The Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at this moment when we are debating the Ministry of Power and Energy, Opposition Members who did “great deeds”—and bankrupted the country—are now instructing our Government which is doing the hard small tasks. For 76 years you ruled; the result was the birth of a National People’s Power Government last September 21. We have begun our work program and are implementing it.

¶ 02 They say they could not work earlier because of the JVP’s protests; now even with protests by doctors and public officials over salary issues, the NPP Government did not fall. Leaders must be a step ahead of the people; our party acts thinking of the people’s welfare. Even if misunderstood at the time, the people will soon understand. Hence, any fires lit by the Opposition die within days; public trust is growing.

¶ 03 Projects you halted mid-way, we restarted. The Central Expressway from Kadawatha to Kandy was stalled for years and decaying; after we took office, work resumed, and now many claim paternity of it. Similarly, on power plants: a former State Minister claimed this morning that their Government bought wind power cheaply and prepared land and estimates but could not implement. Now, as we implement, they say, “We were going to do it.” They even claim everything we do was planned by Ranil Wickremesinghe. We will implement our own program; who planned is irrelevant when nothing was done.

¶ 04 They planned to cut the CEB into 12 pieces, sell them, lay off over 12,000 workers, and privatize. We, after assuming office, have restructured into four state-owned companies and are proceeding accordingly.

¶ 05 We said we would reduce electricity bills by 30%. That is in our program. Once the program is realized, we can reduce tariffs swiftly and provide relief.

¶ 06 Within this year, we have taken people-friendly actions. Previously, wind power was purchased at US cents 8.26 per unit. After we came in, in September we ran a new procurement; investors agreed to supply at US cents 3.77 per unit. The savings will translate into consumer relief.

¶ 07 The CEB historically only lit homes and provided basic services; investment planning was absent. After we took office, the CEB and Ministry have prepared a plan. We project demand to grow by 60% over the next decade and are preparing to meet it—data systems, green hydrogen and green ammonia production, and electrification of transport. The Ministries of Power, Digital Economy, and Transport are preparing necessary legislation and plans to supply power in line with rising demand and take the country into a new, digital direction.

¶ 08 The Leader of the Opposition says the NPP Government is “dreaming.” Yes, we dream—perhaps of things you cannot imagine—and we work to make them real. Our President, Cabinet, and all of us are committed. Please support the approval of this Head of Expenditure so we can implement the Ministry’s work program in the coming year. I conclude. Thank you.