Topic
Infrastructure
2,546 speeches · 378 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 137 |
| 2 | Hon. Kumara Jayakody, M.P. JJB | 105 |
| 3 | Hon. Anura Karunathilaka, M.P. JJB | 83 |
| 4 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 76 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe, M.P. JJB | 62 |
| 6 | Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P. ITAK | 47 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 46 |
| 8 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 43 |
| 9 | Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, M.P. JJB | 36 |
| 10 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 34 |
Speeches
2,546 on this topic- 20 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning JJB AI summary The Minister responded to Opposition criticisms on the Ministry of Power, arguing that Sri Lanka’s main electricity challenge is demand management and affordability rather than insufficient supply. He said CEB profits and tariff movements resulted from PUCSL’s regulatory methodology and updated cost projections, not misrepresentation, citing several tariff revisions from 2024 to 2025. He outlined the Government’s approach to electricity reform, including amendments to the Electricity Act, clearer roles in generation and distribution, controlled private participation, and rejection of high-cost renewable procurement proposals. He also noted a Rs. 23,100 million allocation for the Ministry, mainly for transmission and distribution, renewables, nuclear studies, and regularizing prior off-Budget commitments. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Dr. Elayathamby Srinath welcomed the Budget allocations for the Ministry of Power and Energy and focused on electricity access issues in Batticaloa and other rural areas. He called for assistance schemes to reduce the cost of new connections for poor households, higher support for extension lines, faster provision of transformers and three-phase supply, and an upfront assessment process for SMEs. He also raised CEB staffing shortages in the Eastern Province, requesting priority for local recruitment, and asked that tariff issues for battery-backed solar and delays in rooftop solar approvals be reviewed to support renewable energy uptake and livelihoods. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Kanchana Welipitiya JJB AI summary Kanchana Welipitiya defended the Government’s power and energy programme, arguing that stalled infrastructure and energy projects are being restarted and implemented while maintaining public ownership. He said the Ceylon Electricity Board would be restructured into four state-owned companies instead of being privatized, and reiterated the Government’s aim to reduce electricity tariffs by 30 per cent. He cited a new wind power procurement price of US cents 3.77 per unit compared with a previous 8.26 cents, and said future plans include meeting projected electricity demand growth, green hydrogen and ammonia production, transport electrification, and related legislation. He requested support for approving the Ministry’s Head of Expenditure for the coming year. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Amila Prasad argued that Sri Lanka’s main development constraint is the energy crisis and called for cheap, reliable supply through greater private participation and market competition in the electricity sector. He questioned the Government’s reported CEB profit projections, asking for clarification on quarterly financial volatility and possible reliance on costly diesel IPPs, and asked what concrete steps had been taken to reduce the 30 per cent share of oil and coal generation. He proposed modernizing the grid through private investment while retaining state ownership, selling non-core assets if needed, expanding hydropower and small hydro through improved water management, and easing regulatory barriers to attract investment in renewable energy. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB AI summary Ajith P. Perera, invoking Standing Order 92, asserted that major energy and development achievements such as the Mahaweli project, solar initiatives, tender processes, and near-universal electrification were delivered by his side and not by the JVP. His intervention sought to correct or challenge claims regarding responsibility for those projects. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera, speaking during the debate on the Ministry of Power and Energy expenditure head, noted that Opposition members had offered numerous policy suggestions on energy and wider economic development. He questioned why those proposals were not implemented when the Opposition previously held power, framing his intervention as a challenge to their record in government. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe criticized the Government for failing to reduce fuel and electricity costs as promised, while urging it to acknowledge the continuing contribution of the Mahaweli hydropower project to the national grid. He called for stronger support for solar power, including possible solar units for poor households, and argued that high fuel dependence keeps electricity costs unsustainable. He questioned tender conditions for a 50 MW wind power project, saying they appeared to exclude local bidders, and defended the pricing context of the Adani 500 MW project while challenging the Government to procure equivalent capacity with transmission at a lower cost. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary The Minister said power sector reforms are intended to reduce corruption, waste and costs, improve efficiency, lower electricity tariffs and production costs, and strengthen export competitiveness. He stated that the Government had completed long-delayed reforms within a year by establishing six companies fully owned by the CEB to cover generation, system operation, transmission, pension and benefit funds, and residual services, with further strengthening planned next year. He also said the unit cost of electricity had been reduced from Rs. 40 to Rs. 12, and clarified that LTL’s ownership comprised 63 per cent CEB, 27 per cent Teckpro, and 10 per cent held through an employee trust. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Dayasiri Jayasekara argued that past opposition to energy infrastructure, power plants and CEB restructuring contributed to current electricity sector problems. He questioned the costs of the Sobadanavi and Sahasdanavi projects, citing figures he said showed high capacity and unit charges, and asked for clear timelines on converting diesel-based thermal plants to LNG. He also raised concerns over a battery energy storage tender, alleging that one bidder’s tax-excluded bid appeared to anticipate a tax exemption gazette issued around the tender opening, and called for scrutiny of possible insider information. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody outlined Sri Lanka’s energy resource potential, including hydropower, wind, solar, storage materials, and possible offshore gas, while arguing that past governments failed to anticipate global energy and climate trends and mismanaged power planning. He said Budget 2026 would initiate hydrogen-related work and prioritize grid-scale battery storage, including proposed private participation for about 160 MW/640 MWh, to manage evening peak demand and support renewable integration. He also noted that gas indications in the Cauvery Basin require transparent assessment of economic viability. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Thanura Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Thanura Dissanayake said energy policy should ensure affordable, reliable and quality supply, supported by a publicly centred institutional structure. He stated that the Government revised an earlier draft law by restructuring the sector into four core State-owned entities for generation, transmission, distribution and system operation, while emphasizing the need for stronger transmission and distribution investment, particularly to integrate renewables and improve rural service. He argued for cost-reflective utility management with transparent Treasury-funded targeted subsidies, and outlined priorities including renewable expansion, grid-scale storage, green hydrogen and power-to-X technologies. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan asked what immediate action the CEB is taking to provide delayed service connections for consumers who have already paid, and urged that paper electricity bills be resumed in rural areas such as Wanni and Mullaitivu until digital access and literacy improve. He welcomed the suspension of the Mannar wind protest following assurances and a Gazette decision against siting wind projects within Mannar town limits, and requested that wind farms not be placed in urban or peri-urban Mannar, proposing instead utility-scale solar on barren lands. He also called for measures to reduce outages caused by salt deposition, installment plans or subsidies for unaffordable connection fees, and defended the role of clergy in raising civic concerns on behalf of communities. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary During the Budget debate on the Ministry of Power and Energy Vote, Mrs. Geetha Herath outlined reforms under the amended Electricity Act, including the unbundling of Ceylon Electricity Board functions into four fully state-owned entities for generation, transmission, distribution, and system operation, while assuring protection of employee rights and consumer interests. She said the Government is promoting renewable energy and competitive electricity markets within a state-owned framework, alongside investment in energy security measures such as refinery expansion, development of the Trincomalee tank farm, EV charging stations, fuel storage expansion, and modernization of the Colombo Port–Kolonnawa pipeline. She also noted that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has returned to profitability and that the Ministry’s initiatives are aimed at reliable supply, reduced import dependence, and economic development. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. K. Ilankumaran JJB AI summary Hon. K. Ilankumaran said the Government had improved power and fuel infrastructure in the Northern Province, including establishing oil storage at Kankesanthurai, preparing rail-based fuel transport, and setting up a fuel station in Neduntivu through the local Co-operative Society. He outlined renewable energy measures for island communities, including wind and solar installations in Nainativu, Analaitivu and Neduntivu, and said further wind farm approvals around Mannar would be restricted following public protests, with future projects directed to less populated areas such as Poonakary. He also referred to studies on electric fishing craft and the rollout of EV charging points, stating that these initiatives were part of the Government’s development approach for the North. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC SJB AI summary Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper proposed constructing a secondary dam across the Gal Oya reservoir at Senanayake Samudra in Ampara to collect surplus water, improve canal management, and support a solar-powered repumping system. He argued that the system could reintroduce water into irrigation networks during droughts and also contribute to power generation, and requested attention to the proposal. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Minister said the Government’s energy policy prioritizes energy security by expanding domestic renewable sources, particularly solar, wind and biomass, while managing the economic burden of petroleum imports and rising electricity demand. He outlined measures including EV charging infrastructure, modernization of the Sapugaskanda refinery, rehabilitation of the Trincomalee tank farm, and fuel price reductions linked to global prices and institutional efficiency. He criticized past petroleum and electricity sector management, stating that new solar and wind procurement has reduced unit costs, with about 700 MW of solar added to the grid and 150 MW of wind tendered. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. S. M. Marikkar SJB AI summary Hon. S. M. Marikkar criticised the Government’s energy policy, alleging that electricity and fuel pricing decisions overstate losses, protect institutional profits, and pass costs to consumers despite CEB profits and the legal role of the PUCSL in tariff adjustments. He raised concerns over electricity sector reform appointments, blackout follow-up measures, LNG and battery tenders, solar buyback policy, and alleged irregularities in a Trincomalee solar project linked to ministerial influence. He called for lower electricity and fuel costs, grace periods before power disconnections, progress on the Trincomalee oil tanks, transparency in anti-drug operations, and fulfilment of Government promises on taxes, fuel, food, education and health. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva SJB AI summary Hon. Harsha de Silva questioned whether the 2025 amendments to the Electricity Act had reversed the intended unbundling of the CEB and weakened prospects for private investment, governance reform, and tariff reduction. He asked for clarity on the restructuring master plan, expert input, due diligence, timelines, and accountability, citing opposition from engineers and concerns over entities such as LTL Holdings. He argued that Budget allocations for transmission and sector development fall far short of the stated USD 5 billion investment need, and questioned the cost implications of high-interest external borrowing. He proposed using part of additional fuel tax revenue to create a dedicated fund to subsidize solar PV storage batteries. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. D. V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D. V. Chanaka argued that the halting of major power projects, including the Sampur coal plant and the fourth stage of Norochcholai, caused large financial losses and higher electricity costs, contributing to Sri Lanka’s energy and foreign exchange crises. He said rooftop and ground-mounted solar with battery storage should now be expanded, noting he had proposed such measures earlier, and defended a vocational training project linked to the Reggie Ranatunga Foundation as privately funded and provided free to the State. He questioned the proposed import of 1,700 diesel cabs for the public sector in light of Sri Lanka’s renewable energy and carbon-neutral commitments, and urged the Government to develop offshore wind potential in the Mannar basin to reduce electricity bills. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →
- 20 November 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka argued that recent renewable energy projects being claimed by the Government, including the 50 MW Mannar project and Siyambalanduwa solar project, were largely initiated, tendered, evaluated, or signed under the previous administration. He said the Government’s role was limited in these cases and cautioned against taking credit for prior groundwork or for private sector investments. He also criticized the JVP’s past opposition to hydropower projects such as Uma Oya, claiming it harmed the power sector by obstructing low-cost electricity generation. Committee Stage: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Head 119 (Ministry of Energy) Cut Motion and Debate Read →