By Rathindra Kuruwita

Water in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) hydro power reservoirs had dropped to 25 percent of their total capacity, or 306 gigawatts due to the prevailing drought, Ceylon Electricity Board Senior Engineers’ Association (CEBSEA) spokesperson Engineer Nandika Pathirage said.

Out of the total electricity production, hydropower accounted for 15 percent, he said.Drinking water for Colombo is supplied from Laxapana and priority is given to that, he said.

“That’s why we had to go for emergency power purchases approved by the Public Utilities Commission,” Pathirage said, emphasing the need to increase renewable energy production.

Engineer Noel Priyantha, CEB Employees Union said Sri Lanka had generated 4.5 percent of its total electricity from solar energy this week. Wind power and hydropower accounted for six percent and seven percent of the electricity generation respectively, he said.

“65 percent of electricity is now generated by thermal power plants. Electricity consumption has also increased with the dry weather. People use air conditioners and fans more,” he said.

The CEB spends Rs 1.5 billion a day on power generation. Priyantha added that the CEB had not paid those who supplied renewable energy for the past 10 months