The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, due to this war, the world including Sri Lanka faces an energy crisis—oil, electricity, and gas. Our gas crisis began before the war: last December and January people queued for gas. The President claims to have broken the “gas mafia,” saying one party had a 20–30 year monopoly. Yet gas prices rose—from Rs. 3,690 in 2025 to Rs. 4,250 now—before the current oil shock. This mismanagement forced people into queues despite claims of ending mafias.

¶ 02 The coal issue also predates the war. Substandard coal cost the country crores per day. Tender timelines and quantities were altered to favour associates. Serious allegations surround the Power Minister—including an Rs. 8 million matter from his Fertilizer Corporation days, when the current President was his line minister then. Traditionally, ministers under indictment step down—why not now? The same minister now handles the oil crisis.

¶ 03 The President said two oil tankers were turned back, while the same embattled minister is tasked to resolve the crisis. Because of the coal scandal, we now burn 500,000–600,000 litres of diesel per day for power; if saved, queues would shorten. Declaring Wednesday a holiday saves only 500,000–700,000 litres—just a fraction of what’s being wasted due to earlier missteps.

¶ 04 We asked at the Party Leaders’ meeting to convene Parliament amid crisis. Instead, Wednesday was adjourned—silencing scrutiny while corruption surfaces.

¶ 05 Beyond fuel, 27–28 percent of our people are farmers. Fertilizer prices have risen by Rs. 3,000; farmers cannot afford inputs. What is the Government’s solution? Two weeks ago the President and Foreign Minister said there was no fuel crisis; when we warned about the Strait of Hormuz, the Foreign Minister dismissed concerns. Now we are asked to trust timelines about future tankers after two were turned back. When “Ditwah” struck, we asked for a supplementary estimate; the Government delayed. We asked for emergency regulations; they refused.