The Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama

## Summary Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama spoke in defence of the government during an adjournment debate on coal procurement for the Lakvijaya Power Plant at Norochcholai, arguing that the Opposition's motion lacked substantive factual argument and relied instead on personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations. He contended that the current NPP government introduced competitive tendering for coal imports, in contrast to previous administrations that procured coal through Cabinet approvals without tenders, and that Opposition discomfort stems from the loss of benefits under the old system. Mapalagama demanded that Hon. S. M. Marikkar either table evidence supporting an allegation about a bank account held in the name of Minister Kumara Jayakody's wife's mother, or publicly apologise to those named. He also cited fuel price reductions since the government took office as evidence against Opposition predictions of economic deterioration, and characterised recent Opposition tactics as a systematic attempt to isolate and discredit individual NPP Cabinet Ministers.