The Hon. K. Ilankumaran

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I am pleased to participate in today’s Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation for the Ministry of Power and Energy.

¶ 02 In the Northern Province, for decades no one paid attention to power and energy. After we came to office, we established— for the first time—an oil storage facility at Kankesanthurai. Previously, fuel had to be brought from Anuradhapura by road tankers for distribution. Now, we have set up storage at Kankesanthurai and are distributing fuel to the Northern Province from there. Until now, fuel reached the North mainly by vehicles; we have decided to additionally move fuel by rail and are taking steps to prepare that route.

¶ 03 There are many islands in the North. Electricity is essential for the people living there. Until now, those islands were supplied mainly through diesel generators, and even moving fuel there faced disruptions. Today, in Nainativu, Analaitivu and Neduntivu we are installing wind turbines and solar units to provide efficient electricity supply. No Government had ever set up a fuel filling station in Neduntivu. Our Government, within one year, has taken steps to establish one. Even the local people did not expect it and never asked for it, believing a station would never come. We have not given that station to a private party. When we planned it, a fisherman asked me to grant them the license so they could operate it. Instead, through the Ministry of Power and Energy, we established the station and handed it to the local Co-operative Society to strengthen both public welfare and the co-operative movement, unlike in the past when Ministers and MPs used filling stations for business.

¶ 04 A major agitation took place in Mannar opposing wind farms. The Hon. President met the agitators twice and said: projects already permitted will proceed, but no further permissions will be granted for new wind farms in Mannar town and environs, as it is a small island; Government will restrict additional wind siting there. In the Northern Province, areas like Poonakary are sparsely populated; if we identify such places, projects can advance with less opposition and create jobs for locals. We intend to proceed on that basis.

¶ 05 Studies are also underway to run fishing craft using electric propulsion. If successful, in future fishermen could operate more efficiently with electricity.

¶ 06 Electric cars are now being imported in significant numbers, but charging points are few. Upon assuming office, the Government decided to establish 10 charging points; seven are already operational, three remain. We also plan to equip filling stations across the country with EV charging facilities. This is how we are moving the Northern Province forward, step by step.

¶ 07 Over the past year, we have done many things others could not. For example, no one believed a filling station would come to Neduntivu. Some outside this House, including those who posture before cameras while undermining Tamil politics, tell Ministers and MPs to resign. Let them first show spine in their own communities before lecturing us. We are focused on delivering development for our people.