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- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said the Government has neither decided to proceed with nor finally cancel the LRT project, but is unlikely to begin it within four years, prioritising road development and other measures to reduce Colombo congestion. He stated that the CoMTrans 2012 plan is being updated, with a policy to develop multimodal centres, including about 15 initially and around 50 over four years. He said SriLankan Airlines remains burdened by debt but is improving operationally, and urged assessment by performance rather than individuals. He also said regulations to resolve private bus ownership transfers after an owner’s death are expected this month, enabling proper transfers under amended law. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Chithral Fernando, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Chithral Fernando raised concerns over SriLankan Airlines’ reported Rs. 7.59 billion loss despite a Rs. 20 billion allocation, the absence of a CEO for eight months, and alleged conflicts of interest involving Board members linked to Hayleys. He urged action on union allegations of malpractice and inefficiency, and proposed expanding profitable areas such as Ground Handling and SriLankan Catering before considering privatization. He also called for improved pay, promotions, and examinations for Sub-Station Masters, noting low allowances and outdated service conditions. He further sought clarification on Colombo traffic congestion plans, including whether the Government will pursue LRT or BRT under the CoMTrans-related planning framework and referenced a 2018 LRT feasibility report. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi urged the Transport Ministry and Department of Railways to cooperate with the RDMNS.LK mobile app, a non-profit, crowdsourced service widely used by train passengers, tourists, and even railway staff for real-time train information. He said the group needs official notifications on timetable changes, special trains, and cancellations, and noted that an agreement was reportedly executed on 9 June 2024 but has not been implemented. He alleged obstruction by unions and ticket-related interests, and questioned why Sri Lanka Railways denied the existence of the agreement in an RTI response despite documents being available. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran welcomed allocations and administrative improvements in the transport, highways, ports, civil aviation, urban development and housing sectors, while urging priority action for Ampara District infrastructure needs. He requested rehabilitation of about 72 km of rural roads, a 7–8 km drainage system for flood-affected Alayadivembu, and urgent repairs to the dilapidated Keethanki bridge, which he said isolates large numbers of residents during rains. He also proposed revisiting a Batticaloa–Pottuvil railway link, restoring at least the 5.15 a.m. Rajarata Rajini train service from Vavuniya to Colombo, and addressing sewage and flooding problems affecting condominium housing schemes in Kalmunai through the Clean Sri Lanka programme. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said damage to lifts is linked to drug addiction and cannot be addressed solely through additional funding or repeated repairs. He noted the issue causes serious hardship to residents and said the Government is considering practical solutions as part of broader efforts to address the drug menace. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Namal Rajapaksa raised grievances of disabled war heroes and police officers, urging the Government to engage with them and provide practical solutions. He defended infrastructure and housing projects undertaken under previous administrations, cited road, expressway, port, airport and housing achievements, and questioned why completed urban housing units remain unallocated. He called for faster completion of ongoing expressway projects and criticised delays or low progress in Budget allocations for railway stations, waste management, water supply, airport scanners, road development, BIA expansion and port congestion measures. He also sought accountability over alleged illicit container releases at Colombo Port and urged the Government to deliver at least half of its stated Budget commitments. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan called for all housing responsibilities, including those for the North and East, estate/Malayaga communities, the South, and persons with disabilities, to be consolidated under one Ministry through a single National Housing Policy. He urged better land-use planning by locating housing near roads and settlements, and proposed dedicated NHDA segments for different communities’ needs. Referring to Indian-supported estate housing and unmet targets for 6,000 estate houses by year-end, he asked the Government to continue implementation while integrating the estate community into national housing and administrative frameworks. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply JJB AI summary Minister Susil Ranasinghe outlined Budget 2026 allocations and priorities for housing, water supply, sanitation, construction, and resettlement, including Rs. 70 billion in development capital expenditure and Rs. 10.2 billion for NHDA grants of Rs. 1 million per house for low-income households. He said NWSDB coverage, currently about 52 per cent of households, would be expanded and improved through Rs. 45 billion in funding, completion and commencement of major projects, and Rs. 9 billion for capacity, connections, and quality improvements in districts. He also detailed Rs. 3 billion for rural community water schemes, institutional strengthening of the National Community Water Supply Department, and an increase to Rs. 5 billion for Northern and Eastern resettlement and infrastructure. He noted the construction sector’s contribution to GDP and employment, while indicating that further details on NHDA plans would be provided by the Deputy Minister. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF AI summary Ravi Karunanayake urged accelerated modernization and private sector participation across transport, urban development, ports, and aviation, arguing that fiscal limits require PPPs, cost-benefit analysis, and stronger accountability. He called for electrification of the Kelani Valley railway, renewed expressway projects with cost and currency-risk controls, regularization of deeds for Colombo housing units, and practical use of UDA land assets. He questioned why significant dues from SriLankan Airlines and private airlines to the Civil Aviation Authority had not been collected, and proposed immediate measures to reduce BIA congestion, including use of the VVIP terminal and better slot allocation. He also advocated developing Ratmalana for business and regional aviation and formulating an industry-led “Ceylon Ports” strategy to strengthen Colombo, Hambantota, and Trincomalee amid risks of mainline shipping bypassing Sri Lanka. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary Anura Karunathilaka outlined plans to position Sri Lanka’s ports as integrated stakeholders in regional growth, including a master plan for all ports, implementation of a Port Community System at Colombo, progress on the Kerawalapitiya dry port, renewed talks with India on Kankesanthurai Port with possible US$ 63.5 million grant support, and tourism-focused development of Galle Port. He reported improved financial performance in airport operations, including at Jaffna International Airport, and said the delayed BIA Phase II project is expected to move toward contract award by mid-2026, with temporary measures introduced to ease congestion. He also highlighted continuing heavy losses at Mattala Airport, noting cumulative losses of over Rs. 66 billion since inception and the need to address its underutilization. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Cabinet approval has been obtained to develop the old Bogambara Prison as a tourist promotion centre, pending an archaeological valuation report and subsequent RFP process. He clarified that 2026 housing assistance includes Rs. 7,200 million through virement and an additional Rs. 3,000 million allocated in the Budget. He emphasized the strategic role of ports and airports in moving from stabilization to growth, noting improved SLPA revenue and profit in 2025 while acknowledging declines in port performance rankings and efficiency. He said the East Container Terminal is expected to begin operations by September next year, adding about 2.5 million TEUs of capacity, with procurement of straddle carriers underway to support this expansion. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana raised transport-sector regulatory and operational issues during the debate on the Heads of Expenditure for Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, stating that private bus workers need formal labour protections, training, proper wages and a regulated staffing pool to support reforms such as card-based payments. He urged a uniform process and fee to regularize bus route permit ownership transfers, coordinated action among transport agencies and a one-stop vehicle document verification mechanism, citing problems at the Department of Motor Traffic and ongoing litigation. He also called for practical adjustments to vehicle import registration timelines due to port yard constraints, better maintenance and management capacity at SLTB depots, revival of integrated timetables, and practical facilities such as toilets at bus stands, while noting he had declined an official vehicle entitlement. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament JJB AI summary The Minister linked the Ministry’s expenditure debate with the International Day for Eliminating Gender-Based Violence, announcing planned January guidelines for school and office vans and mandatory CCTV in school vans to address harassment of women and children in transport. He said the Ministry expects 82–88 percent progress by year-end across roads, transport and urban development, with highways targeted at 90 percent, while identifying procurement capacity as a key bottleneck in implementing additional Budget allocations and Presidential proposals. He outlined the Ministry’s wide institutional scope and recent recruitment of 3,975 staff across agencies, and urged the Finance Ministry to address low remuneration and allowances at the Road Development Authority, noting its major role in capital expenditure. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar questioned whether the Budget allocation for low-income housing is realistic, arguing that Rs. 1.02 million per house is insufficient given past UDA housing costs and current economic conditions, and requested technical justification. He opposed a “fire sale” of SriLankan Airlines but said it cannot continue receiving Budget support without debt restructuring, cost control, and proper leadership, including CEO and COO appointments. He also alleged major leakage through contract variations in infrastructure projects and called for a standardized national technical evaluation process to reduce abuse by contractors and officials. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. S.M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S.M. Marikkar moved the customary Rs. 10 reduction under the relevant Heads and argued that the infrastructure-related ministries must improve budget utilization, citing low 2025 expenditure progress in transport, highways, ports, civil aviation, urban development, construction, housing, and water supply. He called for addressing RDA staff and engineers’ concerns, accelerating stalled road, bridge, rail, port and urban development projects, and preparing an integrated transport master plan with multimodal links and PPP-based expressway development. He sought updates on the East Container Terminal and Galle Port, criticized the cancellation or delay of projects such as the LRT, Kelani Valley railway upgrade and MCC-funded traffic improvements, and urged measures to reduce construction costs and revive the sector. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary Reiterating the restructuring notes set out in the Gazette, the Minister confirmed that the Appropriation totals remain unchanged. He clarified that only reallocations between expenditure heads are involved. Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation - Part 1 Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence denied media reports that the Rs. 750 monthly “Maa Piya Rekawaranaya” allowance for parents of war heroes had been stopped, stating that payments continue subject to the required biannual submission of life certificates. He said temporary suspensions occur only where certificates have not been submitted, and that the Ranaviru Seva Authority has approved second-half payments for 17,636 beneficiaries with valid first-half certificates while efforts are underway through Divisional Secretariats and Grama Niladharis to expedite outstanding documentation. He also asked families to report beneficiary deaths with death certificates to prevent misuse of state funds, and urged the media not to circulate misleading claims about benefits to the Ranaviru community. Ministerial Statements: Defence and Gender-based Violence Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe JJB AI summary The Minister outlined the Government’s approach to advancing ETCA with India, stating that a Cabinet-appointed high-level committee is reviewing existing FTAs, including the ISFTA, to guide future negotiations with data, clear objectives and parliamentary disclosure. He said engagement with India would be strategically sequenced to benefit from India’s economic growth while protecting domestic industries, services, regulatory standards and national development priorities. He noted that cooperation may expand in areas such as tourism, ports, finance, renewable energy, digital technology, maritime services and higher education, with safeguards, trade remedies and a proposed bilateral investment treaty to precede ETCA commitments. Oral Question: India Trade Relations - Standing Order 27(2) Response Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. Nalin Hewage JJB AI summary Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated in 2026 to upgrade 50 institutions islandwide. Funds are also intended to be allocated for upgrading the Vavuniya institution referred to by the Member. Oral Question: Jaffna College of Technology Infrastructure (Q.3) Read →
- 24 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva - Chair, Committee on Public Finance SJB AI summary The Committee on Public Finance tabled its report on two sets of Civil Aviation-related regulations and noted that the Committee had approved them. The Chair raised concerns about proposed leases of Civil Aviation Authority-owned airport lands to Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd. at Rs. 50,000 per hectare per year, despite potentially high commercial land values in areas such as Katunayake. He stated that a transparent methodology and general policy should be developed for valuing and alienating State lands, and that the matter had been referred to the Ministry of Finance. Committee Report: Public Finance Committee on Regulations Read →