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- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Minister of Digital Economy whether Sri Lanka will introduce a digital identity card and requested details on its benefits, preparation methodology, per-card cost, and total cost for all registered citizens. He also sought information on funding sources, any foreign loans or assistance, investor benefits, safeguards to prevent access to citizens’ personal data, and whether all related agreements would be tabled in Parliament. Oral Question: Digital Identity Card Introduction (Q.552/2025) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary Minister Anil Jayantha stated that Sri Lanka is not facing an inability to borrow, noting that debt restructuring after the default is nearing completion and that the Government has been servicing debt, including foreign debt, in 2024 and 2025. He explained that LKR 1.6 trillion in accumulated arrears arose from unpaid interest during the restructuring period, emphasizing that this was interest cost added to debt arrears rather than new principal borrowing. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Asked under Standing Order 27(2) how a debt standstill was declared without parliamentary approval. He further questioned whether the lack of such approval is the reason the Government is unable to borrow. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake challenged the Government on the debt standstill and default, arguing that Parliament had not approved the decision to declare default. He linked the issue to the Central Bank’s independence and questioned how the Government could now cite the default as a reason it cannot borrow. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned discrepancies between debt data provided to the Committee on Public Finance by Public Debt Management Office officials and the Minister’s statements, asking which figures were correct and whether officials had misled the Committee. He challenged the claim that the Government chose not to borrow, arguing that borrowing became impossible after the 12 April 2022 default, and sought an answer under Standing Order 27(2) on how a debt standstill and decision not to service debt were made without parliamentary approval. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister disputed a cited public debt figure of LKR 32.6 trillion and requested its source, stating that under the State Debt Management framework the relevant measure is central government debt. He said Department of State Debt figures show debt at LKR 29.6 trillion at end-2024, LKR 30.7 trillion by July 2025, and LKR 30.938 trillion by 30 September 2025. He also compared this with a claimed 74 percent debt increase during 2015–2019 and stated that the current Government is borrowing within a debt management and stabilization programme. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake asked for confirmation on whether Sri Lanka’s total debt stood at approximately LKR 32.6 trillion and requested the current annual interest payment on that debt. The question sought specific fiscal figures to enable further discussion. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake questioned the timeliness of parliamentary responses, noting that a delayed answer on public debt used December 2024 figures showing Rs. 29.8 trillion while the current figure was closer to Rs. 33 trillion. He argued that, given the cost of parliamentary sitting days and prior discussion at the Parliamentary Business Committee, Ministers should ensure answers are updated to remain relevant. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance and Planning, the Minister provided detailed figures on Sri Lanka’s central government debt, stating that total debt as at 31 December 2024 was Rs. 29.6 trillion, or US$101.3 billion, comprising US$64.5 billion domestic debt and US$36.7 billion foreign debt. He tabled year-end debt figures for 2021–2024 and broke down foreign debt into bilateral, multilateral, international sovereign bond, and commercial loan components, noting that multilateral debt stood at US$12.9 billion and bilateral debt at US$10.8 billion in 2024. He also provided data on multilateral disbursements from institutions including the World Bank, IMF, and Asian Development Bank, and stated that the remaining part of the question did not arise. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake tabled Question 315/2024 to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development seeking detailed data on Sri Lanka’s total public debt as at 31 December 2024 and annually from 2020/2021 to 2024. He requested separate figures in rupees and US dollars, breakdowns between domestic and foreign debt, and further categorisation of foreign debt into multilateral, bilateral, international sovereign and commercial debt, including institution-wise multilateral debt and annual bilateral debt figures. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake referred to the Speaker’s statement that a sitting day of Parliament costs Rs. 11 million, highlighting the expense associated with parliamentary proceedings. Oral Question: Total Foreign and Domestic Debt with Supplementaries (Q.315/2024 (2)) Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Wijesiri Basnayake presented, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, the Committee’s report on the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill, the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill, and a regulation under the Finance Act, No. 11 of 2004. The report was ordered to lie upon the Table. Opening and Announcements Read →
- 27 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and relevant Ministers, Bimal Rathnayake presented customs import duty orders, a VAT regulation, and a Ports and Airports Development Levy order published in Extraordinary Gazettes on 7 November 2025, and moved that they be referred to the Committee on Public Finance. He also presented the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation Annual Report for 2021 and moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Development; both motions were agreed to. Opening and Announcements Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation JJB AI summary The Minister stated that the Government agrees in principle with Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s four proposals and will examine whether the circular deviated from the Cabinet decision, noting that any inconsistency would be corrected. He distinguished the new “Gihimikama” deed programme from the former “Urumaya” scheme, saying it requires consent from other household members and is intended to prevent unnecessary land fragmentation while enabling proper transfer of ownership. He said eligibility under the current programme is based on permits issued under the Land Development Ordinance as at the Cabinet approval date of 21 July 2025, with permits issued afterward to be handled separately if necessary. He added that previously signed approvals under the former administration would be honoured and that the Government’s objective is to issue deeds to long-waiting occupants of state land. Adjournment Debate: Grant of Freehold Deeds to Occupants of State Lands Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Aravinda Senarath JJB AI summary Hon. Aravinda Senarath said the former Government’s “Urumaya” deed proposal was an election-oriented and insufficiently studied pledge, whereas the current Government is pursuing a structured process to identify permit holders, regularize transfers and grant freehold titles where appropriate. He stated that about 49,402 deeds have already been issued through the Land Commissioner General’s Department and Mahaweli, with prepared deeds sent to District Secretariats for distribution. He emphasized the need for verification due to irregular permits, politically influenced land allocations and encroachments on protected or reserved lands, and said the “Gihimikama” programme uses field inspections before granting ownership. He said the Government aims to accelerate the process and issue the highest number of titles by 2026. Adjournment Debate: Grant of Freehold Deeds to Occupants of State Lands Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera moved an adjournment motion urging the Government to implement the “Himikama” freehold deed programme in line with the Cabinet-approved Review Committee Report of 21 July 2025, amend Lands Commissioner General’s Circular No. 2025/02, and appoint a Special Task Force to expedite the process. He argued that long-term occupants of State lands under the Land Development Ordinance face economic and legal constraints because they lack absolute title, including difficulties in subdivision, sale, and mortgaging. He also requested immediate distribution of 23,018 freehold deeds prepared under the previous “Urumaya” programme, while clarifying that the proposal applies only to lawfully occupied and developed permit lands, not protected or essential State lands. Adjournment Debate: Grant of Freehold Deeds to Occupants of State Lands Read →
- 26 November 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to amend Head 186, Programme 02 of the Ministry of Digital Economy by increasing recurrent expenditure by Rs. 500 million to Rs. 3,812.5 million, linked to Budget Proposal No. 08, while approving capital expenditure of Rs. 8,128.5 million. It also approved the Department of Registration of Persons’ Head 227, Programme 01 allocations of Rs. 2,346 million for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 1,946.5 million for capital expenditure to stand part of the Schedule. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to insert the increased recurrent expenditure allocation of Rs. 6.4 billion into the Schedule and approved the related amended recurrent expenditure. It also approved allocations under Head 186, including Rs. 241.5 million for Programme 01 recurrent expenditure and Rs. 25 million for Programme 01 capital expenditure, before noting Programme 02 allocations of Rs. 3.3125 billion recurrent and Rs. 8.1285 billion capital expenditure. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 Hon. Members AI summary An amendment to Head 196 was agreed, increasing Programme 02 allocations for Development Activities to Rs. 2.952 billion in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 3.573 billion in capital expenditure. The adjustment was made following Gazette Extraordinary No. 2458/65 of 18 October 2025, transferring provisions for the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, and related activities to the Ministry of Science and Technology. The amended recurrent and capital expenditures were approved to stand part of the Schedule, after which the estimates for the Ministry of Digital Economy were noted. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena JJB AI summary At the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, an amendment was moved on behalf of the Minister of Finance for the Ministry of Science and Technology. The amendment proposes revised allocations of Rs. 3,170,000,000 for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 3,600,000,000 for capital expenditure. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →