Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi

## Summary Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi spoke in support of new regulations under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017, outlining two key amendments: raising the outward payment cap for resident business enterprises from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000, and increasing the personal foreign currency account limit for permissible capital transactions from USD 20,000 to USD 25,000. He contextualised these relaxations by noting an improvement in gross official reserves from approximately USD 4.39 billion in 2023 to USD 6.3 billion by January 2026, attributing earlier easing to IMF debt restructuring requirements rather than economic expansion. The speaker argued that the new measures, determined independently by the Central Bank, are intended to attract foreign direct investment and support Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in expanding into regional markets such as India and Africa. He also criticised the Opposition, alleging their emphasis on instability undermines investor confidence and serves narrow political objectives.

The speech consists solely of a seconder's acknowledgment and the recording of a question being put and agreed to, with no substantive remarks or arguments made by Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi beyond formally seconding a motion that was subsequently passed.

Hon. Chandima Hettiaratchi presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of Mr. K.G.C.M. Gamage, a resident of No. 16/6 B, Hospital Road, Ratnapura. No further details regarding the subject matter or nature of the petition were stated in the speech.

Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi highlighted that while Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals have reached their highest level since the 2018 peak — despite the Easter attacks, COVID-19, and the economic crisis — Bandaranaike International Airport continues to face operational challenges, including delays at Immigration, baggage claim, and vehicle access. The member posed four specific questions to the Minister regarding January 2026 passenger throughput figures, projected throughput for the following year, the necessity of a second passenger terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport, and the timelines and plans for its development alongside the expansion of domestic airports.