The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I asked for three minutes to note a few matters. I am happy to speak after our intelligent MP from my Province. But we do not obstruct. Look at Victoria, Kotmale, Upper Kotmale, Norochcholai, Uma Oya. In those days, people were brought to Bandarawela town to agitate that “Uma Oya will sink, close Uma Oya.” As Chief Minister, I attended four media briefings on Uma Oya with your party leader. Ultimately, no sinkholes closed, did they? The capacity is 120 MW. I ask the Minister: have we now received that 120 MW? Today, you take the benefit. We endured debt, insults, even blows, and protests to complete those projects. We were vilified, but we still delivered 120 MW for this Government to benefit from today.

¶ 02 When Norochcholai was built you protested and fasted. For Upper and Lower Kotmale and Victoria, it was not us who opposed, it was you. You have not added even 1 MW to the grid. If you add in future, then you can claim credit. Until then, do not. The UNP and SLFP Governments did that work.

¶ 03 In 1994, when we took office, in Haputale many difficult villages had no electricity. Today, 99 per cent of that need has been met there. Now you barely need to add one lamp post to a room. Show me a project in Badulla District where you, after taking Government, added even 100 lamp posts. We did those and handed them over.

¶ 04 You opposed Uma Oya saying there will be a big crack and Bandarawela and Badulla will collapse. People protested in Kinigama, Heel Oya, Makulella, etc. But now, under the present Minister, that 120 MW is being added. Soon, those 120 MW will come to the grid—no small matter. That alone could power a district like Badulla.

¶ 05 If Norochcholai’s 500 MW were not available, could this country function? When Norochcholai trips for a month, we face six days of load shedding. If lights are cut, growth at 4.8 per cent will not be possible.

¶ 06 Please give me a little more time. Without power, we cannot sustain 4.8 per cent growth; factories will halt. Remember, thanks to plants like Norochcholai, these issues are addressed. I conclude. Thank you.