News
CEBEU sees sinister move to malign it over genuine fault in the system
By Ifham Nizam
The powerful Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) now under fire over the major power disruption on 03 Dec., said yesterday that as per analysis done by CEB experts, based on information logged in Disturbance Recorders, there had been an actual fault in the Biyagama-Kotmale 220kv backbone transmission line, the exact cause of which was being investigated.
The CEBEU has categorcailly denied claims by a group “with vested interest and no power system protection expertise”.
“We wish to inform the media and public that the so-called “Senior Engineering Association” (SEA) has fewer than 30 members and does not have any senior engineers as the name suggests,” Jt. Secretary, CEBEU, Dhammika Wimalararatne said.
Wimalararatne said that one of the allegations was that there was remote access to relays and thereby settings had been changed to create the major power disruption. He said there was no scientific basis for such claims.
CEB has SIEMENS and SCHNEIDER (MICOM) main protection relays and QUALITROL BEN6000 Fault Recorders installed at Biyagama and Kotmale grid substations. “If anyone had accessed these relays (remotely or otherwise), and modified anything, all such changes and accesses would have been logged internally; what is on the relay events list and cannot be deleted,” he added.
Internal investigations carried out by the CEB has confirmed that there had not been any such external manipulation of relays at Biyagama and Kotmale lines, Wimalaratne said.
“We reiterate that these records cannot be altered and hence available for any party to investigate such claims. The CEBEU is willing to share such data with any power system protection expert from either Siemens or Schneider, or any other independent expert on the subject to independently verify any claims.’
Latest News
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
The IMF Executive Board approved emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), providing Sri Lanka with immediate access to SDR 150.5 million (about US$206 million,
equivalent to 26 percent of quota) to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability.
In response to severe weather impacts, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a diving and technical assistance operation on Friday (19 Dec 25) to clear major debris obstructing vital infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River, washed large quantities of debris, including logs and bamboo, downstream. These remain lodged in the Diyakapanathota in Gatambe, Peradeniya and Lewella bridges, obstructing the smooth flow of water.
Acting promptly upon request, a Navy diving team executed a coordinated operation in collaboration with the Road Development Authority. The team removed the accumulated debris, restoring normal water flow through the bridges.
Latest News
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
Navy clears major bridge obstructions in Peradeniya and Lewella
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
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PM says govt. will introduce a new Constitution to abolish executive presidency
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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