The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the time.

¶ 02 I am happy to speak on Clean Sri Lanka. The previous Hon. Member made a good point: know your limits. The public now sees your limits. Even a Colombo District Government MP admitted on TV that after coming to bat they were out and now cannot decide how to bat. That comes from them.

¶ 03 We do not look at this program wrongly. If the stated aims are genuine, we as the Opposition welcome it because it is for our country. But that is not what we see. The President said on January 1 the program would begin to elevate society through social, environmental and ethical rejuvenation. But Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe says it starts on February 1—because of the mess created: the Police began removing extra parts from three-wheelers and buses as if that was Clean Sri Lanka. That miscommunication is your doing, not ours. Now to reverse the damage, you say February.

¶ 04 We understand what this brand is. Is it fashioned after “Keep Singapore Clean” and “Swachh Bharat”? If it is for that broader aim, the nation must be properly informed. Government MPs go on TV and say contradictory things. Therefore, I propose that at the end of this debate, today, the Government clearly inform the country comprehensively what this project is.

¶ 05 On policy inconsistencies: social media now juxtaposes the President’s campaign statements with current positions. In Kalutara yesterday, he said the Rs. 50 levy on fuel cannot be reduced under any circumstance. But on the campaign stage he said it could be reduced by Rs. 50 immediately and the then Government did not care for the people. I am not saying he came to power by lying, but he is now stuck not delivering what he said.

¶ 06 On electricity: the Power Minister said, boldly or otherwise, that bills must be increased by 37 per cent and cannot be reduced. The President said they would reduce by one-third upon assuming office. Now bills have been reduced by 20 per cent; the Government tries to claim credit. The people know the Public Utilities Commission recommended the reduction; the Minister later accepted it. There is room to reduce further; we proposed plans from the Opposition earlier. We now hear the Government is pushing in an even worse direction; I ask the Minister to clarify and say such moves will not happen.

¶ 07 Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, renewable energy uptake is sluggish due to a mafia. I point directly to the CEB. Its Engineers’ Union cannot be touched; many support expensive fossil generation at Rs. 1,500–1,600 per unit because after retirement they join those companies. Therefore, they withhold support for hydro, solar and wind. We also hear attempts to roll back several >10 MW projects already enabled. Whose interests are at play? It seems the same old. If you want clean and transparent governance, look at coal imports: check who issues the quality certificates. A quick search shows RMA Energy Consultants; you know who owns it. If so, then this Government is no different from the Rajapaksa era. I draw strong attention to this.

¶ 08 By enabling renewable energy, we could cut household bills by 100 per cent. For example, solar’s share of grid generation in our sunny country was only 3.2% in 2021, 4.5% in 2022, and 5.51% in 2023—barely 5 per cent. Instead of halting progress to suit racketeers, move forward. If there were irregularities by past ministers or their associates, act. But do not push us back to Rs. 150–160 per unit power; otherwise we will face hours of darkness again within four to five months.

¶ 09 On Clean Sri Lanka and institutional reform: as a past COPE member, including alongside the current President, we repeatedly exposed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)—an institution behaving like an island unto itself. Despite two days of debate and consensus to reform its constitution, I did not hear the then Opposition Leader, now President, speak a word about those scams. Today, the current Sports Minister goes pleading for funds from the same actors to support other sports. That is giving racketeers confidence. If you truly practice transparency, start by acting against those leading the racket—Shammi Silva and company. Now, instead, we see them being courted.

¶ 10 Recently SLC amended its constitution to reduce the voter base. Elections are near. Among proposals approved on 2024.12.20, there are strange, undisclosed clauses. With former Justice Minister Ali Sabry we managed to control some scams, because others had sold out. I request the current Justice Minister: they are tailoring qualifications so only those from executive or special committees for two years in the past 15 years can contest—barring newcomers and facilitating those flagged by audit. If laws are made to keep control with those accused, where are we heading? I ask the President to use his powers to stop this election, and appoint a suitable team to take charge and reform before going to polls.

¶ 11 Also note: an Additional Solicitor General, PC Milinda Gunathilaka, wrote to the then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe on 07 Nov 2023 about serious matters. Do not ignore that. Do not fall into Shammi Silva’s pocket; two former ministers fell and were destroyed. Even if you fall, it is your fate; do not let cricket be destroyed. If you truly want to clean, good places to start are the CEB and SLC. Thank you.