Political leadership and CEB told to accept responsibility for power crisis

By Nishel Fernando

The political leadership and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are to be blamed for Sri Lanka’s current power crisis where no major power plant has been commissioned or commenced constructions since Norochcholai power plant in 2011, industry experts claimed. 

Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director/Director Luxman Siriwardena, who contributed to the drafting of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Act No 35 of 2002 said, the political leadership should take responsibility for the lack of new power projects rather than blaming it on independent regulators. 

“The delay was nothing to do with the PUCSL or the CEB, but it was due to political interference. When it translates into power crisis, it is easy to criticise bureaucracy, particularly targeting the independent regulators simply because you are looking for a scapegoat,” he said. 

He said this during a public consultation jointly organised by Highways and Road Development Ministry, Petroleum Resources Development and the PUCSL at the BMICH in Colombo last week.

Siriwardena questioned as to how Sri Lanka is going to attract major investments when the top executive of the country blames its own officials, as such action reduce the confidence on independent regulators of the country. 

“When you do this, it’s not only the regulator that you are downgrading, it’s also the investors,” he stressed. 

Meanwhile, Lanka Viduli Podu Sevaka Sangamaya (LVPSS) President Malaka Wickramasinghe alleged that the “oil mafia” in CEB is to be blamed for delaying the proposed natural gas and renewable power plants. 

“The CEB board was discussing natural gas power plants since 2008. However, we couldn’t do it so far. As far as I know, there’s a proposed NG power plant which had received the Cabinet approval. However, the oil mafia that we know is behind the delay,” he said. 

Wickramasinghe emphasised that Sri Lanka needs to seriously start exploring its potential in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind power and wave power.
He noted that there’s a 3000 MW wind power potential in Mannar. 

Siriwardena stressed that the role of the independent power regulator should not be undermined by politicians as it protects consumer interests from various industry lobbying activities and corruption.