Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Profession: Engineer

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Speeches 261 #17 of 225·#7 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

261 speeches

6 August 2025 AI summary Moved an amendment to the Bill to replace a line on page 27 so that “strategies and any subsequent revisions and updates published in the Gazette shall be deemed included.” The amendment was agreed to, after which Clause 19 as amended and Clauses 20 and 21 were ordered to stand part of the Bill. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody moved several Committee Stage amendments to the Bill, revising provisions on the Final Vesting Plan, employee secondment, and related obligations in the restructuring of electricity sector entities. The amendments shorten certain timelines from two years to one year, extend references to include Pension Fund obligations alongside Employees’ Provident Fund obligations, and require identification, notification, and option procedures for employees of the Generation and Distribution Companies proposed for secondment to subsidiary companies. They also provide that seconded employees must receive terms no less favourable than their existing Ceylon Electricity Board employment conditions, while employees who do not opt for secondment would be entitled to a voluntary retirement scheme. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody moved a series of amendments to Clause 13 of the Bill concerning subsidiary companies under the relevant electricity sector legislation. The amendments specify Treasury ownership and permanent shareholding arrangements, create board composition requirements for the hydropower generation company and other entities, add expertise requirements including former Ceylon Electricity Board personnel, and introduce conflict-of-interest disclosure and limits on multiple board appointments. The amendments were agreed to, and Clause 13, as amended, was ordered to stand part of the Bill. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody moved an amendment to page 13, line 30 of the Bill, substituting wording referring to “competitive ancillary services.” The amendment was agreed to, after which Clause 11 as amended and Clause 12 were ordered to stand part of the Bill, and proceedings moved to Clause 13 concerning amendment of section 17 of the principal enactment. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody moved an amendment to Clause 10 of the Bill, adding language to require that changes to the electricity system be made while ensuring an uninterrupted and reliable electricity supply. The amendment was agreed to, and Clause 10, as amended, was ordered to stand part of the Bill before proceedings moved to Clause 11. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody moved amendments to Clause 8 of the Bill, including a wording change and the insertion of a provision treating the Minister-appointed Committee as a scheduled institution under the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023. The amendments were agreed to, Clause 8 as amended was ordered to stand part of the Bill, and Clauses 9 and 10 proceeded in Committee. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody moved a textual amendment to Clause 5 of the Bill, substituting wording on page 4, line 30 relating to the term “diversified.” The amendment was agreed to, after which Clause 5 as amended and Clauses 6 and 7 were ordered to stand part of the Bill, before the Committee proceeded to consider Clause 8. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody moved an amendment to page 3, lines 13 and 14 of the Bill, substituting wording referring to “The Plan and the Long-Term Transmission Development Plan of the Ceylon Electricity Board.” The amendment was agreed to, and Clause 4, as amended, was ordered to stand part of the Bill before proceedings moved to Clause 5. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody moved a procedural motion for Hon. Chanaka Madugoda to take the Chair. The motion was agreed to, after which Hon. Aravinda Senarath left the Chair and Hon. Chanaka Madugoda assumed it. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody responded to the Leader of the Opposition’s remarks on LNG, stating that the figures cited related to a 2021 tender and were based on evaluation variables no longer applicable. He said the tender had been closed in 2021 with Cabinet approval, and cautioned against relying on outdated or second-hand briefings. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public Finance Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy presented the Amendment as a reform of the electricity sector intended to create a transparent, competitive market while retaining full State ownership of public assets. He said the changes would prevent privatization of CEB assets, replace the proposed National Electricity Advisory Council with stronger core sector institutions, and develop structured wholesale, ancillary services, and retail market mechanisms. He also stated that CEB employees’ rights and benefits would be protected, and that the reforms followed consultations with staff, development partners, and experts, while rejecting pressure to alter government ownership. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Minister Kumara Jayakody introduced the Second Reading debate on the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, alongside related regulations under the Tobacco Tax Act and Tea (Tax and Control of Exports) Act. He stated that the electricity amendment is intended to bring a significant advancement in the electricity sector and framed it as an important measure for the Government. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading Parliamentary ProcedureInfrastructure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody said the Government had not removed consumer rights and argued that some criticisms related to provisions not contained in the 2024 Act. He stated that the Amendment Bill had been considered by the Sectoral Oversight Committee, including proposals from the Opposition, though some were rejected by court, and said the PUCSL should regulate water, electricity and petroleum more broadly. He announced that an Energy Transition Act covering the wider energy sector would be brought before Parliament by the end of the year or early next year. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Power Cut Decision (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructureParliamentary Procedure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody explained that the blackout resulted from a system imbalance in which frequency controlled through Victoria deviated from 50 Hz, triggering protective unit trips and a continuing frequency drop. He said immediate recommendations are being implemented, including preventing simultaneous diaphragm trips and enabling soft shutdowns to reduce restoration time. He outlined short-, medium- and long-term measures, including better System Control Centre visibility of daytime solar generation, development of battery and pumped storage, and tenders for 160 MW of battery storage, while noting that CEB financing depends on consumer revenues and external funding takes time. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Power Cut Decision (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy stated that the CEB implemented islandwide rotational demand management on 10 February 2025, with prior PUCSL approval, limiting each consumer group to up to 1 hour and 30 minutes between 3.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. He said the measure followed a system-wide failure on 9 February that damaged diaphragms at the Lakvijaya Power Station, making all three units unavailable and creating a generation deficit, partly mitigated by operating other plants including Sobadanavi. Oral Question: Ceylon Electricity Board Power Cut Decision (Q.1/2025) Public FinanceInfrastructure Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Kumara Jayakody stated that he would provide the requested information. No further substantive policy position, proposal, or question was presented in the excerpt. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 August 2025 AI summary The Minister of Energy provided salary and allowance details for the Chairman and Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited, including 2023 and current figures. He stated that the Managing Director’s salary and professional allowance increased by 25 per cent following Cabinet approval on 18 September 2024, while the Chairman’s CPC salary remained Rs. 100,000. He also clarified that the CPSTL Chairman draws salary only from CPSTL, the Managing Director draws a full CPSTL salary and 50 per cent of the CPC salary, and Board meeting payments are made only to specified non-executive directors. Oral Questions: Education, Energy, President's Fund, Western Provincial Council Vehicles, Public Security, Pirivena Education, Hospitals in Matara, Land Settlement, Coastal Patrol, and Marawila Schools Public Finance Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary Kumara Jayakody argued that prior work in a particular sector should not be treated as disqualifying when participating in policymaking. He stated that responsibilities should be assigned appropriately and that relevant professionals should be allowed to carry out their roles while politicians perform theirs. Oral Question: Gulf of Mannar - Exploration of Gas and Oil (Q.199/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary Cabinet has approved the appointment of a consultant to market the relevant drilling area and invite prospective bidders. Once the consultant firm or individual is appointed, bids will be called for the relevant blocks. Oral Question: Gulf of Mannar - Exploration of Gas and Oil (Q.199/2024) Public Finance Read →
25 July 2025 AI summary As of the date of the response, no active exploration or development licences exist for gas and oil exploration in Sri Lanka’s Mannar Basin. A previous exploration licence granted to Cairn Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. in 2008 has expired, so related follow-up details were deemed not applicable. Oral Question: Gulf of Mannar - Exploration of Gas and Oil (Q.199/2024) Public FinanceEnvironment Read →