The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I second the Motion moved by Hon. S.M. Marikkar.

¶ 02 Hon. Kumara Jayakody, before I begin on the Motion, I wish to clarify: prior to becoming Minister of Power, you were removed from your previous position over a tender-related corruption issue; you filed cases and lost; there was a complaint before the CIABOC. Knowing all this, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed his close associate — long in his cadre — to the all-important Power portfolio, which bears responsibility for a third of the economy. That is the issue.

¶ 03 You were Tender Manager at the Fertilizer Corporation; corruption occurred; you lost your job; you litigated and lost; a complaint remains before CIABOC. Political pressure has paused filing indictments.

¶ 04 On 11 February 2026, the CEB reported to Parliament that for the first four coal ships, direct generation loss was LKR 2,796 million; estimated maintenance and repair LKR 230.748 million; total estimated loss LKR 3.028 billion; recoverable from supplier LKR 1.037 billion; net loss LKR 2 billion. If four ships cause LKR 2 billion loss, what of twenty?

¶ 05 All eight ships’ coal is substandard: expected calorific values not met, ash too high. Hon. Jayatissa earlier told the House “do not worry, we will recover; no issue” — that was for the first ship. But due to substandard coal and accelerated turbine blade erosion, APH fouling, boiler tube corrosion, FGD heating element replacement, the losses mount: repairs in the hundreds of millions; plant shutdowns of 14–21 days; generation shortfalls; overall losses in the billions as more ships arrive late and below spec.

¶ 06 Your own Ministry’s Director (Technical), T.P. Kodithuwakku, on 05.08.2025, warned in writing: “Proceeding with such a shortened bidding period may badly affect the quality of supply and the fairness and transparency of the bidding process and result in loss.” You ignored your senior technical officer and listened to lobbyists and a new bidder.

¶ 07 I am not calling all 159 of you thieves. Many came here due to political currents; many are our personal friends; some even worked with us. But understand: the most critical tender’s quality has been compromised. Do not say “no.” You cannot “fix” this after the fact. Vessels 1 through 8 are bad; about 15 were expected by now; far fewer have arrived. If monsoon windows are missed, annual operation suffers because Lakvijaya must stockpile ahead of monsoon conditions.

¶ 08 The Auditor General’s report 5.5.1(a) required experience of supplying 1 million MT with GCV ≥ 5,900 kcal/kg in the previous 36 months. You relaxed conditions and allowed an undercutting bidder with minimal experience and questionable documents; you manipulated the process to accommodate them. Given your prior tender issues, and now this, you should accept responsibility and resign. There are good people among the 159; do not endanger the economy. Please step down.