The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, this morning the Minister of Energy, wearing a tie coat, extended his hand to our Leader of the Opposition and declared we stand for thieves. Let me remind him: the NPP Government first contradicted itself with his appointment. They pledged no posts for the accused or tainted, yet he, interdicted from the Fertilizer Corporation, was appointed Minister. The first major scandal under this Government was the wind power deal where a bid lacking the mandatory bid bond was cancelled, then re-awarded to the same company with Cabinet approval by the President and this Minister—despite the President, while in Opposition, decrying such transactions as money laundering for the Rajapaksas and Ranil. The public—intelligent and educated—see this.

¶ 02 You promised to reduce electricity bills by stopping theft and corruption; now even your own Ministers admit those promises were false. Media that once amplified your claims—“Paththare Visthare,” Derana’s Chatura Alwis—now highlight your contradictions; you cannot bully the media with parliamentary power.

¶ 03 The economic crisis bites from village vendors to public servants. If you reduce electricity and fuel prices, other goods and services will fall accordingly; that is basic economics. The Minister of Energy, not the Finance Minister, holds the key to proving the President’s promises by lowering costs through sector reforms.

¶ 04 On the battery-plus-solar tender: over a hundred bids came in, but you set pre-qualification that bidders must have executed similar projects in at least two countries—conditions effectively tailored for a Chinese investor you consult with, excluding capable Sri Lankan consortia. Walk into the Ministry—top to bottom it is dominated by Chinese interests.

¶ 05 As a COPE member, I must also raise concern: COPE is to examine Auditor-General–audited matters. Yet a private entity, “1711,” was summoned without the AG’s report in the file. Standing Orders prohibit COPE from inquiring into private entities except via audited state transactions. Altering Standing Orders or bypassing them is improper and risks turning COPE into a tool to intimidate private officers. If wrongdoing is suspected, refer to Police, CID, or Bribery Commission, not misuse committee powers.

¶ 06 Minister, deliver real relief. People keep only one bulb on; they have cut meals and travel. Stop merely pointing to past files. You hold power—President, PM, and Parliament. Prove your allegations, implement solutions, and tell us today, with the Energy Vote, when and by how much you will reduce electricity and fuel prices. I yield. Thank you.