The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today’s debate is on regulations for telecommunications infrastructure sharing. Unfortunately, the Opposition largely spoke on unrelated matters, with barely five minutes on the subject. We regret that. A few Members addressed the topic. We shall proceed to adopt these important regulations after a full day’s debate and inform society through our arguments. Since the Opposition did not present counter-arguments, we will place our points.

¶ 02 Telecommunications is now central—to commerce, health, education—everywhere, globally, as the world has become a small village through globalization. Developing this sector is vital. Yet, in past cycles, necessary reforms were not prioritized. Globally, this shift began in the early 2000s, around 2003–2004. We are pleased we can now bring such regulations.

¶ 03 In Sri Lanka, various companies have towers at about 16,926 sites, with around 8,633 towers. Tower numbers are growing, but in urban planning this creates conflicts, making it hard to plan beautiful, orderly cities. Hence sharing—using infrastructure jointly—is crucial. This is not novel. The EU’s European Electronic Communications Code guides members. The UK adopted such regulations in 2003, including co-location and rural network sharing. I table a map showing towers concentrated across many areas, with gaps in rural regions like Anuradhapura and connectivity issues in the North and East, and South. While the world is at 4G and 5G moving beyond, our children and small businesses often lack proper access.

¶ 04 Communication is critical in disasters—we learned that. Reforms like these are needed to reduce foreign exchange outflows and operational costs, and even capital expenditure, through sharing.

¶ 05 Many countries have succeeded. The UK used rural connectivity reforms; India made reforms around 2003, reducing costs; China created the China Tower Corporation to optimize towers.

¶ 06 Some may ask if this harms competition or a free market. Not at all. Efficient resource sharing strengthens the sector, increases subscribers, grows profits, and enables progress—e.g., fibre backbones: Sri Lanka has about 81,000 km of fibre, with about 67,065 km under one company. If others had expanded separately, costs would multiply. Through these regulations, we can share and avoid duplication. This is a proven, successful model.

¶ 07 When we bring progressive reforms and govern without corruption, people who benefited from old practices will be uneasy—that is natural. The public elected us to end corruption and misgovernance; we are delivering. The Opposition may worry that if we continue like this, they will never regain power—that anxiety is understandable, but we will proceed regardless of obstacles.

¶ 08 Today, investigations reached even two senior figures. If someone submits a form with a false NIC, a bank won’t accept it. If a vehicle linked to you is tied to a murder, you cannot roam free. Likewise, if someone opened accounts with fraudulent NICs or if a politician—even a former President’s son—had ties with a notorious underworld leader, investigations must proceed; attempts to incite turmoil by mobilizing supporters will backfire.

¶ 09 For a “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” we will bring progressive reforms and investigate past corruption impartially.

¶ 10 Finally, to Hon. Nizam Kariapper: you raised the Akkaraipattu Nurachcholai housing issue. After I assumed duties, the Saudi Ambassador met me; we discussed this. I reviewed all documents. The delay stems from a Supreme Court order. Your party was also in Government when this began, and through successive Governments. We will seek a fair solution without ethnic tension, ensuring proper allocation, working with all agencies, especially the National Housing Development Authority. Thank you.