The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the time.

¶ 02 Two key points on coal: first, the entire country accepts that substandard coal was brought; second, as a result, there is an impact on power generation.

¶ 03 A letter dated 30 March from the CEO of National System Operator (Pvt.) Ltd. clearly states they necessarily have to incur an additional Rs. 20 billion for coal for electricity. I table page 22 of that letter. It shows the coal variable cost increasing from Rs. 78 billion to Rs. 111 billion with naphtha. The extra Rs. 20 billion will come from people’s pockets. The President announced a relief package of Rs. 15 billion. But if Rs. 34 billion is the additional cost, even after Rs. 15 billion, Rs. 20 billion still comes from the people. If naphtha prices rise further, electricity bills will increase by 30%. Who is responsible for that Rs. 20 billion? The Government and Cabinet must be responsible.

¶ 04 The President told Parliament there was a Rs. 7.5 billion loss in coal procurement; his calculations are wrong. Please check the latest price list sent by the Chairman of the CEB to the Public Utilities Commission.

¶ 05 We highlighted many issues. The Prime Minister says we are merely trying to accuse them. That is not so. You yourselves reviewed the past years up to 2020 and probed them.

¶ 06 Also, we hear the COPE Chairman visited the National Audit Office for two days last week and exerted pressure for a Zoom meeting. Never before has a COPE Chair gone to the NAO. This must not happen.

¶ 07 Finally, even if 159 vote against today, remember: majorities have voted before and yet Ministers like Keheliya Rambukwella had to go. Be ready to face the consequences. Thank you.