Hon. Arkam Ilyas, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Matara

Deputy Minister of Power

Profession: Structural Design Engineer

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 22 #168 of 225·#106 in party

Attendance 6/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

22 speeches

21 May 2026 AI summary Arkam Ilyas stated that 17 coal vessels had arrived and test results for 16 had been received, leading to US$27 million in penalties being levied. He said these costs had not been passed on through electricity bills and were reflected in PUCSL reports, rejecting claims that losses arose from this matter. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Arkam Ilyas requested permission from the Deputy Speaker to make a brief clarification on a coal-related issue raised earlier in the debate. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas, Deputy Minister of Power, rose on a point of Order. No substantive argument, proposal, or question was recorded in the provided extract. Main Business: Debate on Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Appropriation Act Resolutions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas responded to Auditor General findings on coal procurement losses, stating that around Rs. 9.6 billion has already been withheld from the supplier through payments and bid bonds against an estimated Rs. 22.3 billion loss. He said penalties have been imposed for delayed coal shipments, further recoveries will be pursued where required, and shortcomings identified by the Auditor General have been addressed in upcoming tenders. He maintained that there were no irregularities in the procurement or penalty recovery process and assured that the public would not bear any additional electricity costs due to the coal matter. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Public FinanceLaw & Order Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas said the coal agreement was signed after Auditor General concurrence and incorporation of recommendations, with relevant documents available to be tabled. He rejected claims of an Rs. 8,000 million loss as based on assuming the full energy shortfall was replaced by diesel generation, arguing that actual costs depend on the dispatch mix and different fuel costs. He stated that about Rs. 9.6 billion has been withheld from the supplier through unpaid amounts and a bid bond, with penalties also being pursued for delayed vessels, and said future tenders have been adjusted in line with audit observations. He assured that no costs arising from the coal issue would be passed on to consumers through electricity bills. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Law & OrderInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
10 April 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas responded to issues raised following the Auditor General’s Report on coal procurement, stating that the supplier’s registration fee payment complied with tender eligibility rules and tabling the relevant procurement committee minutes. He said umpire samples had been tested or sent for testing through accredited Bureau Veritas laboratories, and defended the accreditation status of the laboratories used for coal quality parameters while tabling supporting documents. He acknowledged gaps in tender and registration arrangements, noting that 2026–2027 criteria would be tightened through higher financial and supply thresholds, ministry-selected laboratories, and a multi-supplier reverse bidding model to reduce dependency on one supplier. He also stated that the agreement was signed subject to Attorney General concurrence and said the Ministry would continue addressing remaining shortcomings. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas stated that a high-level committee has been appointed by the Power Ministry with relevant ministries to study the electrification of transport using renewable energy. He said Hon. Kariapper’s proposals would be considered by the committee, assessed for practicality, and pursued where feasible. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic and Security Crisis EnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas rejected Opposition claims that electricity generation is consuming most diesel imports, stating that current power-sector diesel use is about 500 metric tonnes per day, around 10 per cent of national daily diesel consumption. He said the coal procurement process had not breached procedures, noted penalties over a rejected first vessel, and explained that third-party testing in Australia is being used to assess whether Norochcholai’s reduced output is due to coal quality or plant factors. He assured Parliament there would be no power cuts during Ramadan and Sinhala Avurudu, citing hydropower availability, coal stocks, fuel tenders and planned battery storage. He also defended continued fuel QR restrictions as a stock-management measure amid Middle East uncertainty and urged public conservation, reduced night-time electricity use, daytime EV charging and avoidance of fuel hoarding. Adjournment Debate: Current Economic and Security Crisis Cost of LivingInfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
20 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas defended the 2025–2026 coal procurement, arguing that the Opposition had misstated the country’s coal requirement and that the tender followed the same specifications used in 2023 with approvals for the 21-day bidding period and an extension. He said suppliers had been pre-registered for quality, financial capacity and supply capability, and that the selected purchase price of USD 98 per metric ton avoided costs associated with an earlier proposed three-year tender at USD 324 per metric ton. He also stated that penalties and claims for substandard coal have been part of past procurements, that pending recoveries could reduce tariffs, and that the Government would act against any supplier failing to meet standards. Adjournment Motion: Issues Relating to the Power Sector (Coal Procurement for Norochcholai) InfrastructurePublic Finance Read →
20 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas outlined the Government’s policy to develop a competitive, consumer-focused and renewable-oriented power sector, arguing that affordable tariffs require competitive generation procurement, grid upgrades and storage rather than higher renewable tariffs. He said transmission projects and battery storage tenders are underway, including major 400 kV and 220 kV lines, and that EV charging infrastructure, smart metering, time-of-use tariffs and rooftop solar integration will be expanded from 2026. He stated that the Government aims to reduce electricity bills by 30 per cent over three years through sustainable cost reductions, while also planning Mannar basin hydrocarbon exploration tenders in early 2026 with international partners. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate InfrastructureCost of LivingEnvironment Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary A petition was presented on behalf of Mr. W.A.K. Sanjan Sasanka of “Gedara”, Ruppa, Weligama, Welipitiya. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas stated that Sri Lanka currently relies on foreign construction standards, including British, European, Indian, American, Australian and New Zealand codes. He said the proposed Act would support the development of Sri Lanka-specific codes of practice, in coordination with UDA, NBRO, CIDA and the National Physical Planning Department, tailored to local environmental conditions and wind loads. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill InfrastructureLaw & Order Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas supported legislation establishing the National Building Research Institute as a statutory body, noting that the NBRO has operated since 1984 without an enabling Act despite its role in disaster prevention, geotechnical assessment, and construction guidance. He highlighted landslide risks across 14 districts, recent casualties, and past disasters such as Aranayake and Koslanda, arguing that the Institute should have legal authority to require concurrence, restrict construction, and transmit hazard maps to local authorities. He also said the law would regulate geotechnical reporting, address risks from high-rise and unstable-site construction, and give legal standing to building condition and impact assessments used in resolving disputes. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Justice & Human RightsEnvironmentInfrastructure Read →
19 August 2025 AI summary Seconding the Motion, the Hon. Arkam Ilyas highlighted high youth unemployment, outward labour migration, and resulting shortages of skilled workers for major development projects. He referred to two Cabinet-approved measures: low-interest loans at 4 per cent for 50,000 young people in agriculture, and housing grants of up to Rs. 1 million for eligible youth leaving institutions. He urged youth participation in national development under the Government’s programme to address unemployment and strengthen the rule of law. Adjournment Motion: Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals EmploymentAgricultureLand & Housing Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas supported the electricity sector amendment, arguing that it would improve service quality, introduce competition, protect consumers, and maintain 100 percent state ownership while safeguarding CEB employees’ jobs and allowances. He said the Bill addresses supply reliability issues, enables consumer choice among licensed providers, and creates scope for competitive generation and overseas opportunities for state-linked power entities. He also criticized past emergency power purchases as costly, called for stricter regulation of such procurement, and urged a review of overly expensive technical standards to avoid waste. Debate: Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading, Committee and Third Reading InfrastructureEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
6 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas presented a petition from I.D.D.L. Samaranayake, an employee of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board at Thummodara, Labugama, IDD Division. No further details of the petition were stated in the speech. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
3 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas supported the Second Reading of the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, arguing that Sri Lanka needs an updated legal framework to protect personal data while enabling digitalisation, AI use, and investment. He said the amendments provide grace periods for compliance, adjust requirements on Data Protection Officers, expand the Data Protection Authority’s powers, and create remedies against unfair automated or AI-driven decisions. He highlighted international and local data breaches, the right of individuals to trace how their data was shared and prevent further sharing without consent, and called for a complementary Cyber Security Act to support the digital economy. Debate: Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas seconded the Adjournment Motion on recurrent flooding in the Nilwala River basin, noting severe impacts on several Matara District divisional areas, paddy lands, public property, and towns. He questioned the effectiveness of the downstream salinity barrier and past incomplete river development projects, and proposed an expert committee including state agencies, engineers, and affected communities to identify solutions. He also suggested short-term relief measures such as partial removal of sheet piles near the salinity barrier and widening a temporary canal, while calling for speedy and sustainable flood, drinking water, and irrigation solutions. Adjournment Motion: Mitigation of Floods Caused by Nilwala Salinity Barrier AgricultureInfrastructureEnvironment Read →
12 March 2025 AI summary Two petitions were presented for acceptance: one from Mr. T. Karunaratne of Denipitiya, Miruppa, Polpitiye Gedara, and another from a resident of the Kochilakanda area in Weligama whose name is illegible in the record. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Arkam Ilyas focused on urban development under the Budget, noting the allocation of about Rs. 98 billion for UDA development activities and arguing that stalled construction projects have tied up valuable land, public funds, and private investments. He cited unfinished projects such as the KRIS building, Grand Hyatt, and Destiny Mall and Residency, and said over 20 high-rise projects in Colombo are abandoned due to poor feasibility, commissions, and politicized decisions. He also highlighted flood-related urban development issues in areas including Dikwella, Beruwala, Wewurukannala, and Akurana, calling for scientific, expedited, and apolitical feasibility studies and solutions through the UDA and SLLRDC. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) InfrastructureLand & HousingPublic Finance Read →