• No power interruptions
• Sapugaskanda oil refinery to resume after Jan.30

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

“We will take maximum effort to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. Therefore, we request consumers not only to switch off unnecessary bulbs but to restrict the use of even essential bulbs so as to allow other consumers to have an uninterrupted power, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Acting General Manager (GM) Eng. Dr. Rohantha Abeysekara said.  He said this while addressing the media after assuming duties as CEB Acting General Manager.   

Meanwhile, CEB Additional General Manager and media spokesman Andrew Navamani said that they are in a position to provide an uninterrupted power service today as they received sufficient fuel stocks.   However, Energy Ministry Secretary K. D. R. Olga said the Sapugaskanda oil refinery will be late in resuming its operations due to a delay in opening Letters of Credit (LCs) to procure the required crude oil.  

She told the Daily Mirror that the Sapugaskanda oil refinery was scheduled to resume operations today (27).   However, the required crude oil shipment is scheduled to arrive by tomorrow. Even though the fuel arrives, the refinery cannot start.  

At least three days will be needed for unloading the crude oil and sending it to the refinery. Therefore, the refining process could commence only on January 30.  She said the procurement and the necessary handling of the crude oil have been successfully completed by now.