Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha

## Summary Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha spoke in support of new Regulations issued under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017, arguing they reflect Sri Lanka's improved economic position following its near-collapse. He cited 2025 figures including USD 3 billion in tourism receipts, USD 8.2 billion in remittances, and USD 17.1 billion in export earnings as evidence of strengthening external accounts, and noted the Regulations are intended to facilitate Sri Lankan businesses expanding overseas and increase outward payment limits through foreign currency accounts in line with gradual capital flow liberalisation under the IMF Extended Fund Facility. He also defended the President's address to Parliament on the Middle East conflict, criticising Opposition members for heckling it, and rejected Opposition allegations of government corruption as unsubstantiated, suggesting such characterisations better described the Opposition's own record.

Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha formally presented four petitions to Parliament on behalf of constituents from various locations, including Rambukkana, Dorawaka, Egodawela, and Tholangamuwa. The petitions were submitted by Mr. Mudaligegedara Nishantha Bandara, Mr. R.P. Wijethunga, Mrs. T.M.P.K. Weerakumbura, and Mrs. T.R.W. Thambugala respectively. No further details regarding the subject matter of the petitions were provided in the speech.

## Summary Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha spoke in support of the Institute of Real Estate Professionals of Sri Lanka Bill, arguing that Sri Lanka's historically unplanned approach to land use across residential, industrial, and commercial zones has created significant problems requiring urgent professional reform. He highlighted the critical role of property valuation in enabling local authorities to generate own-source revenue, citing one urban council that had not conducted a comprehensive property valuation since 2003. He further argued that professional real estate services are essential for the transparent deployment of increased capital expenditure allocations in recent Budgets, as well as for supporting bank lending decisions. He concluded by endorsing the Bill's passage with agreed amendments as a long-overdue measure necessary to establish professional standards and support broader national development.