Illegal water release from Randenigala, Rantambe reservoirs?

The above alarming and shocking news item says, ‘The Criminal Department [CID] is probing a complaint that water was released from the Randenigala and Rantambe hydropower reservoirs by a group of CEB personnel to facilitate the purchase of power from the private sector. The investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board with the IGP.”

Being interested in the energy sector, especially the affairs of CEB, which I handled during my tenure at the Ministry for Power and Energy for nearly two decades, I happened to read a lengthy article, titled ‘WATER SPILLAGE FROM RESERVOIRS – IS CEB RESPONSIBLE’ appearing in The Island of 16 December 2021, by Chris Ratnayaka, one time an engineer attached to the CEB and later snatched by the World Bank, knowing his capabilities, and appointed as Senior Power Engineer, reviewing power sector operations in about 17 developing countries and now an internationally recognised Consultant on Energy, has this to say, and I believe it is relevant to the issue at hand.

“Responsibility for Water Level Management -The articles place the sole blame for spillage on the CEB’s, System Control Centre [SCC] engineers, They seem to be unaware that water level management of the main reservoirs [namely the Mahaweli Complex] is the responsibility of the Water Management Secretariat [WMS] not the CEB, WMS has representation from the CEB, Water Board, Irrigation, Mahaweli and more. The release policy, every week from every reservoir, is issued by the WMS and the CEB cannot store or release water through unilateral decisions. So, the accusation on the CEB is misplaced!”

Chris Ratnayaka has given ten reasons and the above is the first and the rest are as follows: 2. Drawdown curves, 3. Optimal dam design envisages some spilling, 4. Reservoir Heights Deviated from Optimum 5. Difference between operational ponds and storage reservoirs, 6. Historical Performances, 7. Maximum hydro capability Vs System Demand. 8. Contractual issues with respect to private [thermal] power, 9. Contractual issues with respect to Private Renewable energy and 10. Exigency Situations, the sudden rains last November in Sri Lanka was quite unprecedented.

I request the CID and all concerned, including the Minister for Power and Energy, and newly appointed Chairman CEB, to get a copy of the above informative knowledgeable article, and see what relevance it has on the present accusation against certain CEB engineers of release of water to facilitate the purchase of power from private suppliers.

G. A. D. SIRIMAL

Boralesgamuwa