News

Electricity Consumers’ Association warns country of being hoodwinked again

Published

10 months ago

2025/07/10

Sanjeewa Dhammika

Electricity Consumers’ Association Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika yesterday said that if the proposed Sahas Danavi power plant, intended to be operated by a private company, became operational, it would result in a loss of Rs. 73 billion within a year.

Addressing the media at Guru Medura, in Colombo, Dhammika said that although the relevant company had informed the Cabinet that the plant would be operated in the future as an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) power plant, it would take at least three years to set up an LNG terminal. He further noted that in the meantime, the power plant would have to be operated on diesel. “It has been stated in Cabinet documents that the Sahas Danavi power plant will supply electricity at a cost of Rs. 20 per unit when operated as an LNG power plant. However, the country currently lacks the necessary infrastructure for LNG power generation. If they plan to operate this plant using LNG, it will take at least another three years to prepare the necessary environment. Until then, the plant will have to be operated, using diesel. According to the Public Utilities Commission, producing a unit of electricity, with diesel, costs Rs. 72.11. This has been mentioned in a letter the Commission sent to the CEB (Ceylon Electricity Board) regarding the power plant.

The total capacity of the plant is 350 megawatts. So, if we take the cost of Rs. 72 per unit and generate 350 megawatts continuously over a year, it will amount to Rs. 111.3 billion. That is the actual cost. However, according to the Cabinet papers, if electricity is sold at Rs. 20 per unit, the cost would be only Rs. 28 billion. As a result, the government would have to pay Rs. 73 billion more to the company in a single year.

This is like showing a younger sister to a prospective groom and finally palming him a much older sibling at the time of marriage– a bait-and-switch trick. We are questioning who will take responsibility if things go this way.

We remember how in 2005, the Kelanitissa power plant was started, claiming that it would be converted to LNG within two years. Now it’s 2025, and to date, not a single unit of electricity has been produced, using LNG, at that plant.

We are as confident as we are about the sun and moon that this Sahas Danavi plant will also not produce a single LNG-powered unit of electricity for at least three years. This is a separate game. They are showing that electricity can be produced for Rs. 20 per unit to close the doors to solar and then secretly produce it at Rs. 72 per unit. These kinds of deals should not be allowed.”

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage

All News Advertisement

News

INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

Latest News

Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.