The Hon. Ravindra Bandara

¶ 01 [5.20 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, this Motion on electricity is timely. We pledged to reduce electricity tariffs by 30% and reach 70% renewables; we are acting on that.

¶ 03 Many call for CEB reforms, yet we have seen orchestrated actions and strikes. Previously there were unscientific plans to split into 12. We are restructuring on a scientific basis: generation, transmission, distribution, and system operation—four core companies—plus two ancillary ones, safeguarding employee rights. The President has assured state ownership; the Act specifies 100% government ownership, with at least 50% state holding in transmission. Fears of mass layoffs—earlier proposals spoke of removing 12,000—do not apply. All current benefits (pensions/EPF/ETF, etc.) remain. Some unions are stoking unrest—what we call the “Zoom–Boom Opposition.” But employees increasingly understand the facts.

¶ 04 On modernization: union rhetoric against smart grids even claims meter readers will be sacked. The world must move forward; we cannot return to kerosene-lamp days. Renewables—solar and wind—must grow; do not block them.

¶ 05 On prices: since 31.08.2024 petrol 92 fell from Rs. 332 to Rs. 299 (down Rs. 33), petrol 95 down Rs. 36, diesel down Rs. 24, super diesel down Rs. 39, kerosene down Rs. 17. For the lowest household slab, the Rs. 280 bill fell to Rs. 195 on 18.01.2025, then adjusted to Rs. 215—still below the original. High users saw bills drop from Rs. 60,160 to Rs. 48,300. Hotel and industrial tariffs have also fallen. Those who ran CEB into this state now complain; we are fixing it. CEB belongs to the people and its employees. Let us proceed with efficiency and transparency, ending emergency procurements.