, he sought disaggregated data on gold-backed pawning loans, vehicle leasing and hire purchase, and credit card credit, arguing that these categories affect household indebtedness, consumer spending and financial stability. He requested annual rupee and percentage growth figures, non-performing loan and provisioning data, the contribution of these categories to 2025 credit growth, details of any emerging risks identified by the Central Bank, and publication of a standardized dataset for parliamentary oversight. Question by Private Notice: Credit Expansion and Ministerial Statement on Tourism Read →
- 5 December 2025 Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna JJB AI summary Moved motions to approve the annual reports of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation for 2019 and 2020 under section 23 of the State Agricultural Corporations Act, No. 11 of 1972, including the Auditor-General’s observations. Also moved approval of the 2022/2023 annual report of Kalubowitiyana Tea Factory Limited under section 14 of the Finance Act, No. 38 of 1971. Each report had been considered by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Plantations and Rural Infrastructure, and all motions were agreed to. Procedural - Bills and Resolutions: Second Reading and Approvals Read →
- 5 December 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary Moved a series of Government motions, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, seeking approval for finance-related regulations, orders and rules already gazetted and presented to Parliament. These included measures under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act on incentives for Projects of Strategic Importance, the Finance Act, the Value Added Tax Act, the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, the Excise Ordinance, and the Imports and Exports (Control) Act. Each motion noted Cabinet approval or notification and was put to the House and agreed to. Procedural - Bills and Resolutions: Second Reading and Approvals Read →
- 5 December 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB AI summary At the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, amendments were moved to revise Government Officers’ Advance Account limits for the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Ministry of Housing, Buildings and Water Supply. The proposed changes substitute new figures for Items 11701 and 12301, respectively, in line with Extraordinary Gazette No. 2458/65 dated 18 October 2025. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Amendments to Ministry Heads Read →