Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Profession: Engineer

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 261 #17 of 225·#7 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

261 speeches

14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government’s commitment was to achieve and sustainably maintain an approximately 30 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs over three years, rather than respond to short-term quarterly fluctuations. He explained that daily fuel price changes have limited impact because fossil fuel use in generation has declined and coal is procured through annual fixed-price tenders, with logistical constraints limiting midstream adjustments. He reaffirmed the goal of implementing tariff reductions for the benefit of the economy and the public. Oral Questions and Answers Cost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that Cabinet decisions in 2023 and 2024 set electricity tariff revisions first at six-monthly and then three-monthly intervals, with the latest revision taking effect on 18 January 2025. He said the CEB will submit the next quarterly tariff proposal to the PUCSL under the approved methodology after assessing the full billing impact, which is expected to be clear by mid-April. He explained that revenue adequacy will be evaluated using factors including fuel prices, hydrology, plant dispatch, interest rates, macroeconomic conditions, demand, allowed revenue, and government policy guidelines. Oral Questions and Answers Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody said renewable energy procurement, particularly solar and wind, would proceed through competitive tenders except in genuine government-to-government cases, and that unsolicited proposals would not be accepted. He noted that Mannar has about 400 MW of wind potential, with 103 MW already operated by the CEB and another 50 MW planned, while the remaining capacity previously earmarked for Adani is stalled due to pending court cases. He also said a 234 MW Pooneryn wind project given to Adani under an MoU is being reviewed, and that if clarifications are not provided promptly, the Government will move to price-competitive tenders. Oral Questions and Answers InfrastructureEnvironmentCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody clarified that the project had not been cancelled, but that Cabinet had revoked the previous decision of 28 August 2023 to sign the agreement and was reviewing the matter. He said the Adani Group had informed the BOI of an intention to withdraw, though no final position had been received, and offered to table the local company’s letter if the issue was formally raised. He stated that the previous Government had treated the project as a G2G arrangement, while the current Cabinet was seeking to regularize the process. Oral Questions and Answers Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody stated that the Adani Group wind power project in Mannar and Pooneryn was intended to add 484 MW toward Sri Lanka’s target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030, and tabled the relevant MoU, Cabinet memoranda, decisions, and related documents. He said the project was treated as a government-to-government initiative under the Sri Lanka Electricity Act and that Cabinet decided on 30 December 2024 to re-evaluate it through appointed committees and seek the Attorney-General’s advice. He further informed Parliament that Adani had indicated on 12 February 2025 an intention to withdraw, and that the Ministry has sought and received a written position from Adani Green Energy SL Limited, which is now under study. Oral Questions and Answers InfrastructureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
14 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody presented the 2023 Annual Report of Lanka Electricity (Private) Limited to Parliament. He moved that the report be referred to the Relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Tabling of Annual Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy stated that he has instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board to provide electricity supply to lawful residents in the relevant area. He said the wider project had been temporarily halted and requires formal DCC approval before proceeding, so he could not provide a timeline at this stage. Oral Answers to Questions Infrastructure Read →
10 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy stated that he had suspended the project after becoming aware of the issue and instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board to investigate expenditures and possible recoveries. He said further action would follow once the report is received and asked that the question be submitted formally for a detailed response, noting that he could not provide figures at that stage. Oral Answers to Questions Public Finance Read →
10 March 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Ceylon Electricity Board implemented 208 generation and transmission projects from 2020 to 2024, with further small-scale annual distribution projects under ten-year distribution development plans. He noted that the Badulla District had one relevant project, the Uma Oya Hydropower Project, under the Ministry of Irrigation’s multi-purpose development programme. He said projects are selected according to the CEB’s long-term generation and transmission plans approved by the Public Utilities Commission, not on external requests, and tabled details on funding, estimates and expenditure. Oral Answers to Questions Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy tabled an answer on the Thambapavani Wind Power Park, stating that it began on 04 March 2019 with LKR 2.1 billion in local investment and USD 125 million in foreign investment, generating 103.5 MW at a unit cost of LKR 12.19. He provided annual net energy supplied to the grid from 2021 to 2024 and stated that a radar-based bird detection system automatically shuts down turbines when birds are detected within 500 metres. He further noted that studies indicate around 400 MW of wind power potential on Mannar Island, including the existing plant, a 50 MW project under tender, and 250 MW of further developable capacity. Oral Question: Thambapavani Wind Power Station (Q.154/2024) InfrastructureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that a Cabinet sub-committee has been appointed to address a two-year-old issue affecting stalled projects, and said the Government intends to resolve it quickly despite having been in office for only three months. He emphasized support for public-private partnerships and the need to attract investors to move the affected projects forward. The Committee then approved the relevant recurrent and capital expenditure allocations under Head 119 before reporting progress. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary The Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government has recognized solar power with battery storage as a policy priority and is developing a promotional tariff to attract investors, allowing daytime charging and nighttime supply to the grid. He said a committee is finalizing the framework, which will be submitted to Cabinet before announcement. He also noted that renewable energy proposals pending since February 2022 are legally complicated because projects below 10 MW require special PPAs while those above 10 MW must be procured through bidding, but the proposals have been grouped together. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Public FinanceEnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody responded to questions on the CPC Chairman’s remuneration, stating that the current Chairman oversees CPC, CPSTL and Trinco Petroleum Terminals Limited but draws only the CPSTL salary, and denied misuse of insurance benefits. He outlined electricity-sector projects including the Habarana–Kappalthurai 220 kV transmission line, battery storage projects at Hambantota and Kolonnawa, and studies on Victoria/Randenigala hydropower expansion and pumped storage. He said amendments to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act are being prepared for completion by 27 June 2025 after consultations, and maintained that the Government does not intend to use emergency power procurement, instead selecting the lowest-cost available generation including CEB-owned diesel plants if necessary. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) EnvironmentPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody said he had already outlined the Government’s plan to achieve 2,000 MW of renewable energy within two years, including the projects and regions involved, and criticized repeated Opposition questions on the matter. He argued that the Opposition’s calls to avoid reducing renewable energy tariffs while also demanding lower electricity bills were inconsistent. He also cited fuel price reductions made in 2024, listing decreases across petrol, diesel, super diesel and kerosene, and stated that the Government had acted within its first few months of office under a five-year mandate. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cost of LivingEnvironment Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody responded to claims about the 9 February power cutoff, stating that he was at the Presidential Secretariat for a special Cabinet meeting until noon and later at the Pelawatte System Control Centre until the system was stabilized, with CCTV available to verify this. He also clarified that the CEB media release of 18 February described a system-wide failure triggered by a disturbance but was not a detailed technical report, and he disputed any claim that it ruled out the involvement of a monkey, stating that videos could be provided if required. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Infrastructure Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that, except for one item, the relevant projects are financed through donor agencies or external lenders. He noted that the Ceylon Electricity Board is responsible for making the repayments. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Public Finance Read →
3 March 2025 AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody outlined the 2025 allocations under Head 119, noting Rs. 21.14 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 20.07 billion for capital expenditure, with recurrent spending reduced by 43 per cent from 2024. He detailed capital projects for transmission upgrades, waste-to-energy, rooftop solar, island hybrid renewable systems, Atomic Energy Board capacity, and the Kerawalapitiya-Colombo Port transmission line, while also listing externally financed hydro, solar, floating solar, wind, nuclear, and thermal generation projects. He stated that the Government targets 1,972 MW of renewable energy additions over the next two years and is also advancing petroleum-sector projects including the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, Sapugaskanda refinery modernization, and proposals for a new refinery. Committee Stage Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) EnvironmentPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Rs. 18.99 figure is an average energy cost, noting that competitively procured projects often achieve prices below Rs. 15 or under Rs. 20, thereby reducing the average without arbitrary tariff cuts. He argued that competitive tendering is the mechanism for lowering prices. On fuel-related issues, he said the Government is addressing irregular practices since 2019 to prevent unlawful diversion of public funds, linking the matter to taxation and public revenue, and indicated that the State Minister of Finance would provide further explanation. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary A Cabinet sub-committee has been appointed to examine the matter, and action will be taken based on its report. The Minister said the average renewable energy tariff of Rs. 18.99 reflects lower prices achieved through competitive procurement, despite higher tariffs in some legacy projects, and that this approach will continue to reduce costs. On fuel-related concerns, he stated that the Government is correcting unlawful practices dating from 2019 to prevent misuse of public funds and protect tax revenue, with further clarification expected from the State Minister of Finance. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation EnvironmentInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody responded to questions under Standing Order 27(2) on renewable energy planning, stating that the CEB’s Long-term Generation Expansion Plan 2025–2044 is aligned with the target of 70% renewable generation by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. He outlined tariff-setting procedures for rooftop solar and projects below 10 MW, emphasized periodic reviews and competitive procurement, and said the PUCSL had raised concerns on some input parameters but had not rejected the plan. He cited planned renewable projects including Sampur solar, Mannar wind and Mullikulam wind, gave projected capacity additions and 2025 generation cost figures, and stated that demand is expected to grow by about 5% annually with no emergency power purchases anticipated. Standing Order 27(2) Question: Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Generation EnvironmentInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →