The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Mr. Deputy Speaker, I second the Motion.

¶ 02 We take this up to discuss renewables. Before this Government took office, commitments were made to reach 70% renewables. Under the previous CEB GM appointed during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s time, there was agreement to reach 70%; he told COPE likewise. The present Government also promised to increase renewables by 2,000 MW. Yet after the 09.02.2025 event blamed on a “monkey”, it is evident a different agenda is unfolding. The Minister was warned on 12.11.2024 and again on 08.02.2025; letters also in late November flagged risks. Still, on 09.02.2025 the entire country blacked out. The loss is estimated at Rs. 8,463 million: Rs. 3,652 million for the blackout, Rs. 2,580 million for rotational cuts, and Rs. 2,231 million additional generation. Reports indicate sequential trips of Victoria Units 2 and 3 were a key cause. Like the 2019 Easter attacks, warnings were ignored. Those responsible must be held to account and losses recovered under the public trust doctrine—there are precedents such as Wimalaratne v. Choksy and Senaratne v. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

¶ 03 Further, Circular 2025/GM/08/DCC says “Discontinuing Net Plus Plus Connections Beyond Contract Demand.” It restricts total rooftop PV capacity per premises to the existing contract demand and allows only one Net Plus Plus connection. Sri Lanka has 5.1 million homes; if properly planned, rooftop solar could be significant. But this circular arbitrarily caps systems—e.g., limiting to 5 kW where 10 kW could fit—thwarting growth. There are also messages to “switch off” solar between April 10 and 20. What is the plan? These moves will stifle renewables. We need utility‑scale BESS or pumped storage; these were discussed since 2015 but not executed. A 23‑year transmission plan exists; instead, some now push LNG plants as a panacea. Tariffs proposed will undercut rural users. Meanwhile, a Sampur coal plant is being pursued over hundreds of acres, while pumped storage is shelved in favour of costly batteries without a viable financing model. Either the Government or private investors must finance storage, or implementation will stall. Don’t derail the 70% renewable target.