The Hon. Kumara Jayakody

¶ 01 Hon. Member, providing an environmental report should be done by the Ministry of Environment or the relevant agencies. As to your remarks tied to clothes and related issues, in 2015 and 2017 under your Government, not even five percent was spent on this purpose. Perhaps people did not need to wear clothes then. In 2015 and 2017 no five percent was spent. It would be better if you first look in the mirror. In our first year we have spent LKR 39 million, the highest allocation in history for this purpose. We will not hesitate to take necessary action for social welfare. Whether it is fly ash or something else is not the issue for our Government.

¶ 02 Regarding the increase in fly-ash percentage, these particles do not go out as you suggest. People think fly ash “flies” out, but it is trapped inside the chimney. Then, using a hammer system it is dislodged and brought down. It does not get released outside thereafter. There is ample demand from buyers; even the Road Development Authority queues to purchase this ash. Therefore, it is not released to the environment. If the Ministry of Environment and relevant agencies give us recommendations, we will act accordingly.

¶ 03 Thank you.