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- 19 November 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary M.S. Uthumalebbe supported the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government while urging measures to improve ethnic representation in Eastern Divisional Secretariats, including appointments reflecting local demographic balances. He requested action on pension anomalies affecting officers who retired between 2020 and 2024, amendments to Efficiency Bar circulars to protect retirees, and early Provincial Council elections. He also called for dialogue-based resolution of land and boundary disputes in conflict-affected areas and asked for a funding mechanism or subvention to help Eastern local authorities meet salary obligations and function effectively. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake said the Government had granted a phased 66 per cent public sector salary increase, which would also raise linked pensions, and argued that pension protections had been secured despite earlier attempts to curtail them. He stated that recruitment freezes since 2020 had caused major staffing shortages in sectors such as teaching, policing and administration, and said the Government would undertake large-scale recruitment to strengthen the public service. He also claimed private sector wages were rising alongside public salaries and linked these measures to the Government’s broader economic recovery efforts and the 2026 Budget. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe clarified remarks made in his absence regarding pension issues for retirees. He stated that issues concerning 2016–2019 retirees had been addressed in three phases, and that there was no separate 2020–2024 category; instead, matters affecting all retirees up to 31 December 2024 remain to be addressed. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna questioned whether the Budget provides a concrete remedy for pension anomalies affecting retirees from 2020–2024 and urged that postponed pension enhancements for 2016–2022 retirees be brought forward. She sought clarification on reports that Lanka Sugar Company was exempted from statutory payments, asking whether EPF, ETF and gratuity obligations were affected, and called for lawful settlement of such dues. She also proposed alternatives to unusable public officer vehicle permits, urged timely Provincial Council elections under the old PR system, recommended placing SLICTS under the Digital Ministry to support digitalization, and requested clearer guidance and better resources for Divisional Secretariats. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB AI summary Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi said the Budget’s provision to recruit 50,000 public servants is necessary to address shortages in key cadres across central, provincial and local institutions caused by past recruitment freezes and post removals. He rejected allegations of ministerial interference in local bodies, arguing that powers are exercised under existing laws while noting that electoral mechanisms can distort control of administrations and should be corrected. He also stated that the Government is addressing pension arrears and gratuity payments, and urged recognition of progress while emphasizing the need to strengthen efficient local authorities for grassroots development. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof raised several Trincomalee District issues during the Committee Stage debate on allocations for Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and Labour. He urged the Government to amend or offset a circular requiring local authorities to bear increasing salary costs for permanent casual workers, establish a fire brigade at Kinniya Urban Council, and provide JCBs, gully bowsers and other vehicles to local bodies. He also requested staffing for Divisional Secretariats, survey and demarcation of disputed DS boundaries, creation of additional DS divisions in Kinniya and Thoppur, and a coordinated licensing mechanism for firewood cutters to prevent arrests and penalties. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi supported the 2026 Budget proposal to raise estate workers’ daily wage from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,750 through a Rs. 200 company increase and a Rs. 200 Government incentive. She criticized Opposition Members, including Sajith Premadasa, for questioning and allegedly obstructing the increase, and said estate workers in the hill country face difficult working conditions and support the Government’s proposal. She urged that the wage measure proceed and framed it as a key issue for public and private estate workers during the Committee Stage debate on the relevant ministries. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara clarified that appointment letters stated the posts were pensionable subject to policy decisions, and said the pension scheme had not been abolished. He noted that employees appointed after 2016 retained pension rights subject to policy and had contributed to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension scheme. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe – Deputy Minister AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe clarified that public servants appointed from 1 January 2016 had been moved from the former pension system to a contributory pension scheme under appointment letters, but that scheme had not been implemented by any government. He stated that the current Budget proposes to restore full pension rights to those employees, equivalent to earlier public servants. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara argued that public administration is being weakened by officials’ fear of taking decisions, delays in Ministry approvals, and low capital expenditure, and he questioned whether Cabinet decisions and circulars are being vetted outside the Ministry. He challenged the Government’s claims on public sector salary increases and pensions, called for relief for retirees including higher deposit interest, and criticized limited allocations for housing and disaster loans for public servants. He urged equal funding and staffing for Opposition-controlled local authorities, demanded Provincial Council elections through a simple amendment restoring the previous system, and called for implementation of promised benefits for Grama Niladharis, Management Service Officers, and public officers’ vehicle permits. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara JJB AI summary Padmasiri Bandara defended the Budget allocations under Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, rejecting Opposition claims about low capital spending and citing allocations for Health, Agriculture, and Rural and Infrastructure ministries as evidence of a capital-focused Budget. He highlighted the proposed implementation of a 3 per cent public service recruitment quota for persons with disabilities, alongside a Rs. 500 million wage subsidy scheme for private employers. He also said the Government would address local authority staff shortages through over 75,000 recruitments and allocate Rs. 12,500 million for shared essential equipment, while noting increased benefits for public servants including higher festival advances, disaster loan ceilings, and difficult-area allowances for teachers. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi SJB AI summary Condemning alleged attacks on Buddhist clergy in the Eastern Province, Dilip Wedaarachchi criticised the Government’s handling of public administration and local government, citing low utilization of development allocations in Hambantota and arguing that district projects were not being implemented effectively despite Government control of most local bodies. He contrasted this with past “Gamperaliya” and MP allocation programmes, claimed better local-level execution under previous administrations, and commended the Hambantota Municipal Council mayor for using funds for development. He also raised concerns over killings, narcotics and underworld activity ahead of the President’s visit to Hambantota, calling for inclusive anti-drug programmes and proper review mechanisms. Wedaarachchi further alleged intimidation, bribery and manipulation in the formation and control of local authorities, urging Opposition members in Hambantota councils to oppose what he described as corrupt budgets and administrations. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha argued that the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government is central to development, but said public administration and local authorities face funding, staffing and governance problems. He criticized reductions in salary reimbursements to low-revenue local authorities, called for chairs and members to be empowered under the Pradeshiya Sabha framework, and urged equitable allocations including for Opposition MPs. He demanded urgent Provincial Council elections after more than eight years, citing the Government’s parliamentary majority to pass required legal amendments. He also called for implementation of recommendations on Management Service Officers, including salary revisions, recruitment to provincial vacancies, higher qualifications, restored senior-grade status and a clear promotion scheme. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Muhammad Faizal rejected Opposition claims that the NPP misled voters in Puttalam, stating that the President had directed the Health Ministry to proceed with upgrading Puttalam Hospital in line with election promises. He said Puttalam’s multi-ethnic communities live in harmony and pledged to oppose attempts to create communal divisions while pursuing development under the Government’s policy programme. He also raised the salary and pension grievances of the Government Translators’ Service arising from Public Administration Circular 06/2006 (iv), requesting restoration of their pre-circular salary scales. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Muhammad Faizal JJB AI summary Hon. Muhammad Faizal defended the President’s attendance in Parliament and argued that the Opposition’s predictions of the Government’s collapse had failed. Speaking during the Committee Stage debate on allocations for the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, he accused previous governments of delaying Provincial Council and local authority elections while claiming lack of funds. He said the current NPP Government has allocated funds in the Budget to hold Provincial Council elections and expressed confidence that it would win them. He also stated that the Government had increased estate workers’ wages, contrasting this with earlier unresolved discussions on the issue. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe outlined ongoing labour reforms, including plans to consolidate 14 labour laws into four new Acts covering industrial relations, labour standards, occupational safety and health, and trade unions. He cited training programmes for Labour Department officers, job and vocational fairs, and expanded occupational safety interventions, noting recorded workplace accident figures and the estimated economic cost of such incidents. He also referred to efforts to digitize EPF access, revive the National Labour Advisory Council, and appealed to workers across sectors to support efforts to improve productivity and national development. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe defended the Budget’s wage and public-sector benefit measures, saying the Opposition should critique constructively while noting its resistance to plantation wage increases. He attributed current pension anomalies to decisions by the 2016 and 2020 governments, stated that the Government’s 2025 Budget addresses the issue in phases up to July 2027, and said further disparities affecting retirees up to 31 December 2024, including retired principals and teachers, would also be resolved. He highlighted salary increases, higher increments, disaster loan funding, festival advances, housing loan concessions, regularization of about 9,800 workers, and increased allowances for rail crossing gatekeepers. He also justified procuring 2,000 vehicles, mainly pickup trucks for public officers, citing the very old condition of vehicles used by Labour Department district engineering offices. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra clarified that the plantation daily wage of Rs. 1,750 does not require workers to complete 25 days of work, stating that Rs. 200 is an attendance incentive paid only for days worked in addition to the Rs. 1,550 wage. She said claims of a 25-day condition are due to misunderstanding or distortion. She also said labour law reform is being pursued through an inclusive process involving an expert committee, a draft for public and union comment, and consideration of fairness to both workers and employers, including greater women’s workforce participation. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera raised concerns on expenditure heads relating to public administration, local government, labour and plantation workers. He requested fuel, communication and duty-related allowances for Grama Niladhari officers, action to resolve salary anomalies and recruitment disparities affecting Management Service Officers, and relief mechanisms for low-revenue local authorities facing proposed salary-cost recoveries. He also urged digitisation and National ID-based coordination to simplify EPF/ETF claims, and sought clarification on whether the additional Rs. 200 plantation worker payment is an attendance-based daily payment or conditional on working 25 days. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →
- 19 November 2025 The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi JJB AI summary The government has proposed a three-step approach to address salary anomalies and is taking measures to resolve issues affecting retirees, with the President’s attention on the matter. In presenting the expenditure head of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, the speech stated that steps are being taken to strengthen and advance the public service. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ministry of Labour) Read →