Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha

Mrs. Samanmali Gunasingha invoked Standing Orders 91(u) and (w) to request the Presiding Member's intervention in protecting the dignity of women Members of Parliament. She demanded the immediate removal of improper remarks from the record, objecting to what she characterized as newspaper rumours being introduced into the chamber in a manner that undermines Members' self-respect.

The speech consists solely of a procedural seconding motion, with no substantive argument or policy content. The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasinghe formally seconded a motion, which was subsequently put to a vote and agreed to. Following this, a change in the Chair occurred, with the Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauuda assuming the Chair from the Deputy Chairperson of Committees.

## Summary The Hon. (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasingha spoke in support of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill, citing widespread harm caused by unregulated high-interest lending, including over 2.4 million women in debt and more than 200 reported suicides among borrowers unable to repay loans. She highlighted the Bimputh Microfinance case as an example of institutional abuse, wherein a former Minister's company borrowed funds from state banks at low interest and re-lent them to rural women at high rates, with loans going unrepaid to the state and borrowers subjected to coercion and harassment. The Bill proposes to establish a regulatory authority with powers to license institutions, set interest rate conditions, mandate loan agreements in the borrower's language, create complaint mechanisms through District and Divisional Secretariats, and maintain national microfinance datasets. She also noted the government's allocation of Rs. 96 billion for collateral-free entrepreneurship support, particularly targeting women, as a complementary measure to address the root causes of predatory borrowing.