The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, both Government and Opposition have raised points on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, including technical ones. While the subject Minister is here, I must recall the real issue for people is not this Amendment but relief—how to reduce their monthly electricity bill, a major factor in household budgets.

¶ 02 On 17 August 2024 in Galle, H.E. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, before becoming President, declared he would reduce electricity bills by one-third upon taking power. People held that hope aloft—someone paying Rs. 9,000 expected it to drop to Rs. 6,000, saving Rs. 3,000 monthly. Has that been fulfilled? On 21 September it will be one year since the President took office. Amendments and reforms are fine, but what people ask is to reduce their bill somehow.

¶ 03 How many people will read these Amendments? At home, parents tell children to switch off lights to avoid higher bills. I expected the Minister to send the message: “In 2025 we will definitely reduce electricity bills.” If you said that, you would be a hero. I hoped you would say, as promised then, that you will reduce the bill. Perhaps from outside you said one thing, but inside you now see the reality.

¶ 04 Another matter: Hon. Presiding Member, you were COPA Chair and resigned today. On 23 July, the Education Ministry came before COPA; I am a member but was absent. A closed school leased from a Provincial Council was reportedly not paying dues. You asked; the Ministry said they are in litigation. When asking who took it, the name “Sarath Abeygunawardhana” was mentioned. Seeing “Abeygunawardhana” you looked up—because there is one in Parliament. You asked for inquiry—that is fine; that is COPA’s role. Later, Hon. Samanmalee Gunasinghe, MP, spoke on TV and said the closed school is with a powerful politician—“the one and only brother of Rohitha Abeygunawardhana, Sarath Abeygunawardhana.” I have only one brother—Rohana Abeygunawardhana. She made a false allegation against me. I did not know then that she is the wife of our Hon. Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake. We have no personal agenda. The Abeygunawardhana family is large; one person’s wrongdoing cannot be blamed on me. Did President Anura Kumara Dissanayake have to answer for P. Dissanayake’s actions as former Secretary to President Chandrika when he was jailed? Likewise, COPA and COPE are not courts to “catch thieves.” They can make recommendations to CID, Bribery Commission, Police, who then take decisions. I correct the record while you are in the Chair.

¶ 05 Finally, to the Minister: we see your efforts. But as a ground-level politician I ask—deliver the final outcome to the people who use electricity. They placed trust in you, bringing 159 MPs and forming your Government. Meet their expectations, or they will drift away. Thank you.