News
PUCSL reveals CEB’s questionable bids to purchase power
‘15 out of 16 requests rejected, but there were no blackouts’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had made 16 requests to Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) between 2016 and 2020, seeking permission for power purchases, Chairman of the PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake said yesterday.
Ratnayake said that PUCSL had rejected those requests outright on 13 occasions and turned down two requests after discussions. PUCSL had approved the purchase of emergency power only once, he said.
“The funny thing is that our rejections did not lead to power cuts although those requests were made to avoid potential power cuts. We saved Rs. 571 billion by rejecting these requests. If the PUCSL had not existed, power purchases would have been made and the people would have been compelled to bear the burden. Therefore, it’s important to have regulators like the PUCSL. In other sectors we see ad hoc purchases and price hikes,” he said.
The PUCSL chairman said that they had warned about possible power cuts circa 2020 because the long-term generation plans were not implemented. The PUCSL, the Cabinet and the CEB Board of Directors had approved several power plants over the years. “For several reasons, none of these plants have been built. Thus, we have been having issues for a long time. Our power issues are man-made. PUCSL has called for building power plants, the Cabinet and CEB board approval have also been given but power plants are not built. But over the years there have been a lot of requests for purchasing emergency power,” he said.
Ratnayake said that the CEB had not made a request to buy emergency power now. This is because the issue right now is financial and not related to production.
“I think all of us remember the blackout on December 03, 2021. Was that accidental or was it sabotage? This is what we are looking into. When the blackout took place, two plants at Norochcholai broke down. We lost about 570 megawatts of power and it took almost a week to get the plants back online. Again on December 23 to 24, 2021, CEB, without any warning and without our approval initiated power cuts across the country. We wrote to CEB immediately and asked why you are shedding power? They didn’t reply. They did the same thing again on January 06, 2022. This time we asked them more aggressively,” the PUCSL chairman said.
The CEB had responded to the PUCSL a few days later and claimed that they were having issues with power generation, Ratnayake said. The CEB said some plants were not operating due to various reasons and wanted the PUCSL to approve power cuts.
“Now, the CEB is receiving fuel from the CPC and by the end of January the third power plant at Norochcholai will be back online. This will add 270 megawatts to the grid. So, I think we can stop the power cuts,” he said.
The Chairman of the PUCSL added that the CEB had not provided adequate information about the blackouts in December 2021 and soon the PUCSL will hold a public hearing on this. “We will take evidence and take steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen in the future,” he said.
Students from Karavita Central College, Ratnapura, St. Anthony Girls’ College, Katugasthota and Rajasinghe Central College, Ruwanwella, visited the Presidential Secretariat today (19).
This visit was part of a program jointly organized by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education, and the Mass Communication Division of the Parliament. The program offers schoolchildren from across the island the opportunity to visit key government institutions, including the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, the Colombo Port City, and the Parliament.
During their visit to the Presidential Secretariat, the students were given an informative session about the history of the Parliament.
To commemorate the occasion, the principals and students of the visiting schools presented commemorative gifts to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, the Secretary to the President. In return, Dr. Kumanayake presented a valuable tree as a souvenir to be planted in each of the schools.
Later, Dr. Kumanayake engaged in a friendly conversation with the students, creating a memorable interaction.
Senior Advocate J.M. Wijebandara, the Director General Legal of the Presidential Secretariat, was also present at the event.
[PMD]
Newly appointed Deputy Ministers of the National People’s Power (NPP) government were sworn in today (21) before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.
The new Deputy Ministers are as follows:
- Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando : Deputy Minister of Economic Development
- Mr. Namal Karunarathne : Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
- Mr. Wasantha Piyathissa : Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment
- Mr. Nalin Hewage : Deputy Minister of Vocational Education
- Mr. R.M. Jayawardena : Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security
- Mr. Gamagedara Dissanayake : Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
- Mr. T.B. Sarath : Deputy Minister of Housing
- Mr. Rathna Gamage : Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources
- Mr. Mahinda Jayasinghe : Deputy Minister of Labour
- Mr. Aruna Jayasekara : Deputy Minister of Defence
- Mr. Arun Kemachandra : Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment
- Mr. Anton Jayakody : Deputy Minister of Environment
- Mr. Mohommed Muneer : Deputy Minister of National Integrity
- Eng. Eranga Weerarathne : Deputy Minister of Digital Economy
- Mr. Eranga Gunasekara :Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs
- Mr. Chathuranga Abeysinghe : Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development
- Eng. Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku : Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation
- Dr. Namal Sudarshana : Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs
- Mr. Ruwan Senarath : Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Governance
- Dr. Prasanna Kumara Gunasena : Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways
- Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni : Deputy Minister of Health and Media
- Mr. Upali Samarasinghe : Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development
- Mr. Ruwan Chaminda Ranasinghe : Deputy Minister of Tourism
- Mr. Sugath Thilakarathne : Deputy Minister of Sports
- Mr. Sundaralingam Pradeep : Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure
- Attorney Sunil Watagala : Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs
- Dr. Madhura Senevirathne : Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education
- Dr. Harshana Sooriyapperuma : Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
- Dr. Susil Ranasinghe : Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation
Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the event.
Gampaha District Member of Parliament Hemali Weerasekara was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Her nomination was proposed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, and was seconded by Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe.
The new Deputy Chairperson of Committees is a former member of the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha and a professional laboratory technician. She completed her education at Yasodara Vidyalaya, Colombo and Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo. She has been an active member of the NPP’s district and women’s executive committees.
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