The Hon. Kumara Jayakody

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, another Member asked about the role and remuneration of the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. There are things he did not say. In fact, many falsehoods were said. Some Opposition Members also made a game of withholding the truth. At that time, Sumith Edirisinghe, as CPC Chairman, drew a salary of Rs. 100,000. The Chairman of CPSTL, Mr. Uvais Mohamed, drew a salary of over Rs. 500,000. Currently, our Chairman serves as Chairman of three institutions: CPC, CPSTL and Trinco Petroleum Terminals Limited. However, he only draws the CPSTL salary. The Hon. Member also spoke of an unlimited insurance cover. Such provisions exist in the institution, but he has not used even a fraction of it. His children recently received medical treatment, and I know for a fact that he obtained that treatment from a government hospital. Our political culture is a bit different now. So let us not judge everyone by old standards. If we adjust that perspective a bit, it would be good. Going forward, we will transparently show our commitments.

¶ 02 Another Member asked about the 220 kV transmission line from Habarana to Kappalthurai in the electricity sector. It is indeed necessary. The preliminary work is underway. Funding is to be provided by the AIIB. Approvals and related processes have been delayed. We are awaiting those while we prepare the groundwork. Also, we have initiated the Habarana battery storage to be established in Hambantota. Similarly, the 100 MW battery storage facility at Kolonnawa has commenced under ADB assistance. We are also conducting preliminary studies to develop the Victoria Power Plant and install an additional turbine. Currently, we are working on the design for a pumped-storage hydropower plant via Ma Oya connecting Victoria and Randenigala. Its feasibility study has been completed. We are paying attention to both Victoria and Randenigala.

¶ 03 Several Members asked about amending the Sri Lanka Electricity Act. We have undertaken the necessary groundwork to complete it by 27th June 2025. Stakeholder consultation and public consultation have been largely completed. We are now reviewing and preparing the final draft, to be submitted to the Cabinet and thereafter to Parliament.

¶ 04 Members also asked whether we are moving towards purchasing power from diesel plants or resorting to emergency procurements. I answered a similar question last Saturday raised by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. We have no desire to go for emergency procurements. Even if there is a shortfall in renewable energy these days, if we first procure from a CEB-owned diesel plant, we will procure at the lowest cost. The CEB, too, has diesel-fired plants. We select the lowest-cost option. I monitor this daily. My mobile phone receives the daily arrangements. We proceed on that basis. I do not know how it was done in the past. The Hon. Member may have doubts about that, but we are working to ensure it does not happen again.