The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I raise the following:

¶ 02 - On 09 February 2025, a nationwide power outage occurred. The CEB cited excessive solar contribution leading to low system inertia as the cause. - The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has rejected the CEB’s expert committee report on the outage as insufficient and non-compliant with investigative standards. - Invoking Section 18 of the PUCSL Act, PUCSL announced a new, independent inquiry with a public hearing, calling all parties before reaching final conclusions. - Yet, during the Sinhala New Year period in April, the CEB and others reiterated the previously rejected reason for the 9 February outage and curtailed rooftop solar exports, weakening rooftop solar generation.

¶ 03 Contrary to that stance, news on 29 April reported a Cabinet decision to procure 152 MW of solar power at international pricing, demonstrating policy inconsistency and potential marginalization of domestic renewable sector entrepreneurs.

¶ 04 This raises policy issues: 1. Blaming solar for instability while expanding it sends mixed signals to investors and the public, creating uncertainty and undermining confidence domestically and internationally. 2. Inefficient grid management and inadequate grid modernization are being masked by blaming solar. 3. Curtailing rooftop solar during high-insolation periods shows system planning is misaligned with national renewable targets. 4. PUCSL’s rejection of CEB’s findings further challenges blaming solar and calls for better system integration practices.

¶ 05 Accordingly, under SO 27(2), I ask the Hon. Minister of Energy the following urgent questions:

¶ 06 1. In the short term, is the CEB still heavily dependent on expensive thermal generation? Please state 2024 generation costs per kWh for hydro, coal, thermal (oil), solar, and wind. 2. Are renewables not significantly more economical than thermal? Renewables do not require scarce foreign exchange. Will the CEB recognize renewables as a pathway for national progress? 3. If the CEB blames solar for grid failures, on what basis has the Government decided to procure 152 MW of relatively small solar projects at international prices? 4. Local entrepreneurs, SMEs, and co-operatives have successfully delivered such capacities with local finance and technology. Why force them to compete against international bidders for capacities locals can meet? 5. What urgent reforms will be introduced to ensure fair market access for Sri Lankan solar providers and to prevent foreign-dominated procurement for capacities locals can easily meet? 6. Why cannot the CEB and Government set policy to invite international competitors only for NCRE projects larger than 100 MW—solar, wind, mini-hydro, biogas—so dividends do not unnecessarily flow out for smaller projects? 7. What is the situation on LNG? When will LNG be imported? Have tenders been called? If not, when will it start? New generation plants are being approved and constructed without LNG delivery planned, and none is expected for the next two years. 8. Is the CEB going to increase electricity prices due to the IMF’s cost-reflective policy ratified by the Government and the tariff reduction two months ago? If so, when and by how much?

¶ 07 Thank you, Hon. Speaker.