The Hon. D. V. Chanaka

¶ 01 The project was delayed. The loss for just one year was about USD 60 million; over eight years it was approximately USD 480 million. Generally, the plant factor here is around 20 percent for hydropower. SAMPUR coal power plant was a 900 MW project. What did they do? They protested, supported the Yahapalana Government, went to court, and agreed to stop building Sampur. What happened then? It was halted. The unit cost would have been Rs. 22 on coal compared to Rs. 228 otherwise at that time. Even with solar plus batteries today, it is around Rs. 46 per unit; but back then coal was the cheapest energy source globally. They agitated to stop it. Eventually, the world decided to move away from coal, but at that time, as the President said, we could have reduced electricity bills by another 25 to 30 percent. Unfortunately, that too was opposed, causing a loss of USD 2.8 billion. The real crisis was not only a dollar crisis, but an energy crisis. The main reason was stopping those projects—stopping the Sampur project. The fourth stage of Norochcholai for 300 MW had the grid and transmission lines prepared, but it too was halted. As a result, instead of Rs. 22 per unit, we had to buy at Rs. 45 from naphtha, Rs. 50–55 from furnace oil, and Rs. 80–85 from diesel, pushing bills up—yet the same group that opposed power plants now criticizes.

¶ 02 At the last Budget I proposed rooftop solar with batteries at Rs. 46 per unit. The Hansard will show the Minister laughed then. But now you have enabled it, and I believe many rooftop and ground-mounted solar with batteries will come.

¶ 03 Also, I must respond to an issue raised yesterday. Through the Reggie Ranatunga Foundation, an institution established on privately acquired land was developed and given free of charge to the Vocational Training Authority, providing 15 years of education to youth. Yet yesterday questions were raised to sling mud at the Ranatunga family. The truth is, the land was privately acquired, the project delivered entirely free, but in the end the family is being maligned.

¶ 04 Further, by 2030 Sri Lanka must reach 70 percent renewable energy and 30 percent clean energy. We have committed to convert to these sources and thereafter become carbon-neutral—Gotabaya Rajapaksa said by 2050, Ranil Wickremesinghe said by 2040.

¶ 05 However, now 1,700 diesel cabs are to be imported for the state sector, while globally state entities are switching to electric vehicles. Are you approving this? We sign agreements to be carbon neutral, promote renewables, talk about climate change, but bring in diesel cabs. Did you consult the Ministers? At the very least, such decisions should not be made.

¶ 06 We wish the Minister and Deputy Minister well. With the World Bank we have identified offshore wind potential—around fifty 1 MW units in the Mannar basin equivalent via offshore wind. Utilize this to supply low-cost electricity and reduce bills by 30 percent as the President said. Then we can move the country forward. Thank you.