2026-03-03 / Debate: Foreign Exchange Act Order under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 2026-03-03
## Summary
Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara criticized the Government's handling of several interconnected crises, arguing that the continued extension of the Emergency is unjustified given the lack of tangible relief delivered to the approximately 40,000 families still displaced three months after Cyclone Ditta. He challenged contradictory statements by the CPC Chairman regarding fuel stocks and distribution, and questioned why two refurbished tanks at the Trincomalee Oil Tank Complex remain unfilled, noting that the current CPC Chairman had previously gone to court to block the joint Sri Lanka-India Trincomalee development project. Jayasekara further alleged that existing petroleum storage tanks in Kolonnawa are being dismantled and sold as scrap metal, and called on the President to investigate this before announcing new tank construction. He also accused the Government of double standards on the LAUGFS LPG issue, contending that the administration blocked a previous merger proposal but is now negotiating access to LAUGFS stocks following their acquisition by a politically connected investor, and raised concerns about a halted USD 12 million Maliban Textiles investment in Nikaweratiya being obstructed by legal action.
Madam Deputy Chairperson, let me first address the recent Emergency. The debate is on Friday. Why was it extended? The President came here and said it was extended in light of these issues. But the “Ditta” cyclone ended over three months ago. Still, 1,075 families remain in shelters; 150,000 people with friends and relatives in temporary locations; 40,000 families without homes; 46,000 families staying temporarily with relatives for LKR 25,000. Three months on, the Government has not provided solutions—so what has it been doing all this time? Yet the Emergency keeps getting extended. What have you delivered under the Emergency, other than arguments?
The President today called countries “pawn shops”. If Sri Lanka is a pawn shop, then the pawn shop’s President came here and said so. This country is our country. To call it a pawn shop is shameful.
On fuel queues, the CPC Chairman, Mr. Rajakaruna, made one statement on March 1 and a different one on March 2, saying distribution on both days was under 5,000 MT, while also claiming 34–35 days’ stocks. If that is so, the Government must ensure distribution. Someone even claimed 82 percent of those in queues are Government supporters; then ask them to go home and there will be no queues! This is absurd.
On tanks: After 2022, then-Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and past CPC Chairs, Sumith Wijesinghe and Mohammed Uwais; former Navy Commander Jagath Vijegunawardena; Saliya Wickramasuriya; and Darshana Ratnayake had completed refurbishing two tanks in the Trincomalee Oil Tank Complex. Your Government has been in office over a year—did you even fill those two tanks? During yahapalana, a joint project with India for Trincomalee tank development was brought; who went to court to block it? The current CPC Chairman, D. J. Rajakaruna. Now you claim nothing was done earlier, yet you yourselves stopped it.
COPE under Chair Sunil Handunnetti recorded that of 102 tanks, one was destroyed, 15 were with LIOC, and Cabinet approval was being sought to take 16 under CPC for storage. JVP unions went to court back then. Later, during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure, three new tanks at Kolonnawa were to be built; a foundation stone was even planned, but the President realised it was a sham. Meanwhile, in Kolonnawa, existing petrol tanks—one estimated at LKR 350 million to refurbish—are being cut up and sold as scrap, like “breaking the cupboard to make a stool”. Scrap is being sold at LKR 52,000 per metric tonne, overseen by Bureau Veritas. I request the President to first investigate this destruction by your CPC Chairman before talking of building new tanks.
Today over 350 oil tankers have been halted in the Strait of Hormuz; an Iranian Major General threatened to strike them. In August 2022, we imported around 5,500 MT of diesel and 4,000 MT of petrol a day; now volumes are lower. Do not inflame this into a crisis; keep the supply chain moving.
You shouted about “flat rates” and price hikes in the past. Yesterday you raised auto diesel by LKR 4 and Octane 92 by LKR 1 per litre—on stocks procured before the current escalation. Future prices may rise, but these are older cargos.
On LPG, the State has about 8,000 MT and the private sector—LAUGFS—about 30,000 MT. Back when we sought a merger solution, Sunil Handunnetti opposed it. LAUGFS owed LKR 30 billion to Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank; P. B. Jayasundera proposed a unified approach. When Mr. Walgapitiya tried to proceed, you opposed it. Now, after Mr. Dhammika Perera acquired over 50 percent of LAUGFS Terminals, the President says the Government is negotiating to draw 15,000 MT from there—so when your friend buys it, you can take from it; but when Walgapitiya owned it, you blocked it.
Give me one minute more. In Nikaweratiya, Maliban Textiles came with a USD 12 million investment on a 20-acre NLDB land, to employ 4,000 people. Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe filed a Supreme Court case; the project is halted. Now they seek a private “discussion” to resolve it. This country needs investment, not politics that drives it away. I conclude by urging you to act for the country, not for your old slogans.
Thank you.