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- 26 November 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to amend the Schedule for Head 290, Programme 01, increasing the capital allocation to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources by Rs. 200 million to implement Budget Proposals Nos. 37 and 56. The recurrent allocation of Rs. 1,257.7 million and the amended capital allocation of Rs. 385.4 million were approved and ordered to stand part of the Schedule, followed by the presentation of allocations for the Ministry of Science and Technology. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 Hon. Members AI summary Parliament agreed to amend the Schedule for Head 151, Programme 02, increasing the capital allocation for the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources by Rs. 1,000,000,000 to implement Budget Proposal No. 38. The recurrent allocation of Rs. 2,381,500,000 and the amended capital allocation of Rs. 7,209,800,000 were approved, after which the related Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources allocations under Head 290 were set out. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 Hon. Members AI summary The House agreed to insert the increased Capital Expenditure allocation of Rs. 7.7 billion into the Schedule and approved related allocations under Head 151. It also approved Rs. 460.8 million for Programme 01 recurrent expenditure and Rs. 104.8 million for Programme 01 capital expenditure, with Programme 02 allocations recorded as Rs. 2.3815 billion recurrent and Rs. 6.2098 billion capital expenditure. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne JJB AI summary Hon. Eranga Weeraratne clarified that telecom tower infrastructure is now commonly developed by licensed tower companies, not only telecom operators, to support shared infrastructure and prevent market dominance through proprietary towers. He stated that infrastructure licences are not exclusive, noting that EDOTCO and TowerCo already hold licences, another local company has applied, and more may qualify. He argued that multiple providers would allow all telecom operators equal access to towers under the legal framework, promoting competition and more affordable services. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Hon. Ajith P. Perera questioned the legal basis and public impact of the EDOTCO project, asking how competition, lower prices and consumer protection would be ensured and whether it could create a private-sector monopoly affecting users. He also raised concerns about unpaid foreign-based “advisors” to the Government, specifically asking whether a National Science Policy reportedly prepared by Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya had been presented to Parliament or reviewed by relevant Members. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera raised concerns that EDOTCO’s links with Dialog and its parent company could lead to a private monopoly in telecom tower infrastructure, potentially disadvantaging competitors such as Mobitel and Hutch. He asked the Government to disclose the second and third licensed tower companies, explain the pricing formula for services, and clarify how competition and consumer benefits would be protected, particularly in light of commitments to prevent unsolicited or corrupt advantages. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad raised concerns that national transport transaction data and backend services, including highway tolls and bus fare systems, are being managed by Eimsky Business Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, which he said could compromise transparency due to alleged links to a senior government officeholder. He called for a special parliamentary select committee or audit inquiry into state contracts awarded to Eimsky Business Solutions and Omobio (Pvt) Ltd. He also noted that the Auditor General had not yet been appointed and urged action to enable proper scrutiny. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan said the Fisheries Ministry has a comprehensive plan to revive and modernize the sector, including reactivating multi-day vessels, reducing fuel costs for boats, and strengthening institutions such as Cey-Nor, North Sea Ltd., NARA and NAQDA. He outlined planned infrastructure work, including new jetties in Wellamankara, a feasibility study for Halawatha, and funds for Kalpitiya harbour next year. He said the Government would regulate stake-net and light-coarse fishing to protect small fishers and the marine environment, and would introduce a new Fisheries Act to replace fragmented amendments. He also highlighted plans to expand prawn farming, dried fish, ornamental fish and other export-oriented aquaculture activities. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy urged more equitable allocations for fisheries, arguing that the Puttalam District and lagoon-based fisheries had been neglected despite their contribution to livelihoods and foreign exchange. He called for tax relief on boats, engines, nets, fuel and other inputs, improved disaster and emergency rescue systems including ambulance-type high-speed boats and helicopter support, and action on a missing fisher from Halawatha. He also requested a phased approach rather than an immediate ban on tractors with winches used by stake-net operators, a fundamental redesign of the proposed fisher pension scheme, better export market mechanisms, and fisheries infrastructure development across all coastal regions rather than selected areas. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof raised fisheries issues affecting Trincomalee, chiefly the licensed use of ring seine nets for tuna and the ambiguity in the “beyond seven nautical miles” condition, which he said leads to enforcement conflicts and many court cases. He requested amendments to licence conditions or, if ring seine use cannot continue, alternative training and technology support for affected fishing communities. He also sought payment of pending fuel and kerosene subsidies, permits for long-standing basket-trap fishers in the Kokkilai lagoon area, and relief and livelihood support for fishers affected by floods, seasonal income loss, housing needs, and children’s education. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology JJB AI summary The Minister outlined the Ministry’s first-year work to develop and implement a national research and development policy across 14 institutions, with coordination across other ministries and approximately Rs. 21 billion in science and technology-related public allocations. He said national research priorities, expert committees, a common evaluation framework, a research management MIS, ethical governance mechanisms, and a commercialization policy framework are being developed to improve transparency, coordination, and outcomes. He also detailed the revival of the Vidatha programme, including Cabinet-approved strategic planning, increased allocations from Rs. 902.8 million in 2025 to Rs. 1,151 million, and plans to upgrade 73 resource centres into mini-incubation centres to support small industries in collaboration with relevant ministries. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir ACMC AI summary Hon. M.A.M. Thahir argued that digitalization should begin with practical access points such as schools, local authorities and Divisional Secretariats, ensuring smart classroom initiatives reach all students and the public is properly informed. He questioned how the previous year’s reported Rs. 3,000 million allocation for digitalization was spent and noted that local authority revenue functions such as stall rent, Stamp Duty and court fees remain undigitalized. He also raised concern that local authorities are spending large sums on private digital systems, calling for better coordination and accountability. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi JJB AI summary Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi defended the Government’s digital economy allocations and progress, citing completed physical implementation of GovPay, Lanka Government Network 2.0, Lanka Government Cloud 2.0, AI upgrades to the State Information Center, cybersecurity initiatives, and work on a National Data Exchange. He said the Government was open to further parliamentary and public discussion on digital transformation and Digital ID, while also noting progress on a National Science Policy and research commercialization. On fisheries, he argued that fuel prices had fallen compared with the previous administration and highlighted digital support for fishing vessels, satellite-based fish field intelligence, and a Beruwala slipway project intended to support boat owners and foreign exchange earnings. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage outlined the Fisheries Ministry’s 2026 budget allocations, stating that nearly Rs. 15 billion, including funds through the Budget, restructuring support and Provincial Councils, would support harbour development, landing sites, distressed state entities and post-harvest loss reduction. He said the Government aims to modernize fisheries as a production-sector industry, improve fisher livelihoods, increase fish consumption toward nutritional targets, and expand value-added exports, while addressing inherited problems in harbours and state institutions. He also noted fuel assistance provided to fishers, planned investments in northern and eastern facilities, and increased funding for inland fisheries alongside initiatives such as the “Aqua Planet - Sri Lanka, International Expo 2025.” Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa argued that the Government’s promised fuel relief for the fisheries sector, including the stated Rs. 150 fuel relief, had not reached fishers despite rising fuel costs. He said required technology and implementation processes were lacking, and cited Department of Census and Statistics data to claim that previous Budget allocations had not translated into village-level outcomes, casting doubt on the implementation of the current year’s Budget promises. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa criticized the Government’s fisheries policy, arguing that promised growth through the ocean economy has not materialized while imports of dried fish and Maldive fish have increased and exports of sea cucumber, crab and tuna have declined. He questioned the utilization of previous Budget allocations, including Rs. 200 million for sea cucumber farming, and said technology initiatives such as satellite-based fish locating systems have not been implemented despite available solutions. He argued that more than two million people dependent on fisheries are facing a worsening crisis due to reduced support, lack of engagement with small-scale and multi-day fishers, and politicization of cooperative structures, and called for clearer action to protect livelihoods and local production. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Namal Rajapaksa questioned whether budget allocations for digitalization are being practically implemented, asking how much of the previous year’s Digital Economy Ministry allocation was spent on digitizing State and citizen services. He cited delays in building telecom towers and argued that accountability is needed before making further commitments on digitalization. He also criticized the Government’s fisheries policy, noting reported declines in inland and marine fisheries and alleging insufficient stocking of reservoirs with fish fingerlings despite earlier campaign promises to build the economy around the sea. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Ravindra Bandara AI summary Hon. Ravindra Bandara said Sri Lanka must build a production-oriented economy by increasing investment in science, technology and R&D, noting that past spending was very low compared with regional and advanced economies. He outlined Budget allocations including Rs. 21 billion for R&D across ministries, measures to reduce potato imports through seed development and technology, and Rs. 1,200 million for commercialization of research. He highlighted planned initiatives in green hydrogen, green ammonia, rooftop solar grid control, data centres and foreign investment, and said forthcoming 2026 legislation would establish national research and commercialization institutions to align priorities and oversight. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva raised concerns about a Ministry website document showing a procurement figure of 15 million and questioned whether that figure had been changed. He argued that procurement processes must be transparent and said the matter would need to be examined, emphasizing that tender details should not be altered arbitrarily. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →
- 26 November 2025 The Hon. Eranga Weeraratne JJB AI summary Eranga Weeraratne clarified that although a tender referred to up to 15 million identity cards, the actual requirement is only five million. He said physical cards remain necessary because systems cannot yet universally accept digital-only IDs, including for Police identity checks. He added that the tender has not closed and has been extended to mid-December to amend the quantity to five million. Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Committee Stage, Sixteenth Allotted Day Read →