2026-02-20 / Adjournment Motion: Coal procurement for Lakvijaya Power Plant at Norochcholai (Part 2) 2026-02-20
## Summary
The speaker accused Opposition members of acting in the interests of a private company rather than the public, alleging they were being paid to advocate on behalf of a specific firm in parliamentary debates. She argued that tender awards should be based solely on meeting prescribed qualifications, pricing processes, and tender conditions, citing the President's acknowledgement that a tender was awarded to a company associated with Dilith Jayaweera as an example of a process-based outcome that raises no objection. The speaker called on the Opposition to fulfil its democratic mandate by offering genuine government scrutiny rather than conducting debates she characterised as commercially motivated. She concluded with a rebuke that such conduct undermines the Opposition's own legitimacy and brings parliamentary discourse into disrepute.
Hon. Presiding Member, what is happening here? Hon. Members have come here through a democratic mandate. You may be in the Opposition, but as Members of Parliament you must not sell yourselves for money or speak here on behalf of private companies. Safeguard the people’s sovereignty and act as MPs for the public interest. Instead of pointing fingers at the Government while lobbying for a particular company, what is this show you are putting on? All this is being done for one company.
We have no personal issue with any company. Hon. Presiding Member, what we must understand is this: if a company has the qualifications, if pricing is done as per the process and tender conditions are set—indeed, even the President said that tenders were awarded to a company of Dilith Jayaweera—we have no problem. We are not looking at anything politically. If tender conditions are met, anyone can bid and win. That is how it should be. So what are you doing? Not only in this debate, but in any discussion on power, let us look at quality and the relevant criteria.
Please give me a little more time.
You are turning democracy and the space for public discourse into a mockery. Stop this drama. As an Opposition, offer genuine criticism of the Government, not jokes. You are undermining your own legitimacy by selling it for money. We are truly saddened by this farce. There is nothing more to be done. Fulfil your responsibility as an Opposition without bringing clownish debates like this.
Thank you.