Under presidential directive:

Electricity for all households by end of next year - Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has introduced principled politics and launched a massive development drive countrywide instead of giving false pledges to the people so said Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi. The Minister told the Sunday Observer that the UNP and the JVP cannot hoodwink the people as the people were aware that the President would fulfill their requirements through the allocation of funds from the Budget.

The Opposition is not in a position to say that Budget 2014 has not provided any relief to the people. This Budget has given a series of relief measures to the people, she said..

The Minister said that unfortunately former Presidents J.R. Jayewardena, R. Premadasa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga didn’t have the confidence to set up a coal power plant in Sri Lanka. Funds were allocated by JICA in 1999 to construct the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant but former President Chandrika Kumaratunga halted the project in its tracks due to protests made by certain sections and religious leaders. We should not be surprised with the stance taken by these leaders, because those who bowed down to Prabhakaran didn’t have the confidence to commence such a project. Whatever challenges and protests were made, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had the courage to take the decision to construct the first -ever coal power plant in Sri Lanka.

Excerpts of the interview.

Q: Sections of the media reported that the Opposition was to form a common alliance to win the forthcoming Western Provincial Council and future elections. Do you think this common alliance would pose a challenge to the Government which has secured a two thirds majority in Parliament?

A: At the last Presidential election also the UNP contested under a common alliance. The UNP in collaboration with the JVP fielded Sarath Fonseka as their common Presidential candidate. It was an utter failure as the majority of the people rejected him at the election. The main reason for the people to reject this alliance was the different political ideologies of the UNP and the JVP. The JVP’s economic policy contradicts the UNP’s economic policy. Therefore that alliance cannot introduce a common economic policy to the people as two parties are in two extremes. At present the manner in which the UNP and the JVP are behaving inside Parliament it is as if they are long standing friends. But a look at their foreign policies shows the diversity of each of them. The majority of the people don't have confidence in this kind of political alliance and that was clearly witnessed at the last Presidential Election as well. If these political parties align merely to oppose the Government, they have no ability to reach a common consensus which can be accepted by the people. The people have categorically rejected them at several elections as they have lost r confidence in such political parties.

Q: The Budgets of a number of UPFA led Local Government institutions have been defeated. Has the Government given thought to stem this tide and streamline Local Government administration?

A: It is not appropriate to defeat Budgets of Government led Local Government institutions. The intention of those who defeat these Budgets is not to defeat the Government. Their intention is to elect another Government member to the chairmanship of that Local Government institution. As a political party, we don’t accept this move. The Government will have to take a stern decision on this issue after ascertaining facts from both sides.

Q: How do you look at the allegations levelled against Sri Lanka by British Prime Minister David Cameron and British Channel 4 on the alleged human rights violations taken place during the final phase of the war against terrorists?

A: When you look at certain decisions taken by some Western countries during an international crises , it is obvious that some of them will have to take decisions on behalf of their vote base and future existence. They level baseless allegations against Sri Lanka for their survival. As a Government, we should face these challenges. I am confident President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a dynamic leader who didn’t bow down to Prabhakaran has the capability and confidence to successfully face these challenges. I see this as an attempt made by some Western countries for their political survival. Otherwise this is not a justifiable allegation.

Q: A resolution is to be passed at the UNHRC sessions to be held in March next year to conduct an international inquiry on alleged war crimes which are said to have taken place at the final phase of the humanitarian operation. Is the Government ready to face this challenge?

A: On the directive of the President, at present key government authorities and diplomatic missions have joined as a team to successfully face the challenge. I hope that we would defeat this conspiracy hatched by some Western countries by targeting the President and the war heroes who rescued the country from the clutches of terrorism. When we participated in various Commonwealth Parliamentary conferences, we debunked various misconceptions about Sri Lanka in the international arena. However, hosting CHOGM in Sri Lanka was an ideal opportunity to do away with misconceptions created among some Western countries about Sri Lanka's human rights records. All stakeholders of the Government are armed to successfully face this challenge.

Q: How do you respond to allegations levelled by the Opposition that the Budget has not provided any relief to the common man?

A: I would like to describe this Budget as a development and welfare- oriented Budget. The Opposition put forward various baseless arguments about the Budget to get political mileage. A series of proposals for public welfare has been set out in the Budget. I represent the Ratnapura district. Rs.4000 million has been allocated in the Budget to develop villages in the Ratnapura district. Before President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005, the maximum we got for the development of a village was Rs two or three million. During an election when we go to get the people’s vote, they request political parties to fulfill their requirements. Earlier there was a political culture where false promises were given to get votes.

After President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power in 2005, he changed that political culture. Instead of giving mere false promises, the President has introduced principled politics and launched a massive development drive countrywide. Now the UNP and the JVP cannot hoodwink the people as the people are aware that the President would fulfil their requirements through the allocation of funds from every Budget. The President has also given guidelines to provide electricity to all households by the end of next year. The Opposition cannot say that the Budget has not provided any relief to the people. Relief measures have been given in the Budget to the people.

Q: Prices on essential food commodities has been increased while prices on animal food has been reduced. Is there any truth in this allegation levelled by the Opposition?

A: The President wants to make the country self-sufficient in many waysi. The Government has imposed a tax on certain imported food commodities which can be cultivated locally. This tax has been imposed to strengthen the economy of our local farmers. However, the UNP attempts to mislead the people and give a distorted picture. We are an agricultural country. Therefore steps have to be taken to safeguard our farmers and restrict the import of certain food varieties which could be cultivated locally. We have to adopt measures to ensure food security. This is a common phenomenon which has been accepted by the world. If we depend on imported rice, dhal, onions or potatoes , we will have to be in hunger when problem occur in these countries.

The Government has encouraged farmers to cultivate local food crops and provide them a concessionary price for their produce. The Government has re-cultivated fallow paddy land in many areas. We are self- sufficient in rice, grain, potato and onion. When the economy of the people is strengthened it would pave the way to ensure food security in the country. Like what the UNP Government did in 1977, we also can import food. Then the people will not be compelled to cultivate locally due to high production cost.

This would lead to dire staits.. Therefore taxes have been imposed in the Budget on certain imported food commodities to safeguard the people and the local farmers.

Q: Have adequate funds been allocated in the Budget for the Power and Energy sector?

A: At every Budget, the President has gives priority for the power and energy sector. If former Leaders also acted in a similar manner, the power sector would have never faced a crisis. For example, it only costs Rs.9 to generate a unit of electricity from coal. The construction of all major hydro power projects were completed by 1982. But the with development taking place, the demand for electricity increases. Electricity has to be generated to cater to that increasing demand. There was no proper mechanism to generate electricity from 1982 until President Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005.

As a result, diesel powere plants were taken over from the private sector . After President Rajapaksa came to power, a series of measures were taken to overcome that situation. When the President assumed office in 2005, the agreement was signed to construct the Sampur power plant. On the directive of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, this was a reality and the Sampur power project was opened this year. The Sri Lankan and Indian Government are funding this project. In addition budgetary allocation has also been made. As a result, we have generated electricity at low cost. The Norochcholai Coal Power Plant would add another 300MW to the national grid this year. Its third stage will generate another 300 MW next year. Nearly 70 percent of the country’s electricity demand was catered through fuel power plants last year.

As a result, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had to bear a huge cost on electricity generation. When fuel power generation is converted into coal power generation, the CEB can reduce its debt burden to a large extent.

These investments made in the power sector would be useful. The setting up of these coal power plants would help to provide electricity to consumers at concessionary rates. Unfortunately, all former Presidents J.R.Jayewardena, R. Premadasa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga didn’t have the confidence to set up a coal power plant in Sri Lanka. The late President J.R. Jayewardena attempted to construct a coal power plat in Trincomalee in 1982, but he had to abandon the idea due to protests made by some NGOs. Late President R. Premadasa also abandoned the coal power plant project which was scheduled to be constructed at Mawella in 1992 amidst the agitation campaign made by fishermen. Even funds were allocated by JICA in 1999 to construct the Norochcholai coal power plant, former President Kumaratunga stopped that project due to protests made by certain sections and religious leaders. We should not be surprised at the conduct of these Leaders because those who who knelt down before Prabhakaran didn’t have a self confidence to commence such a project. Whatever challenges and protests were made, President Rajapaksa had the courage to take the decision to construct the first-ever coal power plant in Sri Lanka. In future, this would immensely benefit us to generate electricity at low cost and provide concessions to electricity consumers and industrialists.

Q: With reservoirs full to its capacity and the CEB is said to have settled its debt crisis and its earning profits, what prevents the withdrawal of the Fuel Adjustment Charge (FAC) as demanded by the main Opposition UNP?

A: When I assumed this Ministerial portfolio, the CEB had to settle Rs.364 billion worth bills. Still billions of worth bills have to be settled. So we cannot just look at only the statistics of this year and say that CEB is earning profits.

Because it has to settle its overdues. As an example, the CEB should pay back all the balance loans to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). By this time, the CEB has to settle bills amounting to Rs.65 billion to the CPC. After we settled all these loans, then only we can say that CEB is earning profits.. Therefore this statistical analysis of the UNP is completely wrong. We can’t just confine to this year’s figures and come to the conclusion that the CEB has turned into profit making status. But we have been able to bring the country’s power sector into a higher position under the farsighted vision of the President. We are now in the process of reducing transmission losses to suit standards of developed countries. Steps have also been taken to modernise the hydro power plants.

Q: Criticism have been levelled against the Norochcholai coal power plant that it has failed to deliver the goods to the energy hungry country. What has gone wrong?

A: There was a glitch which is a common occurrence in any plant but certain sections are making a hue and cry. Some faults do occur but don't forget the fact that this the first coal power plant set up in Sri Lanka. Even our engineers have to improve their knowledge in this area. If we didn’t take 300 MW from the first stage of the Norochcholai plant, the CEB would have incurred Rs.10 billion loss per month. At present the CEB has overcome that loss due to the setting up of the Norochcholai coal

power plant. Nobody talks about the huge loss that the CEB would have if the Norochcholai project did not come into operation.

The construction of the Norochcholai coal power plant could reduce Rs.30 to Rs 40 spent to generate a unit of electricity through fuel to Rs.9. The benefits gained from the Norochcholai coal power plant is not mentioned or spoken of at all.