The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, on electrification, Sri Lanka is among the leaders in South Asia. There were two historic milestones: adding over 1,200 MW of hydro during the Jayewardene era—the first revolution; and building Norochcholai under President Mahinda Rajapaksa—the second. We missed two further major steps: failure to build the Sampur coal plant and blocking the New Fortress Energy LNG supply arrangement.

¶ 02 On the FSRU: in 2020 bids were called for a Floating Storage Regasification Unit. A JV of China Harbour Engineering Company and Engro Corporation bid; Engro fulfilled the technical qualifications. The Government now seems to be giving this to that JV, but Engro has since exited, so the JV’s technical qualifications have lapsed.

¶ 03 Earlier, LTL Holdings and a US company also bid but asked to change the site because a floating unit needed safer berthing beyond 15 metres depth. They were disqualified, but now CHEC appears to be allowed a site change. Whose agenda is this?

¶ 04 An FSRU that can be bought outright for around USD 250 million is now to be leased for 10 years at a cost of about USD 1 billion, after which the unit goes back to them. Who benefits? This looks highly questionable. Hon. Minister, please pay close attention. I am tabling the related documents.

¶ 05 We suspect a corrupt deal. You opposed New Fortress Energy then; I draw your attention to this now as well.

¶ 06 You also stopped the LTL Holdings IPO—one of the largest planned public listings. Why? You even decided to invest Rs. 8.5 billion from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation into that IPO. How can you invite investors while intervening like this? Today’s crisis is due to such wrong decisions.

¶ 07 We have another grave concern: within this reform, who is central? We see Mr. Pubudu Niroshan seemingly earmarked as CEB Chairman, Transmission Company Chairman, even LTL Holdings Chairman—one person for everything. He is a young engineer with experience, but such reform needs a broader team. Entrusting this to one person poses a huge threat to the CEB, national security, and consumers.

¶ 08 In 2015 we regularized 6,000 contract workers at CEB—I led that. Finally, there are 167 qualified electrical superintendents awaiting recruitment; please fill engineering vacancies with them.

¶ 09 You came to power shedding crocodile tears about CEB. Today, not only the CEB but also the people are being crushed, with the economy driven to ruin. We have 20% tariff preferences from the US, but with current power costs we cannot compete with Bangladesh and Vietnam. Consider our tariffs alongside trade preferences.

¶ 10 Thank you.