The Hon. R. M. Gamini Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, regarding the Energy Ministry’s estimates—

¶ 02 (Hon. D. V. Chanaka raises a Point of Order.)

¶ 03 Hon. Member, you were given time to speak. Please do not interrupt.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, as we discuss the Energy Ministry’s Vote, I must remind Hon. D. V. Chanaka, a former Deputy Minister of Power, of his tenure. During the so-called “Carlton wedding house” days in 2019, who was the Deputy Minister of Power? It was you. You requested an electricity connection for that venue for a week-long ceremony. You were like the “second groom” who applied for the connection. After the celebrations, the CEB had arrears of Rs. 2.9 million which went unpaid for years and was finally settled due to the intervention of a late Member of Parliament. That is how you governed. Do not advise us now on how to run the Ministry.

¶ 05 On substance: under previous governments, CEB staff were about 14,000–16,000. There was a plan to abolish and break up the CEB into 12 companies and force 14,000 into retirement. We have changed that path. Through the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act, we are running it under four state companies, protecting employees’ rights. About 2,778 have applied for voluntary retirement, while around 17,000 jobs are secured.

¶ 06 Going forward, earlier generation expansion overly relied on costly fossil fuels—coal and petroleum—raising production costs and burdening consumers and the economy. Our current plan emphasizes renewables so that by 2030, over the next five years, 70 percent of demand is met from renewables, lowering unit costs to benefit households and industries. From 2025 to 2045, total demand is forecast to rise by about 60 percent. Past plans argued sources but failed to meet that demand. Procurement without proper process led to corruption; losses were passed to the people. We are changing that trajectory with a coherent strategy aligned to future needs. I conclude.