Another victim of the Power Mafia

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Deputy General Manager of the CEB who refused to pay over 800 Million Rupees to a Private Power Plant in Embilipitiya for the supply electricity without the approval of the Public Utilities Commission has been interdicted. The long-term agreement to obtain electricity from the Private Power Plant in Embilipitiya expired in 2015 and it was renewed for another three years following an agreement reached with the CEB. The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy said taking into account the weather situation over the past two years and first quarter of this year, there was a need to add a certain electricity capacity to the National Grid. The CEB noted discussions were held to procure electricity from the Private Power Plants in Matara and Ebilipitya as well as the Sapugaskanda Power Station on a short-term basis. Director of the PUCSL, Nalin Edirisinghe stated that when a power plant is added to the national grid it is done as per the provisions of Article 43 of Sri Lanka Electricity Act. He added that there are two reasons as to why the Embilipitiya Power Plant will not come under this act, one is that it has not been obtained under competitive pricing and the other is when a license is obtained there needs to be a certain stake held by the Government via the Treasury Secretary. Deputy General Manager of the CEB, Sujeewa Abeywickrama said since there was no approval obtained from the Public Utilities Commission he informed his Additional General Manager Kariyawasam that he cannot release the funds. Additional General Manager Kariyawasam has stated that since the CEB had purchased the electricity it is mandatory to make the payments. "I said I cannot do so without the legal contract," said Sujeewa Abeywickrama.