The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 If the plant is wrong, it was established by Hon. Nalin Bandara’s time, was it not? If the plant is wrong, that was done then. Hon. Nalin Bandara, please explain that to the juniors.

¶ 02 We accept this: even when procedures are robustly followed and even when the Minister does not interfere, the output from the coal received has been lower. That is a fact. When such a shortfall occurs, what do we do? In any mishap—an accident, a sudden hospital death, or a child missing school admission—we examine causes and remedies.

¶ 03 Every morning I look at accidents thinking, “Do I bear part of the duty to prevent this?” Here too, there has been a lapse. In your own wording, you cite minimizing technical losses, reducing generation costs, and eliminating uncertainties during generation. To that extent, there is some responsibility on the Minister. No Minister runs a perfect society. Within reality, relative to our country’s capacities and skills, we must examine our errors. There is always moral responsibility. If a hospital strike harms patients, Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa bears moral responsibility as Health Minister. That pang of conscience exists for Minister Jayakody as well.