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

11 November 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody said decisions on water releases fall under the Irrigation Department or agencies such as Mahaweli and must be made with their agreement, taking environmental and related factors into account. He stated that the specified hours were likely set on that basis and undertook to discuss the matter with the Tourism Ministry and relevant agencies to make adjustments if necessary. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) EnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that many Ceylon Electricity Board projects have operated without clear end dates, with large project monitoring units and associated vehicles and facilities continuing beyond expected completion. He said projects begun in 2013 should have been completed around 2020, and that the Government is carrying out a full review and 100 per cent check of CEB assets. He added that assets will be verified separately, assigned to the relevant institutions, and subjected to a full investigation. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
11 November 2025 AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody answered a question regarding a project begun in 2013, stating that its construction has been completed. He said 243 families were affected, with Rs. 379,355,250 already paid to 108 families for acquired houses and lands, while Rs. 8,987,300 remains payable to 135 families whose houses sustained minor damage. He added that the outstanding compensation is expected to be settled soon in coordination with the Yatiyantota and Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretaries, and tabled the relevant annexed schedules. Oral Question: Affected Persons Due to Construction of Broadlands Hydropower Plant (Q.1404/2025) Public FinanceLand & Housing Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy said Ceylon Electricity Board employees have until 27 October 2025, under Section 18(f) of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, to indicate whether they wish to be assigned to successor companies, so final figures are not yet available. He stated that reasons for employees’ choices cannot be specified because the decision rests with them, and the allocation for voluntary retirement cannot be provided until applications are finalized. He added that Cabinet approval has been obtained to include the cost of the voluntary retirement scheme in the first electricity tariff revision of 2026. Written Answer: Restructure of Ceylon Electricity Board (Q.1460/2025) EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
23 October 2025 AI summary Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody tabled regulations under the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, relating to the rules and conditions of the retirement scheme 865560, as published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2451/11 of 26 August 2025. He moved that the regulations be referred to the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Energy, and the motion was agreed to. Tabling of Regulations under Sri Lanka Electricity Act Parliamentary Procedure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said grid capacity constraints are affecting integration of new energy projects, but DOE approvals and transmission expansion are being used to accelerate progress. He stated that new expansion plans beyond Anuradhapura are expected within two to three years, with financing and design work underway, and noted that competitive battery storage tenders are open. He said government policy aims to protect consumers while maintaining the viability of the power sector and supporting genuine investors. Ministerial Statement and Debate: Power Generation Policy (Minister of Energy) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody clarified that LNG is not being described as renewable, but as a firm energy source used alongside diesel or coal when hydro output is low to maintain grid stability. He defended tariff reductions for solar projects as reflecting lower panel costs and currency appreciation, saying the benefit should be passed to consumers without harming genuine developers. He said approved solar capacity already exceeds this year’s LTGEP additions, with further grid expansion and battery storage tenders planned to support the target of 70% renewable energy by 2030. Ministerial Statement and Debate: Power Generation Policy (Minister of Energy) InfrastructureEnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody replied to a Standing Order 27(2) question by providing detailed 2024 electricity generation and purchase costs by fuel type, ownership details of coal and diesel-related plants, and renewable energy tariff information. He outlined solar capacity targets under the Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan up to 2030, noting that solar deployment had reached close to forecast levels by end-2024 and that rooftop capacity had exceeded 2,000 MW by August 2025. He said the Government is promoting solar through competitive procurement, transmission upgrades, streamlined approvals, tariff-setting by a multi-agency committee, and rooftop limits tied to contracted demand to ensure equitable transformer capacity sharing. Ministerial Statement and Debate: Power Generation Policy (Minister of Energy) EnvironmentInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that the Government accepts PUCSL’s correction of the electricity tariff figure to 6.8 per cent and noted that this remains below the 38 per cent increase proposed when it took office. He said the Government aims to reduce tariffs but must address CEB’s long-standing structural problems, including debt, unpaid bills by State bodies and irregular connections. He also undertook to inquire into environmental concerns around Norochcholai and reported power outages in Kalpitiya, and to report back after investigation. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Restructuring (Q.1/2025) EnvironmentPublic Finance Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody clarified that the six proposed companies would be fully Treasury-owned, despite being registered as private limited companies under the Companies Act, No. 7 of 2007. He said the CEB had proposed a 6.8 per cent tariff increase, but the PUCSL, acting within its regulatory mandate, decided there should be no increase, and he undertook to table detailed figures if a question is submitted. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Restructuring (Q.1/2025) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
22 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy confirmed that electricity sector restructuring will proceed under the amended Electricity Act, No. 14 of 2025, in line with Section 17 and the First Schedule of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024. He stated that six companies will be incorporated for system operation, transmission, generation, distribution, energy ventures, and a CEB employees fund, and added that part (b) of the question was not applicable. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Restructuring (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that plans are being prepared and that, once a formal request is submitted to him, a swift decision can be made on selecting the operator. He indicated that appointing a co-operative as the operator would not pose a problem and that the matter could proceed as required. Oral Question 10: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Land at Deniyaya Infrastructure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy stated that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation holds a long-term leased land where a filling station operated until its closure on 18 July 2019, with buildings and an underground storage tank still remaining. He said the closure followed an investigation into information that the dealership had been assigned to a third party contrary to Corporation agreements, and that the original lessee was later confirmed deceased. He added that, in line with Corporation Board decisions, plans are being prepared to construct a filling station, with further action subject to future Board decisions. Oral Question 10: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Land at Deniyaya Infrastructure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody rejected allegations regarding an incident at a CEB meeting, saying the individual involved was a former employee dismissed over bribery allegations and not accepted by other unions. He stated that the person had been allowed into the meeting despite this background, but was removed by security after allegedly obstructing proceedings and recording videos to disrupt the discussion. He asked the Opposition to verify the facts through other union leaders present and said the matter had been referred to the police for appropriate action. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Law & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody stated that, under the relevant Act, CEB employees must indicate by 27 October whether they consent to be assigned to the new institutions or prefer to leave. He said assignments would proceed in accordance with the law, with no demotions, promotions, or salary scale reductions, and existing conditions would be maintained pending institutional establishment and resolution of issues. He also noted that the PUCSL had stated there would be no electricity tariff increase. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Public FinanceEmployment Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody clarified that the referenced letter does not state an “appointment.” The intervention appears to address a dispute or interpretation concerning the wording of the document. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody clarified that the matter under discussion was not an appointment but a notification. No further substantive policy position, proposal, or demand was stated in the recorded remark. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody clarified that, under the relevant Act, all employees have been notified regarding their proposed assignment to a company. He stated that this notification is not an appointment but an intimation of the intention to assign them. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Employment Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that he would respond to both questions together. No substantive policy position or detailed answer was provided in the excerpt. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody provided answers on CEB staffing, generation and restructuring, stating that Distribution Divisions 01-04 have 16,159 employees against an approved cadre of 18,948, leaving 2,789 vacancies, including 93 engineer vacancies in regional electrical engineer offices. He said recruitment of 60 electrical, seven mechanical and three civil engineers had been processed with Cabinet approval but temporarily suspended due to CEB restructuring. He presented electricity generation figures by source for 2024 and up to May 2025, and said the CEB would not be privatized, as the 2025 amendment replaces the earlier unbundling plan with six fully state-owned companies. He added that employees would be assigned to new companies or allowed voluntary retirement, and outlined activities of CEB-linked entities including LECO, Lanka Coal Company and Sri Lanka Energies Company. Oral Question 5: Ceylon Electricity Board Regional Offices InfrastructureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →