Hon. Chithral Fernando - Attorney-at-Law

Hon. Chithral Fernando raised a point of order under Standing Order 91(c), challenging the Minister's assertion that coal quality issues had not affected the turbines at a power facility. He cited a letter tabled by Hon. Ajith P. Perera, quoting specific passages referencing escalating operational costs from low-grade coal use and turbine last-stage blade damage due to overheating, and demanded the Minister clarify whether he accepted the letter's contents as factual.

## Summary Hon. Chithral Fernando opposed the Bill to abolish MPs' pensions, arguing it was rushed without adequate study of the rationale behind contributory or non-contributory pension schemes, and called for at minimum a grandfather clause protecting those already entitled. He challenged the government's financial argument—that MPs' pensions cost Rs. 34 million monthly—by calculating that approximately Rs. 155 million monthly in MPs' salaries and local authority members' allowances flows into party coffers, accusing the government of inconsistency between its rhetoric and conduct. Fernando also cited several instances of what he characterised as mandate violations, including inaction on abolishing the Executive Presidency, delayed Provincial Council elections, and the retention of the Central Bank Governor despite campaign pledges. He further raised concern over the government's public characterisation of a recently killed lawyer as connected to the underworld, arguing this set a dangerous precedent and should be retracted pending proof, and demanded accountability regarding six individuals whose surrender had been previously announced.