The Hon. Ravindra Bandara

¶ 01 Mr. Deputy Speaker, I must say this clearly. We saw this morning talk about what the President’s Fund is. Let me take a minute on this. Today there was talk about Harshana Rajakaruna. It was I who raised that question yesterday. The President’s Fund is there to help the innocent, poor people of this country. But for decades some have dragged this country backwards, studying abroad with people’s money and then shamelessly telling stories. Another person too took from the President’s Fund and kept saying he would return it, lying daily, and now shamelessly speaks after withdrawing what he undertook. They said there would be Provincial Council Elections; now they withdraw what they claim. Please sit and listen without disrupting. We are discussing a very important Bill. It is shameful; wearing white does not help.

¶ 02 You say something today and withdraw it tomorrow. That is your way. First pay back the money you took from the President’s Fund. I did not name you. Sit down. Next, I must say, Mr. Deputy Speaker—

¶ 03 Kabir Hashim—were you even in Sri Lanka? Were you here or elsewhere in the world? You spoke about LNG.

¶ 04 That LNG—since 2009 you opened the road once, then four times. Yet LNG was never brought; not once. That is what you did. Next you speak about solar power—listen.

¶ 05 Like the so-called “Volkswagen” factory—opened four times—what happened? Not a single LNG project was brought to Sri Lanka. You spoke about the Solar Battle. Even if you talked about it, did you establish a smart grid then? A pumped storage system? A battery system? None of that was done then. But today, when our Power Minister is putting those things in place properly, you are annoyed.

¶ 06 Remember, what you brought was not a system to break the institution into 12 pieces. Under this plan, under NTNSP, 50 percent to the private sector—this plan does not do that. I will explain how investments will come. Please sit and listen.

¶ 07 You spoke of the Solar Battle, but you completely abandoned that program. You talk of workers’ rights—let me clearly say, not a single worker’s right will be lost. Pensions and EPF will not be affected.

¶ 08 Next, your favourite game—emergency power purchases. In the future there will be no room for such emergency procurements. You now say they were necessary, but that will not be the case.

¶ 09 What you wanted was to privatize this institution and throw out workers. Now that none of that will happen, you obstruct this program. Ownership of all hydropower plants will remain 100 percent with the Government while enabling investment, giving opportunities to the private sector, and rebuilding the CEB. Previously, you broke it into pieces with no plan. You now praise Kanchana; you wanted to give power to temples—solar panels were fixed—but you did not check capacity needs. Many are installed in Matara; you did not assess those. The Hon. Minister has planned things well so that no benefit or right of any worker is harmed and no worker is thrown out. Those who want may leave voluntarily, with provisions in place. As we implement this program properly you are trying to disrupt it.

¶ 10 You now say you will take guidance from the Ministry of Finance. It is not mere guidance; it is coordination, informing Finance. The Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill is a very good Bill. As we implement this program well, you cannot accept it. That is the real issue. But by shouting here you cannot roll this back. That is what must be said.

¶ 11 With the passage of the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, workers’ rights will be protected. The unbundling is being done on a scientific basis. Now look—stop name-calling. LNG plants were “opened” four times by Kanchana and Ranil Wickremesinghe—where is the LNG plant? It is not there. The Solar Battle was abandoned. For this country to move forward and attract investors, we must act transparently, bring in the private sector, create competition, and act with transparency—unlike your fuel emergency procurements.

¶ 12 We get sunlight in the day, not at night. That is why a battery system is introduced to supply power when needed. When the failed methods are prevented, you get annoyed. As we carry out this program well, it will reach an irreversible state.

¶ 13 If that is so, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I conclude my speech. Thank you.